Spring is in the air and that means budget time at the state
capital. The parking ramps are full and the hearing rooms are packed as the
many groups and organizations that depend on state government for funding
descend on Lansing for a slice of the pie.
You won’t find many small businesses in the crowd, because
they are too busy trying to provide the pie. Government can only give away what
it takes from taxpayers, including small business. One of the many things we do
here at NFIB is make sure that this is a message that is heard above the
feeding frenzy of the budget appropriations process.
The good news is that wise stewardship and tax policy by
Governor Snyder and the legislature over the years has left Michigan in a good
budget position and this has prevented many of the calls by the tax and spend
crowd to hike taxes on small business to grow government.
The bad news is that there has been some other creative
ways that have emerged to provide funding for assorted projects including
the Detroit Public School’s debt problems. Rest assured that NFIB is working to
be sure the government budget pie isn’t growing at your expense.
You can learn more about this and other issues that impact
your small business at the Michigan
Small Business Day at the Capitol on April 13. Invited speakers include Lt.
Governor Brian Calley, the Senate Majority Leader and the Speaker of the House.
I hope to see you there!
Have a great spring and great business success in 2016!
Charlie
Owens
NFIB/Michigan
State Director
