Tag: Rogers (page 2)

Should it hang until the next election is over? Should we update with fresh scarlet letters from even more recent miserable failures of those who are hanging patiently for all this time? Should we offer a positive spin on their recent accomplishments and then sigh, noting how they really screwed up before, and then point again to the left?

While waiting for some discussion on this, it should be noted that our concern about the debt ceiling being increased has been vindicated.  We were right, and those guys on the left were not. The trillions they added to the burden our children must carry, cannot be voted away as easily as their tenure in congress.  Experience DOES account for something, but it is not an excuse for repeatedly ducking responsibility, and they are indeed responsible for that fact.

Good men who screw up need to admit and own up to it, and offer their mistakes as lessons.  Personally, I see genuine contrition as a character building exercise.

If you are from Michigan, have a desire to meet a lot of new people and serve your country, NOW is the time.  A few hard workers with soul are needed in the following districts ... uh  well ALL of the following districts except Congressional District #3 which is occupied by Justin Amash:

"The Budget Control Act trades $21 billion in cuts next year for a debt ceiling increase of $2.1 trillion. That's one penny in cuts for each dollar of new debt. The bill does not seriously address the drivers of the federal government's fiscal crisis. It does not improve entitlement programs.

"It does not include a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. I cannot in good conscience vote for so little reform when so much is at stake.

Again, the Michigan Republican delegation sans one, failed to perform its duty on the most important vote of their lifetimes.  They missed an opportunity to stand for a permanence of fiscal prudence.

MICHIGAN DELEGATION VOTE The complete list here

Democrats
Clarke, N; Conyers, N; Dingell, Y; Kildee, Y; Levin, Y; Peters, N.

Republicans
Amash, N; Benishek, Y; Camp, Y; Huizenga, Y; McCotter, Y; Miller, Y; Rogers, Y; Upton, Y; Walberg, Y.

As for those Democrats who voted no, they wanted even more from Boehner.  However, this president will take whatever rope he has been given and run with it.

The Republican state representative from Troy discusses the possibility of abolishing the Michigan civil service commission. The commission, he argues, has "ignored the constitution, the Legislature, the will of the people and common sense."  From the Detroit News commentary:

"Let me explain. The Civil Service Commission recently included "other eligible individuals and their dependents" as recipients of state health care benefits. This is ridiculous. These could include any roommate, distant cousin, or live-in boyfriend or girlfriend. The only requirement for this $4,000 to $17,000 yearly health care benefit package is that they must live with a state employee for a year. What a deal and at the expense of the taxpayer."

Indeed.

And it seems to follow the point on legitimacy of 'marriage' being used as a term for the unions of same sex couples.  Its about the money.  And in this case they step even further out onto the fringe.  That fringe, as in 'fringe benefits' for all who seemingly associate with state government workers.  Whether or not we can afford it, or if it even makes sense.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you, too, though.  Be careful on the roads, pals.  Especially those of you who are getting an early-bird jump on the festivities at oh, 8 or 9 this morning.

Now... since I'm not a lush,  Irish or Catholic, back to business.

Yesterday we discussed how Detroit Democrat Kwame Kenyatta was adding his name to the list of over 50 liberal candidates for the office of Mayor come August.  Today we learn that the man just defaulted on his mortgage and isn't paying his bills.

But like yesterday, I still can't muster the cynicism and snark to discuss the foibles of Michigan Democrats with the vim and vigor the issues really deserve.  Besides, I have zero doubt whatsoever that Monica Conyers will pick up the slack.  Heck, the woman made fun of Kenyatta because she thought he had cancer... does anyone think getting kicked out of his house is going to be off limits?

Besides, there's this whole "light rail" thing that's sort of got me intrigued.

Republican Representatives Wayne Schmidt and Bill Rogers held a presser yesterday announcing the formation of a task force to study the feasibility of a light rail system connecting Lansing with metro-Detroit and maybe Ann Arbor, to boot.

If you've lived in Michigan long you've heard about the light-rail concept more times than you've seen the University of Michigan in the NCAA basketball tournament.  Every couple of years it becomes someone's pet project but there have always been three big issues standing in the way.  (Frankly, there may have been a million and three big issues, but there are three that always seem to pop to the top.)

First you've got to deal with the projects feasibility.  Can anyone even construct the thing and make it work?  Second, you've got the whole question of who is going to pay for it and then there are the Big 3.  

Read on...

The GOP House minority continues to sponsor and introduce legislation, to work behind the scenes and to try to figure out some sort of positive solution to this tax-hike / budget mess.

We rarely hear about that in the MSM.

Being a member of a legislative minority makes it tough to garner headlines. But they're working hard and they're trying to make a difference.

This week I spoke with freshman Republican Representative Bill Rogers.

Interview after the break...

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...