Michigan candidate claims 3 billion gallons of water loss drove her to the governor's race

Donna Brandenburg stated that 3 billion gallons of water were drained from beneath her barn, an event she says killed her well and 25 surrounding wells. The former entrepreneur and chair of the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan is running for governor in the upcoming Tuesday election. She is one of six candidates seeking the office.

Brandenburg asserts that Michiganders face an 85% total tax burden. She attributes this figure to the combination of discretionary taxes, fees, property tax, and income tax. She argues that the state has overlaid a corporate structure on the organic constitution to generate revenue. This structure, she claims, allows the state to collateralize private property at a 21-to-1 ratio. This practice enables unlimited borrowing without consequences for the state.

The candidate described the state's license plate fees as an unlawful tax on the constitutional right to travel. She distinguished between driving, which she defined as commercial activity, and traveling. Brandenburg also criticized federal income tax application, arguing that states should pay through apportionment rather than direct taxation. She labeled the current regulatory environment as a form of regulatory capture that effectively nationalizes business in the United States.

Brandenburg identified energy costs as a primary barrier to business success in Michigan, noting the state ranks first in the Midwest for energy expenses. She proposed using the 10th Amendment to assert states' rights against federal mandates, including tariffs. She argued that the governor's office holds more power than the presidency and could refuse to enforce federal laws to open new venues for commerce.

Regarding data center development, Brandenburg expressed opposition to the current construction methods. She cited her personal experience with water loss as a motivation for her campaign. She suggested that data centers are obsolete upon launch due to rapid technological changes. She proposed that these facilities could be located in space or used to decentralize energy monopolies, rather than consuming power in residential areas.

On healthcare, Brandenburg proposed a model where individuals control their own coverage options. She referenced a past model where $500 provided unlimited healthcare for a person, noting it failed due to a lack of financial understanding. She plans to gather public comments to guide her policy decisions, citing a recent interview where she analyzed over 800 public responses to create a report on legislative priorities.