Here's what people were saying in the news this past week

Posted on Mon, Feb 21, 2011 : 6:33 a.m.

Here's what people were saying in the news this past week

By Steve Pepple

Gov. Snyder

"I've been on a tour the last few days speaking to and interacting with a lot of our alumni around the country, and I can just tell you it feels very, very good right now. It feels like people are very comfortable with Brady, who he is, what he stands for, what his message is." - U-M athletic director David Brandon, speaking on Grand Rapids radio station WBBL-FM about new football coach Brady Hoke.

"These are problems that cannot be fixed with accounting gimmicks or a one-time infusion of federal money. These are problems that require the resolve to make tough decisions. I have been clear that the months ahead will not be easy. They will involve difficult but necessary changes to bring Michigan’s budget into structural balance." - Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, in a cover memo on his executive budget recommendations for fiscal years 2012 and 2013.

“It didn’t matter which station it was, to a degree it was going to lengthen response times. If there was a fire, lengthier response times means more damage. It doesn’t matter which station, there will be an impact to the community.” - Ann Arbor Fire Chief Dominick Lanza, on recent intermittent closures of Fire Station 3 on Jackson Avenue in an attempt to eliminate department overtime.

“I don’t hold much hope out for the successful reorganization of Borders. They’re going to try to restructure and reorganize the company, but that is not going to solve the problem they have in dealing with the problems in the industry.” - Jim McTevia, a turnaround consultant with Bingham Farms-based McTevia & Associates, on Border’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Comments

Fair4ALL

Fri, Feb 25, 2011 : 9:32 p.m.

SHARED SACRIFICE #1 If Snyder's premise is that giving big business tax breaks brings jobs, fine. However, hold off on the tax break until each business proves their worth. Once a business hires "X" number of employees, guarantees job security, and shows continued growth, then, and only then will they receive the tax break. In the meantime, businesses should share the sacrifice, and not be given a tax break. SHARED SACRIFICE #2 Michigan's sales tax is one of the lowest in the country. Raising the sales tax is fair and equal, and you have a choice whether or not to make purchases. SHARED SACRIFICE #3 Health Care costs have been a huge problem. Tobacco use is a proven cause of many health problems. Apply a big tax to tobacco use, and put the money in the health care system. That way those who CHOOSE to use tobacco can also help defray the cost of health care.

Woody

Thu, Feb 24, 2011 : 3:38 p.m.

Governor Snyder's appeal to Michiganders to share economic sacrifice reminds me of Anatole France's comment that some politicians' notion of equality is to forbid both the rich and the poor "to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets and to steal bread." Snyder's approach to sacrifice would have the very rich give up some small measure of luxuries they enjoy, thanks to a great transfer of wealth into their hands over the past 30 years, while most middle class and poor people face a crunch affecting housing, health care, education and food. John Woodford