Tag: legislature (page 3)

There is no question he needs to know when we are in total disagreement.

But more importantly, our legislators need to know.  I have already been in contact here, and expect to continue putting pressure on them.  this isn't to say I will be abusing them with incessant contacts, but rather I will continue to provide a consistent message that they do not need to go along with the governor's liberal agenda to get along.  Frankly, Snyder has made it clear he wants to expand crony capitalism, and if the Republicans in the house and senate wish to be viewed in that way then he will have willing allies.  

So we don't have all three branches like we thought Nov 5.  The Michigan legislature has a great number of our friends and colleagues however, who have been along side us in our quest to take back Michigan from the failure that was liberal democrat control.  I guess we will have to live with that.  But we have to embolden our stalwarts, so they know we have their back.

First hand, I have begun to experience what it means to be accountable to constituents, and especially those who disagree with my stands..

"What good is reading the bill if it's a thousand pages and you don't  have two days and two lawyers to find out what it means after you read  the bill?"

That explains the failure of congress to manage its affairs in any way resembling a responsible manner.  The folks who we send to Washington have created a monstrosity that is unresponsive, wasteful, oppressive, and straight up unconstitutional.  The failure to read the legislation written by the crackhead congressional staffers leaves no other possibility but high taxes, excessive regulation, and debts that will remain unpaid.. perhaps forever.

How can we solve the problems that congress has created over the decades of John Conyers tenure if the proposed solutions themselves might not be read?

The recent video showing Conyers leafing through a Playboy magazine has certainly raised a few eyebrows.  However, what would anyone expect from a member of a party which has as a core principle the demeaning of women, or any particular group or class that can be separated by sex, color, life choices, etc..  It seems the 81 year old Romeo, Conyers himself may have provided an answer.

He looks at pictures. Indeed the articles might even be read more fully if the pictures have drawn him in.

There was a very real possibility of paying even higher taxes these last two years.

We talk here about the problems Lansing has, and the nature of politics, special interest etc.., It seems we are not always too satisfied with the direction our leadership in the state's capitol and the outcomes produced with regard to budgeting.  What many don't realize, is the efforts by the tea party folks had an immediate effect on our state's legislative bodies.  When the first 300 folks showed up on a cold February day for the first Lansing tea party in 2009, it did NOT go unnoticed, according to Senate Majority leader Mike Bishop.

Bishop says "it made a difference right away," when asked after his presentation during a Traverse City visit about how long it took for legislators to start taking the rallies on the steps of the capitol seriously. He continued, talking about how it gave strength to many lawmakers to hold the line. "..they knew they had support."

Since the ban on smoking in such establishments has been implemented, there has been a dramatic DECREASE in attendance at these locations.  Profits are down, and more businesses suffer under the heavy hand of our state government, and the do-gooders who inhabit it.  From Mlive:

The Home Bar on Portage Street in Kalamazoo this month has seen sales plummet nearly 50 percent, said owner Harriet Bronson. In her 37 years at the bar, it's never been this bad.

"It's terrible -- slow, slow, slow," said Bronson, who's had to cut the hours of some of her employees.

Smaller bars like the Home Bar should have been allowed to decide if they wanted to go smoke free, she said.

"The state's in bad enough shape as it is," she said.  "I hope people come back, but we'll see."
Denise Bilyeu, manager at Bubba's Sports Bar & Grill in downtown Allegan, said business has been down 15 percent to 20 percent since the law took effect.  The biggest dip in sales has been at night with the "party-crowd folks," she said.

The Associated Press reports 240 new laws were enacted by the Michigan Legislature in 2009 .

Yet, one has to ask what exactly was accomplished this year.

Michigan continues to have the worst economy in the country with one family moving outside the state every 12 minutes. Businesses are struggling, schools are broke, roads are crumbling and police agencies are finding it difficult to keep the streets safe from criminals.

While the politicos in Lansing will recite bill after bill that was passed, it's notable that not a single one of Michigan's 240 new laws made the National Conference of State Legislatures annual list of new laws.

Notable new laws include New Mexico passing a tuition waiver for medical students who practice in underserved areas and reforms to New York's retirement system for state employees.

Think about it for a second, what has Lansing accomplished this year that addresses Michigan's twenty-first century challenges?

That very basic understanding indeed, a basic agreement as provided for by our maker.

When Richard Nixon ran for President in 1968 after six years out of public life and living in California, a popular slogan described him as "The New Nixon: Tanned, Rested, and Ready."

State Sen. Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) announced recently that she was running for Michigan attorney general. I can't comment on her tan or her readiness, but after eight years of doing nothing in the legislature, she should certainly be well-rested.

Using the state's legislature website, I searched records going back to 2001, Whitmer's first year in the House. I examined every bill for which she was the primary sponsor. In the House and Senate to date, Whitmer has sponsored 128 bills. Of these, a grand total of 3 made it to a vote, and 2 were passed. The third was defeated 81-22 in the House. She has not had a single bill make it to a vote since June 29, 2005.

If you're keeping score at home, that's 2 passed bills out of 128 attempts, which is a .015 batting average, enough to make Hank Aguirre blush.

Randy Andy Dillon and his merry band of legislators (Rep. Rick Hammel, Rep. Bert Johnson, Rep. Chuck Moss, Rep. Dudley Spade, Rep. John Proos, Rep. Shanelle Jackson, Rep. Vincent Gregory, Sen. Mark Jansen and Sen. Randy Richardville) are out on a weeklong lobbyist sponsored boondoggle to Israel while Michigan continues to face a $1.7 billion state budget deficit. Ooh, what kind of freebies will they get!??

They left today from Newark, on a El Al flight to Tel Aviv. Wonder if the lobbyists paying for the junket got first class tickets? A first class ticket on El Al to Tel Aviv is only $4391 each way but with such prosperous times here in Michigan, who cares? After all, with El Al's prestigious First Class cabin and dedicated crew, they'd be guaranteed the finest in in-flight pampering.... and they deserve it! Wonder if Randy Andy is a Ketel One man or if a single-malt scotch would be more to his liking? After all, it's not his money!

After arriving in Tel Aviv, Randy Andy and pals will stay at the plush Sheraton Tiberias, with an average nightly rate of only $441! ( See picture above-way nice) Hope they had an opportunity to take advantage of the on-site masseuse and spa facilities on the lobbyists' dime... even Mark Sanford didn't have it as nice!

What will Randy Andy and his merry band of legislators do tomorrow? A day shopping in Tiberias?? Or just lounging on the Sea of Galilee, resting after completing their work on the state budget?