tracy jacklovitz's Page
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- Are you interested in becoming an organizer in your area?
- Maybe--But Not Sure What to Organize
- Tell us about your experience with alternative energy:
- none
- What excites you about this campaign?
- not having to depend on forein oil and countrys
- What do you want to do to help?
- anything i can
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I'm checking to see if you will be interested in receiving information on our Franklin Wind Turbine for individual homes, work places, Farms, Ranches and remote areas. if so,Please let me know the best way to contact you. Thanks, Bill Mollring
mrbillmaui@yahoo.com
Please read below about what the Michigan Chamber of Commerce said about this tax proposal.
The 2008 Michigan Fair Tax Ballot Proposal
APPROVED BY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
APRIL 24, 2008
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce continues to believe that our state's economic competitiveness should be improved by providing all taxpayers with broad based tax relief. However, we oppose the 2008 Michigan Fair Tax ballot proposal to amend the State Constitution to impose a 9.75% sales and use tax on consumer purchases of goods and services because the petition currently being circulated has too many unanswered questions and unresolved problems to warrant support.
Background
The Michigan Chamber is convinced that the current situation with taxes and spending in Michigan is unacceptable. Allowing the state appropriations process to drive tax policy decisions has resulted in significant tax increases on many Michigan job providers. Furthermore, the complicated and administratively burdensome nature of our current tax system leaves much to be desired. Though a state-level “Fair Tax” initially sounds appealing, and a national-level concept may have some merit, the proposed 9.75% Fair Tax ballot proposal has too many unanswered questions and unresolved problems to warrant support.
In response to increasing calls to reduce Michigan’s tax burden and improve our business climate, proponents of a so-called “Fair Tax” have spent the past three years advocating for a Michigan Fair Tax. Their goal has been to eliminate certain business taxes and broaden Michigan’s sales and use taxes in an effort to bring simplicity to our current tax system. The plan generally calls for imposing Michigan sales/use taxes to 9.75% (an approximate 62% increase), expanding the taxes to services, food and drugs (except those exempt by law), while repealing two major business taxes (MBT and business personal property taxes) and Michigan’s Personal Income Tax.
The State Board of Canvassers has approved language for this Constitutional amendment, and the petition and signature-gathering effort (approximately 400,000 needed) is underway to place this on the November 2008 ballot. Due to public interest, and the fact that the Michigan Chamber has been actively involved in the state’s tax limitation movement, it is important for the Michigan Chamber to formulate a position on this issue.
Proponents are advocating the plan based on the following selling points: simplicity; repeal of the MBT, the business personal property tax, the Michigan Personal Income Tax; and “pre-bates” (annual refunds to all taxpayers to alleviate regressive nature of sales tax).
Other features of the plan include providing increased and guaranteed funding to local governments, elimination of any estate taxes and a constitutionally required insurance premiums tax.
There are too many unanswered questions and unresolved issues to warrant support; first and foremost is the recent experience with the 6% “service” tax, which was hastily approved by the Legislature and Administration. The debacle proved that it is much easier to talk about the idea of a sales tax on services than it is to implement.
Michigan “Fair Tax” advocates claim that their proposal will eliminate income taxes and prohibit general business tax increases without a vote of the people. However, in their proposal is the potential for a major expansion of the income tax, allowing any subdivision of the state (City, Village, Township, County, School Districts) to levy an income tax. Currently, only cities above a certain population threshold may adopt a city-level income tax. In addition, the proposed Article IX, Section 47 of the proposal, provides that if revenues from the increase in the expanded sales and use tax falls short of expected revenues, the rate will automatically increase for one year (the baseline formula is previous years’ sales and use tax revenues adjusted for population and inflation). No reference to these two provisions is found in the proponents marketing material.
There are several other significant concerns and reservations about the Michigan “Fair Tax” proposal.
This proposal would shift out-of-state tax burden to in-state taxpayers. Despite the ability to levy a higher sales tax on visitors from outside Michigan, we would lose the ability to tax out-of-state taxpayers through the MBT (shifting an estimated $850 million onto Michigan taxpayers). States are currently prohibited from mandatory collection of sales tax across state borders. This would put Michigan sellers at a competitive disadvantage to businesses in other states that would not have to charge a tax on services, or such a high rate in general – particularly those in border counties. In addition, the potential for tax avoidance is increased. Michigan would have the highest state sales tax rate in the country, having a potentially negative impact on sales of cars, boats, trucks, appliances, etc.
Shift to individual taxpayers. Regardless of the reality of the final incidence of tax, the perception that businesses would be nearly fully relieved of paying taxes at the expense of individuals could create challenges in securing voter approval.
Complicated and difficult to administer. For example, the proposal calls for providing “pre-bates” to be sent to individuals to offset the regressive nature of sales taxes. Upon close inspection, the tax application, collection and distribution are complicated and would be difficult for taxpayers and administrators of the tax policy. Also, the proposal calls for a complicated revenue distribution stream based on sales on tangible property versus sales of services, food, drugs, etc. It is not uncommon for a retailer to remit sales tax revenues to the state of Michigan en masse. There is not a tracking system currently within the remittance mechanism to determine the revenue source. This problem would introduce a whole new level of administrative complexity for taxpayers and Administrators.
Rate and revenue questions. “Fair Tax” proponents claim their proposal would be “revenue neutral,” – however, this has not been confirmed by an objective third party. There has been some concern expressed that the revenues generated by a 9.75% rate fall significantly short of the intended goal.
As of this date, the only business organization supporting this proposal is the Small Business Association of Michigan.
At the February 29, 2008 meeting of the Michigan Chamber Tax Policy Committee, a majority of committee members voted to oppose the 2008 Michigan Fair Tax ballot proposal.
©2009 Michigan Chamber of Commerce Delete Comment
Merry Christmas tracy,
This year I have helped so many members learn about personal home energy plans. It's all about power use, conservation, and home power generation, things I have been doing at my residence to lower my energy costs. Send me a friend request a to add me tracy, I'd be honored to have you as a friend here.
BTW, Michigan: I just posted an article on my page about Home Wind Systems in Michigan. Your state's representatives, governor, and public utility commission officials are not in your corner with this "soft policy" on Net Metering. Instead they have the tables turned against green power for businesses and homeowners. You should read that article, important.
I am Dan and I am located in Ann Arbor and market two split fuel systems for your car or truck. This system combines gasoline or diesel with propane or CNG The benefits of doing this is that you increase your MPG, horsepower and decrease emissions by 50% I am going to attach some information if you would like to know more you can E-mail me at alternativefuelsolution@yahoo.com
Daniel
1003 Broadway Ann Arbor, Mich 48105
(734) 327-0038
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EMAIL A LETTER TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES -
the creators of this site have given us the ability, with little effort, to send a letter to our Representatives in Washington and Governor, too. PLEASE GO TO "THE PLEDGE" (at the very top of this page on the blue header). On the top of the pledge page there are three rectangular buttons- two blue, and ONE RED BUTTON, that reads "CONTACT CONGRESS" . Fill in the short, standard form. Done!
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE PLEDGE, get them signed and faxed back to Boone. This is how we build our numbers fast! Be a leader, be a part of the "100 CLUB", by faxing in 100 signed pledges. Let me know when you are done and I will add you to the list.
YOU CAN HELP BY BRINGING 5 FOLKS TO JOIN the site today, so that we can build a voice big enough that Congress will finally have to listen to us, instead of the lobbyists and special interests, who will certainly try to derail this historic effort.
THERE IS NO TIME TO DELAY
…to wait and see…or to see if someone else will step up to the plate. It is time for US to roll up our sleeves and go to work. Right now momentum is working in our favor, but if gas prices retreat, the public will forget the pain, and our moment may be lost.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Check out Pickens "August Call to Action"- for a course of action! Here is an informative video "Topeka, Kansas Town Hall Meeting": http://www.pickensplan.com/news/2008/08/04/video-of-the-topeka-town-hall
PERSONAL ACTION OPTIONS
We need to do more than “preach to the choir”. Sharing ideas with each other is encouraging but that will not 1) increase our membership nor 2) influence public policy. If you know someone in the press or someone who blogs - get them to cover this. Ask those in the public eye to support this plan.
A GROUP FOR EVERYONE Check out the many groups for Solar, CNG, your area, etc. Connect, learn and share. We grow stronger with your input. If you don't see a group that speaks to your interest, then start a group of your own.
PLEASE FRIEND ME so we can keep in touch. I do updates on new member numbers and pertinent info.
Thanks again for joining this historical effort. WE CAN DO THIS
Chris in Oscoda, Michigan