The Democrat who wants to succeed her?  Not so much.  Lieutenant Governor John Cherry hasn't returned a penny and it looks like only after his office was approached by the Associated Press did the man decide that he'd be increasing his charitable giving, a promise (not yet a fact) that sort of ignores that whole "don't let the left hand know what the right hand is doing" principle, but whatever, the man is a hypocritical politician... we shouldn't expect a theologian.  

Meanwhile, in the Senate, not one Democrat returns or has pledged to return one penny.  Not.  One.  Likely Dem Attorney General nominee Gretchen Whitmer?  Nope.  Minority Leader Mike Prusi?  No sir.  None of the rest of them, either.

And things aren't any prettier over in the House, where Andy Dillon continues to refuse to share in the pain he's helped inflict on Michigan's working families, instead taking home every last dime of his $106,650 in annual pay.  When asked about whether the man maybe made up for his hypocrisy by foregoing other reimbursements his spokesman "declined comment."  That's usually code for "no."

Not surprisingly, Republican elected officials look to be doing significantly better when it comes to literally putting their money where their mouths are.

Secretary of State and 2010 Gubernatorial candidate Terri Lynn Land has never claimed a mileage reimbursement for the 50,000 miles she's put on her own car the last few years.  At the standard IRS mileage rate that amounts to $27,500 she's given back to taxpayers on top of the expenses she's saved by forgoing the use of a state automobile.

(Worth noting, too, that neither she nor Attorney General Mike Cox tend to travel with armed police escorts earning overtime.  Yes, I'm looking in your general direction, Monica Conyers.)

Senate Majority Leader and AG contender Mike Bishop has foregone the regular $12,000 in hotel and meal expenses he's offered and he and Republican Jud Gilbert also decline mileage reimbursements, saving taxpayers thousands more.

All of that is only a drop in the bucket compared to what could be saved if the Governor's fancy political appointees were being asked to share in our pain.  AP reports:

The commission's proposed 2011 pay cuts for lawmakers and the state's top elected officials are expected to save $1.25 million.

Bishop said the state would save even more money -- $1.52 million, under some estimates -- by reducing the pay of Granholm's political appointees and other unclassified workers who work for the state...

The 52 employees in the governor's office earn an average of $60,978, but some make much more, according to pay records released Tuesday by the governor's office.

Among the top earners are Chief Operating Officer Dan Krichbaum, $136,000; legal counsel Steven Liedel, $135,636; and Granholm's deputy chief of staff, Genna Gent, at $126,992. Nine of the governor's staff make over $100,000.

But Lansing Democrat say one thing and then do another.  Surprise!

If you swing down to Detroit, though, the problem is suddenly Democrats CLAIMING one thing and having DONE another.  Mayoral candidate Dave Bing has been fibbing about his educational background.  The Ivory Tower reports the leading Dem has been telling folks for years that he only needed four years to graduate from Syracuse.  

Darn it all if someone didn't go check with the Orange.  Turns out the man took 29 years to graduate, not four.  

His claim to an MBA from Kettering University is even more goofy.  He doesn't have one.  Didn't get one in four years and didn't get one in four decades.  No MBA for Mr. Bing.

A Democrat having trouble with the truth.  Surprise!  Now if someone could do me a favor and check the tape... was he ever REALLY inducted in to the National Basketball Association's Hall of Fame?