On February 3, Governor Granholm will present her eighth State of the State Address to Lansing lawmakers.

Every year, the State of the State Address is a mini-holiday for Lansing's government class. I've been to six State of the State Addresses as a former state lawmaker, so I know the routine: there are fancy receptions prior to the Governor's speech featuring rich hors d'oeuvres and premium bars. Politicians dress in their finest clothes and bring their families and friends to the Capitol to attend the parties. Every state representative gets to bring a special guest - usually a big financial donor - to sit next to them in the House chamber during the governor's speech. It is all very nice.

You are not invited.

Should you appeal your home’s property tax assessment? What can Lansing politicians help bring prosperity back to MI? How much do government employees & politicians receive in pensions and benefits compared to you? Ever wonder how politicians really think?

These questions and more will be addressed at the first-ever Taxpayer Summit at the University Center at Macomb Community College’s Center Campus on Saturday, January 30th. And you are invited.

Citizens and the MTA won an important battle last week when a federal court ruled in favor of Wayne County Taxpayers Association Chair Rose Bogaert and against Michigan's laws that stifle citizen recall efforts.

The victory is obviously way, way too late. Speaker Dillon probably survived being recalled last year because the Secretary of State enforced Michigan's unconstitutional laws. But this win will help citizens with future recall campaigns now that the playing field is more level.

Over 200 taxpayer activists were on hand when Robert Bobb, the Emergency Financial Manager for the Detroit Public Schools was named the 'Hero of the Taxpayers' and WJR AM 760 talk radio personality Frank Beckmann was recognized with the 'Voice of the Taxpayer' award at the first-ever MI Taxpayers Alliance Awards Banquet held on December 10th at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy.

Wendy Day, who was a key player in organizing many Tea Party protests in 2009 (including the 'big one' in Lansing back on April 15) was recognized as MTA 'Activist of the Year'.

Michigan’s Republican candidates for governor debated for the first time on September 26th at the Biennial Republican Mackinac Island Leadership Conference. The Michigan Taxpayers Alliance hosted the event, which focused on state tax, budget and fiscal issues.

“The Michigan Taxpayers Alliance was pleased to provide a format for taxpayers to hear what candidates for governor have to say about solving Michigan’s financial woes,” said MTA Director Leon Drolet. “Michigan voters need to scrutinize their future leaders more than ever before. Taxpayers deserve specific proposals to fix Michigan and straight answers.”

You are about to be pitted against your own local government in a battle for your remaining income.

Why? Plummeting home values are (belatedly) slamming municipal governments and school districts with lower property tax revenues. Now these local governments are starting to panic. They see just one way of protecting their budgets - by going after more of yours.

As their tax revenues fall, some local politicians will simply vote to raise property taxes. Others need to ask voters to approve higher taxes because they already tax at the maximum rate permitted without a vote of the people. These local officials will carefully select the most obscure election day possible to place the tax hike on the ballot, hoping that government employees will vote while most citizens remain unaware.

DEFEATING THE COMING PROPERTY TAX INCREASES ISN'T ENOUGH

The Taxpayer Minutemen Project

During the American Revolutionary War, Minutemen volunteered to organize quickly in defense of fellow citizens who faced oppression from the British government. They pledged to respond “at a minute's warning” to threats against fellow citizens during the war. Minuteman Paul Revere spread the news that "the Redcoats are coming!" when the British marched to subjugate the towns of Lexington and Concord in April of 1775.

We need YOU to be a Taxpayer Minuteman!

Taxpayer Minutemen are citizens who care about protecting fellow taxpayers from ever-growing, expensive and fiscally abusive government.

Just complaining about increasing taxes and wasteful government spending won’t get anyone in the government to listen to us. Politicians only care about the demands of organized interest groups who can threaten their chances at reelection.

Minutemen are organized to fight back against tax hiking politicians – quickly and effectively!

Thousands of anti-tax activists from all over the state converged on the capitol this afternoon to tell the politicians in Lansing and Washington one thing: we've had enough! Taxes are high enough as it is and we're not going to take it any more.

Speakers from various anti-tax groups spoke at the event including MTA chairman Leon Drolet, who had the crowd all call at once the United State Capitol Switch Board to tell the Congress to stop their reckless spending. Even our very own Mr. Perks made an appearance!

News coverage of the event can be found here.

In case you haven't heard, citizens angry about Washington and Lansing's destructive taxing and spending orgies are converging on the Capitol Building in Lansing at noon on April 15th to protest. Its part of a national movement of citizens participating in taxpayer T.E.A. (Taxed Enough Already!) parties.

The Michigan Taxpayers Alliance is proud to be one of six Michigan organizations sponsoring the Lansing protest.

Over 120 agitated MTA protesters and an additional 100 angry taxpayers greeted Paul Gieleghem, Chair of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, at a 'town hall' meeting last night in Shelby Township. Commissioner Gieleghem scheduled the meeting to explain why most commissioners are seeking a 9% increase in the county property tax.

Gieleghem orchestrated several such town hall meetings to build support for the tax hike, holding most during the day so working taxpayers can't attend and stocking the meetings with county government employees and employee union officials. Last night was very different - the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance showed up.

Yeah, I said NINE PERCENT! And I'm not saying that they're "thinking of raising your taxes" or "might raise your taxes". No, they WILL raise your county property tax millage rate from 4.2 mills to 4.5685 mills - about a 9% hike. And they'll be voting on the tax hike later this month.

How insane is it to raise taxes on suffering citizens in the middle of the worst depression in decades? Do Commissioners have any idea how bad things are for citizens right now? Do they care?

Folks, it is time to protest. A protest is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at 6:30pm in front to the Palazzo Grande Banquet and Event Center at 54660 Van Dyke (South of 25 Mile Rd.), in Shelby Twp.

Learn how to appeal your property tax assessments by attending a free, two-hour workshop offered by the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and the Wayne County Taxpayers Association. Currently scheduled are five Workshops for Detroit-area residents. West Michigan and out-state Workshops are being planned.

“Homeowners’ property taxes don’t always decrease when property values do,” stated Rose Bogaert, Chair of the Wayne County Taxpayers Association. “Too many struggling homeowners may end up paying too much in property taxes if they don’t appeal their assessments. These workshops will provide valuable, expert and free information to homeowners.”

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As Macomb County Commissioners prepare to raise property taxes, I thought citizens should know the very realistic alternatives to tax hikes. Oakland County leaders have set an example by enacting taxpayer-friendly reforms that should be emulated throughout the state.

Do you know how your state representative in Lansing votes on fiscal issues? Not just on the big tax votes, but on the hidden fees, sneaky “little” tax increases and bigger spending on budgets? We do.

Every state representative’s voting record for this term on tax and spending issues was researched and graded.