Michigan Politics
DeVos Refuses To Be Pinned Down on Tax Plan
By George Weeks

As Republican gubernatorial contender, Dick DeVos touts himself as the one best able to spur Michigan's sorely needed economic rebound. The banner on the big motor coach that last week carried him 1,700 miles to 29 cities trumpets his "Get It Done" slogan.

But how? Detailed plans on how to get it done have yet to surface.

It's not unusual for candidates to wait until later in a campaign year to release detailed plans. But, since the latest of his highly effective $3 million or so in TV ads says he's the only candidate with "a plan to get rid of the Single Business Tax," it seemed timely to again ask DeVos what his plan is to replace about $2 billion in lost revenue.

When I asked on his campaign bus if he might offer an SBT replacement plan during the campaign, he said: "Yeah. I've already moved a little" toward more specifics.

But he said: "You guys tried to pin me down to get into the numbers game. I'm not going to get into the numbers game in terms of we'll do this number or do that number. What I have said, though, I have tried to make it real clear that I think that the majority of the replacement is going to have to come from a replacement business tax. So that takes the biggest chunk off the table. It's going to be a business tax.

"We'll look at other states, a tax that is receipts-based, more profitably based - something that is better than SBT."

Much has been made of how DeVos' huge TV ad blitz - unprecedented for this early in a Michigan governor's race - has propelled him into a virtual dead heat with Governor Jennifer Granholm in early but relatively meaningless polling match ups.

In the long run, however, more important than advertising is mobilizing support of grassroots activists and officeholders. That's the primary objective of DeVos' Get It Done Express.

Last week, for example, DeVos used a fleet of three vans to shuttle party folks from one city to another so they could ride and rap with DeVos as his comfy bus motored to their home city. (Riders got a blue six-inch-tall DeVos for Governor cup that includes a red map of Michigan and a yellow sticker noting it is "Made from 100% U.S. Corn Plastic.")

On last week's ride from Kalkaska to Traverse City with eight activists and GOP officeholders who had been shuttled to Kalkaska, DeVos responded to their questions on such issues as tourism, mental health, and public transportation (successfully expanding around Traverse City).

Lamenting the decline in the state's tourist promotion budget, he said, "We have a better story to tell" than has been told by the Granholm administration. As for the state's recent decision to boost spending, he quipped: "Apparently, it's an election year."

No bell-ringing policy positions emerged from last week's Lower Peninsula blitz. What did emerge is that this wealthy challenger is spending well not only on a steady run of TV ads but also in working the trenches.

In decades of covering statewide political campaigns, I don't recall seeing a challenger with as many paid staffers out on the campaign trail this early, including a photographer who snapped the candidate with local activists and merchants he visited during his 29 stops.

In Traverse City, DeVos stopped at drug, book, candy, clothing, and other stores on a Front Street tour led by Senator Jason Allen and Representative Howard Walker, both R-Traverse City. "I'd like you to meet my friend, Dick DeVos," Allen cooed across several counters where DeVos shook hands.

"Blame Bush"

No other states with both gubernatorial and Senate races "have more interesting dynamics than Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania," according to the National Journal. It said Granholm and Senator Debbie Stabenow "agree on a key tactic: Blame Bush."

It quotes Republican State Chairman Saul Anuzis that, "The good news is that George Bush's name is not on the ballot" and that while "Democrats may be trying to demonize the president," Republicans will be asking of Granholm and Stabenow: "What have they done to help turn Michigan around?"

Northern Trails

The Reverend Keith Butler, a former Detroit councilman who is one of three Republicans seeking to challenge Stabenow, scheduled an eight-county northern swing this week, including his third trip to the Upper Peninsula as a candidate.

The counties: Houghton on Tuesday, Baraga, Marquette, and Delta on Wednesday, and Luce, Chippewa, Mackinac, and Antrim on Thursday.

George Weeks recently retired after 22 years as political columnist for The Detroit News. His weekly Michigan Politics column is syndicated by Superior Features.