Every day or so, I take a look at the MI Municipal League (MML) website (www.mml.org) to see what's going on at the State level and how it might affect local units of government.  Today, I noticed that the MML had a link to an article entitled "What's the model - Alabama or Minnesota?"  It was written by Lou Glazer, president of Michigan Future Inc. (www.michiganfuture.org ).

In the article, Glazer states...

....Let's look at two states - Alabama and Minnesota - to understand why high prosperity, not low unemployment, is the right measuring stick. Both states had a 2006 unemployment rate below the national average: 3.6 percent in Alabama, 4 percent in Minnesota.  But that's where the similarity ends. Alabama's per capita income is $29,623, its poverty rate is 17 percent and just 21.4 percent of its adults have a four-year degree. In all three categories, Alabama ranks substantially below Michigan. Minnesota, on the other hand, is substantially better than Michigan - and Alabama - in each. Its per capita income is $37,322, its poverty rate is 9.2 percent and 30.7 percent of its adults have a four-year degree.  We want Michigan to move in the direction of Minnesota, not Alabama. So what policies should we pursue?  Not tax cuts!...

The complete article can be found at... http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007702180663

Here are a couple of facts to consider. Minnesotans shoulder the fifth highest personal income tax per capita in the nation. Per $1,000 of income, Minnesota has the fourth highest income tax.  Is that the direction Mr. Glazer wants Michigan to take?  If it is, I won't be following him.