Tag: Maura Corrigan

Nearly everyone knows SOMEONE who is on the public dole. Whether it is food stamps or corporate thievery, (not covered in this essay) shouldn't the taxpayer have the right to know where his resources are channeled by government? Especially given the "Sobering Data" published in the DHS sanctioned Michigan lottery report in 2012

"Nearly 14 percent of all lottery winners are either welfare recipients themselves or reside in a household with welfare recipients."

After revelations that at least two major lottery winners were STILL collecting assistance, the report was commissioned and legislative action has been sought to address such abuse.  At the same time Democrat legislators like Rashida Tlaib take the typical progressive route and wish to encourage more abuse through inaction. By attempting to assign shame, that might be more appropriately placed on those who beg for assistance and abuse our generosity by gambling with it, to the DHS director Corrigan (God Bless Her) who sees a problem.

"Though DHS found 19 people with lottery winners of more than $100,000, 83 percent of lottery winners on welfare rolls won less than $5,000. Democratic state Rep. Fashida Tlaib accused the agency of being too harsh on people with small lottery winnings.

"I just think Director [Maura] Corrigan is more passionate about kicking people off the system than preventing fraud," Tlaib told the Detroit News.

Corrigan advocated for a law to "intercept" lottery winnings from those on welfare.

The GOP convention was this past weekend, and as several news agencies have reported, the anger with the GOP-majority Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court was palpable.  In a particularly detailed account, MIRS (subscription required) reported that the Justices "faced a frosty reception," although that characterization may be a bit of an understatement.  MIRS went on to report that if there had been more time before the convention, it is likely that Justices Markman and Zahra would have faced challenges to their seats, and that "some donors have asked for their money back from the Supreme Court race."  Former MRP executive director Greg McNeilly stated that he believes the Justices "made a political decision," and when asked what resources would be left for the GOP's Supreme Court candidates, McNeilly is quoted as responding "F--k them."  And this is just what was said publicly; "Most Republican powerbrokers didn't want to air their frustration publicly, but heated words privately, however, have been exchanged."

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.

Worth the wait however.  As now reported in the major news outlets including the Detroit News:

"Judge Zahra's 16 years of judicial experience and his razor-sharp intelligence will make him an outstanding addition to the court," Snyder said.

Snyder, who campaigned as "one tough nerd" to win the governor's race in November, noted Zahra is "a self-described law geek."

"This is a case where it's nice to say a nerd gets to appoint a geek," Snyder said at a news conference."

"One area in which I can emphatically state we are better off today than eight years ago relates to the court system." Explaining that he shares the philosophy of Justice Maura Corrigan and the majority of the Michigan Supreme Court, Zahra said he aims to search for the rule of law and respects the separation of powers, "Leaving to the legislature the significant policy questions of the day."

In an interesting side note, The Michigan View has a great column that reflects on this, and its comparison to politics. in "Why we love sports, (and hate politics)," Payne compares the hate fest for failing sports programs, and the seemingly out of place support and excuse making our press gives to the politicos that suck.  He writes:

" "Why wouldn't Rich Rodriguez be fired? In three years, he didn't win a single important game," penned Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press.

Just the facts, ma'am. The guy didn't get the job done.

Contrast this common sense sports coverage with a whole backfield full of writers, cheerleaders and excuse-makers willing to come to QB Granholm's defense. "History has yet to write whether her unflagging efforts to diversify the economy in areas like advanced manufacturing, technology and alternative energy pay long-term dividends to the state," writes Crain's Amy Lane. "She was left a bad hand by John Engler, and, unfairly, was forced to be the face of job losses in the state when. . . many of the auto industry's problems were the result of decades of gross corporate incompetence," whined MLive's Darrel Dawsey. "She must have been thinking, how things would be different if she was starting where Rick Snyder begins with the 'wind at his back,'" apologized Tim Skubick in the Oakland Press. "