Tag: Brian Calley (page 2)

"It's been an amazing conference," said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak. "The enthusiasm from our grassroots and from our elected officials is outstanding, and our attendees experienced it first-hand."

"This conference will pay huge dividends for our state and our country," Schostak said. "We will work with our leaders and our grassroots to continue to reinvent Michigan."

This year's conference incorporated numerous events, including addresses and appearances by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Congressmen Thad McCotter, and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.

Besides Snyder, Michigan's Republican leadership on the island included Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, Attorney General Bill Schuette, House Speaker Jase Bolger, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, and Congressmen Dave Camp, Candice Miller, Dan Benishek, Fred Upton, Tim Walberg, Bill Huizenga, and Justin Amash.

Many elected officials participated in panel discussions focused on making Michigan a job-growth engine.

"Republican activists had an outstanding conversation and we will continue the discussion throughout the upcoming year.  Our relentless positive action continues to drive success for all Michigan families."
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Both sides will be participating in a larger than (earlier) expected forum. From a recent press release:

A local town hall meeting next week on the Detroit-Windsor bridge proposals will move to a larger venue to accommodate a higher than expected turnout, state Reps. Earl Poleski and Mike Shirkey announced a couple days ago.

The event, still scheduled for Tuesday, June 28 at 7 p.m., will now take place at Jackson High School's auditorium, 544 Wildwood Ave., Jackson.  It was also announced that Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, of Gov. Rick Snyder's administration, and Mickey Blashfield, of the Ambassador Bridge Company, will attend to give both sides of the issue.

"People continue to ask me about the potential for a new international bridge, whether I'm at my local office hours, the grocery store or at church," said Poleski, R-Jackson.  "We're delighted that Lt. Gov. Calley and Matthew Moroun have agreed to take time out of their busy schedules.  Outside of a formal legislative committee meeting, this will be the first time we have officials from both sides of the issue together in one room to publicly address the issue."

WKHM-Radio Program Director Marc Daly will host the meeting, and residents will be allowed to submit questions.

"The town hall is a testament to open government and our continued efforts to ensure transparency in the democratic process," said Shirkey, R-Clarklake.  "We encourage all citizens who have an interest in the issue to attend."

Not that my opinion is any more valid than those of you who have posted on this already.  In fact I have carefully considered the arguments, and added in the known variables along with best guesses and personal experience.  I rely on your observations as much as my own, however this is one of those times I must respectfully disagree with some of you on the negative impact of the state's new tax policy.

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the Leelanau County Republican party Lincoln dinner with my wife and a great number of friends. Some of those friends are either retired and/or retiring soon, and have a reason to be concerned about higher taxes, the loss of exemptions, and changing tax policy that may directly affect them.  There was no shortage of Republicans present, and many of those were folks one would find in 912 groups, Tea Parties, and other constitution interested organizations.

I believe the Leelanau county chair suggested the numbers involved in the county party were even more than last year.  And last year we had great success in moving the bar back toward conservative government structure with landslide elections both statewide and nationally.

The reason I mention this, is to establish that this group, even while containing a number of "old guard" party types, it was hardly a pushover crowd.  While being a social affair, there is/was still an undeniable no-going-back attitude, and frankly there were enough who had a concern as do many in this forum, that this was not the way to start off.

For the most part, I too could be counted as one who was also troubled about extending tax levels, and elimination of particular exemptions.  My understanding of the MBT going away and the Corporate tax replacement was not yet complete.

However, with Governor Snyder tapping rule-of-law Justice Maura Corrigan to head the Department of Human Services, the voters of this state were understandably concerned that the governor might appoint someone who wouldn't square with the philosophy that they had voted for.  I had spoken with Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley back on last Tuesday (January 4th) regarding this, and had been assured by him that the strongest rule-of-law judge not currently serving on Michigan's State Supreme Court would be appointed to fill the vacancy.

I'm happy to notice that I've not been disappointed.

The problem with typing till your hands bleed, is that too much air whirls around and dries the skin.   The skin around the nails pulls away, and pretty soon by golly, I have discomfort.  I imagine I could get some medication to maintain a perfect skin tone, but its awful expensive. So I was thinking of creating a 'RightMichigan Tax'.  You know, so you guys can pay for my hangnails.  It will only add a little bit to the cost of your presence here.

In fact lets just do it THIS way..  Why don't I simply get a mandate from the state, that the 'rent for hangnails is too damned high!'  They cost too much to keep and my insurer should be forced to carry that policy coverage because of my burden.

Isn't that what Calley wants?

To say that the 2010 Michigan Republican State Convention was "interesting" would be considered by many attendees as an understatement.  By all honest accounts, it was evident that the MIGOP party leadership expected that, in exchange for being allowed a few seats at the table, the Michigan Tea Party Alliance would be good little sheep on the convention floor and rubber stamp the decrees of the party officials.  Funny thing about that though, is that the MTPA members blindly answer to no one (certainly no one whose trustworthiness is considered suspect at best), and most assuredly do not simply do as they're told.  On the flip side of that coin, though, anyone who is of the opinion that the MTPA is going to take out their frustration on the GOP ticket is going to be thoroughly disabused of that notion come November.