Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on November 30, 2006, to allow local governments to borrow money to establish a fund to cover up to 75 percent of the current unfunded actuarial liabilities created by past employee contracts that promised government workers lifetime health care coverage without setting sufficient money aside for this. A vote of the people would not be required to authorize the new debt, but it would be subject to a referendum if a certain number of voters signed petitions. The proceeds of the borrowed money would be invested in the same way as pension funds. Local governments would be allowed assume debt for this purpose up to the maximum allowed by state law, which is based on the maximum amount of property taxes they can impose

The vote was 71 in favor, 32 opposed and 7 not voting

(House Roll Call 1190 at House Journal 92)

Click here to view bill details.

This is a back door way of putting a tax increase on the tax payers...Local governments should quit making promises they can't keep...Borrowed money has to be paid back with interest...

This bill is the same as SB 1360 introduced by Senator Nancy Cassis. It is an end-run around the Headlee Tax Limitation Amendment, which was voted in by the people to protect them from taxation abuse. Language included in this bill would allow various government entities to add Ad Valorem or Special Assessments to a homeowner's property. This bill is rotten and should go down in flames!

This bill is worse than 1360. That one applies to health care liabilies only. This applies to all unfunded post-retirement bennies for government workers. This issue makes the the S&L crisis and all previous government scandals look like tiddlywinks, and the legislature is making themselves co-conspirators with these bills. It's a scam, people - you work your butts off so spoiled government employees can retire at 50 or 55 with rich pensions and full health coverage. Bend over, here it comes . . .

My Rep. Jim Marleau supported and voted for this bill. It just tells me that he is the "Lobbyists Boy" He never responds to e-mails. At least not from me. But, the people voted him in and they get what they deserve. Now let's see how the mischief of the language Ad Valorem and Special Assessment taxes are handled that are included in this legislation. Let alone the fact that this bill took away the right for the people to vote. Thus making the Headlee Tax Limitation Amendment moot. Nice going Rep. Jim Marleau and all the other lobbyist patsy's!

Senator Switalski's statement, in which Senators Stamas and Johnson concurred in, is as follows: I will be voting against House Bill No.6694 because I think it encourages risky behavior by locals, allowing them to bond for what are in effect operating, expenses.

Senator Whitmer asked and was granted unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed in the Journal. The motion prevailed. Senator Whitmer's statement is as follows: Mr.President, I rise to offer an amendment addressing a concern that has been raised with a bill. The bill currently requires that a local unit of government put in place a plan to reduce health care costs. Mr.President, I wish it were that simple. Health care costs are rising and that's no mystery. My concern is that we are essentially providing that a local unit of government reduce the quality of the benefits it currently provides to its employees because that's the only way to ensure that costs go down. In light of that issue, I have an amendment that changes the phrase, "reduce health care costs" to "manage health care costs." I believe that's the best we can do in the current situation when the costs of health care are rising so rapidly. I ask for your support.

These irresponsible SOBs are the same people who just spent the past two weeks giving and listening to parting speeches about how "honorable" they all are, and how proud they are to have served with such a fine body of - looters. That's all they are is looters. The public employee giveaways this bill will allow to continue are a fiscal tsunami that will inundate the taxpayers of this state in a few years, and make the S&L scandal look like spare change lost in the seat cushions. When your property taxes go through the roof at the same time that massive reductions in police, fire and road repair services are occurring – all to pay off the new aristocracy of 55-year-old municipal government retirees living in Florida on munificient pensions and health benefits paid by your property taxes - look back to this vote and these willfully negligent “honorables” for the cause.

Shouldn't non government taxpayers who pay for governmnent employees benefits have some say in this??????????

Has gone up and we all must pay for the increases. Why are the public servants so special that they should get off without making sacrifices also. So its OK for us to pay our increases and then we should all chip in and pay yours too? What nerve! Everyone wants these leadership positions but where are the leaders who are looking out for their publics interest? What they were hired to do? Do you have wisdom to help us to live a better life or is this about you? Let the records show that woe will come on the lawmakers that put the burden on the people that they cannot bear it. We are there! You are accountable, probably more than you know. So unless you really have some leadership to bring to the table I wouldn't run for a office, as to whom much is given , much is required. God bless you to see the truth.

Our senators and representatives who voted for this violated our MI Constitution's Headlee Tax Limitation Amendment. They unlawfully took away our (the electors) right to vote on the legislation. Also --- what is included in the language is the possibility to put a tax on our property, because the language includes Ad valorem/Special Assessments. Quit voting for the Republican's and Democrat's, because there is really not an iota of difference between them anymore. Start voting for the Libertarian Party, which wants to restore our Constitutional Limited Government!!!!!!!!