Tag: Sunlight

Schauer proposes hiking state minimum wage to $9.25 an hour

In the mean time, Rick Snyder's MEDC and Gary Peters are tirelessly working for Corporate Welfare schemes.

A recent in-box treat from the "Michigan Freedom Fund" declares a victory in the name of free speech.  The release says:

"LANSING, November 14, 2013 - Michigan Freedom Fund President Greg McNeilly today released the following statement after Senate Bill 661 passed 20-18 in the Senate:

...

"Government has no right to target and punish the free speech of individuals, whether or not it is unpopular or delivered through an unpopular medium.  Today, the Senate did the right thing by standing up for our rights and putting the Constitution first." "

Ruth Johnson apparently triggered a legislative action with a recent press release and intent on expanding reporting by shadow groups.

" LANSING, Mich. - Saying the public has a right to know who is behind some of the most negative advertising in political campaigning, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today proposed a sweeping new disclosure rule.

"In a country where free speech is protected, these ads are part of the political landscape and we can't stop them - but when they try to influence an election, we can make sure the public knows who is paying for them," said Johnson, a long-time fighter for transparency in elections.

Specifically, Johnson's proposal targets political ads that try to persuade voters about the worthiness or unworthiness of a candidate or proposal without actually using the words "vote for" or "elect." They often encourage voters to contact a specific candidate, as in "call candidate Smith and tell her she shouldn't ignore senior citizens" or "go online to let candidate Jones know you care how he is wasting tax dollars."

Because of a loophole in Michigan law, those electioneering ads - which are carefully crafted to meet the letter of the law, but not the spirit of the law - do not currently require any campaign finance reporting. "

Its been a busy year.

In fact, between keeping the business afloat, deaths of family and friends, and personal political bids, its amazing I can even find the wherewithal to think, much less put those thoughts into readable and coherent text.  As a matter of priority however, the text finds its way to the top.  Hopefully as a time goes on, the big picture bears out the information flow's importance and effect on our political landscape, and ultimately on our lives.

The truth shall set us free.  Deception however.. abounds.

The Flint Journal ran an op-ed with the words "Jennifer Granholm jeopardizes state power system" in that order in the title and that's a pretty big surprise.

Heck, today is Fat Tuesday and after a few of you get three or four paczki in you then YOU are going to be a big person.  Literally.

But all of that pales in comparison to the BIG load of... hypocrisy... playing out in newspapers like the Ivory Tower this morning as the MSM races to bring readers the latest on Governor Granholm's suggestion that she might slap online the names of folks who haven't paid their taxes on time.

In principle, I don't mind the idea at all.  In fact, I think its pretty boss.  If you're breaking the rules and refusing to pay your fair share then a big scarlet "www." (as it were) is the least of your worries.  And the least of ours, too.  

The vast majority of us pay our taxes on time every time.  There are certain services even the staunchest anti-government conservative will admit we need.  If a little web-shame can keep folks from trying to pull one over on Uncle Sam or the state Capitol... or get a delinquent to come clean and pay off his or her tab, mores the better!

Alas, that's not what the Governor is looking for and its not what her proposal targets.  Her proposal is pure, unadulterated class warfare.  It's the politics of personal destruction and the politics of yesterday.  Oh, and its the sort of thing that would give her a pass on her OWN back taxes.

Read on...