video-Michigan Town Hall Attendees Demand ‘Higher Business Tax’Instead

[cal04]

Michigan Town Hall Attendees Demand ‘Higher Business Tax’ Instead of Snyder’s Education Cuts
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/25/michigan-townhall-education-snyder/

Angry residents confronted Republican state Sen. Tom Casperson at a town hall last week over his support for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s (R) proposed budget, which — like those of many other GOP governors — would slash funding for education while cutting corporate taxes. Snyder’s budget would cut spending on education by $471 per student and reduce teachers’ pay and benefits. Yet while students and teachers are asked to sacrifice, Snyder’s budget would give huge tax breaks to businesses in the form of a flat 6 percent corporate tax rate.

At Casperson’s town hall in Marquette, Ishpeming school board member Mike Flynn joined numerous other constituents in speaking out against the cuts. Flynn said his district is already struggling to make ends meet, having shut down its middle school, laid off teachers and staff, and privatized its bus and custodial services. Flynn asked those in attendance to stand if the oppose education cuts. “Nearly everyone in the room jumped to their feet while cheering and clapping,” the Maquette Mining Journal reported.

Casperson responded that he was trying to minimize the impact on education, but that cuts are necessary. “What about a higher business tax?” one constituent shouted, met with cries of “yes!” from other attendees and a chorus of applause. Watch a video of the event shot by the Mining Journal and edited by ThinkProgress for length (full video here):

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/25/michigan-townhall-education-snyder/

Several other attendees spoke passionately against Snyder’s budget, with one constitutes receiving applause for speaking out against cuts to services for “the most vulnerable” while the top “one percent” are given tax breaks. “This trickle down theory, we’ve tried it before — it doesn’t work,” she said. Meghan McLeod, a special education teacher, said that Snyder’s cuts may force her to move back in with her parents on her 25th birthday.

[louis-t]

1. Watch for dumbass repugs to stop

the town halls. Instead of accepting that they are wrong and unpopular, repugs will go back to Washington saying "American people want...". It must suck being a republican.

[dana_b]

2. good video at the link

I only noticed a couple of people sitting.

I also saw that Duffy had his own town hall where he told one of the constituents to hold their own town hall. Evidently the constituent was calling out Duffy with facts (of which Duffy had none) and he couldn't handle it.

These guys know that they can't fool these folks and they can't stand it. Their lies are evident so they fight back with snark. Good for the people of Wisconsin.