Jason

Michigan, Philosophy

Or Be Square

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As-in "be there" for KrisAnne Hall's discussion on the 10th amendment.

KrisanneHall_flyer5olKrisAnne Hall back in Michigan.

I have heard her speak a number of times, and each time walk away with a greater understanding of our constitution.  I also have developed a better sense for what needs to be done to hold our out of control government in check, and return us to the nation of states (versus a nation with states) as our founders intended.

Always a worthwhile event.

 

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Michigan, Michigan Politics, Philosophy

Pressure.

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When folks around the state know what is going on, they are better prepared to act.

Gary Glenn knows that pressure from those back home can bring about action when bills are slowed down in the committee process.  Recently, he sends this out in an email blast:

glenn“Dear Friends,

The purpose for this email is to bring to your attention House Bill 4847, which would restore Michigan citizens’ constitutionally-guaranteed right to a jury trial, including on lawsuits filed against the state.

Specifically, HB 4847 would allow any citizen of Michigan to sue the state on any matter and demand a trial by jury in their district of residence.

As provided by our state constitution, Michigan residents already have a right to have any lawsuit brought by them to be heard by a jury of their peers. However, that right has not been upheld by the current system in which lawsuits against the state are currently heard by the Court of Claims, which provides no trial by jury.

HB 4847 would right this wrong and put in statute what is already in our state constitution.

I urge you to take action today by contacting the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, as well as all members on the committee, to ask them to allow HB 4847 to be taken up for a hearing and subsequent vote. This could be accomplished via a phone call as well as an email. The contact information for committee members are as follows:

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Firearms, Michigan

2nd Amendment March Wednesday April 11

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From http://www.2amarch.com/

Join us for the 2016 March!

What: A peaceful gathering to demonstrate the political strength of Michigan’s legal gun owners and Second Amendment advocates.

When: Wednesday, April 13 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Where: Lansing State Capitol lawn

The Details: Michigan’s Second Amendment March will be held on Wednesday, April 13th at Michigan’s Capitol. The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the Capitol lawn. The MARCH will take place at noon and will be around the Capitol Mall. Assemble near the Capitol steps if you would like to participate in the march. Legislature is in session that day. We’ll be showing them the political strength of Michigan’s legal gun owners. The march is being organized by the Second Amendment March and jointly promoted and funded by Michigan Gun Owners and Michigan Open Carry, Inc. Please visit our Facebook event page for the most updated information.

Or hit the site as well.

Already at well over 310 confirmed on FB alone (typical FB response suggests 1000+ marchers) for this Wednesday.

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Elections, Government Incompetence, Michigan, Michigan Politics

A Challenge

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An email I received recently mentioned the writer’s inability to reach our current representative.

The fact he would get no response, never heard anything that the incumbent of the 104th was doing, and didn’t know what that incumbent was doing was troubling.  “He just disappeared” was the statement and theme.

And absence from representation is spot on correct.

During a kick off last Tuesday I recorded some video that I will torture the regular readers of this blog with over time.   But I also had some good spots; One in particular in which I issued a challenge that might be useful to any district’s voters.

Posted on Facebook, the challenge was posted with this:

“Everyone reading this has the ability to find that legislation sponsored by our current incumbent, which enhances our liberty, creates new efficiency in government, or fixes our infrastructure. HB5152 is close, but even having 14 co-sponsors cannot make it out of committee. Anything else???

Challenge your legislators too perhaps?

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Michigan

Take A Vacation

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Please.

RoadsBill-2Take a vote, not a vacation.

We knew what it meant.  There is plenty to ponder from RightMichigan on the subject of expansion.  We knew it was a mess to begin with.  We knew it was going to cost more.  So did the Governor.

But how soon were the real costs supposed to kick in?  Perhaps before the great relentless positivist moves on?  We knew that the federal portion would not last, but could not have predicted how quickly this scam on the citizens of our great state would implode.

Combined, the budget hole could be about $700 million. So the options could include covering fewer people, cutting back on benefits or paying providers — doctors and hospitals — less.

But we couldn’t have THAT.

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Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Part Time Legislature

The Pig You Are Stuck With

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Good luck on getting rid of THAT one.

1444000527v0f4pSome people think that a recall is the wrong way to remove bad actors from our elected positions.

So much so, that the Michigan legislature fundamentally changed the recall process from a difficult process into a bad running gag. The rules change to the recall process enacted in 2012 Became a more limited operation with shorter windows, an unconstitutional ‘factual’ requirement, and then an automatic insertion of the candidate back on the ballot as the default party candidate.

IMHO, those who voted for the recall provision changes are political reprobates.  The changes made the extremely difficult into the insurmountable, removing a tool in the tool box of the electorate. (Just the way non responsive big government types want)

Example?  Current efforts in Michigan to recall Rick Snyder now a total of four signature gathering operations, and other recall efforts (state senators) total about six more. With the window of 60 days (it was 90) to collect 790,000 signatures for any one of the Snyder recall efforts, it is likely an impossible task.  Add to that number, about 20% (150,000 signatures) more as a buffer.

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Michigan, Michigan Politics

DPS Down Payment A Major Mistake.

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What are these legislators thinking?

shackles copyOperation ‘Can Kick’ In Full Swing. (re-posted from jasongillman.com)

Its for the children, right? HB5296, a $48.7 Million bill to get DPS through the school year, met little resistance from our state legislature, with seven senate, and only four house members opposing the final package. How could anyone vote to essentially close the doors? Its a valid question, and the intent should be considered honorable. However, an honest assessment of the overall situation can only remind us that it is with the best intent that we fail our children once again.

If the vote to hand over the money eradicated all debt, and set the course for district solvency, it would be hard to argue against such logic. However, the greater debt and liability still exists, and the precedent is set for the remaining $700,000,000 bailout that is next to come for DPS. Even that number is of questionable sufficiency, and is likely to be higher. Even with a bailout of this magnitude, it would be foolish to think it would be the end of hands out from a district that has produced 25% graduation rates, all the while receiving the highest per capita foundation payments.

And then there is the question of mismanagement being simply benign, or instead as a purposeful quest, evidenced by new indictments of a dozen prominent administrators within the district. Surely this is merely the tip of the iceberg.

Let us not forget also, that Detroit Schools represent only a part of the state’s public education apparatus. To be sure, it is not the only school district in Michigan that is facing obligations that seem insurmountable. What are we to do next when Grand Rapids Schools, Lansing, or even Traverse City Area Public Schools cry “No Mas!” throwing up their hands in futility?

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Firearms, Michigan, Michigan Politics

Michigan’s 1st Incarcerated State Senator?

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So much for the plea?

Gosh.

Senator Virgil Smith is headed to the hokey pokey.  Not removed PRIOR to being criminally charged, Smith is now heading to jail with full pay and bennies?

And he actually endangered people.

Smith was allowed to plead guilty to malicious destruction of property greater than $20,000 for allegedly firing shots at his ex-wife’s Mercedes Benz in May 2015. The charge, a felony, carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Guess he never threatened THESE GUYS, right?

Whatever.

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