Michigan Politics

Michigan Political considerations.

January Numbers Indicate New Entrepreneurial ‘Opportunities’

The numbers will of course, be revised.

They ALWAYS are.

dtmbBanner1_365855_7However, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget issued a release yesterday touting a reduction in the unemployment rate and an increase in the labor force. There were apparently 32,000 more WORKING in Jan 2014, than in December 2013.  There was apparently an 11,000 person increase in the LABOR FORCE (available workers) during the same time. And this resulted in a net decrease in the unemployment rate to 7.8%.

But the 32,000 gain in total employment has an interesting sidekick of payroll job reductions.  During the same period that employment gains knocked a point off of UE numbers, actual JOBS provided to workers by external employers, decreased.

MLIVE Puts it this way:

“Total employment rose by 32,000 from December to January, according to the department, while the total number of unemployed declined by 20,000. The state’s labor force increased by 11,000. But payroll jobs, which do not include self-employed, dropped by 8,000.”

Did you see that?  There must be a huge increase of persons who are now considered ‘self employed.’

Excuse me while I go out and congratulate the ‘bottle recovery specialist’ who just happens to be rummaging around in my dumpster.

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Good Luck George, You’re Gonna Need It

Late last month, Johann Deffert’s attorney, Steve Dulan, filed an amended complaint with the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. As you will recall, Mr. Deffert filed suit against the City of Grand Rapids, as well as the thugs officers that detained him, following a patently illegal detainment this time last year.

The amended complaint removes Stephen Labreque and then police chief Kevin Belk as defendants. However, the amended complaint brings up an issue that’s pretty damning for Grand Rapids – the fact that Mayor George Heartwell and the rest of the City Commission took no action to repeal the firearms ordinance despite the fact they were notified on the 8th of January – months before Mr. Deffert was detained. From the complaint:

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Michigan as the “Comeback State” Defies Even Common Sense or Better Yet “Pure Propaganda”

Michigan as Comeback State? Yeah Right!

WComback Forbes on Snyderell it’s election season and the propaganda is in full force. Governor Rick Snyder is trying to redefine not only himself as the “Comeback Kid” reinventing Michigan calling it the comeback state, but the very term common sense. It is critical to the future of our state that voters not fall for either attempt.

It has been pointed out by others and is still worth repeating: Working Michigan families have not experienced a comeback, and therefore the moniker “Comeback Kid” is laughable. The narrative of Snyder’s re-election ad rings decidedly flat for those still experiencing unemployment and under employment in Michigan.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140219/OPINION01/302190004/Comeback-talk-defies-common-sense

Our state has the fourth highest unemployment in the nation, and almost 400,000 out-of-work “Michiganians” are still waiting for the governor to create “more and better” jobs. Michigan ranks near the bottom, 47th in the nation for not just unemployment but as one of the worst states for doing business.

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No Slap On The Wrist

Michigan Capitol Confidential Said:

“.. if the Secretary of State stays true to its history of enforcement, it’s likely the district will receive a slap on the wrist.”

In 2011, Michigan Capitol Confidential looked at the Secretary of State’s enforcement of school districts it found to have violated the campaign finance law from 2006 to 2010. The state fined two districts that broke the law $100 each. In the case of TCAPS for their part 57 violation, it appears there is a new sheriff in town.

TCAPS was assessed a $26,656 fine to be paid back to the district.

“By whom?” is the question being asked so far by our local paper.

TCAPS officials must decide by May 30 whether to accept the ruling and prove reimbursement, which cannot come from TCAPS general fund or other taxpayer-supported funds. If TCAPS officials refuse to pay, the case could be referred to the state attorney general’s office for criminal prosecution.

The state did not specifically state who is responsible for repaying the $25,656.

I can tell you that however.

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Why not? They’ve Already Bastardized the “C Word”

No, not that “c word”. I’m talking about the word Conservative, as in, anything under the sun now claims they are one. So, naturally, Lansing’s 50 shades of gray Majority has nothing better to do other than promulgate the usage of Eric Arthur Blair’s NewSpeak.

Michigan lawmakers are looking to remove the terms “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” from state law.

The legislation in Lansing incorporates some recent recommendations from a mental health commission appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder. The bipartisan bills would strike references to outdated language such as “retarded” from various statutes and instead use terms such as “developmentally disabled” or “intellectually disabled.”

Good God. The ignorance is thick.

“You are a slow learner, Winston.”
“How can I help it? How can I help but see what is in front of my eyes? Two and two are four.”
“Sometimes, Winston. Sometimes they are five. Sometimes they are three. Sometimes they are all of them at once. You must try harder. It is not easy to become sane.”

Yet, Boobus Michiganderus seems perfectly content with their elected on the clock retards ruling over them.

“It’s only words… unless they’re true.” – David Mamet

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Are We Michiganians or Michiganders?

Is Governor Snyder’s Use of the Term “Michiganders” Discriminatory to Women? Michiganian is the “official” term for a person from Michigan, according to the U.S. Government Printing Office.Michiganians

The Michigan Historical Center also uses Michiganian, and it is the term of choice in the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections, a 40 volume collection of reminiscences, transcripts of historical documents and other historical material about Michigan life dating back to the 1870s.
http://mittenhistory.com/2013/03/05/are-we-michiganians-or-michiganders/

The term goose applies to the female in particular while gander applies to the male in particular. So when Governor Snyder uses the term Michigander he is essentially leaving woman out of the equation and is discriminatory towards Michigan women. Therefore the correct term as to be all inclusive including both male and female citizens should be Michiganians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goose

The number of women serving in the Michigan state Legislature’s “Good ‘Ole Boy’s Club” has fallen to a 20-year low. Michigan is ranked 36th in the nation in terms of female representation in the Legislature. Even though women represent 51% of the state’s population, only 18.9% of the legislators in Lansing are female.

http://www.ncsl.org/legislators-staff/legislators/womens-legislative-network/women-in-state-legislatures-for-2013.aspx

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Shirkey: New Report Shows Electricity Competition Works

Illinois Study Clarifies Free Markets Provide Better Value

energyMike Shirkey says a new report shows electric monopolies cost families and job providers billions, and cripples local economies.

We knew that.

Apparently an Illinois study offers overwhelming Support for reforms Similar to Michigan House Bill 5184. State Rep. Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) highlighted the report today showing a dramatic $37 billion in consumer savings in nearby Illinois since that state replaced its monopoly-style electric system with competition and customer choice.  The report cites an $18 billion in savings for residential customers and $19 billion for companies and job providers.  Chicken feed. Yes?

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Schuette’s Assistant Attorney General – The New Norm

harry-martinWe like Bill Schuette.

At least I do. He knows it, and there are a lot of good reasons why.  Of course we have disagreements on a couple of issues, and will call them out as we see them, but he has done a reasonable job of representing the state and its constitution (reasonable – not great) during his term.

But he needs to get out front on this thing. 

In fact he could have done so a while back. The feral DNR issue has been a debacle from the get go, and THEN AG Schuette’s office sends out the guy in the video below.  He first verbally challenges the Mark Baker directly (bypassing the attorney) in way that certainly appears threatening, pulls the I don’t really give a $Hi# attitude with the rest of the crowd, and then decides the pledge of allegiance is not for him.

A real class act.

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