2007 House Bill 5198 (Impose new 6 percent tax on many services )

Public Act 93 of 2007

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Introduced by Rep. Steve Tobocman on September 7, 2007, to repeal a use tax exemption on toll free phone services (800-numbers, WATTS lines, etc.) and international calls.
- Referred to the House Tax Policy Committee on September 7, 2007.
- Substitute offered by Rep. Steve Tobocman on September 18, 2007, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that does not impose a tax on services, but would exempt disabled veterans from the state 6 percent use tax. The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on September 18, 2007.
Passed in the House (57 to 51) on September 18, 2007, to exempt disabled veterans from the state 6 percent use tax. The bill was passed and sent to the Senate as a "vehicle" for a possible tax on some services, but without that actual provision. This was done because bills must "lay over" in the other body for at least five days before being voted on, and if a tax increase is to be approved by Oct. 1 it is necessary to have a "vehicle" bill that has done so. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the Senate on September 19, 2007.
- Referred to the Senate on September 19, 2007.
- Referred to the Senate Finance Committee on September 24, 2007.
- Substitute offered in the Senate on September 28, 2007. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on September 28, 2007.
Passed in the Senate (24 to 13) on September 28, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the House on September 28, 2007. Failed in the House (0 to 106) on September 28, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the Senate on September 29, 2007.
Passed in the Senate (19 to 19) on October 1, 2007, to impose a 6 percent tax on a wide variety of services, including various personal services, and a number of services used primarily by businesses. Altogether the new tax will take some $750 million. Major components include a $230 million tax on business consultant services, $98 million on "office administration" services, and $50 million on janitorial services, to name just a few. More than half the revenue is from taxing business services. The bill is part of a package to avoid spending cuts in the Fiscal Year 2007-2008 budget; the other major tax increase is to raise the state income tax from 3.9 percent to 4.35 percent (House Bill 5194). [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the House on September 29, 2007.
Passed in the House (56 to 53) on September 30, 2007, to impose a 6 percent tax on a wide variety of services, including various personal services, and a number of services used primarily by businesses. Altogether the new tax will take some $750 million. Major components include a $230 million tax on business consultant services, $98 million on "office administration" services, and $50 million on janitorial services, to name just a few. More than half the revenue is from taxing business services. The bill is part of a package to avoid spending cuts in the Fiscal Year 2007-2008 budget; the other major tax increase is to raise the state income tax from 3.9 percent to 4.35 percent (House Bill 5194). [Vote Details and Comments]
Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on October 1, 2007.

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Comments

Introduced by Rep. Steve Tobocman on September 7, 2007. Passed in the House (57 to 51) on September 18, 2007. New Comment

1) Ray Wilson in the Kalamazoo Gazette: [by Anonymous Citizen on November 2, 2007]
Job loss: up close and personal

As everyone is well aware, our Lansing politicians last month passed two
large tax hikes to help fix a so-called budget "deficit." I say "so-called,"
because most of the deficit was created because of increased spending, and
not lack of tax dollars.

The decision to raise taxes has come under a lot of criticism, particularly
from the business community, because the larger tax burden here in Michigan
will make it even harder to attract job creators and entrepreneurs, and very
likely will drive them away to other states. Michigan's state and local tax
burden was 14th out of the 50 states even before the two tax hikes; we have
undoubtedly moved even higher on that dubious list since then.

But debates about the "business climate" and overall tax burden can be
somewhat theoretical. Many people hear facts like "14th highest tax burden,"
and simply shrug. "What does that have to do with me," they may say. Unless
it affects them personally, they really don't pay much attention.

So let's focus on an individual case of how Michigan's business climate has
affected a local entrepreneur.

This summer, the Godfather's Pizza restaurant on West Main Street in
Kalamazoo closed its doors after 16 years in business. Three full-time
workers and 22 part-time workers lost their jobs, adding to Michigan's
worst-in-the-U.S. unemployment rate.

Owner Richard Johnson said there were two main reasons his business could no
longer compete. "Our governor just keeps raising taxes," he said. "It's hard
for a business to hang on."

Johnson also blamed Michigan's increase in the minimum wage for putting him
out of business. On July 1, the state minimum wage increased from $6.95 to
$7:15 an hour; next year it will go up again to $7.40 per hour.

Now it may sound compassionate for the government to raise the minimum wage
to "put more money in workers' pockets," but the result is almost always the
same: businesses that are simply making ends meet often have to lay off some
of their minimum wage workers. We should ask the Godfather Pizza workers who
lost their jobs this question: Would you rather have a job at $6.95 per
hour, or no job that pays $7.15 an hour? I think I know what their answer
would be.

Ironically, two weeks after Godfathers Pizza closed its doors for good,
Governor Granholm came to Kalamazoo to tout her brand-new "No Worker Left
Behind" program. This is a job retraining program that supposedly helps
laid-off workers get new skills to find new jobs. The program will cost
millions of dollars and contributed to the budget "deficit" that resulted in
the two tax hikes in October.

This is what it's come to: state government's high taxes and burdenson
regulations put people out of work, so state government creates a new
government program that will help them--and will cause taxes to go even
higher, putting more people out of work. Does the image of a dog chasing its
tail come to mind?

That's the trouble with government programs like the minimum wage and job
retraining that are enacted supposedly to "help" the people. Politicians get
to pose for pictures with graduates of the retraining program, while no one
tallies up the the number of lost jobs and failed businesses caused by the
ever increasing cost of government. But the politicians get to claim that
they are "doing something" about unemployment.

Our free-enterprise economy, if unfettered from needless regulations and
high taxes, is the greatest engine of economic opportunity ever created.
What government needs to do is get back to the basics--provide good roads
and infrastructure, safe streets, and a fair system of justice. Michigan's
one-state depression will not be solved with more government programs.

Raymond H. Wilson is president of the Kalamazoo County Taxpayers
Association. He can be reached at stoptaxes@kaltax.org. Membership in the
Taxpayers Association is ten dollars; details are at www.kaltax.org. Some of
the information in this column appeared in the August 14, 2007, Kalamazoo
Gazette.
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2) Vehicle Bills [by Anonymous Citizen on October 21, 2007]
Perhaps it is time to look at how vehicle bills are used to subvert the intent of the Michigan constitution. An interesting read here:
http://michigantaxes.com/wordpress/?cat=5
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3) Recall [by Anonymous Citizen on October 13, 2007]
Recall, Recall, Recall, Recall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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4) TAXEDTOTHEHILT [by Anonymous Citizen on October 9, 2007]
COST SAVE!!!!! TURN THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATION INTO A PART TIME POSITION. -6-MONTHS. DUMP THE HIGH SALARIES. REVOKE THE HUGH RETIREMENT PACKAGES. OUR CHILDREN WILL BE STUCK WITH THIS MESS. TIE THEIR RAISES TO THE REST OF THE STATES EMPLOYEES!
IT'S LIKE? 2% NOT THEIR 38%. WE NEED TO CLEAN HOUSE AND START FROM SQUARE ONE. CAN'T DO MUCH WORSE.
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5) Mr. Allen Allbee [by Anonymous Citizen on October 5, 2007]
Does anyone in this state actually believe that these legislators will NOW balance the state budget? They will now spend even more until the deficit is even higher next year and require even more taxes to keep us just enough under water to keep us from exploding.
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6) AT THE TOP AGAIN! [by Anonymous Citizen on October 3, 2007]
Congratulations Michigan Legislators. Not only does Michigan have the highest unemployment rate and a very high home foreclosure rate, we are now at the top of the list of states with the highest tax rates. (Around #11) I'm sure this will aid in attracting new business and residents to Michigan! You took the easy way out again - just raise taxes!
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7) Toss them ALL out [by Anonymous Citizen on October 3, 2007]
It's time to dump ALL professional politicians. They only care about feeding at the public trough, lining their own pockets and promoting their own agendas. What's best for the ordinary people never enters their minds.
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8) SICK STATE OF AFFAIRS [by Anonymous Citizen on October 2, 2007]
MICHIGAN IS CHRONCIALLY ILL AND WILL NOT RECOVER WITHOUT THE REMOVAL OF OUR GOVERNOR AND CURRENT LEGISLATORS. THE SICKNESS CONTINUES TO SPREAD TO ALL FACETS OF MICHIGAN BUSINESS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR!! IMPEACHMENT AND RECALLS ARE THE ONLY REMEDY, IF THE STATE IS TO SURVIVE. THE STATE
IS ALREADY BURIED IN POOR LEADERSHIP, REPRESENTATION, AND TO CONTINUE ON LIKE THIS IS THE CERTAIN DEATH OF MICHIGAN'S FUTURE. LETS BURY THEM BEFORE THEY BURY US!!
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9) VULGERS IN LANSING [by Anonymous Citizen on October 2, 2007]
THESE VULGERS WITH THEIR HANDS IN EVERYONES'S POCKETS, NEED TO GET BLOWN AWAY QUICK INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR. HOW DARE THEY CRIPPLE MICHIGAN BUSINESS'S AND CITIZENS WITH MORE TAXES!! THIS IS A BUSINESS UNFRIENDLY STATE AND THEY DON'T CARE!! THEY CONTINUE TO BURY BUSINESS'S UNDER NEW TAXES AND NOW THEY'VE INCLUDED THE SERVICE INDUSTRY. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL HAS BLASTED THE LEGISLATORS AND SAID THEY NEED TO LOSE THEIR JOBS IN LIEU OF THIS CURRENT INJUSTICE TO TAXPAYERS AND BUSINESS'S. GOVERNOR GRANHOLM IS SO OUT OF HER ELEMENT, OPENLY LYING ON A TV INTERVIEW ABOUT HER INVOLVEMENT IN PADDING HER FRIENDS POCKETS ON THE PROPOSED MICHIGAN STATE POLICE BUILDING. TO SEE HER CHOMPING ON HER GUM IN HER LEVI'S WAS DISGUSTING ON THE FINAL HOUR OF HER WELL PLANNED SABOTAGE TO ALL MICHIGAN CITIZENS AND BUSINESS'S. NOT TO MENTION THREATENING THE WELFARE AND INCOME OF BUSINESS'S AND STATE EMPLOYEE'S. ANY GOVERNOR THAT JEOPADIZES THE WELFARE OF THE STATES CITIZENS OVER A BALANCED BUDGET NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF OFFICE. SHE MUST HAVE ICE FOR VEINS. SHE IS THE MOST UNCARING, INSENSITIVE EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING. I HOPE THEY BLOW HER JOB AWAY AND SEND HER
TO GRIEF COUNSELING. GOD KNOWS SHE'S CAUSED ENOUGH AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IF SHE'S ALLOWED TO SERVE OUT HER UNDESERVED TERM!!
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10) Unbelievable [by jmd364 on October 1, 2007]
After reading the various services that will be taxed I am convinced that the only people who need Phrenological Services are the idiots who passed this bill.

You intend to tax Personal Shopping Services when you know that it is primarily used by the old and the infimred??? Wow! That has to make you thieves feel real warm and fuzzy!

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11) Use tax [by Anonymous Citizen on September 11, 2007]
Show them no mercy!
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12) In 5 years... [by Anonymous Citizen on October 2, 2007]
It was stated "in 5 years you will be blown away". Had I known it was a threat I would have pressed charges. I don't agree with the outcome, but I feel for those forced to vote on hb 5198 to basically keep things running - talk about a rock and a hard spot!! I guess we can reflect back on November 2006 and thank ourselves for where we are at today. The Wayne County contracts, Kilpatrick memo, Budget cuts and the Bible, unemployment at all time high, and avoiding state shutdown...what's next?! Referring to Detroit as "Biotechnology City" instead of "Motor City"? Let's quit giving tax breaks to biotech and go help the roots of the state for the past 100 years. Where was biotech 100 years ago? Certainly NOT building cars! Let's quit blaming Bush for turning his back and consider state tax breaks to support the "Motor City" and "Motown" status of Michigan. Even though I'm getting used to the view, I'm stepping down from the soap box.
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13) so, where will [by Anonymous Citizen on October 3, 2007]
the big three be in ten years, or five?

will they still be 'loyal' to detroit?

you don't shun a business simply because you can't put a wax job on it's product.

the good old days are gone, let's support ALL businesses, not just the ones you are comfortable with.
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14) where did this [by crazycajun on October 3, 2007]
'partial shutdown' of government land us?

it has shown us the fortitude of our legislators. the guile of the left, and the tenacity of the governor.

our republican legislators, most of them, at least, stood the line boldly, requiring many cuts before allowing any taxes.

our democrat legislators, each and every one, voted to increase our taxes, as opposed to doing the RESPONSIBLE THING, which was cutting unnecessary services.

this partial shutdown also showed, in stark contrast, who was who in the zoo.

if your legislators DIDN'T step up to the plate, it's time to show your displeasure with them.

this is the day that all legislators fear, the day of reconing. the day after it all went wrong. the day that their votes become public on a contriversial subject like taxation.

how will YOUR legislator explain himself?

how will he look you in the eye and explain that he disregarded YOUR WILL and imposed his own?
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Received in the Senate on September 29, 2007. Passed in the Senate (19 to 19) on October 1, 2007. New Comment

1) jhon canada [by Anonymous Citizen on January 25, 2008]
off I even musician, I still tree and climb just their raspberries, the boys Forest. I confessed caught it the forests I still reaction scissors
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2) bag global u [by Anonymous Citizen on January 25, 2008]
tree were the best, And grapes, community berries. for kids competing up across community let it go. I'd surprise I went
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3) Yet you people [by Anonymous Citizen on January 23, 2008]
Voted for more big-government republicans AGAIN in the January 15th primary? Who won? Romney, who promised to rob the taxpayers of America to give $300 billion to an auto industry that is going to MOVE OUT OF the U.S. after they get the money.

We keep bailing them out, and they keep moving off-shore.

And you people voted for this man.

I really don't want to hear your BS whining anymore. You know what you are voting for, and you are going to get it.

6% for the one man that actually understands what is happening to our economy.

You vote for big government and then complain when you get it. "It's all the democrats fault!!" BS, without those republicans supporting it, it would NOT have passed. It was politics. Plain and simple. Each party had a role to play, and play it they did.

And yet you keep voting for these people.

The Michigan GOP can kiss my a** You are all a bunch of fakes.

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4) I DIDN'T [by Anonymous Citizen on March 12, 2008]
I didn't vote for Romney!!! I hear your disgust & agree with it!! Well said, I say!!
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5) kitchen mail [by Anonymous Citizen on January 25, 2008]
Now, about sweet, a scientist. in a hollow were called And grapes, and
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6) university h [by Anonymous Citizen on January 25, 2008]
I'd hoped crashing down planted I thought done it. will never I remember and went a bit of turtle, up across for a while,
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7) And guess why the companies and people are leaving? [by Jennybegone on January 4, 2008]
There is no health care in this state because of the lack of good paying jobs with benefits. Companies such as the Big Three automakers wanted to get the health care issue off their backs, so what did they do? They signed a deal with the UAW that will allow the union to administer health care for their members.

The Big Three and other corporations lobbied the Feds very hard to try to get universal health care for all, so they could reduce their health care costs, which were hurting them more than the number of jobs and wages were.

People tend to go where the jobs and benefits are, and we need to get some of them back here.
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8) apple apple [by Anonymous Citizen on January 25, 2008]
the forests front yard to it that the Now, scissors It is sweet, beechnuts a bit of
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9) sun kitchen [by Anonymous Citizen on January 25, 2008]
or burnt, plants and began It is sweet, in many home from Behind spent days decay year by helping
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10) This is what the state owes us [by Jennybegone on January 4, 2008]
The state does owe us these things:

1. Provide an environment for jobs to be created in the state that will provide benefits, including health insurance.
2. They do have an obligation to help the mentally ill, regardless of what anyone says. And, yes, the mentally ill who can work should have the opportunity to work, and this is where the state owes people the environment where jobs can be created. What do you suggest, that we lock them up and forget about them, throwing away the key, especially if many, maybe even most, of them are able to contribute in a positive way? If you think that, you have a hopelessly prejudiced view of the mentally ill.
3. They do have the obligation to support education on all levels. The universities have got their priorities wrong - new sports facilities and win-at-all cost mentalities to entertain people instead of using that money on education. We should require the money be spent more on education instead of sports teams. And we are doing the athletes no favors by requiring them to just barely pass to stay eligible when we need them to be productive in a high-tech world. Sorry, everyone, but the days of the dumb jock must end.
4. The state does have an obligation to provide health coverage for all - sorry, but health care is getting out of reach even for full-time working middle class families. The whole health care system needs reform.
5. And above all, the state owes us state employees who treat the customers like human beings instead of being rude to them. Customer service with many state employees is a foreign concept.
6. The state also owes our God-given First Amendment right in the US Constitution's Bill of Rights to be able to petition the government with our grievances, including sue if necessary. These people need to be hit in the pocketbook if any meaningful change is going to be made.
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11) sun google [by Anonymous Citizen on January 25, 2008]
into the yard, a scientist. work they had up across and think When by year. with my
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12) day kitchen [by Anonymous Citizen on January 25, 2008]
suggested often it's name for kids as a sapling
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13) WE ARE ALL ANONYMOUS CITIZENS [by Anonymous Citizen on December 3, 2007]
WE ARE ALL IN DEEP TROUBLE. THANK YOU MOLE FACE.
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14) Now that you lost your service tax, what now? [by Jennybegone on December 3, 2007]
Now that you have lost your service tax, Jenny, what now? How are you going to fully fund mental health so those who need services will get them? Many people who are mentally ill are capable of contributing to the economy and hold jobs as long as they have access to their medication and treatment. And for those who aren't, we need to recommit to helping them be part of their communities. They are getting lost in the budget shuffle.

We need to get our priorities straight in this state, which is providing for the health, education, and employment of as many citizens as possible. Too many people have bailed out, and more will follow if we continue on the course we have followed for the last 50 years or so.

And, yes, I support a recall of the governor and the immediate dismissal of all legislators who tried to ram this service tax down our throats. I also support the idea of a part-time legislature, subject to immediate recall if they don't represent our interests. And ban lobbyists and special interests from the state capitol grounds completely. They don't represent us.

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15) You Are the Problem [by Anonymous Citizen on December 3, 2007]
You Say...
"We need to get our priorities straight in this state, which is providing for the health, education, and employment of as many citizens as possible."

I Say...
Why is it the states responsibility to "providing for the health, education, and employment".
It's not the governments job to provide jobs.
Where do you think they get their money? I haven't seen any money trees growing in lansingistan. They steal it from the productive class. When they steal too much you see good folks leave the state.
It's not the governments responsibility to provide health care.
It shouldn't be the states job to educate us. This is actually the root of all the states evils.
Lets get the bloated state out of our way so the business owners can thrive and provide jobs and opportunities.
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16) Ballot box recall [by Anonymous Citizen on October 31, 2007]
ANYONE with an "I"after their name (incumbant) gets thrown out.
Let's start out with a new bunch of Crooks.

Oh yea, All newly elected crooks start out at a 50% cut in pay. Follow the Automaker's contract.
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17) Be carefull what you wish for, you just may get it [by Anonymous Citizen on October 24, 2007]
People in this State, and the rest of the country for that matter, need to wake up to the fact that the Democratic party no longer stands for the "Little Guy" as this vote shows. This state has traditionally been a stonghold for the Democrats and it needs to change! Tell your friends and neighbors to stop voting the straight Democratic ticket at the polls and pay more attention to the individuals that are running for office. Someone once said that "People get the government they deserve". Remember this next time you vote and kick these bums out!
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18) Mr. tired of this . [by Anonymous Citizen on October 23, 2007]
This is what I think.
1. do not allow them the right to vote any increases for their pay, retirements, medical packages or anything else. Any and all increases must go before the voters.
2. no junkets outside of our state. If they decide to go they must pay for it themselves.
3. no spouses or anyone else get to travel on a tax payers dollar. If the spouse or kids go they have to pay for themselves.
4. no personal expense allowances.
5. everyone gets the same medical progam as the legislators new get.
6. all wages etc. get tied to the economy, if it goes down they loose pay. If it goes up they can try to get a pay increase at voting time.
7. all programs must be started while the person who proposed that bill is still in office so they can be held responsilble for that bill.
8. if a program can't get along on what was allocated for it then it will die.
9 Make them responsible for their actions. Bring them down to the same playing field as the tax payers.
10. no tax money for campaign expences.
11. no full retirements, or lifetime medical at all period.
12.instant recall if they do not live up to campaign promises
13 no borrowing money form any other fund in order to keep another one going. no robbing Peter to pay Paul as Paul never gets paid back
14. NO LOBBYIST.
15. all bills must stand on their own, no addons. This would eliminate bad legislation getting passed, or good legislation getting voted down because of bad bills getting added to what otherwise might be good legislation.
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19) You Got What You Asked For [by Anonymous Citizen on October 6, 2007]
Give a State to the Liberals and look what happens.
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20) Next up, the entire U.S. [by Anonymous Citizen on October 6, 2007]
Don't worry, the Liberals will prevail in 2008 and the rest of the country will be in the tank with us.
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21) Our fair share must be paid? [by Mike Hignite on October 4, 2007]

I don't think it necessary to begin taxing services with a sales tax. There are many programs that could be cut from our budget without hurting citizens one bit. Check out Mackinaw Center's proposals.

I don't think it wise to begin taxing services with a sales tax. Florida tried but gave up. There are a million interpretation, nexus and jurisdictional issues involved that will be costly and will discourage businesses from coming here.

But even if I grant you that taxing services was necessary, I abhor the way it was implemented. Instead of evenly applying a service tax to all services, as was your rational when you shoved this down our throats, you hit the smallest, least powerfully-connected services and let your connected, powerful lobbies off at their expense.

Taxed: Not Taxed:
shoe shine boys Lawyers
hair dressers Doctors
lawn care workers Accountants

How is this in any way fair and equitable? You do this and expect citizens to believe the old civics lessons about voting, equal representation, paying our fair share of taxes as the price we bear for civilization.

I think (and hope) you have gone too far. I hope that citizens will remember this next election. I hope that every one of you leeches get turned out of office. I hope that people will elect Ron Paul as president and many people like him to all levels of government. If we don't get more principled people in there, like Jack Hogendyk, Joe Hune and Leon Drolet, I'm afraid we will continue to get "BLOWN AWAY!"

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22) Let the RECALL begin! [by Anonymous Citizen on October 1, 2007]
My business is down 38%, four employees let go an still in the red and another tax increase, INCREADABLE we're done with this State.
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23) RECALL [by takemiback on October 3, 2007]
I'm looking into the recalling the Governor District 51.
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24) Tax and spend [by Yooper_Dave on October 1, 2007]
Sad. I'm still feeling the effect of the property tax bill I paid two weeks ago. It's time to take a close look at the role of government, and those who are in it to pad their own wallets.
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25) Garcia Fails Test of Principles [by Mike Hignite on October 1, 2007]
You are a RINO of the first degree. How could you vote to increase taxes? Particularly a tax as ill-conceived as a sales tax on services! I'm so disgusted I can't type.

When is your term up? Can't be too soon for me. After this betrayal of Republican principles, I wouldn't trust you to give my dog a colonoscopy; your hands aren't clean enough.

I don't know if you are just as stupid as your democratic colegues or if you are corrupt. Were you promised a reward for your vote? If so, I hope it was worth it.

People in the counties you represent are suffering financially, which is, of course, not your fault. It is your fault that you add to their misery by voting for this tax, and the others that went with it.

I can afford it; I don't like it, but I can bear it. But we have young men dying in Iraq. Your actions make it that much harder on their young families who have already given too much.

Your constituents were standing on the edge. Your vote just pushed them in the back.
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Received in the House on September 29, 2007. Passed in the House (56 to 53) on September 30, 2007. New Comment

1) OUT OF BUSINESS [by Anonymous Citizen on October 23, 2007]
Thanks Granholm !!!

You've put my janitorial business & 28 employees out of business ! I bill 50k per month to 1 management company who will look to replace me if I increase my billing 6% to cover a sales tax. I net 12-15 % on my billings I can not afford to stay in business making 6-9% on my net...might as well go work for someone else !!
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2) political career [by Anonymous Citizen on October 2, 2007]
I hope everyone who voted to raise our taxes will lose their next election. It time to throw them out.
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3) They just don't get it. [by BenClarkson on October 2, 2007]
There are a myriad of cuts that could be made before public safety and schools are impacted. My neighbor just had her pay cut $10,000 a year because her Michigan based company is going in the tank. She had a choice, pay cut or unemployment. I can tell you for sure she is planning cuts in her family budget, just like most of the rest of us. As I read through this forum I am stunned at the abuse of power by our "representatives." Allowing the DEQ to write rules that have the power of law, padding government pensions, adding new entitlement programs, what are they thinking!
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