Tag: Regulations

You can believe the well produced propaganda piece on Michigan's new-found prosperity, OR you can observe what has been happening to the men and women and families that feed us.  No amount of Rah-Rah for right to work (which I support tremendously) and budgets done on time can take away the rotten stink of tyranny that comes through our state's administrative efforts. As far as the bureaucratic 'rule makers' are concerned, the peasantry is far to pitiful to fear, except for a few trouble makers.

A few troublemakers, merely following tradition by doing what generations have done to make the country healthy and prosperous. Farmers, who like any other business that must inevitably deal with an onslaught of government intrusion into their affairs, making a mockery of presumed prophylactic and protective measures for the public good. Family Farmers, like other mom and pop business ventures who have had the oxygen sucked out of their existence by expansive government till they fall one by one.

Veteran Mark Baker of Baker's Green Acres is the equivalent of today's canary-in-the-coal-mine that is Michigan.  Except THIS bird isn't dying to tell you the oxygen has left the premises.

His words are straight up and easy to understand.

Snyder inherited this issue from the former governor.  When he was elected by a minority of Republicans, and faced a loonytunes SOB in the general "hired", there was a clear warning that this could hurt Michigan families, yet he ignored it.

Michigan State Representative Tom McMillin, the 2013 chair, joined by State Senators John Pappageorge, (Alternate Chair) Arlan Meekhof, Jim Marleau, Tupac Hunter, Bert Johnson Representatives Jim Stamas, Amanda Price, Harvey Santana, & Douglas Geiss make up the JCAR (Joint Committee on Administrative Rules).  Bolger reports in his email blast:

"The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) has been especially active this session, monitoring, questioning, and confronting red tape that goes beyond what is written into law. More than 1,000 administrative rules have already been reviewed, leading to several JCAR actions that have produced concrete results. These actions include the rescission of a proposed sales tax rule that exceeded statutory authority and elimination of a Department of Education policy prohibiting 16- and 17 year-old students from being lifeguards. The MDE policy was not derived from any particular official rule or statutory authority - it was simply a policy created by bureaucrats. We are taking a more proactive approach to using JCAR this session as a means of reviewing and investigating administrative rules that are often just getting in the way of Michiganders living their lives."

We should be hoping for a complete report soon?

As this is a great way to assure that our Michigan legislative action is properly implemented, it might also be a great lesson we can pass along to the representatives we send to DC.  Seriously, its a good time to pass along a great idea.

This is NOT an April fools joke.

On Sunday, April 1, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources began active enforcement of an Invasive Species Order declaring certain types of swine illegal in Michigan.  Storm troopers under order of the DNR began a "pig sweep" to root out those with particular characteristics. As part of that effort on Tuesday, April 3 the department's Law Enforcement Division conducted inspections of six properties that in the past may have had prohibited swine. The inspections were conducted with permission of the landowners. Each of the properties was found to be free of prohibited swine and therefore in compliance with the Invasive Species Order.

Those facilities, farms or individuals still in possession of prohibited swine are in violation of the law and could face criminal or civil penalties under Part 413 of the state's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.  For harboring fugitive pigs. Randy Stokes, the DNR director says:

"Our intent from the beginning of this Invasive Species Order has been to enforce the law while minimizing the impact on individuals and livelihoods. For that reason, we provided additional time and assistance for ranch owners, breeders and others to remove prohibited animals from their properties prior to the April 1 enforcement deadline. The additional time allowed property owners to adjust their business plans to minimize economic hardship. We will continue to work cooperatively with property owners where we can."

Check.

"Obamacare," or whatever the current name is for the redistributive healthcare plan, is unraveling daily.  Between the "unforeseen" costs, and technical problems with implementing it, the biggest government grab of power in the history of the country is showing itself to be what we have called it all along. A worthless, dangerous, legislative Cluster-Foxtrot.

Michigan has had the opportunity to say no to the legislation under the tenth amendment, yet has not yet done so. Our previous Attorney General Mike Cox joined with 26 other states in a lawsuit against Obamacare, and the current AG has continued that course. And as the case makes its way into the Supreme Court of the United States, we are still working against ourselves by accepting the federal bribes and creating the framework for the Obamacare implementation.

But it still must pass through our legislature.

Yesterday, there was an opportunity for testimony on the Michigan Healthcare exchange. The Honorable Chairwoman Gail Haines was gracious enough to extend the public meeting time so that citizens could have their voices heard. One of those voices, Abigail Nobel, spoke regarding Senate Bill 693.

Democrat Representatives Lisa Brown and Jim Ananich have each sponsored (with 27 Democratic co-sponsors) a portion and re-introduced the Michigan Trial Lawyer Enhancement Act (House Bills 4440 and 4650).

Every legislative cycle about this time Michigan Democrats attempt to take advantage of a largely hibernating voting public, sponsoring and passing legislation designed to pay off debts to big-time campaign donors and special interest friends.

It's the oldest trick in the book.  You campaign as a populist, you tell the people its all about them and then as soon as they aren't looking you start funneling as many perks, favors and giant paydays as possible to your cronies, no matter how many Michigan jobs it'll kill.

We've talked about this issue before.  We sounded the alert when the Dems tried to do their trial lawyer pals a solid in 2007.  We sounded it again when they took another stab later that year.  They tried it again in 2008 and we were there again in 2009.  ( I Should note on this last, a technical  ahem .. 'complication' truncated some great discussion ... sigh.)

The rent seekers are back.  Those folks who cannot compete properly in free markets take advantage of ignorant lawmakers who want to simply provide a "safer environment," yet do not look forward far enough to see the effect of their actions on hundreds of small businesses.

In this case, it is the towing industry.  Undoubtedly, the high cost of fuel, insurance, and the reduced traffic and safer cars situation has taken a toll on tow operators in our great state.  Particularly the larger less efficient operators with greater overhead to worry about.  So much so, that they have sought and are receiving the assistance of legislators in requiring greater licensing by the removal of certain exemptions with MI-SB287.

Jeez.  When the vote names come out on this, it ain't going to be pretty. Sorry to see this happening again to Michigan's small tow truck operators.

I was there once