Michigan Budget

People please, where do you think the money comes from.  If you can’t raise more or cut more then you have no more.  The economic state of Michigan has been driven into the ground for decades to support the one industry that failed us.  The decision to be where we are was made decades ago.

If it wasn’t for the family network and recreational activities, Michigan leaves little reason to stay.  With the auto industry shuttering and supporting business having to close, where do you turn for economic security?  Michigan doesn’t offer that anymore.

With the initial budget reports being released this morning, Michigan appears to be teetering on further cuts in education.  Both at the K-12 level and the post graduate education level.  With the no child left behind act in place , continued K-12 budget cuts and unemployment rate exceeding 15%, I fell like my child is left behind.  The quality of the core education may be great in the district I reside but it is the supporting education that goes along with this that will differentiate our children.  It is the supporting education that our children will remember fondly when looking back at their education.  With the continued cuts in the K-12, the fond memories of students graduating in 2020 and beyond will be the MEAP test weeks.  That’s going to keep or brain trust in Michigan!  I doubt it.

For the post graduate level support, tie it to residing and being employed in Michigan for 1 year for each year of acceptance.  If the student agrees then they can receive the grant with strings attached.  If they opt to move before they meet their obligation, then have the support turn from a grant type of fund or scholarship into a subsidized loan.  Then Michigan will either get the money returned to support those that want to stay and play or they will be able to sell the loan on the open market; again returning the funds to Michigan for redeployment into post graduate education.

Another interesting outcome of the initial budget meetings are the concepts of taxing Doctors 3% and getting Medicaid reimbursement by 8%.  Who are you kidding Michigan.  Those two acts will simply drive the doctor population to leave Michigan and accept less Medicaid patients.  It already takes a doctor a minimum of 90 days to get reimbursed at a substandard rate for adequate care.  The doctors already limit the care they provide to medicaid patients by making very few appointment slots open; meeting the minimum state requirements.  Right now, it is easier for a doctor to simply not charge for some services than it is to try to collect from the state.

OK Michigan, so now we have poor opportunities for financial security, our children’s education offering is declining and when we need medical attention we will have to wait longer and receive less services.  Hm-mm, doesn’t this say come live in Michigan.