Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, Rep. Matthew Gillard, D-Alpena and Rep. Tim Melton, D-Pontiac fly to California at the expense of Apple, makers of the now world famous iPod.

March 22, 2007--

House Majority Leader Steve Tobocman tells the world:

"We are beginning a new era in the Michigan House of Representatives by holding our members to the highest ethical standards. The people of Michigan have spoken loud and clear. They refuse to tolerate a culture of corruption. House Democrats respect what our residents have to say, and we responded to it by strengthening our ethics policies in the House."

March 29, 2007--

Just back from his junket out west (which included lobbying from Apple and a tour of California wine country) Andy Dillon reveals his intention to grant DTE and Consumers Energy a monopoly of Michigan's utility industry.  

You can read original coverage of the radical monopolization plan at the FREEP and here on Right Michigan.

April 5, 2007--

House Democrats unveil their budget "vision" including the hope of putting an iPod in the hands of every school kid in Michigan.  You can read the original DetNews coverage (pre iPod furor) here.

April 6, 2007--

House Dems realize their iPod vision is getting them in trouble.  Thing's start spinning out of control as the DetNews asks "Are they !#$!ing idiots?"

April 11, 2007--

The DetNews reports DTE CEO Anthony Early testifies before the House Energy and Technology Committee in favor of Dillon's monopolization plan.

According to state records, later that day the Michigan House Democrat Fund records the receipt of a $15,000 cash infusion from DTE.

The pay-off represents the largest single contribution made by the company in 2007 and immediately eclipses all donations made by the lobby to House and Senate Republican committees... combined.

All at a time when the company was working behind closed doors directly with the Speaker's office on his plan to repeal PA 141 of 2001, enabling the monopolization of Michigan's utility industry, a move that would potentially net DTE hundreds of millions of dollars in the long run.

April 12, 2007--

The FREEP reports that Dillon, Melton and Gillard will reimburse Apple $1,700 each for their share of the March wine-tasting trip.  According to the FREEP:

Melton said he, Rep. Matt Gillard, D-Alpena, and House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, decided to pay for their trip to northern California themselves because news reports about the iPods and the trip were becoming a "distraction" from work on the state budget crisis.

The DetNews reports Melton saying something a little bit different.

"The only reason we're paying for it is to end this public perception that something is misguided," said Rep. Tim Melton, D-Pontiac.

Which of course begs the question... why return the money if they didn't do anything wrong?  Well, anything wrong besides jet-setting on a wine tasting trip at a corporation's expense in the middle of a fiscal crisis here at home.

April 26, 2007 -

We're the first to report the apparent DTE / House Democrat cash-for-policy exchange here on Right Michigan.

April 27, 2007 -

The Detroit News asks: Did Dems gain on energy proposal?  Dillon's office declines to return the newspaper's calls.

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So one has to wonder... when will the House Dems start putting their money where their mouth is and hold themselves to the "highest ethical standards?"  Four months into control of the House and they're not off to the best start.  Unless you consider corporate funded wine-tasting junkets that lead to policy "visions" and cash pay-offs for radical policy shifts ethical.