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NAVIGATION
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No Crystal Ball RequiredBy Nick, Section News
It's almost like they read the site.
Yesterday morning I was here on Right Michigan talking about, among other things, two big topics... one, Ron Gettelfinger's chronic absence at the negotiating table and protracted refusal to meet with execs at a company his labor union is picketing and two, the mess of a problem businesses are having this year as they prepare their 2007 tax returns what with the Democrats recent tax hikes. And today? We've got articles in the mainstream press discussing, in part, Ron Gettelfinger's chronic absence at the negotiating table and the mess companies have in figuring out their taxes under the new MBT (complete with 22 percent surcharge). I think it's official. Right Michigan is now the most powerful force in the news and blogging community in the Great Lakes State. For the love of Pete, we're dictating coverage! We're big time! OK, so I'm kidding. I'm one-million percent certain that it's pure coincidence the MSM is echoing recent blogs here on RM. But oh what a coincidence. And since they went to the effort, however unintentional, why not give credit where credit's due. Which I guess would be Steve Miller. Miller is the Executive Chairman and former CEO at bankrupt auto parts supplier Delphi Corp... and an author. His memoir is hitting the shelves and he's got a lot to say about our friends at Big Labor, particularly the big boss... Carl Levin's buddy Ron. The Detroit News got their hands on an advance electronic copy of the book and apparently Ron's decision to ignore American Axle low this past month wasn't unique. It's just a Ronism.
"If he could have his way, he'd probably have us all run out of town with tar and feathers," Miller wrote, and the talks were at times suspended for a few days to allow Gettelfinger "to get over his latest temper tantrum." Dick Dauch must have really ticked him off because Ron's just now coming back from a month long temper tantrum. Oh, wait, nevermind. My bad. He wasn't ignoring the (stupid, Grebner?) blue collar workers he's paid to represent, he was working hard to resolve Michigan Democrat Politics. It's not that he's lazy or anything, it's just that his priorities are a mess. Now that he's failed spectacularly in that particular effort he's coming home to his day job. A month late. Read on...
Then again, there might just be an unhealthy dose of bat-crap-crazy in the Big Labor water. See, there's currently a dog fight in the sky between Delta and Northwest Airlines too. Not between management and the working man but company against company. Actually, that's not accurate either. It's strictly union on union violence.
The two airlines are in the process of merging and the union at one thinks their workers are better than the employees at the other. So they're fighting. And now one of the two decided to step things up a notch and to hit the picket lines here in Michigan. Because we don't see enough picket lines in Michigan. According to the Associated Press:
There's one I didn't predict. But unrest and confusion over Michigan's new business tax structure? Oh yeah, I called that one. Sorta like predicting the local news is going to have a report about how busy the airports are the day before Thanksgiving but still... check out this headline in the Ivory Tower... Companies perplexed by new tax. I'll say. Wait, I already did. More or less. So let's see what the FREEP says:
One out-of-sight case involved a partnership in the medical-related business, he said. That company's estimated state tax jumped to $52,000 for all of 2008 from $3,000 in 2007 under the old system. It's possible that the business eventually could revamp its own structure to reduce its Michigan business taxes under this new system, he said.
"People are just having fits about this," Jenkins said. With good reason, Mr. Jenkins. That's quite a spike. Are most folks going to see an increase that size? No. Some are. Heck, many are. But no one in Michigan is immune to the spike Lansing stuck us with last fall. If they don't get you with the MBT they get you with the surcharge and if you escape that you're paying more in income taxes. $2.5 billion more. Which translates directly into higher prices at the cash register. Double whammy and twice the reason to hate the tax man six days from the filing deadline. Only question remains whether or not voters will still hate him come November. Tomorrow's headlines? No question at all. Look for plenty of coverage of the Tigers' first win of the season. Tonight's the night. It's got to be. Please?
No Crystal Ball Required | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
No Crystal Ball Required | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
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