Hustling Backwards

Would you prefer to live with their pollution or have them relocate?

The one problem that I have had with giving huge tax breaks to companies is that the money comes out of the taxpayers. Esentially we are paying for companes to be in compliance.

As started in the article this compliance is required under state and federal law. If you or I don't comply with laws we are fined; these huge companies are not only not being fined but instead given tax breaks. We as taxpayers should not be responsible for these companies irresponsibilites.

"...legislators who want to balance the state budget on the backs of the poorest and most vulnerable in Michigan..."

Give me a break. The amount of the state budget dedicated to Health and Human Services has increased by 4% since 1995 - and what have we seen in return: more unemployment, more corporate relocations and more brain-drain.

At the same time, the amount of the state budget dedicated to education has decreased by 3% from 1995; revenue sharing has decreased by 2% and enviromental regulation - like that you mention above - by 1%, encompassing a whopping 1% of all funds the state spends.

See: http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/nov-17_issue_guide.pdf for a nice snapshot of our current budgetary priorities and current mess, including the figures mentioned above.