Governor Snyder's Tax Increase

Michigan's Governor Snyder has proposed a massive increase on retiree pension income here in Michigan.  From the outset I must disclose that I have a vested interest in this debate because we are Michigan retirees, so I admit that I am not unbiased in this debate.  Nevertheless, allow me to make a few observations:

• Gov. Snyder and the Republicans are claiming this is not really a tax increase, but simply the removal of a loophole.  Are you kidding?  Can you imagine what the Conservatives would have said if Granholm and the Democrats had made this proposal.  They would have called it the biggest tax increase in the history of Michigan.  I'm not saying that a rational case can't be made for the proposal.  But at least fess up and call it what it is: a huge tax increase for a lot of Michigan residents.  Otherwise you are just being dishonest.
• Many Michigan workers accepted lower pay and smaller increases with the understanding that their deferred pensions would receive the favorable tax treatment.  Now Gov. Snyder wants the state to renege on that promise.
• Like it or not, many retirees (including us) have decided to retire in Michigan at least in part because of the tax treatment.  If the tax increase passes--however justified--our disposable income will have gone down by a significant amount.  Since we have no particular family ties to Michigan, one of our incentives for living here will have disappeared.
• I find it especially interesting that Conservatives are making "tax fairness" as a central part of their argument.  When Progressives were talking about tax fairness in relation to the advantageous tax treatment for things like carried interest and the tax on corporate dividends, they were accused of waging class warfare, i.e., playing Robin Hood by taking from the rich and giving to the middle class.  How odd it is that taking from the middle class and giving to the rich is not class warfare but simply "tax fairness".  How hypocritical.
• Many--if not most--Republicans have run on a no-tax-increase platform.  Some have signed pledges.  I guess that all they have to do is just call a tax increase something else and they are off the hook.  So much for principle.

Newt

Newt Gingrich now says that he was an adulterer because he loves his country too much.  I wonder if that covers the adultery on both of his ex-wives?

You've got to be kidding me.