Just Say NO to Dick and YES to Jen - Reason #5

SBT (Single Business Tax) - Everyone's talking about it.
It's an almost $1.9 Billion tax.
Dick says he's going to fix it when he's governor.
But let's back up and figure out exactly what Dick's definition of fixing actually is.
Last time I did math, fixing did not mean leaving the average citizen footing $5 Billion.
Since when is a $5 Billion tab better than $1.9 Billion?
Who's Dick fixing things for himself or the people of Michigan?



5. Dick DeVos' Turn Around Plan will cost Michigan taxpayers over 5 Billion dollars.
Tricky Dick is trying to pull another fast one on the people of Michigan. Using his figures here's the estimates of his so-called Turn Around Plan. (see below)


5. Governor Granholm is going to get rid of the SBT responsibly, without cutting vital programs.

Governor Granholm is the only candidate for Governor who has proposed a detailed plan to get rid of the Single Business Tax and replace it with the fair tax on businesses that will protect vital funding for health care, education, and public safety.

Granholm has said she favors eliminating the business tax, but only if it has a replacement as part of the deal. (Detroit News 6/11/06)

Some of the key points in her replacement plan include:

• Encouraging Major Employers to Keep Jobs in MI.
• Encourage Small Businesses to Grow, Attract Jobs of the Future.
• Make Business Tax Structure More Fair

More from Amway Guy

The Michigan General Operating Budget is just over $9 Billion. (Office of the Budget)

Dick DeVos' Turn Around Plan will cost the people of Michigan $5.1 Billion. (Michigan Democratic Party, 7/06)

This calculation does not include Amway Guy's proposed cap on sales tax on gasoline. That number is estimated at an additional $285 Million. (Gongwers News Service 6/27/06)

What's more, DeVos is willing to steal from public education, police and fire just to make a tax cut.

The DeVos' plan, "would save drivers about $1 per fill-up, while wiping out an estimated $285 million that goes to public schools, local police and fire services and mass transit. Incredibly, DeVos reportedly called the revenue loss inconsequential." (Detroit Free Press 5/14/06 editorial)

Dick wants to cut a tax that the State doesn't even collect on.

Treasury officials cited the same law (CL 211.9(j)) in noting that current law does exempt farm equipment from the personal property tax. (Gongwer 6/26/06)

Here's the proof -

	DeVos’ Economic Agenda	What’s the Cost?
	Revenue Cuts
1	Eliminate the Single Business Tax	$1.85 billion
2	Reduce tax on technology and equipment	$1.5 billion
3	Cut taxes on farm machinery and new technology	SOM doesn’t collect
	Spending Increases
4	Increase K-12 funding	$635 million
5	Invest in merit pay for teachers	$205 million
6	Increase funding for higher education	$200 million
7	Loan forgiveness program	$195.5 million
8	Add more police officers	$150 million
9	Incentives for research and development	$140 million
10	Increase health care provider rates	$117.4 million
11	Increase technology in the classroom	$110 million
12	Increase road spending	$70 million
13	Increase electric transmission	$55 million
14	More funding for math and science classes	$34 million
15	Invest in technology in health care	$20 million
16	Increase funding for tourism	$15 million
17	Increase funding for environmental cleanup	$7.5 million
18	Expand dual enrollment	$5.6 million
19	Increase funding for agriculture marketing	$2.3 million
20	Increase funding for life sciences	$1.8 million

(source: MI Dems)

Dick's Turn Around Plan = Turn us all Broke Plan