by State Rep. Paul Opsommer (MI-93)
The size of government, particularly at the federal level, is expanding greatly. But this also has a trickle down effect on Michigan. In order to qualify for federal dollars, states frequently have to pass laws that expand their reach and authority. And they often need to continue to pay for new programs after federal funding is phased out. Short run money that appeared “free” often ends up becoming a long run obligation to state taxpayers in the end.
This is an important consideration as Michigan approaches its October 1st budget deadline, especially with the large role federal stimulus money could play in how things are balanced. It would be easy to plug too many budgetary holes with stimulus dollars, leaving us worse off in the future. It is my belief that we should have a small government, but what it does do, it should do well.
Instead, most government tries to do too much and ends up doing nothing particularly well. But the current economy will force us to make necessary decisions: what kind of government do we want, what kind of government do we need, and ultimately what are we willing to pay for?
Government shutdowns and furlough days are all signs that government is trying to do too much and more than it can handle. By definition, government can not be effective if it is not up and running.
People often ask me if I am committed to doing everything I can to avoid a government shutdown this year. The reality is that as of September 4th we will already have had six shutdown days in the form of furloughs. This is an emergency stopgap measure we can not continue to rely on if we wish to have effective government.
I am therefore introducing legislation to limit the use of furlough days to no more than six a year. Once we reach that mark, it is obvious that we need to be looking at more permanent solutions such as accelerated retirements to reduce the number of state employees while we reorganize and keep the programs that matter most up and running.
We also need to commit to ensuring taxpayers can’t be ticketed, fined, or otherwise penalized because of furlough days or an unbalanced budget. As an example I have introduced HB 5277 to make sure people aren’t fined for not renewing their licenses on furlough days that have forced the Secretary of State’s office to be closed.
HB 5230 ensures that no one has to pay money for a tax tribunal hearing more than once. I’m also working on a bill to increase the amount of interest the state pays taxpayers who are owed a refund.
An effective government has to be kept up and running, and it shouldn’t be allowed to penalize taxpayers for its own inability to right-size government.
State Rep. Paul Opsommer [send him email] was elected to a second term in the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2008. He represents the residents of Clinton and Gratiot counties.
I don’t know if government is ever truly “effective” – but, there’s no doubt in my mind that smaller and less intrusive is far better than how it is today.
Could always do like the catholic church does in choosing a pope. We lock all the legislators into the chamber until they agree on a balanced budget.
I agree with Paul Opsommer, the Government in general expectantly the federal government is doing too much, it was never made to do this many things, and we the people simply cant afford this load.
There is one essential core function of government, and that is the protection of the rights of the people form usurpation by other people or governments. That means law enforcement and defense.
At this juncture however it is clear that the rights of the people are now being threaten by the federal government which correspondingly threatens the budget of the state thou its unconstitutional power grabs and mandates. Therefore the State must deal with the Federal government’s excesses if it is to have any long term hope of dealing with it’s own budget problems.
It’s got to stop the injury causing so much of the bleeding.
This is the most vital roll of the State government, while local government in most States actually most directly handles the law enforcement. The State Controls the state’s military defense assets. They must act to protect the rights of the people and their States from further Federal intrusion, and they must act in coordination with the other states. Or they will not be able to solve theses budget problems over the long run.
The thing about the federal government pushing it’s social welfare programs and cost onto the states with the actual power to do them, is that the same government has little to no considerations of the actual budgetary constraints of the same states to afford them, and so they keep pushing more and more endlessly.
This must stop, we cant afford to keep playing this careless carrot and stick spending game. Until the State deals with this matter and brings and end to it, the question budgetary balance is a losing battle.
The people cannot afford this weight of government even at present, we certainly can’t afford it’s non-stop growth anymore. You must bring a stop to it.
Reverse all changes made to the law in-order to gain federal money, then take control of the Federal Taxes, and deduct from that amount contributed the excess cost of their unconstitutional mandates.
The Federal Government has no right to be transfer funds from this State to other States just because we can’t afford to match their wreck-less spending, as to be “eledgeable” for a return of that which we payed to the Federal government in the first place.
The Unconstitutional stick must be broken, and our carrot must not be allowed to lead us into budgetary and legal doom.
You’re right, the stick must be broken, or it’s going to collapse under its own weight sooner or later. And that sure won’t be pretty….
State government shutdown? I’m guessing that brings smiles to the faces of the centralizers in DC.
Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.