SW CONVENTION, you guys don't check out what people tell you do you?

[David Stevens]

Went to SW Tea Party, people cheered and gave the speaker of the house a standing ovation except me and the guy sitting next to me. He even threw the crowd a bone and they all cheered but only heard what they wanted to hear. He said I'm for a right to work state, they heard they are going to make Michigan a right to work state. People he did not lay out a plan, his numbers like the state police taking a 10% cut, sorry he played with the numbers. They were thrilled to hear that they were going to make state workers pay taxes on their retirement to, boy has the government got you guys paper trained. I got a novel idea, NO ONE PAY TAXES ON RETIREMENT. I've been in politics for years, all I got to say is when they screw you again you've only got yourself to blame. Here's a good link from a school supper that has done an excellent job of laying out the numbers.
  http://www.screencast.com/t/LWVIriamj

[Scott Arnett]

So what is your plan to cut the deficit?

[Gene Clem]

I agree with the Speaker, if I am 66 and I am making $50K employed and am taxed, say $x amount, then if all is far (and income tax is not) then I should pay $x on retirement income.  What's the diff?  Many people do not collect retirement pensions, etc until later years if they are gainfully employed and can collect at a higher rate if they wait until they are closer to death (to be blunt).  Especially if the government is underwriting their medical insurance (if pretty crazily with Medicare at that).

[Anthony Dugal]

All this talk about currently taxing IRA disbursements versus not taxing pensions, proposals for the first $20K / $40K exempt from state income tax, blah, blah...makes my head spin. Don't get me wrong--I'm very interested. But there is so much information to digest, and various proposed schemes (for both Michigan and Federal taxation, social security, medicare, etc--as it applies to retirees), that I just don't know what to think.

All I know is that I'll apparently get screwed, no matter what the final plan will be. You see, I'm under the "magical" age of 55-years-old.  Most schemes have various levels of exemption and "grandfathering" for those aged 55 to 67. Older retirees will have little or no change in their state income tax, and can expect what they've been promised for social security (God only knows what the future of Medicare will be?). But all those "under 55" are lumped together. So, like our children and grandchildren, I can expect to pay ever-higher income taxes, to both state and federal. I can expect to wait until I'm 70 or 72 (perhaps older) to draw social security (if the country isn't totally bankrupt). And I really doubt Medicare will provide any significant health benefits by the time I'd like to need them.

 

I'm not so upset for myself, but mostly for my kids and future grandchildren. Unless we get-ahold of our government (by the neck, figuratively!), and put a halt to it's growth,  future generations will be taxed into oblivion, and won't have much of a country left to justify such big government. All we can do is keep fighting for our freedoms.

[David Stevens]

Not sure where you come up with most wait till later years to collect, maybe you circulate in the richer circles but not true.  First, currently they don't pay till after $45,000.00 single 90 married. The governor is lowering it to 20/40.  Second, here are the true numbers of the governors cuts, note state police, the speaker said they were taking a 10% cut.  Do you know why we are in the shape we are in, YOU GUYS BELIEVE EVERY DANG THING IF THEY ARE REPUBLICANS.  The TEA Part is not suppose to be independent of any parties, you're not. 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                                 -10.3%

SCHOOL AID K-12                                                                        -7.2%

HIGHER EDUCATION                                                                  -3.6%

STATE POLICE                                                                              -2.1%

COMMUNITY HEALTH                                                               -1.1%

HUMAN SERVICES                                                                      -0.8%

COMMUNITY COLLEGES                                                            0.0%

CORRECTIONS                                                                             +0.2%

NATURAL RESOURCES                                                               +2.1%

ENVIROMENTAL QUALITY                                                         +2.6%

TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT & BUDGET                               +3.9%

TRANSPORTION                                                                             +4.4%

AVERAGE

Gene Clem said:

I agree with the Speaker, if I am 66 and I am making $50K employed and am taxed, say $x amount, then if all is far (and income tax is not) then I should pay $x on retirement income.  What's the diff?  Many people do not collect retirement pensions, etc until later years if they are gainfully employed and can collect at a higher rate if they wait until they are closer to death (to be blunt).  Especially if the government is underwriting their medical insurance (if pretty crazily with Medicare at that).

[David Stevens]

TEA is an acronym for Taxed Enough Already but it is obvious that the SW Michigan TEA Party does not believe that or it does not know that is what it stands for.  Those TAXES that the SW TEA Party supports is money that will not be spent in local bushiness's or other places that help to generate jobs for this state but is now eaten up by the state.  The next time you hear Obama say we need to tax our way out of this hole that has been dug by irresponsible legislators remember you support that position as a TEA Party. You can't have it both ways which you are trying to do.  Please take this letter as my resignation from the Barry County TEA Party.  I will be asking the Banner to publish a letter that I will write of my resignation from the Barry County Republican TEA Party. Below is a true break down of the governors proposal or should I say shell game.

David Stevens

 

DEPA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                                 -10.3%

SCHOOL AID K-12                                                                        -7.2%

HIGHER EDUCATION                                                                  -3.6%

STATE POLICE                                                                              -2.1%

COMMUNITY HEALTH                                                               -1.1%

HUMAN SERVICES                                                                      -0.8%

COMMUNITY COLLEGES                                                            0.0%

CORRECTIONS                                                                             +0.2%

NATURAL RESOURCES                                                               +2.1%

ENVIROMENTAL QUALITY                                                         +2.6%

TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT & BUDGET                               +3.9%

TRANSPORTION                                                                             +4.4%

AVERAGE

David Stevens said:

Not sure where you come up with most wait till later years to collect, maybe you circulate in the richer circles but not true.  First, currently they don't pay till after $45,000.00 single 90 married. The governor is lowering it to 20/40.  Second, here are the true numbers of the governors cuts, note state police, the speaker said they were taking a 10% cut.  Do you know why we are in the shape we are in, YOU GUYS BELIEVE EVERY DANG THING IF THEY ARE REPUBLICANS.  The TEA Part is not suppose to be independent of any parties, you're not. 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                                 -10.3%

SCHOOL AID K-12                                                                        -7.2%

HIGHER EDUCATION                                                                  -3.6%

STATE POLICE                                                                              -2.1%

COMMUNITY HEALTH                                                               -1.1%

HUMAN SERVICES                                                                      -0.8%

COMMUNITY COLLEGES                                                            0.0%

CORRECTIONS                                                                             +0.2%

NATURAL RESOURCES                                                               +2.1%

ENVIROMENTAL QUALITY                                                         +2.6%

TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT & BUDGET                               +3.9%

TRANSPORTION                                                                             +4.4%

AVERAGE

Gene Clem said:

I agree with the Speaker, if I am 66 and I am making $50K employed and am taxed, say $x amount, then if all is far (and income tax is not) then I should pay $x on retirement income.  What's the diff?  Many people do not collect retirement pensions, etc until later years if they are gainfully employed and can collect at a higher rate if they wait until they are closer to death (to be blunt).  Especially if the government is underwriting their medical insurance (if pretty crazily with Medicare at that).

[Scott Arnett]

These numbers show an over all decrease in spending by 11.9%. How is this a shell game?

David Stevens said:

TEA is an acronym for Taxed Enough Already but it is obvious that the SW Michigan TEA Party does not believe that or it does not know that is what it stands for.  Those TAXES that the SW TEA Party supports is money that will not be spent in local bushiness's or other places that help to generate jobs for this state but is now eaten up by the state.  The next time you hear Obama say we need to tax our way out of this hole that has been dug by irresponsible legislators remember you support that position as a TEA Party. You can't have it both ways which you are trying to do.  Please take this letter as my resignation from the Barry County TEA Party.  I will be asking the Banner to publish a letter that I will write of my resignation from the Barry County Republican TEA Party. Below is a true break down of the governors proposal or should I say shell game.

David Stevens

 

DEPA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                                 -10.3%

SCHOOL AID K-12                                                                        -7.2%

HIGHER EDUCATION                                                                  -3.6%

STATE POLICE                                                                              -2.1%

COMMUNITY HEALTH                                                               -1.1%

HUMAN SERVICES                                                                      -0.8%

COMMUNITY COLLEGES                                                            0.0%

CORRECTIONS                                                                             +0.2%

NATURAL RESOURCES                                                               +2.1%

ENVIROMENTAL QUALITY                                                         +2.6%

TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT & BUDGET                               +3.9%

TRANSPORTION                                                                             +4.4%

AVERAGE

David Stevens said:

Not sure where you come up with most wait till later years to collect, maybe you circulate in the richer circles but not true.  First, currently they don't pay till after $45,000.00 single 90 married. The governor is lowering it to 20/40.  Second, here are the true numbers of the governors cuts, note state police, the speaker said they were taking a 10% cut.  Do you know why we are in the shape we are in, YOU GUYS BELIEVE EVERY DANG THING IF THEY ARE REPUBLICANS.  The TEA Part is not suppose to be independent of any parties, you're not. 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                                 -10.3%

SCHOOL AID K-12                                                                        -7.2%

HIGHER EDUCATION                                                                  -3.6%

STATE POLICE                                                                              -2.1%

COMMUNITY HEALTH                                                               -1.1%

HUMAN SERVICES                                                                      -0.8%

COMMUNITY COLLEGES                                                            0.0%

CORRECTIONS                                                                             +0.2%

NATURAL RESOURCES                                                               +2.1%

ENVIROMENTAL QUALITY                                                         +2.6%

TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT & BUDGET                               +3.9%

TRANSPORTION                                                                             +4.4%

AVERAGE

Gene Clem said:

I agree with the Speaker, if I am 66 and I am making $50K employed and am taxed, say $x amount, then if all is far (and income tax is not) then I should pay $x on retirement income.  What's the diff?  Many people do not collect retirement pensions, etc until later years if they are gainfully employed and can collect at a higher rate if they wait until they are closer to death (to be blunt).  Especially if the government is underwriting their medical insurance (if pretty crazily with Medicare at that).

[David Stevens]

If you had viewed the link on my original post you'd see that it's a shell game.  My problem is I joined the TEA Party because I no longer trusted the republican party and wanted a group that was not an arm of any political party but that's not what I got. I was watching Gov McDonnell of VA and he was saying the secret to their come back was lower taxes and less restrictions on companies. 

The TEA Party has violated it's principals in rubbering stamping the governors tax increase.  This is less money going to local bushiness.  I know I'm spitting into the wind as what I've witness is the SW TEA Party was formed to be an arm of the republican party. 

One more thing, since when do TEA Parties hold Lincoln Day Dinners?  These are dinners held by the republicans, Maybe you should rename your org the SW MI Republican Tea Party and no I'm not one of those liberals that post.  I was the the executive committee for the republicans.  I cannot not be a part of this organization as I'm a Christian and I don't lie about my position.  You can lie to others but it's sad when you lie to yourself.
Scott Arnett said:

These numbers show an over all decrease in spending by 11.9%. How is this a shell game?

David Stevens said:

TEA is an acronym for Taxed Enough Already but it is obvious that the SW Michigan TEA Party does not believe that or it does not know that is what it stands for.  Those TAXES that the SW TEA Party supports is money that will not be spent in local bushiness's or other places that help to generate jobs for this state but is now eaten up by the state.  The next time you hear Obama say we need to tax our way out of this hole that has been dug by irresponsible legislators remember you support that position as a TEA Party. You can't have it both ways which you are trying to do.  Please take this letter as my resignation from the Barry County TEA Party.  I will be asking the Banner to publish a letter that I will write of my resignation from the Barry County Republican TEA Party. Below is a true break down of the governors proposal or should I say shell game.

David Stevens

 

DEPA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                                 -10.3%

SCHOOL AID K-12                                                                        -7.2%

HIGHER EDUCATION                                                                  -3.6%

STATE POLICE                                                                              -2.1%

COMMUNITY HEALTH                                                               -1.1%

HUMAN SERVICES                                                                      -0.8%

COMMUNITY COLLEGES                                                            0.0%

CORRECTIONS                                                                             +0.2%

NATURAL RESOURCES                                                               +2.1%

ENVIROMENTAL QUALITY                                                         +2.6%

TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT & BUDGET                               +3.9%

TRANSPORTION                                                                             +4.4%

AVERAGE

David Stevens said:

Not sure where you come up with most wait till later years to collect, maybe you circulate in the richer circles but not true.  First, currently they don't pay till after $45,000.00 single 90 married. The governor is lowering it to 20/40.  Second, here are the true numbers of the governors cuts, note state police, the speaker said they were taking a 10% cut.  Do you know why we are in the shape we are in, YOU GUYS BELIEVE EVERY DANG THING IF THEY ARE REPUBLICANS.  The TEA Part is not suppose to be independent of any parties, you're not. 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                                 -10.3%

SCHOOL AID K-12                                                                        -7.2%

HIGHER EDUCATION                                                                  -3.6%

STATE POLICE                                                                              -2.1%

COMMUNITY HEALTH                                                               -1.1%

HUMAN SERVICES                                                                      -0.8%

COMMUNITY COLLEGES                                                            0.0%

CORRECTIONS                                                                             +0.2%

NATURAL RESOURCES                                                               +2.1%

ENVIROMENTAL QUALITY                                                         +2.6%

TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT & BUDGET                               +3.9%

TRANSPORTION                                                                             +4.4%

AVERAGE

Gene Clem said:

I agree with the Speaker, if I am 66 and I am making $50K employed and am taxed, say $x amount, then if all is far (and income tax is not) then I should pay $x on retirement income.  What's the diff?  Many people do not collect retirement pensions, etc until later years if they are gainfully employed and can collect at a higher rate if they wait until they are closer to death (to be blunt).  Especially if the government is underwriting their medical insurance (if pretty crazily with Medicare at that).

[Timothy J Banks]

Wow! We didn't get exactly what we wanted so it's time to quit. This is still politics, folks. The end game should be what we're aiming at. Expecting a 100% immediate reversal of what took 100 years to build is completely unrealistic. If I get taxed on my IRA disburtions then why should someone who gets 100% tax free contirbutions get a free ride when its time to collect? Quitting the Tea Party now is exactly what the liberals want. Divide and conquer is their main strategy. I think we should let some of this fall into place and then tweak it when we start to get the results. What is going on now is light years better than the last 8 years.

[William L Beck]

Sadly, this type of issue is both the reason TEA Parties are flourishing, but also a potential cause of their demise.  The TEA Party is a nexus of wide-ranging interests, as evidenced by several conversations I overheard at the recent gathering (quarterly meeting) at the Kalamazoo Missionary Church.  As Mr. Banks points out, liberals (not classical liberals but rather "socialists" who prefer a less-negative moniker) relish the divisions brought about when someone's primary issue is not satisfactorily dealt with by the TEA Party group.  I think we should be looking at our common interests and  prioritizing the battles we are willing to fight rather than taking the football off the field and back home.  It is anyone's prerogative to join or separate from the TEA Party - Mr. Stevens, more power to you.  However, there is a lot more to be gained if we stay engaged; present our arguments for priorities, and give our energies to whatever comes of that prioritization - knowing that eventually the power we gain will enable us to forward all the issues to a desired result.  Now is the time to stick together, learn more about the issues, make certain that we have all the facts and not just Internet rumors and misinformation.  Baby steps in the right direction are far better than retreat.

Just my opinion,

Bill Beck

[Scott McPhail]

I agree totally with what Mr. Beck said. I couldn't say it any better. The Statests got us to this point slowly and over a long period of time. We will need to do the same.

[Scott Arnett]

Agreed, Mr. McPhail and Mr. Beck. Our goals should be to find common ground and march on. This is the tactic of our adversaries.

Scott McPhail said:

I agree totally with what Mr. Beck said. I couldn't say it any better. The Statests got us to this point slowly and over a long period of time. We will need to do the same.