Gillian,

One can say if we do not pass this we will be like California. Look at California, they are bankrupt and keep spending money they do not have, look at the city of Detroit. The answer is not to give them more money, the answer is for them to be fiscally responsible with promises that are sustainable.

How about living within their means, not spending money we do not have. We have to do this in our own personal budgets, why can't we expect the government to do the same?

I am voting for this proposal to make the politicians be good stewards with the money we give them. Why should it be easy for them to just raise taxes and not make the hard decisions?

There is no money tree!

"How about living within their means, not spending money we do not have. We have to do this in our own personal budgets, why can't we expect the government to do the same?"

That's swell idea, but various state proposals and the current economy have hurt both California and Detroit that effectively increases their obligations and decreases their ability to keep or expand revenue. Both the state of California and the city of Detroit find themselves in a Catch 22 situation of increased obligations and decreased revenue.

In California, it was Proposition 13 that started its downward spiral. For Detroit, it was Proposal A and the Headlee Amendment.

I'd love to see Patrishkoff serve as an elected official.

Daryl, the reason why California continues to spend money that they do not have is because they are required to by law/their constitution. Over 60% of the CA budget is set in stone based on their constitution. How did that happen? It happened because special interest groups put proposals on the ballot that would guarantee funding for their projects, put out a nice campaign to get people to vote for it, and once passed, bam, they create instant annual revenue for eternity. No matter what happens to CA revenue, the legislature can only play with 40% of the budget. And on top of that, need 2/3rd of the legislature to raise taxes. With that much hand tying and no wiggle room on anything, it's no wonder they are so close to bankruptcy.

Funny comments on how great California is doing and how they and Detroit are victims of Proposal 13, Proposal A and the Headlee Amendment.

These proposals were voted in many years ago by the public to control the tax increases. They demanded our politicians live within their means and not increase faster than inflation, if they needed more they could come to the people and request a tax increase beyond these rate increases.

What did the politicians do?

Budget gimmicks, hidden costs pushed down the road and promised unsustainable benefits and programs. They knew what the tax collections were going to be, but they still kept spending more and making promises they could not keep. Now that they put themselves in this position because they were not living within their means. They want to raise our taxes more so they can keep spending.

How can we trust them? They have proven they are not good stewards of our money and many people here just want to give them more. When does it stop?

The State legislature won't do it's job,, so this proposal puts the people in charge of raising their own taxes or suffering the consequences. It's like giving the "switch" to the guy strapped into the electric chair, eh? Who among us wants more taxes? Anybody want to vote more upon yourself?

Holding elected officials ACCOUNTABLE for wisely spending every tax dollar is the solution. How about a common sense proposal that forces republicans and democrats to WORK TOGETHER to solve our problems. No escape clause,, no finger pointing allowed. We are ALL citizens of the state and deserve better than we have gotten from Lansing.

Daryl:

The greatest single problem for governments at this time is the downturn in the economy caused by the Great Recession. Its not all governments' fault. You might recall how AIG turned the economy into a giant casino.

No one predicted the economic catastrophe so stop your wailing about over-spending.

When does it stop? When we realize that government is not always evil and big business is not always good.

Ted

Ted,

So the government is a victim, they did not see this coming! WOW, true leaders know what limits they have (ie: Headlee, Proposals 13 & A) but decided to ignore it. Yes, government is the problem; they give out free stuff with our money to get votes and promise things that cannot be paid for.

I am called radical because I want accountability and a sustainable budget. I believe it is radical to go on the path that cannot pay for what it promises.

This has to change. In business if we make bad decisions we go out of business and have a personal cost. You seem to have a theme, business is bad and the small business person is useless and does nothing for our country.

I am very taken back by your opinion that you believe you have the answers and people who take personal risk and create something are useless. Sounds like the President when he said “you did not build that”. You think we are a source of money to take from and support poor choices made by politicians.

Like I said earlier, we will never agree on any of these issues. I wish you well in your efforts but I agree to disagree with you. Good luck with your approach.

No on prop 5 period. Yes to living within your means. This is no way to fix the budget.Since Citizens United over ran the election process we cannot trust the air waves to inform the public. The folks up in Lansing aren't much better but at least we can throw them out on their can, with full lifetime benefits by the way, for part time work.
While I'm at it a big NO on 6 too.

That is correct ---Props 2-6 bcome part of the State Constitution ----- none of those proposals belong there.

Remember you MUST also vote YES on Prop 1

How can protecting police, fire, nurses, teachers, workers in general be bad? VOTE YES on PROP2, NO on PROP 1. You know what's bad is when legislators pass anti-worker legislation to pay for their business tax breaks and then break our contracts so that they can afford that, oh, and then keep us down so that we don't have money to donate to candidates who really do care about PEOPLE, instead of corporations.

@ Wendy...you're only telling one side of the story. I"m voting no on 2. Collective bargaining have no place in a modern day capitalistic society. 80 years ago...they did. Not today. Sorry, Prop 2 isn't anti- worker legislation. It's anti-racket, anti-thug legislation. If the private sector doesn't like the working conditions, better your education and/or find another job to meet your salary requirements or working conditions.

What is the union's number one weapon? Strike. A strike is the equivalent of a child throwing a temper tantrum because they don't get what they want. Aren't we, as adults...supposed to be and act better.

Wendy ---without corporations where woud jobs come from? Where would tax revenue come from? Why should this be a constitutional ammendment?? There already are too many laws that business must follow ---and remember that public service jobs need to respond just like private sector jobs - why should they have any special rights???

Wendy ---without KIINGS where would jobs come from?

"Collective bargaining have no place in a modern day capitalistic society. 80 years ago...they did." -Lee

You must be Superman!

On the other hand, I suppose that the Titans of Capitalism rule by Divine Right and it is my duty to accept their control over my life as I march miserably from job to job only to find the same work conditions...

Smells like voluntary serfdom. well you can march to the slaughterhouse for salvation, but I'm staying the field.

One no, and 4 yes's............ don't scream, I already voted.................. and yes there are 6 reasons, to use an absentee ballot , out of town, medical, and of course, if you are a retiree................ the ballot is 18 's long, will take a while, unless you waste your vote by going straight Pull, in which case you are not voting for the person, are you.

You said it Wendy. Vote for your police, fire, teachers. Vote yes on 2.

Boy,... America was great when the common public respected these professionals. When unions of workers were strong in the 40s 50s and 60s.

Why do commoners begrudge commoners? Sounds George Orwell 1984 ish????

Remember there are only six reasons to be able to vote absentee ----- if you lie about any reason when requesting an absentee ballot you are looking at a misdemeanor charge.

ARREST ME.

Here are the six reasons allowed for an absentee ballot

The statutory grounds on which I base my request are (check applicable reason):
 I expect to be absent from the community in which I am registered for the entire time the polls are open on election day.
 I am physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another.
 I cannot attend the polls because of the tenets of my religion.
 I have been appointed an election precinct inspector in a precinct other than the precinct where I reside.
 I am 60 years of age or older.

I cannot attend the polls because I am confined to jail awaiting arraignment or trial.

Hey Mr. Voter Suppression Les:

ARREST ME!

I am not suppressing voting ----I believe it is important to follow the law! We do NOT live in Chicago and vote early and vote often!

les I can read, I vote absentee, any election that is not a local millage, when it comes to local political emotional mumbo jumbo, I go and walk right in , and I make sure it is counted............ the elections that cross my City limits, I vote absentee....... been doing that for 12 yr's.............. I don't need you to be my Guardian angel ......... now go stand in line.

I'm amazed at the level of rudeness people are showing Les for simply pointing out the law. Let's try to keep it civil in here!

Steve, no lack of respect, he did not go into explaining to me about absentee voting till I posted, that I did ................. as if a warning, that I better deserve the right to do so.... not once but several times. When you go to inquire about the form," so you can vote ahead of time"........ they explain all that to you.......... they pretty much get a good idea under which boxes you qualified.
Prego moms also........
Although I do qualf. by age (which all you youngens should be thank full for, less time to stand in line for you) I used the form, back in the 80's and 90's when I was a service rep, college kids can do so, since there are some questions about stalling them till it's to late.

Les.....Source: http://www.ehow.com/video_4767556_states-don_t-tax-pens...
There are seven states that do not tax pensions: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming

It was enough to generate $1.8 Billion in its first year.

So instead of paying for police, fire, EMS, and teachers, Snyder donated it to businesses.

So, that means I should vote YES, no? ;-)

I look at these proposals, as, I agree in a perfect world they might not belong in the const. BUT, since we have turned into playground mentality, = GRID lock, I don't need a know it all pompous person who went against his own parties wishes, refuse to let ppl vote, then if it passes it is By his very actions why it is on the ballot, it bothers me not that a private person is involved , state allowed him for a few decades........ so live with it, Lord Fontenoy .

Michigan Legislature...

"The Michigan Constitution vests the state’s lawmaking power in a two-house Legislature consisting of a 38-member Senate and a 110-member House of Representatives. The Legislature is an independent branch of state government with the authority to enact laws that regulate and protect the actions and interests of the government and the people. The Governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 recommends total funding of $127.9 million, of which $120.8 million is general fund. The Governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2014 recommends total funding of $128.4 million, of which $121.2 million is general fund."

http://www.michigan.gov/budget

The GOP does VS so well they worry about it being done to them.

During the 2004 election, Sproul & Associates (the former name of Lincoln Strategy) was accused of attempting to destroy forms collected by Democratic voters in Nevada. In Oregon, Sproul & Associates allegedly instructed canvassers to only accept Republican registration forms in addition to destroying those turned in by Democrats.

In Minnesota, meanwhile, Sproul's firm was accused of actually firing workers who brought back Democratic registration forms, while other canvassers were allegedly paid "$13 an hour, with the $3 bonus for every Bush, undecided or Ralph Nader voter registration." Similar problems related to Sproul & Associates popped up in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Since 2004, Mr. Sproul’s companies — he has operated under several corporate names — have collected more than $17.6 million from Republican committees, candidates and the SuperPACs like American Crossroads, mostly for voter registration operations.

And then there is this: "The suspect, Colin Small, 31, was described by a local law enforcement official as a "supervisor" in a Republican Party financed operation to register voters in Rockingham County in rural Virginia, a key swing state in the Nov. 6 election. He was arrested after a local business owner in the same Harrisonburg, Va., shopping center where the local GOP campaign headquarters is located spotted Small tossing a bag into the trash," http://goo.gl/OLY3g

What are you talking about ---YES on One, NO on two, three, four, five, and six

None of the Constitutional amendments even belong on the ballot

All.

I was NOT paid to collect signatures for Prop #2 or Prop #1. The special interest groups that I represent are working families who believe in a level playing field and representation in their government. Let's not forget the billions or more being spent by special interest corporations who have a vested interest in their profits, not their people.

doug... though I disagree time to time with Jack Lessenberry, Published: October 3, 2012 Metro Times http://metrotimes.com/columns/those-ballot-props-1.1382150?pgno=1 -- he brings up some good points worth sharing.

"Proposal 5: The tax prevention amendment. VOTE NO, NO, NO, NO. Defeating this is more important than the fate of the first four combined. If passed, it would paralyze government.

What it would do is require any statewide vote — which would have to be held in November — or a two-thirds vote of the Legislature in order to raise any tax, for whatever reason. This would destroy government's ability to respond to any crisis or disaster.

Today, you couldn't get two-thirds of the Legislature to agree to pour ---- out of their boots. What few people know about this is that it is another amendment bought and paid for by Matty Moroun.

Why was the monopoly owner of the Ambassador Bridge behind this? Rich Robinson, the principled head of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, told me, "It almost seems like Moroun is saying, 'If I can't have my way on the bridge, I am going to destroy the state.'" Hint to voters: Don't let him." by Jack Lessenberry