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| Pastor's plan for "budget mess"; privatize-no double dipping-cut the fat | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 27 2007, 06:43 PM (3,882 Views) | |
| Deleted User | Oct 27 2007, 06:43 PM Post #1 |
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Democrats chose to ignore reforms as alternatives to tax increase Why raising your taxes wasn't necessary: Michigan's unemployment rate is nearly double that of the national average at 7.5 percent. The home foreclosure rate is also one of the worst - proving that the single-state recession in Michigan is an unfortunate reality. What are lawmakers in Lansing doing to get us out of this recession? Raising your taxes. I am proud to say that I voted "NO" on the nearly $1.35 billion in tax increases on Michigan's families and job-providers. Why did I vote no? Because I believe reforms should have been the first priority, but according to the Democrats, that makes me responsible for the government shutdown. Let me break this budget mess into real terms for you. The Democrats and Speaker Dillon claim the tax increase was necessary because of a $1.9 billion budget deficit. This deficit was an illusion, as approximately half of that deficit was due to new and additional government spending, creating bigger government at the taxpayers expense. Democrats claim numerous budget cuts have already been made and no more were possible. I believe there is still much fat left to be cut. Yet the very first steps they took in crafting their solution was a tax increase, a theme which was consistent through the very end - tax increases came before any attempt at decreasing the size and cost of government. A similar comparison would be if you demanded a $50,000 raise because you spent that much more than you had. If you have a spending problem in your personal budget, what is the first step you take? Demand more money from your boss or spend less? As we look at the state budget, the common sense concept of cutting waste should apply. Did you know Michigan is the only state in the Midwest to have no limit on welfare benefits - a reform that could save approximately $75 million. How about this one? Michigan is the only state in the nation that provides Medicaid coverage to 19- and 20-year-olds and their ineligible caretaker relatives, a reform that could save $57 million. Before raising taxes I believe the Legislature should have seriously investigated all proposed spending increases and determined if any of them could be put on hold in order to potentially cut the deficit in half. Below are a variety of proposals that could have and should have been examined by lawmakers to provide the state with more than a billion dollars in savings and prevent one of the largest tax hikes in Michigan's history. Here are some ideas for reform that deserve scrutiny. I do not endorse them all, but every opportunity for reform deserves true consideration. When times are tough, tough decisions must be made through compromise and working in a bipartisan fashion. These are not penny-pinching gimmicks or one-time fixes that would hurt services across the state - these are true reforms that will help Michigan run more effectively and efficiently: n Put new teachers into a defined contribution retirement plan similar to what state employees have. n Put 5 percent of the state's prisoners in privately managed prisons. n Privatize certain prison food services and janitors. n Shift State Police trooper road patrol duties to local Sheriff Department. n Competitively bid non-core school functions such as food service, custodial and transportation. n Stop double dipping that is occurring from retired school employees returning as contract employees. n Eliminate lifetime benefits for lawmakers after just six years of service. n Repeal or modify the current "prevailing wage" law that requires above market wages on school and other government construction projects. n Make the state departments responsible for employee pay increases. n Allow state employee early retirement programs. n Reform prisoner health care. n Impose mandatory citizenship verification for Medicaid. n Consolidate into one the 17 state Human Resources departments. I have listed more than a billion in potential spending reforms - and this is just a start. Out of just these ideas, we could have greatly eliminated or reduced the "need" for a tax increase. Unfortunately, they never came up in the "how high do we raise taxes" debate. Michigan did have options - Democrats just chose to ignore them. State Rep. John R. Pastor is a Republican representing the 19th House District, which covers most of Livonia. http://hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...586/1199/NEWS10 |
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| Vanna White | Oct 27 2007, 06:47 PM Post #2 |
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I wonder what Mr. Pastor did to bring these ideas forward prior to now? |
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| f11 | Oct 27 2007, 07:16 PM Post #3 |
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...John, your ideas are going to make a lot of your friends upset......p.s tell your buddy Kriksey to stop double-dipping as a consultant....it will NEVER happen... |
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| Deleted User | Oct 27 2007, 07:24 PM Post #4 |
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'Who is this guy?', and a better question would be 'Who is Pastor?' His viewpoint shifts like the wind. |
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| LPS Reformer | Oct 27 2007, 07:28 PM Post #5 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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“Child Abuse” means different things to different people.... ----Randy Liepa 8/9/12 | |
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| LPS Reformer | Oct 27 2007, 07:33 PM Post #6 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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Pastor BIO from his website |
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“Child Abuse” means different things to different people.... ----Randy Liepa 8/9/12 | |
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| Deleted User | Oct 27 2007, 07:54 PM Post #7 |
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http://www.gophouse.com/readarticle.asp?id=4049&District=19 STATE REP. JOHN PASTOR, A MEMBER THE TAX POLICY COMMITTEE, TONIGHT MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO GOV. JENNIFER GRANHOLM'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS February 6, 2007 "Taxing our way out of the current budget crisis is not a permanent fix. We need to focus on reforming government bureaucracy to create a smaller, more efficient government. Despite an ever-decreasing population, we have an increasingly large government. We need to live within our means and protect funding for our priorities. We can properly prioritize and fund programs without further burdening Michigan's taxpayers. By investing appropriately in programs such as education and corrections, and restructuring programs to eliminate overspending, we can stop the bleeding of funds and eliminate the budget deficit. "It is time to put politics aside and do what is best for the people of Michigan. Everyone, Republicans and Democrats, must be willing to work in a bipartisan manner. It will take a concerted effort of the entire Legislature and the governor to fix the state of the state's economy." |
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| Deleted User | Oct 27 2007, 08:02 PM Post #8 |
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http://www.livonia.k12.mi.us/schools/high/.../Highlights.htm Jordyn Godfried, John Pastor’s Legislative Aide, presented checks from Sen. Toy and Rep. Pastor for CHS magnets and bumper stickers. ***************** http://www.livonia.org/staff.htm Livonia Chamber of Commerce Staff and Volunteer Leadership 2007-2008 Board of Directors Executive Committee Chairman MARSHALL KLEVEN LaSalle Bank Vice Chairman MARTY TALTY Kopmeyer & Talty, P.C. KATHY HOEN Community Choice Credit Union RANDY LIEPA Livonia Public Schools JOHN WILKERSON TRW Automotive Board of Directors SARA ORWIG - Ford Motor Company RUTHANN ALBUS - DFCU Financial BETTY BJARNESEN - Keller Williams Realty GARY DESCHENES - Foresters Financial Partners BRIAN MEAKIN - Meakin and Associates CAROL KOCAN - Dale Carnegie Training MICHAEL HALE - Cambridge Underwriters JOSEPH MACRINO - General Motors Powertrain Division SISTER ROSE MARIE KUJAWA - Madonna University JULIE SPROUL - St. Mary Mercy Hospital BILL COLBECK - Computer Troubleshooters JAMES FAUSONE - Fausone Bohn, LLP Jordyn Salmon - Director of Communication and Events Dan Irvin - Vice President Dan West - President Debbie Ferensic - Office Manager Sam Hoyt - Office Assistant Jordyn D. Salmon, the director of public affairs, has worked with the Livonia Chamber of Commerce since July 2007. The Livonia Stevenson High School graduate holds a bachelor's degree from Hillsdale College. She previously worked as a legislative aid for State Rep. John Pastor and former State Senator Laura Toy. Jordyn serves on the Livonia Commision on Youth and Children, and belongs to Livonia's Memorial Church of Christ. Jordyn and husband, Jon, live in Livonia and have a son, Vincent. (Email address: salmon@livonia.org) ******************** |
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| Nikki | Oct 27 2007, 08:20 PM Post #9 |
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Did Mr. Pastor support the LI or not? Wait....... I think he was against it.....then he supported it. :rolleyes: Can we believe anything he says? |
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| Deleted User | Oct 27 2007, 08:43 PM Post #10 |
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http://www.leftyblogs.com/michigan/2007/06/ http://phikapbob.blogspot.com/2007/06/john...t-gop-pawn.html Friday, June 15, 2007 John Pastor: still just a GOP pawn It has become obvious to me that Representative John Pastor has no reason to try and work towards a reasonable solution to the nearly $2 Billion 2008 deficit. Rep. Pastor is term-limited, meaning that he needs to find a new job in January 2009, regardless of the 2008 elections. So he has no reason not to be a pig-headed obstructionist. Pastor's June news bulletin contains the following statement on the 2007 budget solution: Budget Deal Reached for Fiscal Year 2007 Pastor votes to balance budget, not raise taxes A budget deal was reached late evening, Friday, May 25, 2007 to balance the current year’s fiscal budget preserving funding for vital services such as public safety, schools and health care with no new taxes on families and workers, state Rep. John R. Pastor announced. “We fought hard to protect the priorities of our district,” said Pastor. “The governor used education and public safety as political pawns to bully lawmakers into a tax increase, but we resisted and were able to balance the budget without cutting either or raising your taxes.” Senate Bill 436 passed the House in a rare Friday night session to help solve the state’s budget crisis through $317 million worth of cuts and funding shifts. As part of the deal, the Legislature agreed to a cut in its own budget as well as the courts’ and funding to Michigan’s universities and community colleges was delayed. Funding was allocated to avoid layoffs of 29 Michigan state police troopers. In addition, there were no cuts in state revenue sharing or any mid-year cuts of the School Aid Fund. The 2006-’07 fix does not address the nearly $2 billion deficit for the 2007-’08 budget. “As we now shift our focus to next years’ budget deficit, I will not support a tax increase of any kind,” Pastor said. “A tax increase will not solve any of Michigan’s problems. We have a spending problem, not a revenue problem.” First off sir, you did NOT "balance the budget" - you shifted several hundred million dollars of it into next year, only making that situation worse. But you don't care - you're out after 2008. You somehow think that $2 Billion can simply be eliminated from the budget? Or do you want to push some more of that into 2009 - when it isn't your problem? Further along in his newsletter, Pastor blatantly misleads his constituents: The following article was published in the Detroit News on May 23, 2007. It concerns a proposal to raise the income tax. I believe raising the income tax would be extremely hurtful to Michigan citizens and our economy. Do I need to explain to you the difference between an EDITORIAL and an article? Articles are not right-wing, Nolan Finley hatchet pieces; articles are unbiased reports and information. Citing a News editorial as an informative source on tax policy is akin to quoting Dick DeVos on the issue of poverty. This editorial grabs your attention with the headline - Granholm, Democrats choose taxes over government reform - as if Granholm hadn't already cut State spending to levels not seen since the 1970s...but I've talked about that before when Pastor tried to lie about government growing as the population shrinks (the opposite has been true for her entire administration - population is still slowly growing, as government employees have been cut). By citing the EDITORIAL, one can assume Pastor agrees with it. So he is opposed to a graduated income tax for Michigan. The EDITORIAL says this: Even worse, the governor and House Democrats reportedly want to place a graduated income tax on the ballot for the fall of 2008. A graduated tax would mimic the federal tax in creating different tax rates for different income levels. This soak-the-rich approach by the Democrats will lessen Michigan's chances of attracting the high-tech entrepreneurs Granholm says she is counting on to turn around the state's economy. Why come here and give the state a greater percentage of the profits from their risk taking when they can locate in other states that don't punish success? If a graduated tax is so bad for entrepreneurs, why does the chart included in the story list California as the state with the second-highest tax rate - and six income brackets? Man, if we could only get some of those software entrepreneurs who are fleeing California to come here... The contradictions continue: A graduated tax also will send even more of Michigan's wealthy retirees packing to Florida, taking with them not just their tax dollars, but their philanthropic dollars as well. Again - no one retires in California? Or how about Hawaii and its 9 income brackets ranging from 1.4% to 8.25%? You shouldn't include charts with your EDITORIAL if they aren't going to back your claims up - some of us are smart enough to see past the pretty colors and read them. Moral of today's story: John Pastor has no reason to care about you and this budget crisis. If $2 Billion has to get cut, some of it is going to come from schools and local revenue sharing, and John Pastor's only solution will be to blame it all on Democrats. Do yourself a favor, Livonia - vote for a Democrat to represent US in 2008, not another GOP pawn who represents his rich friends. |
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| Nikki | Oct 28 2007, 09:24 AM Post #11 |
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Pastor: “If they don’t get that done by Sunday, there will be a total shutdown,” Pastor said. “There will be no police, no prisons. The whole state government will stop.” Truth: Prisons and police "Prisons would remain open and fully staffed. State Police patrols likely would be at a reduced level." Thank goodness for term limits. |
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| BoaterDan | Oct 29 2007, 08:45 AM Post #12 |
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Now now. Remember, he changed his mind because the MEAP scores convinced him the LI was working. You'll recall he said that at the same board meeting where Alles later explained emphatically that the MEAP scores being reviewed were not a reflection of the [then] current year (the first year of the LI). It was downright hilarious. |
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| Nikki | Oct 29 2007, 08:52 AM Post #13 |
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That's right BD. BUT......I don't think it would have made a difference what year he was referring to.....the MEAP is not an accurate gauge of "student achievement" anyway. The MEAP is a joke. MEAP released test items from 5th grade (CAlCULATOR ALLOWED) 2006: Kara has 2 one-dollar bills, some dimes and three pennies in her pocket. The total amount of money she has in her pocket is $2.43. How many dimes does Kara have in her pocket? a 4 b 24 c 40 d 240 Also from 5th grade: Marlee wants to know the width of her bedroom door. Which measuring tool should she use to find the width of her bedroom door? a a ruler b a balance c a thermometer d a measuring cup more from 5th grade(CALCULATOR ALLOWED): The basketball team scored 56 points during the first half of the game and 23 points during the second half of the game. How many points did the team score all together? a 33 b 16 c 79 d 5,623
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| Nikki | Oct 29 2007, 01:43 PM Post #14 |
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Hi I'm Daryl. This here is my other brother Daryl. Next to him's my other brother Daryl. Our school district uses Everyday Math and we does real good on the MEAPs test. That there question about the bedrum door.....well..... I use all them tools to measure the door. So the answer should be all of the above......them st. board of education people's trying to trick ya. I also use a pitch fork cause it's "about" the width of a door.....give or take a few feet. :lol:
The ways EM taught me was to first figure out how many meazuring cups/thermometers is the width of the door. Then you have to draw a picture of the cups/thermometers. Then measure one of thems cups/thermometers (you can guess or use a ruler----it's optional). Then you gots to add up all the cups/thermometers to find out the width of the door or draw a diagram. My facilipotater.....I mean teacher says theres more than one way to gets to the answer. |
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| yrraH NS | Oct 29 2007, 02:23 PM Post #15 |
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A thermometer??? I could see using a meat thermometer... after all they're pretty long and the word 'meter' is in the word. A rectal thermometer.... not so much.
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| BoaterDan | Oct 29 2007, 03:26 PM Post #16 |
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I'm not sure which is worse, that there might actually be a question of whether a 5th grader would know which to use to measure a door, or that the test knows there aren't and is purposely dumbed down.
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| Sourapples | Oct 29 2007, 04:30 PM Post #17 |
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OK, he's term limited, that means he can go back to his family business and return to filling in wetlands illegally and bullying state employees. Excerpts from the Michigan Environmental Council Newsletter - September 2004 Wetlands have no value HB 4679 Rep. Pastor introduced a bill to exempt owners of wetlands from paying any property tax, transferring the tax burden to other local residents. By his legislation, if wetland couldn’t be developed, it had no value even though wetlands filter pollutants, reduce floodwater surges, and provide valuable wildlife habitat. In Michigan, the Speaker of the House Rick Johnson appointed freshmen legislator Rep. John Pastor as the chair of the House Appropriation Subcommittee on Environ- mental Quality. Rep. Pastor was President of George S. Pastor & Sons, a general contracting firm with a number of projects focusing on wetland development that had permits pending before the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). Unfortunately, Rep. Pastor has attempted to use his subcommittee posi- tion to both extract special treatment from the MDEQ for the family business (see case study) and to weaken the ability of the department to protect natural resources in Michigan. Elimination of the Departmentof Environmental Quality — HB 5813 Rep. Pastor showed his true colors when he introduced HB 5813, a bill to dismantle the MDEQ. Under the bill, county governments would automatically take over all responsibility of the MDEQ within the county unless they affirmatively passed a resolution that stated they did not want to assume responsibility for administering all the programs within their borders. This action would fragment the state’s environmental enforcement with large programs (such as implementation of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act) going to the Environmental Protection Agency. Both environmental and business advocates believe these programs are better operated by the state. Smaller state programs being implemented by local units of government would hamper consistent application of our laws. CASE STUDY Legislator who controls budget seeks special treatment John Pastor understands backroom politics. In 1998, he purchased a six-acre parcel of wetlands in Wayne County for $98,000 plus back taxes. The parcel is what remained after Hampton Inn built a hotel on the adjacent parcel filling a portion of an even larger wetland. The MDEQ staff denied all permits to build until former DEQ Director Russ Harding front office intervened and ordered staff to issue a permit to fill 3.5 acres of wetlands. After being elected, Rep. Pastor had difficulties obtaining site plan approval from the local unit of government where the property is located. So he repeatedly asked the MDEQ (even during official meetings regarding the MDEQ budget) to intervene and compel the township to accept the site plan. According to memos in the file authored by an MDEQ field staff member, On both visits he mostly yelled at me and used the F word repeatedly. Witnesses to the event almost alerted security personnel to control the behavior of Rep. Pastor. It was recommended that security personnel be informed of future visits by Rep. Pastor. It is clear from the documentation in the file that the MDEQ has a policy of not intervening in local site plan approvals, which they believe interferes with their ongoing working relationships with local units of government. When this conflict was brought to the attention of the Speaker of the House Rick Johnson, he responded, “I have been informed that since being elected, Rep. Pastor has relinquished control of George Pastor and Sons, Inc. to members of his family and no longer runs the day-to-day operations of the company. MDEQ records document visits by Rep. Pastor to MDEQ regarding the companys permit applications after taking office. Rep. Pastor repeatedly asked the MDEQ (even during official meetings regarding the MDEQ budget) to intervene and compel the township to accept the site plan. Just an example of one of the many of the same who are endorsing persons who would use slam literature, negative campaigning, and total deception to win an election. Treating voters like pawns is all they do. Represent you and I THEY DO NOT. You will find John Pastors name prominently listed on Jack Kirksey's web site as a "Notable Supporter". I personally wouldn't want the association to either, but it does not seem to matter to either of them since they are cut from the same cloth. |
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| JSalmon | Oct 30 2007, 03:24 AM Post #18 |
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Dan, I would appreciate the removal of my cell phone number from this site. If people need to contact me they know that I work at the Chamber from all of the other posts that have been on. I have emailed Jimid, I do not know how long it takes for things to be removed, but I would appreciate you removing that. I no longer work for John Pastor so the office phone and email are incorrect, but if people need to reach me they can call me at the Chamber, and they we can go from there. Please remove my cell phone number. Thank you, Jordyn Salmon P.S. My maiden name was "Godfroid" not "Godfried" |
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| Renee Chesney | Oct 30 2007, 09:22 AM Post #19 |
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Jordyn - I am so sorry that there are individuals on here who find it necessary to harrass you. You are not an elected official and why they see you as a threat is beyond me. I think it is great that you are a product of LPS, did extremely well in college (Hillsdale on scholarship is great) and have returned to this community to work and raise your children. We wouldn't be in the position we are in this state if there were more like you. You most certainly have the right to be democrat or republican, to support Jack or Maureen and to even work for the Chamber, without being harassed or criticized. Thanks for being the kind of role model our kids can look to. |
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| Xena | Oct 30 2007, 09:38 AM Post #20 |
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I agree that the # should be deleted off here. Privacy should matter to those of us who post on this site. If someone chooses to use their name or give their cell# that is their choice. No one should have their personal info on here provided by others. As an example look at Renee's posts on the Kirksey video thread. Using someones first and last name in response to their post was wrong of Renee. But I guess the difference is she LIKES Jordyn, really, really likes her from the way she went on and on and on about it. Maybe Jordyn should run for Mayor. |
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This here is my other brother Daryl. Next to him's my other brother Daryl. Our school district uses Everyday Math and we does real good on the MEAPs test. That there question about the bedrum door.....well..... I use all them tools to measure the door. So the answer should be all of the above......them st. board of education people's trying to trick ya. I also use a pitch fork cause it's "about" the width of a door.....give or take a few feet. :lol:

