Vote Jim Townsend BlogNews / Bloghttp://www.votejimtownsend.com/blog/2011-04-23T16:47:11ZSquarespaceFiscal Extremism Imported from Washington Could Drown Michiganhttp://www.votejimtownsend.com/blog/2011/4/23/fiscal-extremism-imported-from-washington-could-drown-michig.htmlJim Townsend2011-04-23T16:39:14Z2011-04-23T16:39:14ZGrover Norquist, who is the acknowledged leader of the Far Right’s shrink-government-no-matter-what crusade in Washington, DC, doesn’t get much attention outside of the Beltway. Yet his organization’s “taxpayer protection pledge,” which the NY Times reported has been signed by 95% of Republicans serving in Congress, bears an eerie resemblance to the budget plan developed by Governor Snyder and his Republican allies. Norquist runs an outfit called Americans for Tax Reform and is (in)famous for once saying that his goal was to shrink government “down to the size where we can drown it in a bathtub.” Norquist’s pledge commits its signers to:  1) opposing any increase in marginal income tax rates and 2) opposing the elimination of tax deductions or credits unless they are matched by further reductions in tax rates. 

While neither Governor Snyder nor a majority of Republicans in the Michigan Legislature has signed this pledge, their budget plan follows its dictates – with disastrous consequences for Michigan, especially its children and working families.  The Republican plan calls for the elimination of numerous tax credits and deductions for businesses and low-income families and partially eliminates the tax exclusion on retirement income. These changes, which might raise revenue to help address Michigan’s structural budget deficit, are entirely offset by an unprecedented reduction in tax rates for business. Nearly 100,000 companies in Michigan would see their business tax liability go to zero under this plan. 

By adhering to Norquist’s pledge, the Governor and his allies are putting Michigan in a deep budgetary hole and forcing dramatic cuts in funding for schools, despite the fact that the School Aid Fund has a $500 million surplus. Michiganders want a balanced, pragmatic solution to our state’s budget problems. Instead, the Republican majority is preparing to push through a budget and tax plan that fails to produce job growth or invest in priorities like public education but is designed to please the ideologues. We don’t have to do this. It's time to discuss a different direction for Michigan.

]]>We Need a Michigan Strategy, not a "Texas Miracle"http://www.votejimtownsend.com/blog/2011/1/8/we-need-a-michigan-strategy-not-a-texas-miracle.htmlJim Townsend2011-01-08T18:00:33Z2011-01-08T18:00:33ZAs NY Times Columnist Paul Krugman pointed out yesterday, it's now clear that the State of Texas has one of the worst budget problems in the country, a deficit of some $25 billion that was obscured in part because Texas politicians employed fiscal gimmicks and because that state uses a two-year budgeting cycle, something that has been suggested for Michigan by our new Governor, Rick Snyder. Texas is often held up by some in Michigan as an example of principled austerity and economic success. But the reality is that Texas is in much worse fiscal shape than Michigan (even though we have very significant challenges) and it's economy is not especially impressive despite the fact that persistantly high gas prices benefit oil companies that are headquartered there. 

Governor Snyder's interest in adopting the best practices of other states and countries that are outperforming Michigan is laudable. It's just as important, though, to avoid being blinded by idealogy when chosing whom to emulate. Texas' approach to governing fits the Right Wing's obsession with tax cuts and demonizing government and labor; many on the Right point to Texas or other sunbelt states as the best model for Michigan's future. Yet a Midwestern state like Minnesota not only has much more in common with Michigan but has employed a mix of reforms over the years that prepared it to weather the economic downturn and maintain its middle class. Minnesota's unemployment rate is 7.1%, one of the lowest in the nation, while its average income is $41,000, considerably higher than Texas, Michigan and the national average. Our focus should be on taking an objective look at how places like Minnesota have shed their rust-belt economy and image while achieving more prosperity for all sectors of the population.

See Michigan Future's Report on America's Most Prosperous States and Metros.  

]]>South Oakland Eccentric Endorses Jim Townsendhttp://www.votejimtownsend.com/blog/2010/10/31/south-oakland-eccentric-endorses-jim-townsend.htmlJim Townsend2010-10-31T14:11:10Z2010-10-31T14:11:10ZClick here to read article from today's (10/31/2010) So. Oakland Eccentric.

]]>Free Press Endorses Jim Townsendhttp://www.votejimtownsend.com/blog/2010/10/22/free-press-endorses-jim-townsend.htmlJim Townsend2010-10-22T18:17:05Z2010-10-22T18:17:05ZClick here for the article from today's (10/22/10) Free Press.

]]>October 20th Fundraiser - 5:30pm - 8:00pmhttp://www.votejimtownsend.com/blog/2010/10/12/october-20th-fundraiser-530pm-800pm.htmlJim Townsend2010-10-12T15:45:05Z2010-10-12T15:45:05ZWe're building our plan to Get Out The Vote (GOTV).  Help us fund our strategy.

 

http://jimtownsend.squarespace.com/events/

]]>Fundraiser - 9/15 - Oak City Grillehttp://www.votejimtownsend.com/blog/2010/8/25/fundraiser-915-oak-city-grille.htmlJim Townsend2010-08-25T21:11:23Z2010-08-25T21:11:23ZPlease join

Hon. Marie Donigan - Hon. Gilda Jacobs - Hon. Maxine Berman

Hon. Steve Tobocman - Hon. John Austin - Hon. Conan Smith

Andrew & Geaneen Arends - Brian Boyle - Carol Breitmeyer - Shelby Davis

Andy Doctoroff - Rob Dwortz - Josh Elling - Scott Henderson - Don Jones

David Kramer - Alex Lenko - Harold Robinson - Joe Schodowski - Paul Schutt

Chris Trebilcock - Erik Tungate - Rosalie Vicari - Josh Yaker

for a reception with

Jim Townsend

Candidate for State Representative, 26th District

Wednesday, Sept 15th, 2010
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

(VIP RECEPTION:  5:30 PM)

Oak City Grille
212 West 6th Street, Royal Oak

Suggested Contribution Levels:
Reception - $100
VIP Reception - $250

*Corporate contributions are not accepted.

Click HERE to purchase tickets



]]>A Trifecta for Jim - Free Press, SO Eccentric, and Detroit News Endorse Jim Townsend!http://www.votejimtownsend.com/blog/2010/7/29/a-trifecta-for-jim-free-press-so-eccentric-and-detroit-news.htmlJim Townsend2010-07-29T17:36:38Z2010-07-29T17:36:38ZYou can read the Detroit News endorsement here. 

 

...our endorsement goes to Jim Townsend , 44. He has diverse experience in the private and public sectors, working in marketing and product development at Ford and as a staffer on Capitol Hill. And he's already proven an effective leader through starting organizations such as the Michigan Suburbs Alliance.

]]>Detroit Free Press picks us too!http://www.votejimtownsend.com/blog/2010/7/22/detroit-free-press-picks-us-too.htmlJim Townsend2010-07-22T21:20:07Z2010-07-22T21:20:07ZJust got word that the Detroit Free Press has endorsed my campaign.  You can read it here.  Thanks to everyone that let me know before I saw the papers!

]]>South Oakland Eccentric Picks Jim Townsend.http://www.votejimtownsend.com/blog/2010/7/22/south-oakland-eccentric-picks-jim-townsend.htmlJim Townsend2010-07-22T21:17:10Z2010-07-22T21:17:10ZThe South Oakland Eccentric edorsed Jim Townsend on Sunday!  You can read the article here. 

 

"Jim Townsend clearly stands out. To say that his list of experience and civic involvement is extensive would be putting it mildly."

 

 

 

]]>Unions support Jim!http://www.votejimtownsend.com/blog/2010/7/22/unions-support-jim.htmlJim Townsend2010-07-22T20:57:24Z2010-07-22T20:57:24ZI'm proud to have the endorsement of UAW Region 1,  Operating Engineers Local 234, and UNITE HERE Local 24! 

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