Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on June 11, 2008, to establish a $5,000 cap on the annual fines and fees assessed against any one billboard; clarify that certain billboards that met existing standards when a state moratorium went into effect in 2006 are “grandfathered”; and allow certain improvements in the sign structures of these. Also, to exempt service club and religious sign less than eight square feet in area from the moratorium; and reduce the distance between allowable signs

The vote was 30 in favor, 7 opposed and 1 not voting

(Senate Roll Call 492 at Senate Journal 66)

Click here to view bill details.

getting rid of the silly anti-consumer, anti-business (equals anti-jobs) restrictions on billboards altogether? These advertisements inform traveling consumers where they can stop for food, gas and other services. The fact that our legislature sees advertisements as a nuisance is an illustration of their anti-business, anti-jobs proclivities. No wonder Michigan is in the shape it's in.

And a distraction to drivers, and an eyesore. They clutter the landscape, and make places where they abound notably unattractive. When traveling around the country I far and away prefer the signs as we approach expressway interchanges that indicate what services and vendors of those services are available at or near that interchange.

It's on my property. If you don't like it , don't look at it. Control freaks like you are the problem with this country today.

Billboards are a blight on the landscape. They should be outlawed.

Go buy the land that they are on and you can tear them down. My guess is that if the property owners weren't being saddled with draconian taxes then they wouldn't need to rent out the space. See, once again, if you cut taxes good things will happen.

Senator Hunter asked and was granted unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed in the Journal. The motion prevailed. Senator Hunter’s statement is as follows: My amendment adds to the list of the types of signs or sign structures that are prohibited under this bill by including those that violate community standards of decency. Furthermore, my amendment provides that sexually-oriented businesses shall be limited to only two types of signs—one sign for exterior identification and the other giving notice that the premises are off limits to minors. This amendment is vitally important to me because of the proliferation of the various types of adult entertainment establishments in and around my district, which have become increasingly zealous in using signage to promote their business. Unfortunately, such ardent competition has resulted in the perversion of inappropriate and sexually suggestive viewing material in communities where decent, hard working citizens live and try to raise their families. I would like to personally thank Chairman Gilbert for the empathy that he has shown regarding this issue, especially in treating this amendment as a friendly one to his bill. With that, I respectfully urge this body’s adoption of my amendment.

Despite what you pathetic socialists believe, my private property belongs to me! It does not belong to the state, not the citizenry, not the majority, not motorists...IT IS MINE! I found it, I paid for it, I maintain it and I'll do what I damn well want to with it. DO YOU HEAR ME!! It's MINE! What part of that don't you stupid socialists understand? If I want to put up a hundred billboards on my private property I WILL!! And for all you lame brains who don't like looking at billboards and signs, I have a very simple solution for you...DON'T LOOK AT THEM!! IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE AND LOOK AROUND AT THE SAME TIME, GET OFF THE ROADS!! How is it that with all the money the government spends and wastes on education in this society we have so many stupid people around? This socialistic government tells me I can't do with my private property what I brought it for, yet they have the outright audacity to force inflated taxes my property to pay for their black hole school systems? This madness is going to stop!! Hey legislators, try reading a document called "The Constitution of the United States". I know it's probably a foreign concept for you to grasp, but there are some articles and clauses in that document you need to have entered into your thick political skulls. Just some minor things like "...freedom of speech..." and "...freedom of press..."; "...right of the people to be secure in their...houses...effects...against seizures..."; "...nor be deprived of life, LIBERTY, or PROPERTY...nor SHALL PRIVATE PROPERTY BE TAKEN FOR PUBLIC USE, WITHOUT JUST COMPENSATION." Read it and wept socialists. I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO A DEBATE ON THIS TOPIC IN ANY PUBLIC FORUM!!!

 In response to Anonymous Citizen's post of 09-02-2008 12:50 AM:

Perhaps the state (i.e., tax payers) should demand a cut of the advertising profits from Anonymous Citizen's billboards.  Afterall, the only reason anyone would put a billboard on one's property is as a result of the state roads having been built near the property.  Thus, the State has caused an increase in the value of the property.  Should the individual property owner reap all the rewards from the people's investment?  Or perhaps the people have a right to demand some freedom from advertising when traveling on their (and everyone's) roads.

 once again, we are back to the old adage...

freedom or government. choose one. you can't have both.

perhaps if the landowners weren't deluged by taxation, they wouldn't have to rent the land out to advertisers.

perhaps if success in business were more important than government regulation, people wouldn't be so quick to call on the nanny state to solve their personal problems.

perhaps the answer is to buy up the land, take down the signs and enjoy the drive.

but just be careful WHO you ask to buy up the land...it could be the mighty hand of government that scoops up all the land, then you really wouldn't enjoy the ride at all.

Sorry bub, that's not quite how it works. Though the land may belong to you, it is not on an island in the middle of the ocean. It is surrounded by land owned by other people, your fellow citizens. It borders roads traveled by all of us, paid for by all of us, and therefore all of us have a say in what we are forced to look at as we use them. Sounds like socialism heh? Well, it is. We have a lot of socialism in this democracy. Police , fire departments, roads, schools, social security, etc.. You may think your making it on your own, but your not. Your able to survive and flourish because we all work together, and share this land. But you have to follow the rules. You can't build the kind of house you want, you have to get permits and adhere to the building codes. Why do you think you can put a sign along the road and force people to look at it, or force them to look away? We must live together, and in order to do that, we make laws. Laws you must follow, for your own good, and ours. Do what you want with your land, as long as it doesn't offend others. Sorry, but those are the rules. You should have paid attention in kindergarten.

crazycajun:

perhaps if success in business were more important than government regulation, people wouldn't be so quick to call on the nanny state to solve their personal problems.

The result of that ideology is the economic disaster we find ourselves in now. You've had eight years to prove that premise cajun. Time to try something else.

 we've had a democrat in the mansion for eight years, she's had that long to prove YOUR method works. we were in a ONE STATE DEPRESSION for a lot longer than the current 'economic crisis'.

i'd say HER chance to prove YOUR WAY WORKS is long past.

 

She's had to try and clean up the mess Engler left her, like Obama has to try and clean up the mess Bush left. I see a pattern here.

 so.... when is she GOING TO START?????

she's done NOTHING so far... and i'm not real enthusiastic about her doing ANYTHING ANYTIME SOON.

yes, it's a pattern. the democrats were in charge for over forty years, and they did nothing then, they still do nothing. at least obama is making a good show out of ATTEMPTING change.