Rep. Kathy Angerer, D-Dundee, is in her second House term and is chair of the House Health Policy Committee. She said she gets lots more attention from lobbyists now that Democrats are in the House majority, compared to when they were in the minority during her first term.

Angerer said she does most of her business with lobbyists in her office, doesn't accept entertainment tickets from lobbyists, but does have dinner with lobbyists who pick up the tab.

"It's important to keep things in perspective," Angerer said. "We do discuss things over dinner, there are those opportunities. I think lobbyists are very respectful of the Legislature."

Lots to unpack there.  Tax hiking Representative Angerer claims she doesn't accept tickets.  She didn't mention trips.  Taken any trips lately, Representative?  But the real gem comes in the third paragraph.  She's totally got the lobbyists' back!

That's not the way things typically work.  Lobbying is government's dirty little secret.  No one wants their constituents to know that they're in the pocket of a lobbyist.  The words "Jack Abramoff" still send cold shivers down legislative spines across the country.  But not Kathy Angerer's.  She likes lobbyists.  Likes that they take her out to dinner.  Likes that they do who knows what else.  That's a pretty shocking revelation from a Democrat.  So who's your favorite lobbyist, Representative?  How many times have you voted for what he or she told you to vote for?  How much has been spent on you individually?  How many nights have you spent out on the town on a lobbyists' dime?  Have you ever accepted a trip or a room or a conference on their tab?  When you go out to eat do they treat you to a McDonalds double cheeseburger or do you demand only the best?

And my next question, a little broader but maybe Angerer could answer this one for me too... which lobbying firm does a company have to hire to get a little love from MEDC and MEGA?  

Yesterday we learned that a variety of projects were getting tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks to maybe add a few jobs over the next five years or so.  Today we learn from the Associated Press that GMAC is going to fire nearly 1,000 employees by the end of this year alone and all to save $90 million.  

The job cuts will occur by the end of the year and represent about 15 percent of the work force in the auto loan business unit...

GMAC expects to save about $175 million per year, but will have to spend $65 million to $85 million this year for employee severance and office-closing expenses.

You think if they had a better lobbyist they could have coaxed a $90 million tax break out of Lansing?  And if they could have do you think they'd have used it just to save those 1,000 jobs?  And a guy can dream, can't he?  

Oh, and speaking of... this one's like something out of a wild fever dream.  The Detroit News reports that the Big Man in the D, Hizzoner, the Hip Hop Mayor, the cat under investigation by the Wayne County Prosecutor for committing perjury in a case that centered around him firing police officers because they might know something about his extramarital affair(s)... he told the Detroit City Council last night that they need to find, train and hire MORE police!

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick on Wednesday, in his first appearance before the City Council since the text message scandal, said the city is short about 500 cops and is struggling to find ways to better protect citizens.

"Everyplace is a hot spot," Kilpatrick told the council, noting that even the safest neighborhoods, such as Palmer Woods, are sandwiched between communities with high crime rates.

The mayor made his remarks in a question-and-answer format before the City Council. Council members, however, did not ask about the text message scandal.

Five-hundred new cops.  Nice.  That's two to replace the guys he fired for knowing too much and four-hundred-ninety-eight more to ease his conscience a little bit.  Although that'd be a nice chunk of taxpayer change.  Eh, no biggie.  Just add it to the millions the taxpayers have already spent defending him (a guilty man) and paying his settlement costs.

And no, he shouldn't resign.  Not at all.