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YOU CAN NOW COMMENT ON STORIES AND POLLS<br />
LET US KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ISSUES.<br />
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NEW POLL OVERVIEW:<br />
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Michigan legislative leaders working with Governor Snyder are attempting to find revenue to repair Michigan's roads.<br />
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Governor Snyder, is asking for $1.2 billion per year in new road funding. He has been meeting this summer with Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, House Speaker Jase Bolger and House Minority Leader Tim Greimel.<br />
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According to MIRS the four leaders </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">are moving toward a package</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> that would:<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; 1. Earmark all revenue collected at the gas pump (including fuel, excise and sales taxes) to roads.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2. The package would also increase the state sales tax by 1%, to make the new rate 7%. The additional 1% would be used to replace lost revenue currently earmarked for schools and cities.<br />
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Michigan is currently among a small number of states that charge sales tax on fuel and it does not devote any of that revenue to roads. Almost all of the current&nbsp; sales tax money is used for K-12 education and municipal revenue sharing.<br />
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To make this plan work both the house and senate would have to pass legislation by a 2/3 majority vote in each chamber and then Michigan voters would have to approval it at the next statewide election as early as November of this year. <br />
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NEW POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should the MI legislature raise the state income tax to 7% and use the fuel based portion of the tax exclusively for roads?<br />
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Yes<br />
No<br />
Undecided<br />
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TO VOTE IN THIS POLL CLICK ON THIS LINK<br />
<a href="http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-mi-legislature-raise-state-income-tax-7-and-use-fuel-based-portion-tax-exclusively-ro">http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-mi-legislature-raise-state-income-tax-7-and-use-fuel-based-portion-tax-exclusively-ro</a><br />
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(To enter your comments click on </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Add new comment</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> after you vote.)<br />
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PREVIOUS POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should the Michigan GOP convention delegates replace Calley as the Lt. Governor candidate at the 2014 GOP convention?<br />
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Yes - 21%<br />
No - 70%<br />
Undecided - 9% <br />
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FOUR COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THIS POLL:<br />
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COMMENT #1 <br />
Lt. Gov.<br />
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What Calley brought to the table is knowledge about the legislature and the legislative process. Hard to imagine that Snyder, who has no prior government experience, would be willing to give that up.<br />
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COMMENT #2<br />
do not replace Lt Gov Calley!<br />
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Our Gov &amp; Lt Gov have done a great job for MI, our state has improved so much in less than a full term from where Granholm had taken this state. I may have disagreements on a few issues with the Rep team, but this attitude of thinking any elected official is going to agree with us 100% of the time is what hurts us in elections. If the tea party or a group of republicans make an effort to tear up this team, we will likely see a democrat in both of these positions at the next election. Instead of tearing apart an effective team, why not put the energy &amp; resources into reelecting them &amp; help them in a constructive positive way to get the things we need done. This negative action also discourages other people from being involved. As a business owner, I have seen almost every business I represent begin to prosper again, which means more jobs, &amp; a healthier state. This campaign needs to be squelched by every local Rep party in our state! Our leaders of our local parties need to help our party elected officials not tear them down! I would certainly expect the Clinton County Republican Party to stand behind our elected officials including Lt Gov Calley.<br />
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COMMENT #3<br />
Calley<br />
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This is the kind of thing that is destroying our party. Deal with the few things you don</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">t like about our executives and get behind them or we</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">re going to end up with another set of Dems in the capital!<br />
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COMMENT #4<br />
It's not about Calley<br />
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The republican party has lost its identity and it is dying a slow death. When republicans can</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">t see that there are significant differences between them and the liberals on the other side of the aisle it</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s time to close up shop. There seems to be a consensus that they/we will do better in the next election; that we shouldn</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">t rock the boat; that things are getting better; and that we should just ignore the liberal agenda of our own party.<br />
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The truth is </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">the people</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> don</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">t have a voice anymore -- it</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s the lobbyists and special interests with all their money and influence that have our legislators</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> ears. The average voter can</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">t compete with their power and influence and that</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s why the Tea Party was started.<br />
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We are made out to be the </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">fringe wacko</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> who are trying to ruin our state and country. The truth is we are trying to restore responsibility and accountability in government. Is it wrong to believe in the constitution, and that elected officials should be accountable to upholding their oath of office?<br />
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As far as the poll and the question that was posed are concerned the convention rules of the republican party allow for the duly elected delegates to the convention to select the governor</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s running mate unless the state party decides to change the rules before then. In my opinion that</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s what free speech and an open political process are all about.<br />
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What the Tea Party is saying by potentially having a </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">conservative</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> replacement for Calley is that Governor Snyder is the real issue and there isn</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">t anyone who is willing to take him on in the 2014 primary.<br />
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In the end the Republican Party needs to restore its core principles!<br />
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