Tag: Chuck Moss

After the Governor attempted to subvert the will of the people and the legislature with a convoluted 'intra-local' agreement on his pet bridge project, he now finds there is no state money available for his new tool.  Unless he pulls an "Obama" and violates the Michigan constitution, no money can be appropriated to the new method which has raised eyebrows with conservative leadership in the Michigan legislature.  The stopping point?  From the Detroit News:

"The House Appropriations Committee amended a supplemental funding bill barring the Michigan Economic Development Corp. from spending general fund taxpayer money on construction or development of the proposed New International Trade Crossing.

"I just want to ensure that no taxpayer money is being spent on something that shouldn't," said state Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville, who sponsored the amendment. "Nobody has the authority, including the governor, to spend any money without the Legislature and appropriations (committees) appropriating the money."

Anyhow, there is ONE little point that needs to be addressed.  The ability of an Intra-Local tool to even have ANY validity between nations.  Would such an agreement even be legal? Our constitution says not so fast.  Only the President with the consent of the US Senate can enact such contracts. From Article 2 Section 2 of the US Constitution:

" .. He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States .."

An 'attaboy' and thank you goes out to House Appropriations Committee members Dave Agema, Chuck Moss, Bob Genetski, Eileen Kowall, Matt Lori, Bill Rogers, Jon Bumstead, Kevin Cotter, Ken Goike, Nancy Jenkins, Peter MacGregor, Greg MacMaster, Earl Poleski, Phil Potvin, and the lone Democrat voting yes with those members, Richard LeBlanc.  They have saved our state a little embarrassment for the time being.

Making the MEA happy for the sake of a few votes will backfire.  Making the MEA stronger will just make you regret the small rope chain you thought might hold it several years ago. The Mackinac Center's McHugh reports:

"If passed by the House and signed by Gov. Rick Snyder, this would be arguably the most impactful state budget reform since Gov. John Engler signed a similar measure for state workers back in 1996. That measure has helped taxpayers avoid some $4.3 billion in unfunded liability since then. Unfortunately, House Republicans led by Appropriations Committee Chairman Chuck Moss, R-Birmingham, appear willing to give the union a victory by deep-sixing this reform."

Bad timing friend.

When trying to inspire conservatives for the biggest vote of the last century in November, its not really a good idea to go all LIBERAL.

Ya know?  

And given a birdy telling me about the ambition to remain relevant for a big race in 2014, it might be prudent to consider a fiscally courageous stand here. Take heart, as even Richardville voted for it. But if you pursue grinding this walkback out of the house, you may wind up wearing it like a millstone around your neck in any future political contests.  

There are a few of us who will be there for the adorning.

Good reform package used as opportunity to provide lifetime benefits

Earlier this morning Clydes Dale mentioned in another post a story he'd heard on WJR about Michigan Democrats and a vote to grant themselves lifetime benefits.  

In economic times like these I sincerely wish even the most extreme left wingers had the sense to avoid big-government bureaucratic protection schemes like this but alas... they don't.  Not even the so-called moderates.

House Democrats yesterday forced a package of bills through the Michigan House that do indeed guarantee lifetime benefits for state lawmakers.  Worse yet, they snuck it into otherwise important legislation.  But take this as a positive sign and early high marks for the Elsenheimer-led Republican Minority... Republican Representatives were quick to cry foul!

"One of the top issues we're hearing from our local governments is their call for help dealing with unfunded liabilities and saving money," said Rep. Jim Marleau, R-Lake Orion. "That is the intent of this legislation and should be the focus of these bills, not guaranteeing benefits for state legislators and bureaucrats."

The House yesterday approved a bipartisan package, House Bills 4071-9, to create a mechanism for the state and local governments to pre-fund retiree health benefits for public employees retired from the state, Legislature, Judiciary, State Police and public schools or from local units of government. A provision added by Democrats in committee would guarantee lifetime health benefits for public employees, including legislators.

"It is unfortunate that this opportunity for real reform to improve the state of Michigan has been mucked up by special interest paybacks and partisan politics," said Rep. Chuck Moss, R Birmingham.

The House Republican Caucus previously introduced HB 4080 to stop lifetime benefits for lawmakers beginning with the current sophomore class of lawmakers.  They've been trying to stop lifetime legislator benefits for years now.  Last term Democrat Robert Dean introduced legislation to protect lifetime benefits for himself and his colleagues and this year we get this monstrosity.

"Ending lifetime benefits is an important move to put the citizen's Legislature more in line with Michigan citizens who are forced to make sacrifices every day to get by," state Rep. Brian Calley. "I am disheartened by today's move in the wrong direction. If the state can't even balance our own books, why are we cementing such an unnecessary perk for six years of service?"

"Two weeks ago we voted to cut our salaries, and that was the right thing to do and today we voted to give ourselves lifetime health benefits," said Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker. "If that's not the definition of hypocrisy, I don't know what is."

It is, Representative.  It is.