162 search results for "gas tax"

Humor in Michigan, Opinion, Philosophy

I ain’t as good as I once was

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But I’m as good once as I ever was

Likewise, Hoekstra said his win was a referendum on Washington and Vander Jagt, who was criticized for taking lavish trips on behalf of special interests while managing the Republican National Congressional Committee that funneled campaign cash to GOP candidates.

“A lot of people thought Guy had gone “DC” on them,” said Hoekstra, adding that both Cantor and Vander Jagt “became the face of Washington rather than the face of their district.”

Pete’s a regular legend in his own mind.


If they’re all like Pete, one really can’t imagine why this is nearing insolvency, can they? Not to worry folks, the Lansing Nerdpublicrats got Pork Barrel Pete’s back covered.

Sometimes it is the best entertainment on the planet to watch how these old corrupticrats bray about themselves.

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Cronyism, Michigan Politics, Opinion

For Thirty Pieces Of Silver

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When it comes to campaign finance, the tea party movement just doesn’t get it

“You can’t save the world if you can’t pay the rent.” – Morton Blackwell

It’s always an interesting academic exercise to attempt to calculate what Judas Iscariot’s 30 pieces of silver would have been worth in contemporary American currency. Depending upon whose calculations you use (and what assumptions they started with), estimates have varied from a few “benjamins” to a quarter-million “eisenhowers.” Almost all of the speculation, however, misses the point. And if you’re wondering how Judas’ epic infamy is connected to Mr. Blackwell’s wisdom, well, we’ll discuss that after the break.

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All the Other Stuff, Michigan

Bully For CapCon!

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Capitol Confidential Receives Multiple Awards For Impactful Journalism

Reporting can sometimes be more of a dance than simply presenting the facts.

Capitol Confidential has become a powerhouse of Michigan government and policy reporting.  Since its inception in 2010 it has blossomed into a respected source of information and insight.  And its writing is now being recognized for that growth.

In typical ‘main stream media,’ there are natural limiters to obtaining the truth, or at least properly reporting it.  Be it an advertiser’s objection to something once written, or a source of information who might have been embarrassed by a writer’s depth of coverage, there are conditions which can prevent a full telling of events; even if the tale of those events is comprise of “Just the facts ma’am.”

We might be inclined to opine from these pages, but more often there is a collection of facts and history woven into our stories.  If one looks through RightMi.com, it might be hard to find advertising, because we can equally offend all comers. Not that a few bucks wouldn’t help, but enjoying our content and putting the neck out to support what is an informative opinion site are two different options.

And one involves risk.

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Elections, Michigan, Rent Seeking, Republicans

Not a Gadsden to be Found

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Living in Michigan, is one step closer to getting a whole helluva lot more expensive.

A House committee on Wednesday voted to permanently shift money from Michigan’s general fund to transportation spending. Another panel approved legislation bringing the diesel tax in line with the gasoline tax and taxing fuels on price instead of a flat per-gallon basis.

Fuel taxes would grow with inflation.

The $450 million is just a third of what Gov. Rick Snyder says is needed to bring Michigan roads up to par. Michigan’s gasoline taxes are among the country’s highest while its per-capita road spending is among the lowest because the sales tax on fuel primarily goes to non-transportation funding.

Then, there’s the 900% increase on business.two-headed-snake

Permits for oversized and overweight trucks would jump to $500 under House Bill 5452, as amended and advanced by the transportation committee. Overweight permits currently cost $50 for a single trip or $100 for multiples. The original bill would have doubled those fees, but Rep. David Rutledge (D-Ypsilanti) won an amendment to raise the rates even higher.

MDOT gets to run further amok entering into agreements, too. Sure is a winning stratagem all them TEA folk have chosen with allowing the bastards to run wild simply because the Majority in Lansing has an “R” after its last name.

Out of sight, out of mind.

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Democrats, Detroit, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion

When is a hate crime not really a hate crime.

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Detroit, Michigan – During an unprecedented show of civic unity, community activist groups and civil rights organizations in conjunction with the Detroit Police Department made their strong presence known this weekend during a recent sweep apprehending all of the individuals involved in the brutal assault and robbery of a suburban motorist last week.

Taking part in this weekend’s events was civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson along with his Rainbow-PUSH Coalition. “We are here to fight for the dignity and integrity of all Americans. No one should have to suffer for doing the right thing,” said Jackson after visiting the victim’s family at St. John’s Hospital.

Also taking part was the Rev. Al Sharption. Host of nationally syndicated “Keepin’it Real” and “Politics Nation” along with his National Action Network.  While watching the last of the assailants being taking away in a squad car, Sharpton said, “I cannot imagine how an upstanding, hardworking father of three, is beaten to within an inch of his life by thugs and hooligans simply for stopping and doing what any decent human being would do.”

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Michigan Politics

The Looting Continues Unabated

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While All Is Not About ONE MAN, This Example Of Pay For Play Is Clear

pure-somethingThere is an explanation I have always used for my sincerest dislike of the MEDC, its mission, and how it takes advantage of the taxpayer for political payoff.

“If a business owner finds it necessary to take taxpayer dollars to start, maintain, or expand their enterprise, then that business model is already in trouble.  If there is no NEED for the money to survive, then it is simply a matter of theft.”

Its hard to be any clearer than that.

Any politico who uses the term “Jobs created” when discussing the MEDC grants, is trying to justify the stealing that must happen first, and is central to the MEDC program. In the history of subsidizing business, one would think that the predictions of ‘job growth’ with accomplished results would speak for itself.  In fact,  one might think such mechanisms insofar as they are touted, would make the news at least once a month if not weekly as a raging human interest success worthy of celebration.

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All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Michigan

And So It Begins

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Its hard not to be suspicious in this new era of selective federal enforcement.

Sheriff Darin LeafI have made the point more than once that your county Sheriff is the ultimate authority as the highest elected law enforcement official in the county.

Sheriffs throughout Michigan have made statements acknowledging this, and further, have pledged to protect the citizens in their counties from otherwise unenforceable actions of the federal government.  Actions which require the participation of the sheriff to even happen. Sheriff Leaf is on the list of those Sheriffs who have pledged their support to the 2nd amendment.

It seems the government doesn’t like the kind of Sheriff who thinks that way however.

Michigan State Police confirm to 24 Hour News 8 that the FBI raided the Barry County Sheriff’s Department.

Four FBI cars were parked outside the Barry County Sheriff’s Office in Hastings Wednesday morning.

But Barry County Sheriff Dar leaf, with his associations might have dropped a bit of a challenge a while back that stuck in someone’s craw.

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Michigan Politics

No, No You Cannot

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Michigan's Legislature Seems To Be Considering Legislation That Would Be Dead On Arrival

eminent-domainA strange thing is happening.

I am not sure if it is the disease that has spread from the federal administration and is now infesting the minds of Michigan legislators is curable, but we had better get a handle on it.  Ignoring the constitution of the US by the president, and now that of Michigan by its lawmakers seems to be happening at a near feverish pace.

For the sake of not embarrassing 14 Michigan congress critters for their inability to serve articles of impeachment, we’ll forgo the multitude of Obama violations in this essay.  And perhaps we can breath a little easier (but only a little) that our legislators don’t enjoy the benefits of a Pen and a Phone, and a cowardly congress to make their abrogations easier.

Currently, and perhaps for very a reasonable cause, there is legislation that has already passed the house designating as legal, a violation of Michigan’s constitution as amended in 2006.  Perhaps without realizing it, State Representatives have passed 69-41, HB 5255.  The legislation is part of a package that will provide a mechanism for carbon sequestration, and apparently provide as well, a means for the use of CO2 as an alternative to fracking fluids or for pressurizing depleted wells.

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Republicans

Too Much Private Property

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If Schmidt has his way, Northern Michigan communities will see new challenges

DNR-trust-2One of the little deals with the DNR and its ability to purchase land, is that it is limited.

Limited to 4,650,000 acres in fact, with some exceptions, and not more than 3,910,000 acres north of a line between Mason and Arenac counties, to be exact.

This means that the amount of land that is available for private use and development will not continue to shrink indefinitely.  It means that the revenues from oil and gas lease rights are not forever used to remove land from local tax rolls. It also means that overzealous misplaced urban planner graduates from the MSU school of property theft have one less tool in their belt of American dream destruction.

in 2012 Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, signed a common sense piece of legislation (huh.. how bout that) that put a check on the runaway property acquisition of the DNR, and the way in which it distorts property values and makes desirable land unavailable for private use.  The ONLY 5 Republicans Voting against the bill at that time were Jon Bumstead, (R) Holly Hughes, (R) Peter Pettalia, (R) Bruce Rendon, (R) and Wayne Schmidt, (R).  They and their Democrat property rights thieving counterparts were sent packing, as the bad ol Republican bullies put that limit on the quite literal GROWTH of government through land purchases.

Surprise, surprise, now they are back. And they brought friends. And they seem to think Michigan has too much private property available to it.

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