Tag: Emmons

LANSING - As students across Michigan end the fall semester and prepare to break for Christmas, the state House of Representatives on Wednesday approved Senate Bill 618, legislation to lift the arbitrary cap on charter schools in Michigan, empowering parents and putting children first.

Two-thirds of the state's charter schools, most in urban districts like Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit, have waiting lists as parents demand more choices and better results for their children.

"Parents want the best for their children, and that starts with a quality education," said the bill's sponsor, Senate Education Committee Chair Phil Pavlov, R-St. Clair Township. "Today's action by the House of Representatives to lift the cap on charter schools and give parents quality options for their kids' education is a critical step toward improving Michigan's whole education system."

SB 618 was previously approved by the state Senate in October. The bill now goes to Gov. Rick Snyder for his signature.

Sec. 3407c. (1) A qualified health plan offered through a state exchange pursuant to the patient protection and affordable care act, Public Law 111-148, and the health care and education reconciliation act of 2010, Public Law 111-152, shall not provide coverage for elective abortion. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an individual, organization, or employer participating in a qualified health plan offered through a state exchange from purchasing optional supplemental coverage for elective abortion outside of the exchange as provided in subsection (2).

Read the rest. Its as if its thrown in there to appease conscience conservatives.  Of course we don't wish to see tax dollars spent on abortion. We don't want to see abortions frankly.

However, every time a bill is crafted to capitulate with the left and its great society plans, it seems there has to be riders and subsequent action to (hopefully) silence dissent from the right.

In 2010 just about everything is up for grabs in Michigan.  We've got the Governor's race, the AG, the Secretary of State, the entire State Senate, the whole House, every member of Congress including Mark "I swear I won't run for Congress" Schauer and Yooooooooour (former) Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters... Supreme Court seats... the list goes on and on.

So what's the buzz around the convention thus far?  

That's the tricky part.  Let me be frank... if I wanted to play the part of Tim Skubick I could give you a dozen and a half early campaign announcements and rumors.  And not just today or this weekend but for the past months.

But I'm not Skubick.  I'm not a reporter.  I'm a conservative who blogs and I count a lot of the men and women bouncing around this convention floor as friends... if I hear something specifically off the record or can't track down the candidate him or herself (or a top staffer) to verify it then I'm going to shut my yap.

I know.  I'm lame.  

But that's not to say there aren't some rumors that I'm able to substantiate.  So here's the latest and greatest from MRP Convention Day 1:

In the 19th District Special Election its Mike Nofs or bust.  The man has locked up support in and around the convention and was getting his name dropped by activists from across the state.  This is going to be a national race and expected to see an infusion of millions of Dem dollars so watching the Party rally around a candidate with broad bipartisan cross-over appeal is exciting.  Mike Simpson and Marty Griffin, look out.

More below...