republican controlled legislature Archives

Bailout for DPS up Next for Michigan Taxpayers

November 25, 2015 11:58 am \ Leave a Comment \ by rabman13

It would appear that $195 Million “Bailout” just wasn’t quit enough it was just the starting point. Within 10 hours of these articles the backroom deals must have been cut?

Anybody think this has something to do with the lawsuit that was awarded that the DPS is on the hook for? Throw in all the other liabilities’ and debt into the mix and sure looks like us taxpayer’s will pony up yet again!

In a letter to Schuette’s office dated Sept. 23 asks the attorney general to opine on whether Michigan’s Constitution was violated when the state Republican controlled Legislature passed a bill in December 2012 specifically to divert state school aid funds for the $450 million arena.

AG Schuette OKs school taxes for new Red Wings arena says it’s Constitutional
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette quietly issued an opinion that said state taxes for schools can legally be used to fund the arena’s construction.

So this is Constitutional for the taxpayers of Michigan to fund one of the riches people in the state as listed by Forbes? Oh my….

Gov. Snyder wants the Legislature to offer DPS up to an additional $72 million a year from Michigan Taxpayers! Snyder faces a tough challenge in getting the money for Detroit from the School Aid Fund as he planned.

It’s no wonder when money from that fund went to building the new “Red Wings Arena” with AG Schuette writing an opinion saying it was Constitutional to do so. Wake up people you are being taken by the Republicans who have complete and total control in Lansing!

Follow the timeline in the articles below.

Foundation leader: No bailout for DPS
7:15 a.m. EST November 19, 2015
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/11/18/skillman-leader-expect-foundation-rescue-dps/76031940/

Private aid floated in DPS deal
5:04 p.m. EST November 19, 2015
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/11/19/cotter-detroit-school-debt/76069582/

DPS deal needs realistic funding
9:33 a.m. EST November 15, 2015
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/editorials/2015/11/15/editorial-detroit-schools-funding/75823016/

Price of DPS plan could spike
12:07 a.m. EDT May 15, 2015
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/ingrid-jacques/2015/05/15/jacques-editor-note-dps-plan-price/27320421/

DPS to pay $350,000 to teen suing Pugh
11:50 a.m. EST November 4, 2015
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2015/11/04/charles-pugh-sexual-harrassment-case/75154496/

Schuette OKs school taxes for new Red Wings arena
Links inside article for more information.
http://www.metrotimes.com/Blogs/archives/2014/12/16/news-hits-schuette-oks-school-taxes-for-new-red-wings-arena

Forbes richest Americans list includes 11 from Michigan
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2015/09/29/forbes-richest-americans-list-includes-michigan/73052340/

Michael & Marian Ilitch & family on Forbes Lists of wealthiest in Michigan
http://www.forbes.com/profile/michael-marian-ilitch/

Michigan Outrage: School Funds to be Spent on Arena
By Diane Ravitch who is a historian of education, an educational policy analyst, and a research professor is outraged by this and Michigan citizens should be as well.
http://dianeravitch.net/2014/12/21/michigan-outrage-school-funds-to-be-spent-on-arena/

Schuette Opinion: Use of tax revenue and public money for development

STATE OF MICHIGAN BILL SCHUETTE, ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION
It is my opinion, therefore, that the Michigan Strategic Fund’s proposal to provide funds from the Michigan Community Revitalization Program for the purpose of assisting in the demolition of the Joe Louis Area after completion of the new arena at the Detroit Events Center does not violate section 88c(3)(a) of the MSF Act, which prohibits the use of such funds for the development of a stadium or arena for use by a professional sports team. ~ Attorney General BILL SCHUETTE

Here is what the Michigan State Constitution says.
Article 9, § 11 of the Michigan Constitution established a State School Aid Fund funded by various tax revenues, and provides in part: There shall be established a state school aid fund which shall be used “exclusively” for aid to school districts, higher education, and school employees’ retirement systems as provided by law.

Posted in: Bain Report, Politics, The Bain Report \ Tagged: Backroom Deals, Bailouts, citizens, Corruption, Cotter, Cronyism, Detroit, Detroit Public Schools, DPS, FBI, Lansing, Michigan, Michigan Republican Party, Michigan taxpayers, migop, republican controlled legislature, Republicans, Schuette, snyder, State Constitution, We the People

Companies Leaving Michigan – “Comeback State Fantasy of Fiction”

April 17, 2014 10:04 am \ Leave a Comment \ by rabman13

The list continues to grow as companies are leaving the state closing their doors or filing for bankruptcy. The rhetoric coming out of Lansing doesn’t match the reality. People are still struggling to find full time employment as to make ends meet for themselves and their families and the bad news continues.

The signs are not good all around our state and businesses will go where they feel they can best prosper and it’s not here in Michigan. When you have third world country roads because our legislators continue to “steal” our road fund dollars for other state spending purposes plus the fact so many municipalities and school districts are going under emergency managers what else can we expect.

Below is just a very small sample of companies that have left and we are not counting the ones that have either went out of business or have filed for bankruptcy protection. Some have merged with other businesses as to try and keep afloat (ACO & Ace Hardwares) but with the direction our legislators are taking the state it’s just a matter of time till they to will fail.

By giving huge tax breaks to big corporations all for corporate campaign donations to those we elect to serve us “We the People” (under the guise of economic development and job creation) and leaving the small business owners to fend for themselves while balancing these favorable tax breaks on the backs of the working middle class, poor and small business owners it’s a recipe for failure.

Pulte’s Atlanta Move Stuns State, Business Leaders and Politicians
The PulteGroup said it will relocate about 325 Michigan jobs for the new headquarters in Georgia. Employees who do not make the move will receive severance packages.
http://www.freep.com/article/20130531/BUSINESS06/305310055/PulteGroup-Bloomfield-Hills-Atlanta

Medical Supply Company Leaving Michigan for Tennessee
The Canton offices and production facility of a medical supply company will close this fall and 145 people will be laid off as it expands operations in Tennessee.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014304110111

Coldwater Creek Files for Bankruptcy, Stores to Close
Michigan loses yet more jobs as another business goes belly up! Michigan has 12 Coldwater Creek stores and all employees will be affected.
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/viewart/20140411/BUSINESS/304110031/Coldwater-Creek-files-bankruptcy-protection

Companies Lay-Off Thousands, Close Stores, Affects “Michigan Workers”

A Tsunami of Store Closings and Layoffs
I’ve been posting and reporting this for months now while some choose to blow off my reports even going as far as saying the economy is doing much better!

That day of reckoning, some say, has arrived, with one retail watcher predicting a “tsunami” of store closings this year.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140308/BIZ02/303080019

Hewlett-Packard Expands Job Cuts by another 5,000
The computer company will eliminate 5,000 more jobs than originally planned, bringing the total number of layoffs to 34,000 by October. Hewlett-Packard employs thousands of workers here in Michigan.
http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/morning_call/2014/01/hewlett-packard-expands-job-cuts-by.html

RadioShack to Close up to 1,100 U.S. Stores
The Company didn’t immediately identify which stores will close or how many jobs would be affected. A call to the company, based in Fort Worth, Texas, was not returned Tuesday afternoon. RadioShack employs thousands of workers here in Michigan.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140304/BIZ02/303040046/0/BIZ02/RadioShack-preps-ax-up-1-100-U-S-stores

Staples to Shutter 225 stores
It’s is unclear how many jobs will be lost or what locations will be shuttered. The company did not immediately return a call from the Associated Press early Thursday. Staples employ thousands of workers here in Michigan.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140306/BIZ02/303060051/0/BIZ02/Staples-shutter-225-stores-sales-move-online

Denver-based Quiznos to file for Bankruptcy
Quiznos operated about 5,000 restaurants at its peak in 2008, but the count has since dropped to an estimated 2,100 worldwide, including 1,400 in the U.S.

There are numerous Quiznos restaurants located throughout Michigan that employ thousands of workers. Quiznos is the second-largest submarine sandwich shop chain in North America, after Subway.
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_25241309/quiznos-preparing-file-bankruptcy-protection

Posted in: Bain Report, Politics, The Bain Report \ Tagged: bankruptcy, Campaign Contributions, companies, Cronyism, false comeback, Governor Rick Snyder, jobs, kick backs, Lansing politicians, Michigan workers, Pure Corruption, republican controlled legislature, tax increases

Detroit City Airport to get Michigan Taxpayers “Bailout” Too

April 8, 2014 8:59 am \ Leave a Comment \ by rabman13

Detroit City Airport to get $28.5 Million Taxpayer Money in Revised Bankruptcy Plan

The fleecing of Michigan taxpayers money continues with revised bankruptcy plan. The $28.5 million earmarked in Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr’s revised restructuring plan would also set aside money for a study of the airport’s role in its east-side neighborhood.

The money would come from the city’s anticipated bankruptcy settlement and the total could go as high as $40 million according to some reports. The city’s general fund has subsidized the airport in recent years because its revenues “have fallen far short of expenses,” Orr’s plan says.

This is on and above the $350 Million “bailout” proposed by Governor Rick Snyder in which the Republican controlled legislature is currently working on about a dozen Bills in Lansing in regard to this “bailout.”

In 2013, the city’s general fund contributed $300,000 to fund the airport’s operations. That contribution increased to $600,000 in 2014. Some would say why not privatize the airport as to take the burden off Michigan taxpayers.

While that is a novel idea the problem with that is anyone that would purchase this airport would most likely receive taxpayer funded subsides through the “failed” MEDC under the guise of economic development and job creation.

While reading the comments on this article this one really hit home! “The city needs a jewel of a landing facility for all those revitalization fairies arriving on their little pink flying unicorns.” Wasn’t this the airport of choice for Kawme and his corrupt buddies who robbed the city of Detroit and caused this bankruptcy?

http://www.freep.com/article/20140404/NEWS01/304040017/Detroit-bankruptcy-plan-calls-for-revitalizing-Detroit-city-airport

Detroit City Airport PROPOSED MAJOR CITY AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS

Where is Detroit going to get this money from being that it’s in bankruptcy? I’ll tell you…all the taxpayers of Michigan. TOTAL INVESTMENT: Approximately. $40 MILLION.

http://www.detroitmi.gov/DepartmentsandAgencies/Airport/Improvements.aspx

Detroit’s Spruce Goose: City Airport

The city of Detroit struggles in bankruptcy and one way to move Detroit forward during and after bankruptcy is by unloading municipal assets, especially the assets that have been dragging the city down.

http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19677

Detroit’s Lonely City Airport Might See $28M in Upgrades

Kevyn Orr’s latest bankruptcy plan involves spending $28.5M to improve Coleman Young International Airport, commonly known as City Airport. The improvements would add a few modern amenities, potentially luring a commercial airline. The terminal hasn’t seen regularly scheduled passenger service in 14 years.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2014/04/city-airport-could-see-millions-in-improvements.php

Detroit City Airport

The city is also exploring whether to lease or sell the Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport. Until a new strategy is decided, the city will continue to subsidize and operate the airport because it doesn’t want to trigger a requirement to repay prior Federal Aviation Administration grant money, Orr’s office said.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140221/METRO01/302210096

Orr’s Detroit bankruptcy