Michigan Politics

Michigan Political considerations.

80th District Special Election (2015), Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion

Gamrat’s Final Word

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Allegan race hitting a boiling point.

gamratCindy Gamrat is not giving up on setting the record straight in a recent messaging effort.

In my opinion she is rightfully standing firm and remains the best choice for voters in tomorrow’s special election.  A strange mission by house leadership, and the agenda that is in play to control the 80th district seat and its votes is simply bad for Michigan.  Our Lansing politicos have indeed gone to the dark side (timely Star Wars reference) after pretending a change to be made in the way things are done in the capitol.

The problem is that there is a lot of money to be made for SOME folks as the Michigan legislature passes more and higher taxes upon the serfs of the state. As we’ve seen, no majority of GOP in our houses can guarantee responsible management of what we have already surrendered, as long as the special lobbying interests push higher taxes to pad their road building bank accounts.

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80th District Special Election (2015), Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Part Time Legislature, Proposal 15-1, Republicans

The ‘Money Poll’ in Michigan’s 80th District House Race

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Mary Whiteford - the Establishment's Revenge for Proposal 1's Defeat?

More campaign finance reports are trickling in to the Secretary of State’s Bureau of Elections and it is clear that an avalanche of money from establishment Republicans is backing Mary Whiteford in the State House of Representatives 80th District special election. You have to dig a little to figure out just how much money and from where, but most of the evidence is available. Let’s call this the ‘money poll’.

Mary Whiteford Image 2Ms. Whiteford’s official committee (BoE 516401) has collected $ 28,200, plus another $ 2,807.96 of in kind contributions (actually expenditures) by the candidate herself. Great Lakes Education Project, an IRS 527 political action committee, has been furiously mailing cards supporting Mary Whiteford and trashing Cindy Gamrat. – $ 15,477 worth. So a total of $ 46,484.96. Another group, Michigan’s Voice (LARA 71630M), has made at least one mailing on Mary Whiteford’s behalf, but little is known about this recently incorporated (10/26/15) group and they have made no filings with the SoS BoE. By law they have 10 days to file, so we probably won’t know anything further about their efforts until after the primary. A well targeted mailing in the 80th costs around $ 4,000, so the Michigan’s Voice effort elevates Ms. Whiteford’s total funding in this special primary above $ 50,000.

Only 26 of Ms. Whiteford’s contributions – $ 6,300 – came from within the 80th District (excluding the candidate’s own contributions), far less than the 200 plus contributions that came to her from within the District in her first election attempt last year. This year, 85% plus of her funding is coming from establishment Republicans from outside the 80th.

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Conservative News, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics

Turning The Tables

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Last night's debate revealed the true order of things.

I really dislike having to cry foul about the ‘mainstream’ media.

Michigan has its own media issues, much of it protecting the bad actors in Lansing.  Some of it locally even pursuing its own agenda.  But in the national scene?

Indeed, after last night’s CNBC GOP debate, it will be a lot easier to do so.  After the assault of “Do you still beat your mother” line of questions to a number of the candidates, it was apparent that there was no intention of talking about policy and the crushing debt our nation faces.   The only purpose any liberal media outlets might have in such an event is to personally destroy each and every viable GOP contender for Team D’s advantage.

However, after Ted Cruz (to the right) said what needed to be said, it was clear the candidates would not be victims for the remainder of the carnival.

It simply got better from there.   With little to no ‘friendly fire,’ in the balance of the show, there was something to cheer about from nearly all of the candidates.

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Democrats, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Republicans

Three Cheers For The B Team

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House Democrat turns on the heat.

Steudle-GranholmKirk Steudle was appointed long before Rick Snyder was the new sheriff.

Jennifer Granholm appointed Steudle to the Michigan Department of Transportation post in 2006. He did such a bang up job leading to our current road conditions across the state, that no local communities have had to pursue their own millages for road fixes, and the trunklines, bridges and arteries are in top notch shape.  In fact, we have been able to lower taxes, return money to taxpayers and by-golly, put shock absorber companies at risk due to lack of business.

Now, [SARC OFF] a Democrat legislator is doing the job that any one of dozens of Republicans should have done LONG before ever asking taxpayers to bend over last May.  From the Lansing State Journal:

In a news release late Wednesday, State Rep. Scott Dianda, D-Calumet, a former MDOT employee and state employee union official, said he’d introduced a bipartisan resolution citing numerous issues — from idle railcars that cost millions of dollars to state auditors’ repeated warnings about weak oversight of MDOT’s warranty program — that he says show Steudle is “unfit to lead the department.”

Huh, I wonder where we have seen that before?

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All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Elections, Fees, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Part Time Legislature, Philosophy, Proposal 15-1, Rent Seeking, Republicans, Taxes

Get a load of the latest Michigan republican party spin

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Does anyone even proof this before it gets posted?!?

As if they were not already utterly clueless regarding what they allegedly stand for (Hint: I’ve included a small sampling below of what they have obviously forgotten/willfully chosen to ignore (source)):

I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.

I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

You need to see what came in my e-mail this morning on how the “conservative” republicans are trying to cover up the massive stench from their latest batch of stink-burger bills pertaining their road funding “solution” by releasing this nifty little informational graphic so that we can all drink the kool aid all look the other way and pretend that there isn’t a dime’s worth of difference between Michigan republicans and the democrats.

{No, you will not be able to un-see the horror, er, I mean, stop laughing at the patent hypocrisy below the fold}

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Michigan, Michigan Politics

Representative Larry Inman Clarifies AFP comment

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Larry-InmanMichigan State Representative Larry Inman has requested clarification on his reference to AFP’s Pete Lund in yesterday’s post.

We are happy to provide an outlet for clarity.  Posted without comment.

” Please disregard my remark regarding Pete Lund and Americans for Prosperity. I was misinformed by a third party comment. I have since had an opportunity to personally speak with Pete Lund and he does not support any bills or actions by the Michigan Legislature that are in any form of a tax increase both personally, and representing Americans for Prosperity . My deepest apology to Pete Lund and Americans for Prosperity for this miscommunication. I accept full responsibility for this miscommunication that was reported. Larry C Inman. “

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80th District Special Election (2015), Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Part Time Legislature, Philosophy, Republicans

Do You Miss Her Yet?

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House GOP membership toes the line like good little minions.

gamratAs the inflation protected taxes and unnecessary fees are imposed, the shame of those who ‘unelected’ a particular representative from Allegan County should be pronounced and clear.

Cindy Gamrat would have provided you with cover Representative Gary Glenn. I don’t see you bragging this one up like your near-miss confiscation legislation. You voted to remove her to keep your house overlords happy.  Aren’t you proud?

Farm bureau will still love you Triston Cole, as the fuel taxes and registration don’t hurt your lobbying buds.  Never mind the rest of the suckers who bought the AFP nonsense in the last election cycle that you would fight for the taxpayers.

Oh yeah those guys..

Sure enough, something must have happened to AFP along the way to the bank.  Ever since Scott Hagerstrom was departed from the ranks of the organizing 501(c)4, it seems to have lost its way. What was once the messenger of a clearly recognizable message of no new taxes, or growth of government, has now apparently blessed this newest blasphemy of conservative principle. Representative *Larry Inman says in a response to a text:

“Hi Jason, Pete Lund says he will accept our package, mostly coming from the General fund and user fees. We needed some gas tax. Senate and Governor told us to do it to fix the roads.”

So now AFP calls the shots along with the RINO governor?

Pete Lund of the AFP says “he will accept” the package.   How special. Why do we bother sending anyone to Lansing anymore if they cannot abide by the principles they campaign on.  Why do we bother with pretenders?

What about it Lee Chatfield?  Is the same moral compass which drove you to throw out due process last month pointing North now?  Are you happy to have been pushed into a corner where you can no longer appropriately represent your district; many of whom in it cannot afford the trivial increases you just voted to support in ever increasing perpetuity?

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Part Time Legislature, Philosophy, Proposal 15-1, Taxes

Arlan Meekhof needs to go and pound sand!

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I cannot help but wonder if Sen Meekhof was ever given a copy of the MIGOP "Principles"?

“The senate passed a road funding plan this summer.  The senate plan prioritizes state spending, generates new revenue for a long-term solution and returns tax dollars to hardworking taxpayers. ” – Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (October 20, 2015).

Is it just me, or does that highlighted part of his quote contradict itself?

I’m going to keep this one short today.

{Click below to read more}

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Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Republicans

MAPSA Not On Board With Snyder Schools Plan

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MAPSA Statement on Gov. Snyder’s Detroit Education Plan

The Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA) has been the voice of the public charter school movement in Michigan since 1996.

According to them, Governor Snyder’s Detroit Schools plan doesn’t work. Dan Quisenberry, President of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA), the state charter school association, says:

“We all agree that every child in Detroit – and every child in Michigan – deserves a great education in a great school. Everything we do should move us closer to that goal. Based on what we’ve seen, we have concerns with any plan that takes decisions out of the hands of parents, and puts them in the hands of a single, politically appointed person.

“We need to raise student achievement in Detroit and solve DPS’s financial situation, and from what we’ve seen and heard, this proposal does neither. ..

What? A new bureaucracy is bad?

Snyder outlined a plan in April that called for the creation of a new Detroit Education District to oversee traditional and charter schools.

Ahhh.. Emphasis engaged.

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