Michigan Turnaround Question of the Week - Will you support a pay as you go policy?
Business Leaders For Michigan on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 As we approach the general election, we are asking voters, “Do your candidates have a plan to turn Michigan around?” To help voters decide, we are releasing a weekly series of questions to candidates seeking state office.
The questions are taken from Business Leaders for Michigan’s one-page tool for voters, “10 Questions Every Voter Should Ask Candidates Running for State Office,” and they address the most urgent issues facing all Michiganders – the economy and jobs.
Click here to read our first week's installment.
This week's question is: "Will you support a pay as you go policy that would prevent the state from adopting new programs without being able to pay for them?" This is an important question because when Michigan was a wealthy state, it could afford to fund all programs well and not set priorities. But with per capita income at 37th in the nation, we are now a relatively poor state, and need to set spending priorities that will re-grow the state's economy. Since 2000, state tax revenue has declined or been flat. However, the state has continued to add new programs, which has exacerbated budget shortfalls while state revenues have declined.
Click here to read answers to this question that voters should be looking for from candidates for state office.
