Redstate

Posted at 8:03am on Jun. 5, 2008 Average Day in Michigan: Lansing raises taxes, Detroit fails kids and Granholm to veto freedom

By RightMichigan.com

Cross-posted on Right Michigan at www.RightMichigan.com.

Hey, Hey, Hockeytown!  Congratulations to the Wings and all of the fans who've been with the team all year!  What a last couple of games.  Wow.  Ozzie's the man and would have been my choice for the Con Smythe but you can't argue with Hank.  

And in the immortal words of the great Mike Shanahan, "offseason starts tomorrow because (when we come back) we're going for two!"

Now, at the risk of moving too quickly from euphoria to despair, there's news all over the wires this morning illustrating that Lansing, the Governor and far more than half the students in Detroit either haven't learned or just plain refuse to try.  

Proving that you can teach a liberal government new tricks provided each one comes with it's own tax or fee, the Lansing State Journal reports this morning that residents in the Capitol City are about to see over a half-million dollars swiped out of their pockets and shoved into the big-government trough at City Hall.  Put succinctly:

Lansing is expecting to raise $520,000 for its $199.3 million 2008-09 budget by increasing existing fees and creating new ones.

Best, just about all of the new fees either directly targets job providers or low / no wage earners relying on City services.  And folks grieving the loss of a loved one.  Because if there's anyone who needs picking on it's those left behind after tragedy.

If you can't afford your own home and you're forced to rent a room in a multi-family house?  You'll be paying more.  Can't afford fancy after school activities for your kids and rely on City athletic programs?  You'll pay more.  Need to bury a loved one?  Get ready to pay more.

Lansing is raising taxes on each of the following: