Right now the Detroit Water and Sewer Board (DWSD) owns the system, sets the rates, and spends the money. It's run by a seven member board appointed by and accountable to the Mayor of Detroit. The system is run for the benefit of the city of Detroit, with little accountability and even less transparency. The issues with Detroit are many and go back for decades. Oakland Drain Commissioner John McCulloch had an audit done and found grave questions with Detroit's pricing, and Detroit got caught diverting DWSD revenue to city police needs. During the 2003 Blackout we were unable to get info out of DWSD as the water supply for nearly 5 million people shut down.

When Detroit was a robust 2 million population city with some small satellite towns the current structure may have made sense.  The region needs a more representative governing structure that reflects demographic realities. The 21st Century is marked by transparency and accountability. Detroit can't just say "we're doing great, trust us, and pay up!"

My bill, which was originally introduced by my predecessor Shelley Taub, puts governance of the DWSD system in the hands of a regional board. Membership is made up of Detroit and all counties who use the service. Representation is based on population, and Detroit gets to keep ownership of the system. However, pricing and rates will be determined by an open, transparent, and representative system.

Of course you're a member of the minority caucus and the Detroit Democrats are about as powerful as you can get what with Speaker Dillon running the show.  Is there any hope for progress on this issue?

We'll do what we can to keep the issue alive.

Now on top of being in the minority you're a freshman legislator.  Sure seems like you picked a tough year to start your legislative career.  As we close 2007 and look towards 2008 what has your experience been like and what's the biggest thing you've learned from the process?

This is not how we ran things in Oakland County. I've been surprised at how ad hoc some of the decisions and processes have been. The biggest surprise: how completely, totally, and utterly lacking in positive leadership is our Governor.

Speaking of 2007 and the Governor, the big news all year was the Democrats' efforts, ultimately successful efforts to raise taxes by billions of dollars.  You voted no on each of the Democrat tax hikes.  Why did you vote that way?

Because when Michigan's businesses, families, and taxpayers are having a hard time, government should spend less, not more.

Right.  And that sales tax on services has been estimated to have cost businesses as much as $900 million just getting ready to comply.  Then poof, the tax was repealed, but businesses had already spent that cash.  There's word these days that there may be a move to grant tax credits and breaks to companies to help offset those costs.  Can you tell us anything about that?
There is currently a set of bills (SB 967 and SB 999) out there to repeal the "Incompetence Tax," or the expenses incurred by businesses attempting to comply with the Service Tax-which may have just been a bargaining ploy to get the higher surcharge all along. The government forced these firms to incur the cost, then said "never mind." An artificial cost caused by Emily Litella governance shouldn't cost our hard-pressed businesses money they can't afford.

Since this is a blog I always have to ask, in your experience how has the blogosphere impacted the way the legislature does it's job or communicated with the people of Michigan?  Is it a tool that you use?  A resource?  A reference?

And are there any blogs specifically that you make a point of checking out regularly?

The blogosphere is a tool, resource, reference...all of the above.

Actual "Blogs" I read every day: Powerline, Instapundit, Captains Quarters, Barone Blog, LGF, Volokh, plus links on stories that catch my eye. I have Right Michigan bookmarked, as well as Chet Z's Oakland Blog, and local ones as well.

Representative, thank you again for your time and Merry Christmas!

Any time. Thank you... and Happy New Year!!