$1.4 billion: One year later

Bolger to address job crisis during listening tour

State House Candidate James “Jase” Bolger today called for common sense solutions for Michigan businesses and families one year after the historic tax increases and government shutdown. “Never in Michigan’s history has public policy failed on such a personal and fundamental level,” said Candidate James “Jase” Bolger. “After a full year of tax-and-spend politics, Michigan is at 8.9 percent unemployment, leading the nation only where we don’t want to be leading: in jobs lost.”

On Oct. 1, 2007, Michigan’s government was forced to shut down. The shutdown ended after a $1.4 billion Democrat-led tax increase was signed into law.

Bolger continues to urge Lansing to control government spending, hold government and elected officials more accountable, encourage job growth, and create a long-term state spending plan based on common sense priorities and putting our families first. Bolger observed, “You cannot help job seekers by punishing job providers. We need employers now.”

The governor had said it “was a historic vote to put Michigan’s fiscal house in order” that “will allow us to move forward aggressively with our jobs plan to diversify and transform Michigan’s economy.”

One year later, just the opposite occurred. Michigan’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in October 2007. Today’s unemployment rate stands at 8.9 percent and small and medium sized businesses, the ones who would diversify our economy, are being hit hardest. Michigan also still faces a $300 million budget deficit. Bolger observed, “In Calhoun County we spend just over $2 per day to feed our inmates. The state pays over $5 to feed their inmates every day. We can and must reign in excessive state spending.”

“As we observe the solemn one-year anniversary of the government shutdown, there is an important real-world lesson to be learned,” Bolger said. “If we didn’t know it before, we’re learning the tough lesson now: you cannot tax or regulate your way to prosperity. Our families are hurting with high prices at the pump, high utility expenses, and growing grocery bills. Since the government shutdown the only things that have gone up are unemployment and costs at home. We must implement common sense solutions to reform government now.”

Bolger will hold listening tour stops throughout the week to address the shutdown. Listening stops will take place from 8-9am at:

October 1st, 2008
Chalkalatte Cafe
1504 Capital Ave NE
Battle Creek, MI 49017

October 2nd, 2008
The Coffee Mill
301 E Michigan Ave
Marshall, MI 49068

October 3rd, 2008
Good to Go Café
120 E Prairie St
Vicksburg, MI 49097