Tag: state Senate (page 2)

Today is expected to be a day where a vote could take place on HB4714. Today is the day where Republican senators around the state can throw sand in the eyes of those who entrusted them with power in 2010.  The revolution which started in 2010 against the very thing for which they might vote.

The question to ask forever more is "how might someone actually call themselves Republican, or think they wear ANY badge of integrity by voting to grow government and expand dependency on it?" In 1996 Republicans in the US congress showed the executive branch the way by reducing dependency through 'workfare' and inserting SOME personal responsibility.

And because of promises of power, seating arrangements, considerations, contributions, etc, this great state will see a follow up to the destruction brought by a wimpy current congress, and a POTUS who has the destruction of the US as a goal.

Also like many, he is trying to identify where the weak sisters in the Republican caucus might be. He writes:

This week the Senate comes back to Lansing. Number one on the agenda is expansion of Medicaid. Governor Snyder and Lt. Governor Brian Calley are putting on a full-court press. 

Reliable sources tell me there are 17 rock-solid NO votes in the GOP caucus. Let's do a little math here. There are 38 members in the Senate, 12 are Democrats. We can readily assume all twelve will vote for Medicaid expansion because it helps accomplish what their president wants and it represents an enormous expansion of government.

Twenty votes are required to pass a bill...UNLESS there is a 19-19 tie, in which case the Lt. Governor who presides over the Senate, gets to break the tie. We know what Brian Calley will do in the case of a tie. 

So, if 17 Senators are a no, and 12 Senators are a yes, the governor needs to convince seven members of the 9 remaining Republicans to vote with the Democrats. It sounds like he may already have six of those seven in the bag. Where will he find the seventh vote?

It might be Dave Robertson. Read more here.

Until we get a solid "NO" pledge from any State Senator, its best to assume they are possible sellouts. And as Jack said "We know what Brian Calley will do in the case of a tie. "  Call Robertson.

As many of you are aware, State Senator Howard Walker R-37th has decided to forgo a second term, thus leaving a fairly solid Republican seat up for grabs.  Walker might well have gotten tired of the threats to primary him, but he has publicly  responded that it was a family decision.  We wish him the best, and hope he departs the senate with head held high, SANS a Medicaid/Welfare expansion vote when the time comes.  Voting FOR such a thing would be a pretty serious blemish on a fairly decent record to walk away with.

Unfortunately, the shame of expanding government is carried by the already announced would-be replacements.

Wayne Schmidt RINO-104th, and Greg MacMaster R-105th, are vying for the seat, each with the distinction of having supported the growth of government through their vote for Obamacare.

Note the designated (R) difference used, as their overall records could be parsed to paint a true picture of ideology.  Schmidt's frequent support of many things expansion and subsidy, stand in contrast to the GOP platform of smaller government, and intrusion. Of course Schmidt's record is longer, and more easily scrutinized than that of MacMaster, who riding the Tea Party wave of 2010, has since revealed that on key issues, he cannot be counted on to hold the conservative line. MacMaster has been a vocal opponent to disastrous A21 policies, and has introduced legislation that has made it no further than the committees, one of them chaired by Schmidt.

So we are at the starting gate with Wayne "I Like Big Government" Schmidt, and Greg "I tried to cut a deal for small business" MacMaster.  The former being one you can trust to disappoint frequently; the latter not solidly rooted in conviction.  The former not nearly as 'popular' as the latter, being one who doesn't raise money so well.

So do we break out the checkbooks, hold our noses, pirouette, or sit on our hands?

Jack Hoogendyk penned a piece the other day that might have turned a few heads.  His email article "Money, Power, Quid Pro Quo - How it Destroys Good Policy" used a story from the 'watching Michigan' site that suggested Arlan Meekhof's position on Medicaid expansion might be compromised by a desire for leadership.  The article painted a scenario under which it seemed possible that Senator Meekhof might capitulate to expansion:

"But, by rising to the seat power as leader, you too are owing to someone. All that money you spread around during the campaign; where did that come from? The lobbyists. And those lobby groups that endowed you with all that cash, do you think maybe they have a few quid pro quos as well? Oh, yeah.

...

I remember when there was a key vote on insurance reform in 2003. Blue Cross/Blue Shield had much to gain if the vote went their way. They had to put a full court press on Republican lawmakers to get the needed votes. Several members were swayed by promises that "your campaign debt will go away."

Hoogendyk ended with wonderment of of the house votes and a question whether Arlan Meekhoff, as a man of integrity would cave to the a desire to grow in office.

"... Were they promised help in the upcoming election? A few seats could be in trouble because of the Freedom to Work vote. Some future campaign cash could be helpful...in exchange for a key vote now.

I know Arlen Meekhof quite well. He is a man of integrity. I appreciate that he has always stood tall on social issues. He is a staunch defender of life and traditional values. But, is he vulnerable to the intoxicating lure of power? Will Arlen Meekhof compromise his principles in exchange for leadership? Only time, his votes and his post-election campaign finance report will tell for sure."

LANSING--State Representative Lisa Posthumus Lyons, R-Alto issued the following statement today in response to reports that legislative leaders are considering a proposal to take repealing Michigan's prevailing wage law off the table for consideration as well as to raise the state's sales tax to fund road repairs:

"Our roads and infrastructure are in bad need of repair, but simply raising taxes on hardworking families while preventing policies that make Michigan competitive and create jobs is not the answer.

"Michigan's hardworking taxpayers deserve better. Our road funding problem is an opportunity to look at comprehensive tax restructuring, not just taking the status quo and asking for more.

"I am asking the Governor and legislative quadrant to take a different approach to this issue. I am willing to seek solutions, but this proposal misses the mark, and I will lead the charge to ensure it does not get the 2/3 votes in the House to put it on the ballot."

 

Only one word comes to mind: Starve.

Yannow, between the Governerd surrounding himself with a deadbeat Treasurer, and a Medicaid billing mooslime responsible for at least one death now dumping $25K into the One Tough Nerd PAC <cough>HB 4714</cough>, all one has to do is sit back and watch "Rick Michigan" implode all on his own.  Damn good thing you're getting your monies upfront, young Johnny.

The state of Michigan will soon allow companies, organizations and communities to use the popular "Pure Michigan" branding in joint advertising and marketing.
....

"We will create customized 'Pure Michigan' advertising campaigns centered around clusters of business that we have in the state," Finney [MEDC] said. "You could take automotive, or you could take dairy [Subsidized], or you could take other agricultural products [Subsidized too, even The Dead], or software and we'll create customizable opportunities for companies to actively participate in the campaign."

The move is an extension of what the state has done with the tourism industry, where it has worked with about 50 partners to jointly advertise cities and tourist attractions such as The Henry Ford [501(c)(3) Tax Exempt] in Dearborn, Finney said. In those cases, the state [all taxpayers] and the entities split the costs for the creative advertising, he said.

God, I just despise the nasally weasel.  Snyder embodies everything that is in topic over here.