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Granholm coming after our fun!

By SJapinga, Section News
Posted on Thu Jun 28, 2007 at 02:38:01 PM EST

6% raise on baseball tickets, shows, and concerts?! Are they crazy!?

Not only is Lansing deliberating on raising our taxes on income and on the sales tax, Governor Granholm likes the idea of taxing our fun like baseball games, shows, or movies. Legislation is expecting to be introduced soon that will tax all professional sporting events, concerts, shows, and movies in Michigan by 6%. A new coalition has formed to fight the newest invasion on our wallets called Fans Against the Ticket Tax (http://notickettax.com/). Check out their website to read more about the issues and to call the Governor, your State Senator, or Representative and tell them to vote `no' on any luxury tax increase!

More about the tax:
The ticket tax targets hard working Michigan families who already pay enough in taxes. If the Governor gets her way, Michigan will be the only state in the region with the highest sports and entertainment tax; Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania have "0" tax on so-called luxury items (we don't call it luxury - most of it is simply family entertainment).

Here is some great information from the new coalition:

$24 million per year tax on sports tickets for Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons, Lions, Michigan International Speedway, minor league baseball, and hockey.
$48 million per year tax on shows and performances like those at the Fox Theater, Palace, DTE, Meadow Brook, Purple Rose Theater, and DeVos Arena for shows like Sesame Street Live, Lion King, White Christmas, and performances by the American Idols.
$32 million per year tax on movie tickets to every movie in every movie theater in the state:

o A family of four with season tickets to the Tigers would be forced to pay new taxes ranging from $230 to more than $1,200 per year.
o A family of four with season tickets to the Red Wings would be forced to pay new taxes from $597 to more than $1,900 per year.

HOW WE CAN STOP THE TICKET TAX:

Contact the Governor, your State Represenative and your State Senator. Tell them you oppose the Ticket Tax. Spending time with your family is not a luxury to be taxed.
If you don't know your legislators' emails or phone numbers, go to www.NoTicketTax.com There you will find links to the Governor's email and to email addresses and phone numbers for your State Represenative and State Senator.
Or call 1-877-No-TK-Tax (1-877-688-5529) to get the phone numbers you need to call for the Governor and Legislative leaders. Email today...Call Today...Act Today Fans Against the Ticket Tax!

Together, Americans for Prosperity and Fans Against the Ticket Tax will be distributing information on this horrible tax to Michigan taxpayers at minor league baseball. If you can make it to any of these games or events to help out, please join us!!

July 13th Common Ground in Downtown Lansing

July 18th at noon - Lansing Lugnuts Game

July 19th at West Michigan Whitecaps Game

July 30th at Great Lakes Loons Game in Midland

< Carl Levin supports amnesty for illegals | CMU sends out 'anti-Israel, pro-terrorist' news release >

Granholm coming after our fun! | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)

While you're at it (1.00 / 1) (#1)
by NoviDemocrat on Thu Jun 28, 2007 at 03:16:34 PM EST

Tell those sports teams and venues to stop taking tax dollars that they don't need and don't boost the economy.

If you are willing... by Mark Adams, 06/28/2007 04:45:56 PM EST (5.00 / 1)
The tax dollars are already gone. by John Galt, 06/28/2007 08:27:30 PM EST (5.00 / 1)

Yes they are crazy - (3.00 / 2) (#2)
by snoopygirlmi on Thu Jun 28, 2007 at 03:23:15 PM EST

I'm surprised you had to ask the question! ;-)

Thanks for the info - I'll definitely check out the website.

Hey Novi DumocRAT (1.00 / 1) (#3)
by sandmman on Thu Jun 28, 2007 at 03:49:53 PM EST

Thanks for your invaluable input.

Always great to hear from those with limited intelligence.

Last time I checked (1.00 / 1) (#6)
by NoviDemocrat on Fri Jun 29, 2007 at 12:02:19 AM EST

Illitch Inc. is still sucking down tax dollars. I would also bet that the stadium is not paid off yet. Who's still paying? Yup, the taxpayers.

The Stadium by John Galt, 06/29/2007 06:57:19 AM EST (5.00 / 1)
Come on.... by gnu2u, 06/29/2007 08:25:29 AM EST (5.00 / 1)

Hey Novi DumocRAT (none / 0) (#7)
by sandmman on Fri Jun 29, 2007 at 06:43:30 AM EST

Thanks for sharing.

Always great to hear from those with limited intelligence.

In Desiderata we're told to, "listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story."

Guess we have to listen to your story!

Not hating (1.00 / 1) (#10)
by NoviDemocrat on Fri Jun 29, 2007 at 09:15:29 AM EST

JG: I've already posted links to recent articles about Illitch Inc. getting taxpayer dollars for various activities. Apparently, he's so strapped for cash that he needs taxpayers bankroll his work.

gnu2u: I don't have any problem with Mr. Illitch's success. I've been to Comerica this year so I'm quite familiar with all of the benefits of the stadium. But I find it hypocritical of Illitch and others to be complaining about taxes on one hand while taking tax dollars with the other. I have more respect for a guy like Bill Davidson who built what he did on his own dime. Unlike Illitch, he hasn't relied on the taxpayers to help finance his enterprises.

yes, you do (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by gnu2u on Fri Jun 29, 2007 at 09:49:46 AM EST

ND. You clearly have a problem with Illitch and any other successful entrepreneur. Let me remind you that the Palace was built using tax abatements and other public financing tools.

Illitch understands that the ticket tax is going to harm HIS CUSTOMERS. A 6% tax on tickets isn't going to hurt Illitch personally, but it will have a negative impact on his investment in the City of Detroit, which is in part, funded by taxpayers. He'd rather not see the taxpayers' investment be ruined by an unwise, business-costing ticket tax.

As for Davidson, there is considerably lower risk in building in Auburn HIlls than there is in the City of Detroit. Once you cross Eight Mile, it is an entirely different financing game.

Wrong about the Palace by NoviDemocrat, 06/29/2007 12:07:00 PM EST (1.00 / 1)

not exactly on topic, but bear with me--it's funny (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by goppartyreptile on Fri Jun 29, 2007 at 10:09:13 AM EST

I remember a few years ago when Granholm forced state employees to lose two days of pay (and put it in their vacation) to save the budget, there was quite a large protest.

Walking past to enjoy the spectacle, I remember seeing the funniest sign ever created. It read:

"BRING BACK THE FAT BOY!"

And I couldn't agree more. Over on MichiganLiberal someone is warning that state employees aren't gonna vote republican any more because of Mike Bishop. I would state that most of them never did, but if they were lamenting the loss of John Engler...

NoviDemocrat is right. (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by John Galt on Fri Jun 29, 2007 at 01:06:10 PM EST

Illitch taking grant money to knock down a Detroit eye-sore was a travesty. How dare he continue to take government money like that!

All of these companies that do work the government wants to see done... it's just unconscionable!

All of these government contracts and grants are just tossing money to people who don't need them! Companies should be DONATING their services to the Government.

Tow Truck Drivers that tow for local police... Yeah, that service they offer should be FREE. Those construction workers should be doing it for FREE.

It's just WRONG for these businesses to be taking money from the government, to do work we want done. it's WRONG and it should STOP NOW.

NoviDemocrat, you're absolutely right. I think you and I should draft a letter to Illitch Holdings, asking them to NOT ONLY return the $100,000 but to put that building back the way it was! You write it up, and i'll proof read it to make sure you've included all of the salient points. Remember, we want Illitch and every other company to do work for the community for FREE.

Who owns the building? (1.00 / 1) (#15)
by NoviDemocrat on Fri Jun 29, 2007 at 01:39:43 PM EST

Ilitch, that's who. So he gets taxpayer dollars to demolish the building that he owns! Why is that?

Seems pretty straight forward. by John Galt, 06/29/2007 03:08:17 PM EST (5.00 / 1)

that's not quite accurate...well, not at ALL (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by Nick on Fri Jun 29, 2007 at 01:41:57 PM EST

Tax breaks and abatements do not reflect a businessman "getting" tax dollars.

It reflects fewer tax dollars paid by that business to the state or local government.

They still pay, they just pay less. They do not get paid by the state.

The eyesore (1.00 / 1) (#18)
by NoviDemocrat on Fri Jun 29, 2007 at 03:21:13 PM EST

is the building he owns! Try letting your home or business get run down to the point that it should be demolished and see if your local government will give you money to tear it down. What they'll probably do is have it declared a nuisance, tear it down and bill you for it. Your effort to defend Ilitch's actions in this case are pretty pathetic for a conservative.

He bought an eyesore. by John Galt, 06/29/2007 10:08:58 PM EST (5.00 / 1)

Remember (none / 0) (#20)
by sandmman on Sat Jun 30, 2007 at 11:04:44 AM EST

Novi DumocRAT doesn't have anything to contribute - probably isn't allowed on MichiganLibel.

Ignore his idiotic rants. Maybe he'll go away - or be admitted for observation.

Granholm coming after our fun! | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)

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