Ask and They Shall Receive

Editor's note: The following is an edited version of testimony given by Kenneth M. Braun, policy analyst, to the Michigan House Appropriations Committee on May 20, 2009.)

Good afternoon Mr. Chairman and members of the committee.

Thank you so much for the invitation to testify. I greatly appreciate that you are the first Appropriations Committee in either chamber of the Legislature to ask for my advice. I'd like to clarify before I begin that, while my remarks have been tailored to the work of this body, a comparable statement could and should also be directed at the Senate. I mention this because what I am about to say to you may not win me an invitation to speak in the Appropriations Room on the other side of the building anytime soon.
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Tool Time

Hundreds of thousands of citizens participated in recent "Tea Party" protests against the chronic fiscal irresponsibility of our political class and the outright fiscal extremism now underway in Lansing and Washington. For many, if not most, of the Tea Partiers this was the first time they have ever been involved in a political protest movement. Both at the events and in the days since, they've been asking the same questions: "What's next, and what else can we do?" The Mackinac Center provides some answers.
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Trading Places

"Protectionism" has long been a diversion used by Michigan politicians to shift blame for their own economically damaging policy decisions. At various times Japan, Mexico and China have all been blamed for Michigan's dismal economic performance.

Yet despite all of the disingenuous talk, Michigan residents have greatly benefited from free trade and globalization. While politicians have belittled our trading partners, Michigan's exports have steadily grown, hitting a record level in 2008.
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Perk Test

On Feb.12, 2009, the Michigan Senate resoundingly defeated 2009 Senate Resolution 13, a proposal urging Gov. Jennifer Granholm "to work with the Civil Service Commission to require that state employees either work on President's Day or take the day off as an unpaid holiday to reflect the state's dire financial challenges."
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David and Goliath

About this audio: On May 14, 2009, David L. Littmann, senior economist for the Mackinac Center, was a guest on “The Frank Beckmann Show” on WJR AM760. Littmann discussed federal stimulus spending, inflation, the state budget overspending crisis and his analysis of Chrysler and GM and the impact their problems will have on Michigan. The interview is 10 minutes and 6 seconds.
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Gut Check

When it comes to government spending restraint and Michigan's political class, it's a case of "everybody wants to go to heaven — but not today." Therefore, we see lots of evasive recommendations for "consolidation," unspecified "across-the-board" cuts, slashing the "waste, fraud and abuse line item," etc., but few substantive, big-ticket savings proposals.
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Strong Words

Ideas matter, especially when they influence high government officials. Contrast these two statements.
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Can I Ask You a Question?

Hard-to-dodge questions that suggest whether a candidate for the Michigan Legislature actually supports limited government principles.
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Tea Minus 10 Minutes

Ten things you can do to keep the Tea Party movement moving ahead.
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Attitude Adjustment

The following describes an attitude that, if widespread, would vastly improve the incentives of lawmakers to honor the principles of limited government.
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Paper Cut

"This is a horrible thing that I present to you today."
-- Michigan Budget Director Bob Emerson presenting budget cuts to House and Senate Appropriation Committees, quoted in MIRS News.

Responding to a $1.3 billion gap between how much state politicians want to spend vs. the amount of revenue they actually expect to collect, Gov. Jennifer Granholm Tuesday proposed and the legislative appropriations committees approved $304 million in state spending reductions. The balance of the spending gap will be filled in with federal "stimulus" money (called "Obamabucks" by Capitol wags).
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