Cronyism

All the Other Stuff, Cronyism, Elections, Michigan

Payola Or Pretense?

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Is The Traverse City School District Ignoring A Gift, Or Is That 'Gift' Completely Valueless?

What does the largest government body North of Clare do when it sees a case of vendor provided payoff to an employee?

It blesses the transaction.  <– yes, that is the punchline

As yet another example of misplaced priorities, and a misunderstanding of the roles they play, the Traverse City Area public School board trustees have approved a ‘settlement’ which involves a payment from the soon-to-retire superintendent Stephen Cousins, and a gift from one of the school’s vendors to make up the difference between the $25,000 owed to the school district by the superintendent and his $14,800 cash reimbursement component.

First a recap of the facts as we know them.

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All the Other Stuff, Cronyism, Democrats, Michigan, Michigan Politics

Don’t Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out Carl

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Senator Carl Levin's involvement In IRS Targeting Was Inappropriate And Repugnant

sencarllevin-jokerIts one thing for a US Representative, or US Senator to intervene on behalf of a constituent when government is running amuck, but its quite yet another when a powerful elected member uses the ‘running amuck’ government to stifle free speech.

Michigan Senator Carl Levin took it upon himself to challenge eligibility for non profit status of certain groups.  He SPECIFICALLY targeted 4 groups; each of which lean conservative and exercise their first amendment rights as protected by our constitution.  A Letter to the IRS by Mr Levin names the following groups response to a certain question to be reexamined:

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Detroit, Elections, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Rent Seeking, Republicans

Sure: Carl Levin just up and Decided to *Retire*

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Or, perhaps why Mr. Julianna Smoot‘s White House memo read, “Carl, cannot run for reelection. Tell him thanks for playing along, and dos svidaniya. Now, bring me Gary Peters”.

Read all about the documents obtained at Judicial Watch.

And, don’t even start about being unaware of the Marxist Levin slime that established his political career in the Progressive’s Utopian Cesspool of Detoilet, nor act oblivious about the Socialist-lite Republicans that have propped up that agenda for decades – you all were made aware.

Levin-detroit-300x234

Never fear, Weeper Boehner and Eric Holder have the situation *normalized*

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Republicans

Moneybags

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BuySeatMy wife asked me, “who is this guy?”

She was referring to the now frequent television commercials for fourth district congressional candidate Paul Mitchell. And if you have never heard of him before, its because he has not held political office that you might recognize.  Another bucket list brigade member, GOP primary candidate Paul Mitchell has already piled tons of cash into Michigan’s 4th congressional district race in an effort to present himself as a real contender.

Cable and broadcast buys for April and May have already exceeded a quarter of a million dollars, and sources have indicated he intends to whiz away his entire bank account to feel extra special if necessary.  And who cares if anyone knows who he is, or what he stands for?

Ah yes, the “what do you stand for?” question. That place where people look beyond the claims of a candidate being a conservative first, and actually predict what kind of legislator they might actually be.

And if the nape hair instincts kick in at the point where you realize a candidate has no record to examine, is blowing a wad of his own cash, and was the finance chair for the Michigan Republican Party, then you might be paying attention.

Oh yeah.. All that.

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Cronyism, Democrats, Elections, Rent Seeking, Republicans

Blast From the Past

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Memory holes are fun.

mcc2009-05-graphic6LRG

Time’s second most outrageous was a $1.9 million appropriation for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of New York. The earmark was inserted by none other than Congressman Charles B. Rangel, D-New York, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which is where federal tax laws are drafted. According to Time, the project’s total price tag is $30 million, and it has been dubbed the “Monument to Me” by its critics. The magazine notes that a more junior member of Congress questioned Rangel about the propriety of members using taxpayer dollars to sponsor projects bearing their own names. “I would have a problem if you did it,” Rangel replied, “because I don’t think that you’ve been around long enough.”

Only 108 members voted to cut federal taxpayer subsidies for the Rangel Center. Five Michigan Republicans and four Democrats were among the 316 who voted to save the earmark.

Well, at least voters in CD-6 and CD-10 understand the mindset of Fred, and Candi in their wagon circling little D.C.-GOP world they live in.

None of it should surprise. And, to think that Camp replaced Charles… go figure.

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Rent Seeking, Republicans

The Old Joke Never Loses Its Luster

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Know how you can tell when Jase Bolger, and his Majority are lying? Their lips move.
Republicrat

The state House approved sweeping legislation Thursday to increase road repair funding $453 million through reformulated fuel taxes, budget shifts and higher fees on overweight or oversized trucks.

The 10-bill package, approved by the House Transportation Committee the day before, goes to the Senate for consideration next week. It follows a plan announced last month by House Speaker Jase Bolger, R-Marshall.
….

Bolger said the series of proposals responds to public demands for better roads but with available money rather than higher taxes.

These sociopaths actually *think* that? Liars, all.

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Elections, Michigan, Rent Seeking, Republicans

Not a Gadsden to be Found

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Living in Michigan, is one step closer to getting a whole helluva lot more expensive.

A House committee on Wednesday voted to permanently shift money from Michigan’s general fund to transportation spending. Another panel approved legislation bringing the diesel tax in line with the gasoline tax and taxing fuels on price instead of a flat per-gallon basis.

Fuel taxes would grow with inflation.

The $450 million is just a third of what Gov. Rick Snyder says is needed to bring Michigan roads up to par. Michigan’s gasoline taxes are among the country’s highest while its per-capita road spending is among the lowest because the sales tax on fuel primarily goes to non-transportation funding.

Then, there’s the 900% increase on business.two-headed-snake

Permits for oversized and overweight trucks would jump to $500 under House Bill 5452, as amended and advanced by the transportation committee. Overweight permits currently cost $50 for a single trip or $100 for multiples. The original bill would have doubled those fees, but Rep. David Rutledge (D-Ypsilanti) won an amendment to raise the rates even higher.

MDOT gets to run further amok entering into agreements, too. Sure is a winning stratagem all them TEA folk have chosen with allowing the bastards to run wild simply because the Majority in Lansing has an “R” after its last name.

Out of sight, out of mind.

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Cronyism, Michigan, Rent Seeking, Republicans

Speaking of Deadwood

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Go HERE, listen to this bizarre-o-land “Mike & Mike” smear job performed on Rep. Tom McMillin.

These rank-and-file Party apparatchik politicians never meeting a seat at the taxpayer trough they don’t like just make my skin crawl, anymore. Bishop actually passed the buck on the largest tax hike in the history of this state (not to mention also allowing the vote on the smoking ban), stammers around on the pension tax vote, endorses the Nerd’s performance of expanding SnyderCaid welfare, DRIC bridge, and Income Tax hike, all the while sitting there rubbing elbows with this jagoff that voted to fund Obamacare, and further crap like the Patriot Act, and CISPA. Ya, right, as if Rogers is all about national security? Despicable beyond “embarrassment”.

Mr. Wu, what says you about Bishop, and Rogers?

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All the Other Stuff, Cronyism, Democrats, Michigan, Michigan Politics

Set Up To Fail

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Michigan Paid Up Only 55% Of Enrolled in ACA

healthThe number of paid enrollment across the country is bad enough but in Michigan only about half have opened their wallets.

Michigan’s number is less than the 67% national percentage of enrolled + paid ACA participants in the federal exchanges.  (note the 67% may change soon as Oregon joins the federal program, currently with 0 participants) That 67% figure undermines the 8 million number that the administration says are signed up, resulting in just over 5 million to date having signed up and paid.

In Michigan only 55% of enrollees in the ACA have opened their wallets. And along with those 55%, there are some other numbers that stand out; Of the under 18 year olds, only 6% are enrolled and paid, the 18-25 year olds only 10%. Given that the plan to fund the ACA was with these healthy young specimens paying their fair share up front, this is going to pose a little problem for ongoing operation of this scam. Heck, even the 26-35 demographic has only a 17% E & P.

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Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Philosophy, Republicans

Amash V Ellis Money Quote

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ellisThere is very little you need to know about Brian Ellis

Ellis who is challenging constitutional Republican incumbent Justin Amash in the third congressional district race holds little support from any grass roots.  Ellis’ primary financing is from himself and Washington lobbyists, with less than 3% coming from small donors.

But the real kicker is what the former Granholm appointee and Michigan strategic fund huckster says openly.  From the Washington Examiner:

Ellis also has no patience for Amash’s insistence on abstract ideas like the Constitution and liberty. “He’s got his explanations for why he’s voted,” the Weekly Standard quoted Ellis saying, “but I don’t really care. I’m a businessman. I look at the bottom line.”

Oh.  How nice.

Though we’ve probably reported on this before, its good to have a reminder there are still plenty of RINOs to go around.

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