Minnie:
Good. If there's one thing Michigan needs, it's a hike in income taxes. Whatever you people do, do NOT reduce spending. I'm sure every cent spent by MI state government has been examined for its absolute necessity and thus all unnecessary or wasteful spending has already been eliminated.
Public spending and public employment have been reduced in Michigan, although many people choose to ignore that fact. Nonetheless, the cost of doing basic business continues to rise. (Have you looked at fuel prices lately, for example?)
What Michigan needs is a sensible tax policy. Big breaks for business have not kept businesses in the state -- that's a failed policy. Excise taxes -- sales and fuel taxes -- are incapable of producing revenues to cover rising costs. In fact, as costs rise, consumption and tax collections decline. So those are failed tax policies, too. Moreover, excise taxes unfairly burden those least able to afford the hit.
A sensible tax policy would provide, among other things, that every legislative bill that entails government expenditures (and most do in one way or another) includes provision for raising revenue to cover those expenses, or it cannot become law. In other words, adopt a pay-as-we-go approach. That is fiscal conservatism.
A sensible tax policy also would increase income tax rates. The most sensible thing to do is amend the Michigan Constitution to allow for a steeply graduated income tax, in order to protect lower and middle income individuals, families and businesses from being overburdened.