If Vagnozzi doesn't want the responsibility

In his recent letter on the SBT (“Matter of responsibility”, 10/1/2006), State Representative Aldo Vagnozzi defends his vote for the Single Business Tax by blaming others. First he blames former Governor John Engler who hasn’t been in office for 4 years. Then he blames the Republicans for rejecting an SBT reduction proposed by Governor Jennifer Granholm. Unfortunately, her reduction was attached to a foolish $2 billion boondoggle that deserved to be rejected.

Not content to blame only Republicans, Vagnozzi faults business for proposing the SBT in the first place and claims they should propose a replacement tax. Funny, I thought that responsibility rested with our elected officials.

Since Vagnozzi doesn’t want the responsibility of fixing the economic consequences of the onerous SBT, someone has taken up his slack and proposed a solution – one that doesn’t require new taxes or cuts in essential services.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy outlines several reforms that would save enough money to eliminate the need for a replacement. Their proposals include changing higher education funding to “per-pupil” grants; repealing the "prevailing wage" law that requires above-market rate wages be paid on school construction projects; and privatizing prisons. With these and other proposed reforms, state spending could be reduced and the economy strengthened.

To make it easy for Vagnozzi, the Mackinac Center has posted the full list of reforms on their website (www.mackinac.org). Unfortunately, Vagnozzi would need to take on some responsibility. He would need to represent the interests of his constituents and stand up to the labor unions that fund his campaign and benefit from his current spending priorities.

However, if Vagnozzi doesn’t want the responsibilities that come with being an elected representative, I suggest voters relieve him of them come November.

[Letter to the Editor - Farmington Observer. Published 10/05/2006.]

Following publication of this letter, Mark and Yvonne Reina of Farmington wrote a letter asking why I didn’t hold Republicans responsible for the SBT. As much as I’d like to respond via the Observer, I don’t think a back-and-forth in the letters section is going to fly. But since I have this blog, I’ll use it to respond.
- Although “The Republicans” are the majority, they are not my representative. Aldo is.
- I don’t think a replacement should be implemented, but Aldo does. If Aldo wants a replacement, then propose it. Instead he’s whining that the Republicans and business aren’t proposing one.
- Engler’s still been gone for 4 years. I guess we can spend our time complaining about his policies or we can address what we have today. If my representative wants to spend his time complaining about the past, I’d prefer he did it on his own time. I want a representative that spends his time dealing with the issues today, not sitting around complaining and doing nothing.
- Quote: “Ultra-conservative Republican candidates even say there is no need for an SBT replacement at all. They only seem to find ways to pay more with less money and sap savings and fiscal viability.” The Mackinac Center has identified a number of policies and programs that serve as benefits to labor unions or artificially maintain high funding levels for agencies. As far as Republicans sapping savings and fiscal viability. At a federal level, you’ll get no argument from me. The Grand Old Spending Party is borrowing rather than cutting spending. But at the state level, we have a constitutionally mandated balanced budget. Money doesn’t get borrowed to pay for today’s programs.