MichiBlogger

Looks like the beavers are preparing to do a bit of spring construction. My wife took this yesterday near Hungerford Lake in Manistee National Forest.

WORSE THINGS COULD HAPPEN: Could Michigan be headed for a shut-down?

Governor Granholm says she wants to know by next week what programs might be affected if the state runs out of money in a few months and has to shut down.

The governor wants to fill this year’s $900 million hole in the budget with a mix of cuts, accounting changes, and a two-percent service tax.

Senate Republicans say they don’t want a tax increase and will focus on more cuts.

The governor’s spokeswoman warns a shut-down is a real possibility unless something is done.

The last thing we need is a tax on services.

THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND: Michigan GOP wants major say in picking presidential winner

Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis on Wednesday sent out an e-mail to party and elected officials asking if they’d support moving to either Jan. 29, when Florida may hold its primary, or to Feb. 2, when South Carolina Republicans head to the polls.

Either date would be ahead of Feb. 5, when 20 or more states could weigh in with their presidential choices. Rules for both parties forbid more than a handful of states from going earlier, but party leaders in Michigan are considering moving up anyway.

HEADED TO MEET HOMER HICKAM TONIGHT. Hickam is the author of October Sky, originally titled Rocket Boys. He’s appearing at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center in Grand Rapids at 7:00 tonight. October Sky is the One Book, One County title for Kent County.

My wife also read The Coalwood Way by Hickam (he calls it “an equal, not a sequel”) and, of course, October Sky was made into an excellent film.

GENTLEMEN, START YOUR OUTHOUSES! The Coopersville Outhouse 500.

Excellent vlog by Wandering West Michigan, which is going onto the blogroll in about 2.1 seconds.

A TAX INCREASE I MIGHT BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH: Gas tax increase weighed as option to improve Michigan roads.

Supporters of higher gasoline taxes, including the chamber, have suggested an increase of up to 3 cents per gallon per year over a three-year period, saying the potential 9-cent-per-gallon increase would help boost economic development in the state.

I can (maybe) buy this as it’s a sales tax and those generally make more sense than, say, an increase in the state’s income tax.

But don’t lose sight of this:

Michigan sends more in federal gasoline taxes to Washington than it gets back. This year, it’s getting just 91.5 cents of every dollar it sends to Washington, an amount that will rise to 92 cents in 2008 and 2009.

Bump that up a few more cents and maybe the state increase could be significantly smaller.

I’VE ALWAYS CONSIDERED MYSELF A BIT OF A ‘MODERATE’ REPUBLICAN, but no more.

THE LATEST CARNIVAL OF HOMESCHOOLING IS UP, this week at Alasandra. This carnival is a great resource and is worth your time if you have kids, even if you don’t homeschool.

DISSING THE MOTOR CITY?

HERE’S THE U-M VS. NORTH DAKOTA MATCH-UP at College Hockey News. The game, in Denver’s Pepsi Center, starts at 7:30 PM ET tonight. Tune in on 1050 AM or listen on the web at M Go Blue.