Tag: Follow the money (page 3)

Troy Councilman Dane Slater was officially appointed mayor Monday night until November 2013 amid controversy over whether the city must hold an election to name a new mayor.

The selection followed failed attempts earlier Monday by two city residents to file to run for a mayoral election. Monday was the deadline to file.

"I'm not ready to support any candidate as interim mayor until we get a resolution from the state," Councilman Doug Tietz said, referring to the controversy with the state over how the city must choose a mayor after the recall of Mayor Janice Daniels. He and Councilman Wade Fleming opposed Slater's appointment Monday.

The state's elections director told the city in a letter Nov. 16 that it must hold a special election Feb. 26, and not wait until 2013 to fill the mayor's position.

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This is the final product that Lansing, and Party Nerdpublicans have created.  When it comes to the central planning schemes using Federal Debt dollars being placed under deficit spending scrutiny locally, the establishment clause of Two Wings Same Bird Party politics will slay those who are not in their exact likeness.  We watched the MI-GOP Star Chamber attempt to do this to Kerry Bentivolio, and they have had their "compassionate conservative" Operation Hummingbird way with Mayor Janice Daniels.

"Michigan's citizens are tired of the divisive political culture in Lansing," Snyder said on the campaign trail. "Midnight deals, closed-doors meetings, lobbyists and special interest influence have stood in the way of long-term solutions.

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An upbeat Gov. Rick Snyder said Wednesday that there might be "shovels in the ground" for the New International Trade Crossing bridge project within two to six months.

But Ken Silfven, Snyder's deputy press secretary, later clarified, saying the governor was using "two to six months" as a metaphor for receiving the U.S. Presidential Permit needed for the project to proceed. Actual construction might begin in two to three years.

OK, by force of government, you got your bully pulpit way, Snyder.  Congratulations.  Thus, provides a perfect time for some much needed levity.

An American economist traveled to China to observe a canal project. The Chinese delegation showed him the plans and the model of everything that would be built along this new masterpiece. When they traveled out to the worksite, the economist was aghast at what he saw. The men were all using hand tools such as shovels, pick axes, and wheelbarrows.

The American economist asked the leader of the Chinese delegation, "Why on Earth are your people using hand tools? Why are there no bulldozers or other modern equipment?"

The leader of the delegation stood up straight and replied, "If we used that type of equipment, all of these men would lose their jobs in a couple of months."

The economist rubbed his chin in thought and then smiled, "Oh, it's a jobs program. Why don't you take away their shovels and give them spoons?"

The rest is worth your time.

Governor Rick Snyder has cut a radio ad urging voters in Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties to re-elect House Speaker Jase Bolger. The Marshall Republican is running for re-election against Democrat Bill Farmer. The Gongwer News Service (subscription required) reports that the ad was paid for by the House Republican Campaign Committee and authorized by Bolger's campaign. The ad is seen as another sign that Bolger is facing a tough re-election fight. Democrats have made an issue of his involvement in a plan to put a "straw candidate" on the ballot to help State Representative Roy Schmidt's re-election chances in his Grand Rapids district. Schmidt switched from the Democratic to Republican party right before the filing deadline.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood met with Gov. Rick Snyder and the state Senate Republican leader Tuesday on the long-stalled regional transit authority.

LaHood praised the meeting with Sen. Majority Leader Randy Richardville and said progress was being made. He said he planned to meet with the state House Speaker Jase Bolger early next month.

"I believe within the next month or so we will be able to make some announcements and we're making a lot of progress and I things are moving in the right direction," LaHood said.

In February 2010, the Transportation Department awarded $25 million for Detroit light rail as part of a 9.3-mile, $500 million project that was to travel up Woodward to Eight Mile.

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Speaker Bolger, here's a chance to redeem yourself with stopping this wasteful progressive agenda by a No Go in the House on Gov JenniRick Snydholms' utopian Regional Transit Authority.

The U.S. Transportation Department today will launch a 3,000-vehicle test of "smart car" technology in Ann Arbor.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland will join automakers to begin the yearlong test, the largest to date.

Vehicle-to-vehicle technologies have the potential to significantly reduce crash fatalities and injuries and could one day help motorists avoid crashes altogether, Strickland said.

This first-of-its-kind effort will test a Wi-Fi-like technology by which vehicles and highways can "talk" to each other and perhaps reduce crashes and improve traffic congestion. Cars, for example, could alert each other that a driver was about to miss a stop sign or pull onto a busy street. Or that a vehicle has entered a driver's blind spot.

The test will include vehicle-to-vehicle crash avoidance technologies such as forward-collision warnings, "do not pass" alerts and warnings that a vehicle ahead has stopped suddenly. It also will involve some vehicle-to-roadway testing.

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