Michigan Politics

Michigan Political considerations.

Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion

So You Want To lower Insurance Costs?

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Is Michigan's Catastrophic Claims Mandate the problem?

Start with a sense of agreement that our GOP controlled legislature has with the new leader of the smurfs.

Insurance costs too much.  And since Lansing is already aglow in the possibility of adding more taxes on top of the 40% increase in plate fees and added gas taxes, we need a break right?

Who better to underwrite such ‘breaks’ than insurance carriers, right? Government always finds ways to shunt higher costs on to taxpayers OR those in an industry that they have manipulated for so many years.  So what is the message when we see this?

After Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address on Tuesday, state Rep. Michele Hoitenga, R-Manton, said that insurance reform will be one of the GOP’s top priorities this session. Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, established a separate committee to devise a way past obstacles to bringing down rates.

In a tweet, Chatfield said citizens need a bipartisan solution.

“It’s time we cut through politics and deliver real reform to our rigged car insurance system,” Chatfield’s tweet says. “Families and seniors are paying too much, and they deserve relief. I’ve created a special committee to reform car insurance and have asked [Rep. Jason] Wentworth to chair it. Let’s get it done!”

We deserve relief.

Whew!  Glad we got that settled.  So let me make it real easy.

First start off with that part of the process that enjoys a failing google grade.  It adds $hundreds a year to each vehicle we own, and holds onto $20,000,000,000.00 of Michigan ratepayers money.  Yeah, that’s $20 Billion.

Its a tax.  Don’t forget that.

And actually.. just start and end with that and then watch for a while.

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Fees, Government Incompetence, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Part Time Legislature, Roads, Taxes

Does a Peacock Complain About its Livery?

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For someone who has held elected titles in Lansing, from 2001 thru 2015, this was not an accident unless she has Richard Bernstein selecting attire for her. Curves? Is that what corpulent menopausal females refer to it as now? It’s as if they believe that others do not have eyes.

And, on cue, not allowing an opportunity to go to waste, a white male Republican steps forward to Virtue Snivel. Lee, shall we discuss what a loser is and inappropriate? Soros NPV junkets? Millennials… the guiding compass in the House, which means this state is- totally screwed.

That stated, I fully cede the notion that there is a way to vote our way out of this creeping socialism, nanny-government mess that is Michigan. There are just too many bent-knee pandering fools and reprehensible, Retreads within to counter the opposition.

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All the Other Stuff, Liberty, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion

A Question To Ask

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Who is really in charge here?

Can the Federal Government own land?

Apparently so, if one reads the constitution.  “The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any particular state..” Stated in Article IV reads fairly clear.

But where are the limits?  If one were to go with that part as it has been interpreted, the congress then has power to declare all land to be under it’s jurisdiction, and subject no longer to the respective states, right?  Obviously not if practice is our guide. At some point there is a limit where the states retain control over their respective borders.  A further restraint on the ability of the federal government and Congress to simply take over land.

Yes, it is ALSO in the constitution.  And YES, it has been ignored. Article 1 Section 8 clearly sets forth a manner under which the federal government may acquire and control property.

“To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings; ..”

Emboldened parts being relevant.

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2020 Presidential Election, All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Economy, Government Incompetence, Immigration, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Republicans

Hispanic Women for The Wall Rally – February 9th

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From my inbox:

Trump supporters, 100% Fed Up and SHUR (Sterling Heights/Utica Republicans) invite you for a “Build the Wall” Rally.

Join us with your family and friends, at Van Dyke Ave., north of 15 Mile Rd. in Sterling Heights. It will be on Saturday, February 9th from 1:00 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Snow, Rain or Shine, we will be walking on the sidewalk. Dress warm.

Bring your signs (be respectful) and/or flags. Let’s show our county, state and country that WE SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT. Trump Unity Bridge will be with us!!!!

We will meet at the Marketplace Court street Mall at the east side of Van Dyke Ave., north of 15 Mile Rd. It is across the street from the Chrysler Sterling Stamping Plant. You can park by the street mall. Then, we will spread out along Van Dyke Avenue. See map below.

More details will be coming up soon. Stay tuned! The event is free, but please register to plan accordingly.

 

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Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion

Gridlock Is Good.

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Whitmer attempt to lay new tax on Michiganians slowed by opposition. For now.

Something we could have used after 2012 was a little disagreement by the legislature and the governor.

After 2012, the state lost control of the insurer of last resort, Obamacare was adopted, and gas taxes skyrocketed.  Snyder failed on the Flint fiasco, both on public perception of the problem and with the team sent to fix the problem when he knew it was happening.

Democrats, and Gretchen Whitmer in particular, are not going to let that particular crisis go to waste, and attempted a rewrite of the DEQ under the auspices of clean water.  The GOP controlled house says “:wait just a minute there GRRRL power:“

Rep. Jim Lower, the resolution’s sponsor, said he considered the executive order an overreach that “constituted a direct attack” on legislative powers. He also defended the panels’ merits and said they provided a needed layer over oversight.

“We shouldn’t be silencing the voices of people with on the ground, commonsense experience,” said Lower, R-Cedar Lake.

Jim Lower is correct, but there is more.

What Whitmer was attempting stinks of former state house member Dan Scripps’ scurrilous attempt at controlling underground water resources. The cost of such efforts is too high, and a price Michiganians ought not bear.

While clean drinking water should be expected by those who live in cities like Flint, we should remember that it was a failure of government, and the underlying accountability of the executive branch to manage such a disaster.  Granholm Whitmer has the ability to deal with such things as they arise without additional tools that threaten personal use and add cost.

Fact:  Regulation is a tax and this is a big one if allowed to go forward.

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Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, State Convention

Clueless Elitist or Corrupt Elitist?

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Did a main street deplorable disrupt some Biddle Marsh big club backroom quid pro quo shenanigans?

Roughly three weeks out from a state convention, and ordinarily I’d be armpit-deep in some to-do list, but I’ve spent most of the past nine weeks considerably preoccupied. (If you really want to know why, then the obituary is here, and the funeral is here.) However, about four weeks ago, I had reason to have a rather lengthy and interesting conversation with one of the candidates for Michigan Republican State Committee Chair (the actual full title). I gotta tell you, it’s kinda nice to see that certain things really don’t change.

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Government Incompetence, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy

A State Of Emergency

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Unbound utilities, unchecked environmentalism, and short-sighted planning responsible for when/if the lights go out.

Years ago I wrote on the EPA regulations that essentially write off the future of coal for electrical generation.

Shortly after that that I wrote another piece which described the layers of problems facing the folks in rural areas, and specifically the Upper peninsula with the failure to support our coal burning electrical platform.  However, the meat of the piece better describes the way in which natural gas providers have also played a a part in defeating coal.

Coming amidst an impending decision by the EPA on the Utility MACT (maximum achievable control technology)  rule that is expected to lead to job loses, plant shutdowns, and rolling blackouts across the country, this strange partnership raises a question.  What does Chesapeake stand to gain, by pouring money into a seemingly disparate organization with extremely different objectives and priorities? Politico writes:

The ads come as the coal industry is at war with the Obama administration over new rules to curb pollution from coal-fired power plants. The EPA is expected to issue new rules on Friday to curb air toxics from power plants, which are estimated to cost industry about $10.9 billion each year.Stricter rules for power plants are expected to offer a competitive advantage to the cleaner-burning natural gas industry.

Oh, so its an end-justifies-the-means kind of thing.  Rent seeking.  But when questioned, Chesapeake officials have stated that the flood of cash to ALA is merely business as usual for the company, which donates to “a wide variety and number of health and medical-related organizations.  Well that’s very responsible of them, bravo for being so charitable.

Of course we all know better.

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