About a thousand protesters gathered on the state Capitol lawn today and they say there will be more people joining them throughout the week.
They are protesting many budget proposals from Governor Rick Snyder and in the Legislature, including a plan to tax pensions.
Hundreds of people from AARP chanted loudly in opposition to Governor Snyder’s proposal to tax pensions to help end the budget deficit.
Many people held signs that read: “Recall Governor Snyder,” and “Recall The Nerd.”
Jeanette Stang held a sign that read “One-Term Nerd.”
Stang says her husband worked in an auto plant for 37 years, and now they have trouble making ends meet with increasing medical expenses and living off of their pension. Their Flint home is up for sale, and both of their adult sons have already moved out of state:
"Our sons both would not come to Michigan. They said Michigan has gone to pieces...Michigan used to be a beautiful state, and Michigan has really gone downhill…All he wants to do is keep taxing the little guy—tax these bigwigs that have their yachts and have their trips and everything else. Let the people who earned this money and worked hard all their life have their pensions and quick taxing us to death."
Snyder says seniors use government services just like all other taxpayers, and should be taxed on their pension income accordingly.
More protests coming
Labor movement protests at the state Capitol are expected to get bigger and louder as the week goes on and the Legislature votes on controversial issues.
The House is expected to give final approval to a package of bills that would give emergency financial managers more control over struggling communities and school districts, and strip control from local unions.
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