Regulate the Regulators

Background: A state senator wants to require state registration of reporters and mandate a 25 cent deposit on newspapers sold through dealers or vending machines.

Sen. Bruce Patterson’s proposal to regulate the press is a brilliant idea. Unfortunately, he applies it to the wrong institution. Instead of imposing a 25 cent deposit on each newspaper, I propose a 25 cent tax on each word in any proposed bill. And instead of registering journalists to make sure they have "good moral character", I propose we apply those requirements to politicians.

If passed, this bill would solve some of Michigan’s biggest problems. The income generated from the tax would easily balance the budget while the new registration requirement would drastically reduce our bloated, full-time, and overpaid legislature.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Published 06/22/2010.]