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Excerpt: "Senate Democrats have released a new plan that puts Michigan students ahead of wealthy corporations.... Michigan's high school graduates will be eligible for free tuition at one of Michigan's community colleges or universities. ... The program will be funded entirely by eliminating $3.5 billion in tax credits and loopholes."

College students in Michigan may be receiving free tuition to community colleges or universities. (photo: Tainted Green)

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-28 # MidwestTom 2012-01-18 08:47

So even more businesses leave Michigan. This is a great plan, but will businesses leave. like they have from Illinois? Which loopholes are they closing I wonder. Illinois is now aggressively pursuing any possible fining offense by a business, try to increase revenue. MEanwhile businesses are leaving for more solid financially states such as Wisconsin and Indiana.

+16 # Texas Aggie 2012-01-18 10:32

Right. The only reason that businesses are staying in Michigan is because they are sucking on the taxpayer tit. Sorry, bud, but as TX has shown, an educated work force is a heck of a lot more important to a business than a tax break. TX has been giving out tax breaks right, left and center for years and they haven't attracted any significant businesses because, since Gov. Ann Richards, the educational system has been taking serious body blows. The only major businesses TX has are related to oil because that's where the oil was, not because the oil companies got tax breaks.

+6 # LiberalLibertarian 2012-01-18 11:37

Tom,

A company has to make a profit FIRST before they pay any taxes. An educated workforce supplies the business with creative people that improve the company's bottom line.

A business that makes decisions based on tax code is soon out of business.

I am sure there is a point where taxes do drag down a business, there are very few of those type of taxes in the US. Very, very few.

+1 # lionsdenmother 2012-01-19 10:57

In Wisconsin 1 Million Signatures for Walker's Removal

+7 # maddave 2012-01-18 09:29

What a wonderful idea for Michiganders and what a marvelous opportunity for Michigan students to get an education. It's also the issue that will prove where Michigan State legislators set their priorities. Will they side with the immediate profits of the corporations & one-percenters who finance their elections & re-elections or will it be with properly educating and preparing todays students for governing & maintaining Michigan for the remainder of the 21st century? Talk is cheap. Let's delay final judgement until we see the enacting legislation.

+6 # reiverpacific 2012-01-18 09:55

Well, isn't the point that the power-owner class DON'T WANT a truly and further-educated population? Just give 'em enough to produce drones who will gratefully accept low pay (it's an insult to call such compensation "wages"), just enough to absorb the infotainment that passes for content between commercials on the flickering screen, their opiate and reward for total conformity to the Capitalist-Plutocratic model. It's a little-known fact that Hitler provided cheap-to-free cruises and holiday camps for the workers in the factories engaged in feverishly re-arming his forces to the same end: -absolute conformity and just enough basic comfort and knowledge to keep them useful (then blamed them for failing him at the end).
Keep 'em down but useable is the message and purpose.
Keep an eye on Wisconsin and their recall of Walker and watch out for Repug' skullduggery in both states.

+11 # noitall 2012-01-18 10:15

"MEanwhile businesses are leaving for more solid financially states such as Wisconsin and Indiana." which should be a heads-up to the citizens in Wisconsin and Indiana! Businesses are aware of the economic climate; if the are there for the short run, they'll leach and use the community until only bones are left then they'll leave anyway. Why not have a vetting process and negotiate with the businesses for sustainability. "Good" businesses will see the value in mutually sustainable economics that serve the needs of all rather than sucking out the blood and then leaving for the next victim. What are they going to do, import all their educated human resources? This is the paradigm in which we live; Michigan is casting the model for the new paradigm that OWS has been demanding. How long will Wisconsin and Indiana be "more solid financially states" when they abuse their people for corporate presence and sole-benefit?

+4 # foxglove16 2012-01-18 18:30

"The plan should appeal to Republicans as “it can be done without raising taxes one cent,” said Whitmer."

You forget that the Republicans want to limit access to higher education. Statistics tell us an educated populace tends to vote Democratic.

-3 # lnason@umassd.edu 2012-01-19 08:33

floxglove16

While I disagree with you both on your conclusions (that Republicans want to limit access to higher education) and your unstated statistical sources (a Pew Research Study released this past summer shows that Republicans were significantly more knowledgeable about political affairs than Democrats -- look it up), the real kicker in this article is the claim is Whitmer's claim that this program could "be done without raising taxes one cent." One wonders at his ability to think clearly: doesn't he see that taxes on the various businesses that have used the deductions in the past would now pay higher taxes in the future if this program is approved? Proof positive, perhaps, that Democrats really are dumber than Republicans. :-)

Lee Nason
New Bedford, Massachusetts

-5 # lnason@umassd.edu 2012-01-18 18:31

And we wonder why businesses are shunning Michigan (and Illinois and California and New York and Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and Ohio).

Simply reading the census data shows us the answers. Inward migration to low tax, low regulation, right to work states and outward immigration from high tax, high regulation, forced unionization states tells the whole story.

Lee Nason
New Bedford, Massachusetts

+1 # BettyFaas 2012-01-19 00:41

Investing in the one percenters' wealth has not done much for the country as they have reaped a 275% increase in income.

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