How stupid, indeed

It seems we here in Michigan have ended up with a bit of a budget surplus--and if one were to read strictly the Free Press, one would think the republicans in the Michigan House were being stand up sorts about this extra money.  A little for education, a little for roads, cutting the state income tax--hell, they're even putting a little back into the movie credit and putting just a touch for glamour back in the Wolverine State.

Not so fast bucko.  Thanks to my weekly update from State Senator Gretchen Whitmer, I was linked to this piece by Susan J. Demas which lays to waste the bullshit Michigan House republicans are shoveling.  The cut to the state income tax?  Should have started at the beginning of this year and anyway, will only add up to about .50 cents a week (or less) for those of us making less than $50,000.  Michigan republicans pushed through a $1.4 billion tax increase on the poor and middle class while giving corporations a $1.6 billion tax cut (still waiting for those good paying jobs).  Demas correctly notes the tax bill those of us without deep pockets got stuck with this year--Michiganders definitely either sent much bigger checks to the Secretary of State last April or saw a much smaller refund (both the Beautiful Girl and I can attest to this one).

The thing that really bothers me, though, is why this fact based piece by Ms. Demas isn't being featured in the Free Press, instead of the vanilla pudding bullshit we were fed.  I'm sure there are many newspapers that continue to do fine work for the greater good--the Free Press just isn't one of them.  It's become a victim of his convention wisdom short-sightedness, and one has to wonder how much longer it can sustain its failure to serve its customers best interests.

Peace,
emaycee