A Christmas Poem

Friends,

Back when I was in the state legislature, I mailed newsletters to update constituents and supporters on policy issues. Back then, the state income tax rate was actually scheduled to be reduced. For the November, 2003 newsletter, I included a poem which is (eerily) almost as appropriate today as back then. The poem and disclaimer that preceded it are below:

"Dear Friends of Liberty,

I present this poem as a warning. Right now, the Governor is not proposing a state sales tax on services to balance the budget. Such a tax, however, has been discussed.

The extension of the sales tax to Internet purchases and the freeze of the scheduled income tax cut are being promoted by the Governor as this issue goes to print. Already, new taxes on some brands of cigarettes, higher fees, and increased tax collections on alcohol have passed.

I'll keep fighting to protect your wallet here in Lansing.

I wish you and your family a happy and prosperous 2004!"

"T'was the month before Christmas and all through the state House,
Plans to balance the budget are spread by the clicks of a mouse;

Michigan taxpayers are nestled all snug in their beds.
While visions of the promised income tax cut dance in their heads;

"Economic recovery!" was their toast before beginning their snooze.
But others, in Lansing, toasted higher taxes on their booze;

And the Governor was awake, talking on a conference call,
About how that income tax cut shouldn't be coming at all;

Meanwhile, a tax on Internet purchases is crafted quietly with care
In hopes of catching holiday buyers unaware;

But something was driving the Governor's budget bureaucrats nuts;
"Even with these tax hikes," they fretted, "We'll still have to make cuts."

When from the Governor's office there arose such a clatter,
Those bureaucrats sprang from their cubes to see what was the matter;

Into her office, the bureaucrats flew,
Where Governor Granholm gushed to them, "I know just what to do."

"The state sales tax now applies to purchases of products (except food),
But we'll make people pay taxes on their services, too!"

"On haircuts! On health clubs! On mowing of lawns!
On lawyers fees, doctor visits, and tanning salons!"

"On advertisements! Dry cleaning! The shining of shoes!
A sales tax on services is just what I'll do!"

"The budget deficit will disappear! Oh, what a neat trick!
To my special interests in Lansing, I'll be just like St. Nick!"

"How brilliant," said one bureaucrat with a beaming grin,
"But how will we get the Republicans to buy in?"

But the Governor (so slickly), said "Leave that to me,
Remember how they bought into our hiking of fees?"

With a wink of her eye, and a twist of her head,
Governor Granholm went home and sent the bureaucrats to bed.
So let's hope their plans fail, for the economy's sake;
Dear taxpayers: Spend this holiday season AWAKE!"

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org