July 27, 2014

Michigan's Proposal 1 of 2014, is another Tax Shift disguised as Fathom Jobs....

"To say that Michigan's Proposal 1 coming to an PRIMARY election ballot near you August 5, 2014 is a hot pile of stinking mess, is a understatement. Commercials are marketing pitches, whose core design is to make the business, product, person or entity appear to be the best option to take.

Remember this statement when as a Michigan resident, you view the commercials sponsored by the States' Chamber of Commerce regarding how Proposal 1 of 2014 will magically create 15,000 jobs on its' own.

Why is Michigan's Proposal 1 of 2014 is a hot pile of stinking mess?

Problem One:

Well, a number of reasons but first and foremost, the appointed board who would decide where Usage Tax Funds are allocated. The Usage Tax in Michigan would increase on services such as renting a car, staying in a hotel room, receiving a haircut from a barber or hairdresser or buying equipment on Amazon.com.

Wait, buying equipment off of Amazon.com? Yes, that too as the State would ensure Amazon or any other e-commerce operated business charge the Michigan Sales Tax (6.0%), plus a new Usage Tax Fee on equipment purchases made over the internet.

Back to the "Appointed Board" determining where revenue received by Proposal 1 of 2014 Usage Tax is allocated to municipalities throughout the state. Normally, state governmental units quasi "Appointed Boards" are made up of political operatives who someone owe a favor, or the appointees themselves owe many favors to the Appointing Official(s).

For Proposal 1 of 2014 behalf, if passed into law, the board members would be Appointed by the Governor in office at the time. Yet, another reason this Proposal is a deep, long pile of stinking hot mess, while taking a moment to reflect on the last three years of Republican controlled and operated State Government in Michigan.

Problem Two:

Michigan's Proposal 1 of 2014 tall tales claims of tax savings for alleged "small businesses" the propaganda filled commercials boasting loudly about on a TV screen near you, are not the only businesses who will be the benefactors' of this "tax break".

Say hello to large businesses, yet again, getting another tax break at our expense."

Read more: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/07/oped-business-property-tax-measure.html#ixzz38hfdrHYt
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July 21, 2014

Actor/Activist Mark Ruffalo attends the Detroit Water Shutoffs Protest - 7.18.14

EXCLUSIVE IU News & Talk Video:

Actor and Activist Mark Ruffalo attended the Detroit Water Shutoffs Protests at Netroots Nation on July 18, 2014. Upwards to 3,000 Detroit Residents per week with an inability to pay water bills due to a 40% average poverty rate in the city, have been subject to shutoffs.

Protest was organized by National Nurses United, Robin Hood Tax USA with the support of the National Writers Union.

Video Link:

Video Credit: Independent Underground News & Talk
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July 13, 2014

Detroit's Bankruptcy, An Unique Opportunity To Transfer Wealth Assets-The March 2013 Interview

"Looking back on the nearly 18 month period since the City of Detroit entered the roads leading to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes Court, we reflect on the variety of twists and turns traveled.

From the Fiscal Crisis first declared by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R) in early 2013 and then former State Treasurer Andy Dillon, to a forced Consent Agreement for a period of nine months, ultimately leading to the appointment of former Jones Day Bankruptcy Attorney from way of Maryland, Kevyn Orr's rein as Detroit's Emergency Manager."

Minutes after 5:00 pm on July 11, 2014, several local media resources revealed an unnamed source affirmed Detroit Retirees voted for what is known as the Grand Bargain -- an legislative deal designed to cut earned pensions 4.5% or more, along with health and life insurance. Up to 20,000 retirees will be impacted by the true results of this vote. This is despite language in Michigan's Constitution and Funding Document declaring promised pension benefits SHALL NOT be impaired.

U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Judge Rhodes is scheduled to make a finalized decision on Detroit's Bankruptcy July 18, 2014.

Over in Illinois during the first week of July, the State's Highest Court - Supreme Court of Illinois stuck down an 2012 Public Act which sought to cut health care benefits earned to retirees. Citing language in Illinois State Constitution in Article 13, Section 5 Illinois Supreme Court in a 6 to 1 majority barred State Legislative leaders or other resources of impairing retirees pension and health benefits - irregardless to whatever "fiscal crisis" of the moment is boasted.

However, Detroit's road to Bankruptcy Court sets it apart from any other State in the latest rounds of Austerity Focused legislative officials displaying a strong willingness to cut pension and benefits to retirees, before ever deceasing their own. Today, the focus is Water, plus in particular Detroit and by extension Michigan's natural resource of abundance, called The Great Lakes."

READ MORE: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/07/oped-full-circle-detroits-bankruptcy.html#ixzz37NnWyPSf

July 6, 2014

(Illinois) State Supreme Court says retiree health benefits are protected by constitution

Source: AFSCME Council 31 - Illinois

"In a major victory for state of Illinois and state university retirees, the Illinois Supreme Court has reversed a lower court’s dismissal of lawsuits challenging SB 1313, which effectively repealed promised retiree health care benefits. One of the suits was brought by AFSCME and its union partners – the IFT, the FOP and INA.

The court found that health care benefits for retired state and university employees are protected by the pension protection clause of the state constitution (Article XIII, Section 5) and cannot be diminished or impaired. The court sent the case back to Circuit Court for further proceedings.

“Giving the language of article XIII, section 5, its plain and ordinary meaning, all of these benefits, including subsidized health care, must be considered to be benefits of membership in a pension or retirement system of the State and, therefore, within that provision’s protections,” the court wrote in its opinion.

"The Supreme Court ruled today that men and women who work to provide essential public services – protecting children from abuse, keeping criminals locked up, caring for the most vulnerable and more – can count on the Illinois Constitution to mean what it says," Council 31 Executive Director Henry Bayer said. "Retirement security, including affordable health care and a modest pension, cannot be revoked by politicians.

"Unions representing public employees and retirees have stood virtually alone against political and corporate-funded attacks on retirement security," Bayer added. "Time and again we have urged legislators to respect the constitution they are sworn to uphold, and to work together with us to develop fair and constitutional solutions to the state's very real fiscal challenges. We remain ready to work in good faith with anyone to do so."

The opinion, and its validation of the pension protection clause, is an encouraging sign as AFSCME and other unions seek to overturn laws that would cut pension benefits for state of Illinois and state university retirees (SB 1 –Public Act 98-599) and City of Chicago retirees (SB 1922)."



Read more: http://www.afscme31.org/news/state-supreme-court-says-retiree-health-benefits-are-protected-by-constitution

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This could have HUGE implications for Detroit, Michigan retirees.....if they can change their votes --- to NO on the Grand Bargain--- before July 11th.

Illinois Supreme Court Ruling on Pension Benefits Could Change the Landscape of Detroit's Grand Bargain Deal

"The Supremacy Clause. According to Cornell University Law School, the Clause confirms in, "Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution... that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take precedence over state laws, and even state constitutions." Scary language when City of Detroit retirees in less than a week are facing a life altering decision.

The open question is if these former and current workers vested in Detroit's Pension Plans vote yes to a 4.5% cut to monthly annuity income, or face upwards of a 27% reduction or more by voting no.
Furthermore, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes could pull a "trump card" of sorts if retirees were to deny what is known as the "Grand Bargain" using a Austerity focus safety net -- Supremacy. Or will he?
The decision made on Thursday, July 3, 2014 over the course of a busy holiday weekend in S.E. Michigan was heard like an ant crawling across a floor. Pretty much, not at all. Yet, the Illinois Supreme Court ruling was ground shaking.

As another state facing what the austerity hyper-focus call a pension short-fall, a bi-partisan Illnois State Legislator voted to diminish a core benefit retirees via Unionized contracts approved in good faith.

Public Act 97-695 of 2012 allowed the Illinois to charge retired workers for health care insurance premiums, which many did not have to pay depending on how long they worked for the state.Legal challenges to the Public Act took nearly two years to land within Illinois' Supreme Court Docket.

After a thorough review in a 6 to 1 strong majority decision, the state court decided to affirm language in Article 14, Section 9 of Illinois Constitution -- setting a possible future U.S. Supreme Court Case in motion, whether or not City of Detroit Retirees vote yes or no to its' Grand Bargain plan."

READ MORE: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/07/oped-llinois-supreme-court-ruling-on.html#ixzz36iK6ZG00

July 6, 2014

llinois Supreme Court Ruling on Pension Benefits Could Aler Landscape of Detroit's Grand Bargain

"The Supremacy Clause. According to Cornell University Law School, the Clause confirms in, "Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution... that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take precedence over state laws, and even state constitutions." Scary language when City of Detroit retirees in less than a week are facing a life altering decision.

The open question is if these former and current workers vested in Detroit's Pension Plans vote yes to a 4.5% cut to monthly annuity income, or face upwards of a 27% reduction or more by voting no.

Furthermore, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes could pull a "trump card" of sorts if retirees were to deny what is known as the "Grand Bargain" using a Austerity focus safety net -- Supremacy. Or will he?

The decision made on Thursday, July 3, 2014 over the course of a busy holiday weekend in S.E. Michigan was heard like an ant crawling across a floor. Pretty much, not at all. Yet, the Illinois Supreme Court ruling was ground shaking.

As another state facing what the austerity hyper-focus call a pension short-fall, a bi-partisan Illnois State Legislator voted to diminish a core benefit retirees via Unionized contracts approved in good faith.

Public Act 97-695 of 2012 allowed the Illinois to charge retired workers for health care insurance premiums, which many did not have to pay depending on how long they worked for the state.Legal challenges to the Public Act took nearly two years to land within Illinois' Supreme Court Docket.

After a thorough review in a 6 to 1 strong majority decision, the state court decided to affirm language in Article 14, Section 9 of Illinois Constitution -- setting a possible future U.S. Supreme Court Case in motion, whether or not City of Detroit Retirees vote yes or no to its' Grand Bargain plan.

READ MORE: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/07/oped-llinois-supreme-court-ruling-on.html#ixzz36h84j12d