Cronyism

All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Elections, Proposal 15-1

So, why aren’t we being more direct? And is this a good place to start? (see item linked at end of post)

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“Because we’ve seen Gadsdens flooding Lansing, over the State Income Tax hike? Medicaid expansion? The non-bailout Detroit Bailout A/K/A DIA Bailout? Doubling Tipping Fees (garbage collection tax for the mouthbreathers)?

With an alleged Republican executive branch? – Corinthian Scales November 14, 2014″

I’ll be 100% honest here, this comment from Corinthian Scales (along with Kevin Rex Hines’ follow-up…linked here) on the Snyder(Calley)/Richardville Gas Tax Hike, really bothered me over the weekend.

Despite 1,200 miles of driving and numerous other issues I’m currently juggling this weekend that aren’t exactly going according to “Plan ‘A’ “, both gentlemen’s very direct comments regarding this issue gave me reason to pause over the weekend.

Ultimately, I feel that this is a guestion that should to be addressed if the Conservative Movement here in Michigan (and elsewhere) is to have any long-lasting relevancy.

{More below the fold}

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You Betcha! (5)Nuh Uh.(1)

All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Detroit, Proposal 15-1

Hey, would you look at that? We’re right back where we started from.

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Betcha didn’t see this coming:

“Today, Detroit’s five state senators stood united in supporting a major road funding package. This bill will allow us to speed up repair of Detroit’s roads and make major improvements to the bus service for our 100,000 passengers daily. With their support HB 5477 passed the Senate by a 23-14 vote. Be sure to thank Senators Virgil Smith, Coleman Young, Jr., Burt Johnson, Morris Hood III, and Tupac Hunter for their leadership and encourage your representatives in the State House to support this important legislation.”

Did anyone catch anything earlier about paying more at the pump to support mass transit?

Me neither.

Oh, and it gets better.

{Story continues below the fold}

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Cronyism, Detroit, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Proposal 15-1, Republicans

And So It Begins

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Taking no chances that the grassroots come out in opposition, the Progressives strike.

The Michigan State Senate nearly doubles our state gasoline taxes.

Voting to raise the gas taxes by 17 cents at legislative maturity, RINO Senate Leader and tax raiser Randy Richardville’s bill will create even more hardships on those who are already struggling to put fuel in the tank.  Much of it earmarked for mass transit too?  Wonderful.  The Ivory Tower reports:

The bill from Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, was passed quickly and without debate, by a 23-14 vote, after a number of false starts earlier in the day.

The Senate took “a big step to show people we’re serious,” Richardville said. “If you’ve got an alternative, we’re going to take a look at it.”

Emphasis provided to demonstrate what double speak is

those-guys

Cowards and thieves.

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Elections, Proposal 15-1

Senator Richardville: You are not a stupid man.

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So, let’s see if I got this straight:

You have a “conservative” majority in the Michigan Senate.

You have a “conservative” majority in the Michigan House.

You have a guy who only slapped on a republican moniker after his name because he knew that was the only chance that he had of ever getting elected governor back in ’10.

And with only 9 scheduled days left in your term (after today), you want to literally relieve yourself in the punch bowl and gleefully hand out samples to Michigan Motorists telling them it actually is Dom Perignon because…

…help me out here?

{Continued after the fold}

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Rent Seeking

Cuban and Gilbert On HB5606

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Perhaps it takes a rent seeker to know a rent seeker?

I have spoken to a couple of representatives about the passage of HB5606, disappointed with the way that they voted.

One says “It was not at all presented to us in this way,” remarking that he would have voted differently if he had only fully understood it.  This of course revealing that sleight of hand, obfuscation, and maybe a little laziness by representatives is easily exploited in Lansing. Should there be any wonder why a certain amount of time must pass before bills are voted on in their finality?

This competition limiting act is perhaps a little rent seeking at its best, and flat out corruption by those who designed the changes.

Two folks whom I regard as rent seekers in their own right are correct in this video; Dan Gilbert in particular. But when he says “Man up and compete” with regard to the automakers? 

Woof.

Oh, and thank you Representative Tom McMillin for actually paying attention.

You Betcha! (7)Nuh Uh.(0)

Cronyism, Michigan, Opinion

You Scratch my Back, and I’ll Scratch…

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Nice to see that “Screw you” Walker, hasn’t let his time in Lansing change who he is.

Capitol Confidential asked Sen. Walker what he thought the chances were that his bills would move through the Legislature this year.

BirdshredderFail“Well, we have very few session days left, but we also have the lame duck session,” Sen. Walker said. “With so few session days you really couldn’t say for sure that it would move – on the other hand, when there’s a lame duck session, you really couldn’t say for sure that it wouldn’t.”
….

Capitol Confidential asked Sen. Walker about a possible connection between the bills and Marty Lagina, CEO and founder of Heritage Sustainable Energy, which operates industrial wind plants in Northern Michigan.

“I’ve known Marty Lagina a long time,” Sen. Walker said. “He and I worked together on oil and gas development in the late 1970s. Marty has discussed the lawsuit situation with me. I believe this legislation might be a way to address the issue.”

REST

This costly, dirt worshiping cult religion of Green Energy nonsense just never ends.

My guess is Howard’s inside deal for his buddy will take place right after the Nerd, and Calley plunder everyone’s wallet, yet again. Then, after that, brace yourselves for 30 by 35.

You Betcha! (13)Nuh Uh.(3)

Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Rent Seeking

Top Republican Hails Foolish Busy Work He Voted For

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Anyone ever shakes hands with this guy, they might want to count their fingers when they’re done.

So, what are some of the highlights?

The current and next-generation Volt will continue to be built at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant.

The Volt has not met sales expectations set in 2011 by former CEO Dan Akerson, who wanted production to hit 60,000 annually by 2012. Since the plug-in hybrid was launched in late 2010, GM has sold about 69,000. Last year, GM lowered the price by $5,000 to boost sales.

Barra would not give volume targets for the newest Volt, saying she thinks GM has learned its lessons from sharing overly optimistic sales goals.
…..

Barra wouldn’t comment on whether the Volt is profitable; she said GM doesn’t comment on profitability of specific car lines. She also declined to say whether the sticker price of the 2015 Volt would be lower, and wouldn’t say if it would be offered in multiple models.

Oh please, stop with the crap: http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16192

The battery cells for the Volt are produced at LG Chem in Holland.

Jase, you’re an ass. So is the entire Senate.

You Betcha! (15)Nuh Uh.(1)

Conservative News, Cronyism, Elections, Michigan Politics

Governor Snyder’s “Gay Advocate” Puppeteer Wants Your Help

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A Snyder Cronyism

URGENT HELP NEEDED: An internal poll of the Michigan Femdom Fund has shown that Governor Snyder is up 100% to 0% over his challenger Mark Schauer. This “internal” poll must have only included “pegging” their staff members for these results? A Femdom Fund Logo

But this November the stakes are too high and we need your help. Please consider making a donation today of $20, $35, $50 or whatever you can generously afford to help us assure that Gov. Snyder is re-elected as to advance the Common Core, Gay Marriage and other progressive issues that Gov. Snyder will support.

For those low information voters and party loyalist I have compiled a list of bullet points, headlines and search phrases as to make it harder for those types to justify to themselves how they cast their votes!

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Cronyism, Detroit, Rent Seeking, Republicans

Pay up Suckers

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Never underestimate the local ‘Team R’ actors who will roll with RINO Ron’s DIA Bailout.

gingell_mike_smIn the letter, which Gingell read to The News, Gargaro said he wants to work on connecting the three art authorities — which are contracted with the DIA and collect tax money on behalf of the county — with compensation decisions by meeting with them three or four times a year.

“So the county art authorities have opportunity for input, so that’s a good measure,” Gingell said. “They would review the DIA audited financial statements and discuss it in an open forum with the art authorities. It’s definitely more outreach, more transparency, more practical steps to address compensation.”

Reached by The News Wednesday afternoon, Gargaro declined to discuss the specifics of the letter or what it was offering. “I haven’t had a chance to speak with the commissioners about it yet,” Gargaro said.

In other words, Eugene Gargaro hasn’t read the official script yet.

Gargaro is expected to meet with commissioners during their caucus Thursday morning, Gingell said. That will take place just before the start of the regular board meeting, at which commissioner Dave Woodward, D-Royal Oak, had planned to offer a resolution to dissolve the Oakland County Art Authority, which sends $11 million a year to the DIA.

Gingell said once all 21 members of the board read the letter and speak with Gargaro, “my personal opinion is things will move on” and the issue of dissolving the art authority will be over.

REST

Yep. Easy peasy. Just another case of watching the layers of bureaucrats and their insider onion peel.

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