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Dick Von Berg - Monday, September 21, 2009   New Jobs For Michigan Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.0 (342 votes cast) Michigan has a bountiful supply of natural gas which should be used for transportation (our basic industry). The Michigan legislature should create tax credits that would stimulate the building of a hundred compressed natural gas outlets for trucks and cars. GM has built thousands of such vehicles in other areas. The State of Utah has 70 outlets and business is booming in the state. The Dept. of Energy has awarded a grant for a Michigan nonprofit to build 13 for fleet use, which is a start. It needs to be expanded beyond this.

Bob - Monday, September 21, 2009   Rebuild Michigan from with in. Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.0 (340 votes cast) Our governor is giving tax brakes for companies to move to Michigan and employ people. Problem for every 1 job created 100 leave the state. Why not give a little tax break for moving to Michigan but a little better on percentage points for doing business with companies from Michigan. (Like Auto industry if the auto makers where still buying supplies from companies in Mich.) People would still be able to afford to buy their cars and so forth and so on. The biggest problem is a federal tax brake that gives companies money for doing business over seas besides lower prices from them. I see this as the only way to regenerate Michigan as a state you can start with this but add conditions for other industries also.

Richard O'Connell - Sunday, September 20, 2009   Research and Development Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.0 (317 votes cast) Michigan is rated as #1 in the country in Automotive R & D, and #2 in the country in other R & D. Strides have been taken to foster this spirit, for example the Research Triangle--with WSU, U of M and MSU, and alternative energy. However, more needs to be done in promoting this area. It is difficult to compete with the labor rates of some of the other developing countries. But, Michigan has the inovative workforce, the basic production capacity,(which is woefully underused at this time), infrastructure, universities, etc. Let's develop the materials, processes, and products here in Michigan--then, the Manufacturers can take these overseas. You have asked for a ... concept that can be developed,...To Improve Michigan: Rebuilding communities and transportation; enjoying the state's vast resources; achieving a healthy Michigan; revitalizing the state's economy; improving educational attainment, and modernizing all levels of government. Developing and fostering R & D can do it all.

Jeffrey Poling - Sunday, September 20, 2009   Use NAIAS to Sell Detroit - Move the Auto Show to the warmth of summer. Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.0 (391 votes cast) Every year, over 6,500 reporters and photographers from 60 countries come to Detroit's NAIAS to review our auto show. But they see, and report on, more than just cars. They see Detroit in the middle of January, in the the cold, grey, slush of winter when Detroit is at its worst. In contrast, Los Angeles, whose main objective is replace Detroit as the premier auto show in this country, offers their show in warm weather. Two NY Times articles illustrate the significance of this threat: New York Times, Nov. 29,2006: "Could a rise in the prominence of a Los Angeles show hasten the decline of Detroit as the industry's American center of gravity? Will journalists and auto executives find they prefer the warm glow of the Los Angeles sun to the wintry slush of the Motor City?" New York Times, Dec. 03, 2006: "Also, the balmy Southern California weather contrasts with Michigan in January..." The NAIAS is an incredibly well run event but we are wasting its potential to show the beauty of Detroit. No journalist will enjoy the river walk from Cobo Hall to the Ren Cen or the view of our city from Scott's Fountain in the bleak, dreary cold of January but they will in August. And they will write about it. They may even visit the Woodward Dream Cruise while they are here and write that Detroit is still The Motor City. The idea is simple. MOVE THE NAIAS FROM THE COLD, BLEAKNESS OF JANUARY TO THE WARMTH, AND BEAUTY OF AUGUST. We have to start promoting Detroit when it is at its best with the resources we already have. Only good can come of it in positive publicity, increased tourism and outside investment.

Adam Smith - Thursday, September 17, 2009   Cut revenue sharing to every county, city and municipality Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.0 (364 votes cast) There is alot of talk of State Employee overly generous pay and benefits. I do believe this is true and they do need to be scaled back in a huge way, but every public sector employee in Michigan to include all County, City and Municipal employee need to have the their wages and benefits cut back as well. My idea is to cut every county, city and municipal employees wages by 10% and to have them pay premiums on their healthcare benefits that are inline with the national average. The cut in the wages is simple. The State cuts revenue sharing by 10% of the 2008 gross payroll for every county, city and municipality in the State. The counties, cities and municipalities will in turn cut the wages of the employees. The private sector has had to tighten their belts and take pay cuts and pay higher premiums on health insurance. Well, it is time for the whole public sector in Michigan to share in the pain that the private sector has been going through for years. I honestly believe that these changes alone would allievate a portion of the budget issues the state is currently facing. The State could in turn cut business taxes, and hopefully, the business activity increases and business actually higher people and people move to Michigan.