Six O'Clock News - Barack O'Bama Edition

Green fountain at the White House, courtesy of Michelle O'Bama. Let's make it a tradition.



Now for the thing that "gets my Irish up" lately - the g-d budget.

Former Gov. Bill Milliken wants us to preserve Michigan's Wetland Protection Act, and keep wetlands regulation under state control. I agree. I also agree with the people who don't want to cut schools, the arts, the mental health courts, or the State Fair. Matter of fact, I'm willing to go to bat the raise the revenue to pay for these things. Is anyone else? No? Then I have more than 1.6 billion reasons why people who complain about cuts might want to start suggesting just how it is we should pay for these things. Funny how that never comes up. OK, mini-rant over. Still love ya, Gov. Milliken.

Speaking of paying for things, rumor of a graduated income tax proposal in Michigan bubbled up to the surface today. Governor Granholm came out in support for a graduated tax that would swap for the surcharge on the MBT - but warned of the amount that a ballot proposal would cost, and the "overwhelming support" that would be needed to get it passed. "Business groups and conservative tax advocates" would be opposed, naturally, because they are still looking for their magic free lunch.

And the people of Michigan are looking for that free lunch as well, stating in a couple of polls that they don't like potholes in our crummy roads, but they don't want to pay to fix them.* sigh * say, how it is that people text message and still dodge potholes? That question has been on my mind.

High-speed, magnetically powered from solar energy to hydrogen batteries, rail from Lansing to Detroit? Sounds awesome. And apparently private money will be used to build it, and in exchange for the right-of-way along the highway, the state would receive 50% of the profits. Two lines between Detroit to Lansing and Detroit to Ann Arbor is estimated to be $2.3 billion, and construction could begin in 2010. Go for it.

The state's offer of help to people who want to quit smoking had to shut down in five days after 65,000 people flooded them with requests for free products and counseling - 21,000 in the first 24 hours alone. Wow. Want to fund something? Fund that.

Brainwrap is right - Gary Peters does kick ass. Go read that diary. And check out the MSNBC coverage that Bruce tells us about. John Dingell and now the US Senate are getting on board the AIG bonus tax proposal as well.