Classic.
Mark Schauer thanks SML Randy Richardville for passing minimum wage increase. pic.twitter.com/tkEF0RKXN2
— MIRSnews.com (@MIRSnews) May 15, 2014
Let that sink in.
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(20)Nuh Uh.(0)213 search results for "the wall"
All the Other Stuff, Cronyism, Democrats, Michigan, Michigan Politics
Set Up To Fail
by Jason • • 2 Comments
Michigan Paid Up Only 55% Of Enrolled in ACA
The number of paid enrollment across the country is bad enough but in Michigan only about half have opened their wallets.
Michigan’s number is less than the 67% national percentage of enrolled + paid ACA participants in the federal exchanges. (note the 67% may change soon as Oregon joins the federal program, currently with 0 participants) That 67% figure undermines the 8 million number that the administration says are signed up, resulting in just over 5 million to date having signed up and paid.
In Michigan only 55% of enrollees in the ACA have opened their wallets. And along with those 55%, there are some other numbers that stand out; Of the under 18 year olds, only 6% are enrolled and paid, the 18-25 year olds only 10%. Given that the plan to fund the ACA was with these healthy young specimens paying their fair share up front, this is going to pose a little problem for ongoing operation of this scam. Heck, even the 26-35 demographic has only a 17% E & P.
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(7)Nuh Uh.(0)Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Republicans
Definitions To Work With
by Kevin Rex Heine • • 10 Comments
What are the various types of “republican,” and how are they defined?
I have learned to despise the term “Republican In Name Only” (a.k.a., RINO). My hatred for it is, likely, because the term is almost always lobbed around thoughtlessly with no regard for meaning or context, but simply as a foul insult meant to disparage a political opponent, and often by someone who’s lacking for constructive rhetoric. (By that standard, “RINO” is no better than “Nazi,” “communist,” or “faggot,” in that the value of the term is cheapened when it’s reduced to a common insult.) Quite frankly, there are better ways to address the intra-party philosophical divide than to randomly sling profanity around; and this is coming from a career Sailor. However, in order to constructively address the problem, because other terms also get abused so badly, I think that perhaps some effort ought to be expended in pursuit of some basic definitions that concisely and completely identify the various types of “republicans” present in today’s party apparatus (both establishment and grassroots).
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(9)Nuh Uh.(5)Michigan Politics
Campaign Commercial: Republican Hypocrisy in new “Snyder Attack Ad”
by rabman13 • • 1 Comment
The “new attack ad” released for TV viewers attacking his opponent for a 2002 state House vote that imposed a new per-bed fee on nursing homes will only work for the die hard “sheeple” Republican voters who would cast a vote for Satan if he had an (R) after his name! 
The problem is, The “Medicaid Quality Assurance Assessment Program” was backed by Republican Gov. John Engler (R) in 2002, which was supported by a majority of Republicans in the state Legislature and was later extended by Gov. Rick Snyder (R) in 2011.
The program was designed to win federal match dollars and then return them to nursing homes that participate in Michigan’s Medicaid program.
“By continuing the assessment, the state receives more in federal matching Medicaid funds than what is paid out by nursing homes,” according to a 2011 press release from Snyder’s office.
“These funds are then directed back to the nursing homes in Michigan that provide SnyderCaid services.”
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(9)Nuh Uh.(0)All the Other Stuff, Philosophy
We Agree
by Jason • • 2 Comments
One of the stupid things we do when applying the law, is to attempt to read minds.
Motivation is certainly a part of the considerations when determining guilt in circumstantial considerations, but applying a specific penalty to those motives? Nolan Finley gets it right this time:
“It just doesn’t matter. No one should ever be charged with a hate crime.
For one thing, layering on the hate crime charge creates unequal classes of victims.
If you get murdered by a junkie who wants your wallet, or a jealous husband, or a maniac on a killing spree, you’re just as dead as someone who gets offed by a racist.”
And frankly if the punishment ought to be increased under the suspicion that the perpetrator(s) were doing a ‘hate crime’, then it ought to apply always.
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(7)Nuh Uh.(1)Democrats, Detroit, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion
When is a hate crime not really a hate crime.
by KG One • • 5 Comments
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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(13)Nuh Uh.(0)Conservative News, Elections, Michigan Politics, Rent Seeking, Republicans
The Arlen Specter Model for Hiking our Fuel Tax and Registration Fees
by Corinthian Scales • • 1 Comment
Folks, let’s begin by refreshing our memories with example of what a Pennsylvania Republican did for Obamacare by clicking HERE. Got it? Good. Now, let’s refresh our memories with looking at a career of being fed from the taxpayer’s wallet produces with this Lefty fear-mongering creep Bill Rustem, by clicking HERE. Got it? Good.
Now, BOHICA.
Snyder’s strategy director, Bill Rustem, said the state may try to follow a road funding game plan that was recently executed in Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled state government.
In November, lawmakers in the Keystone State boosted annual road funding by $2.3 billion through a gas-tax hike and gradual increase in vehicle license fees, said Bradley Mallory, deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
“The price of doing nothing is higher than the price of not addressing the problem, including delay, detours, safety and including death,” Mallory said. “Doing nothing is not free. It is, in fact, enormously expensive.”
Pennsylvania’s success “gives us hope,” Rustem said, and “gives us a game plan for seeing this achieved sometime this year.”
Ah, the smell of Hopium™ and fear fills the atmosphere in Lansing, as the Obama and Milliken-esque is strong in this one guiding Dear Leader, the Progressive Nerd. Finding $200M of “shared sacrifice” with repealing Prevailing Wage from the union brotherhood to fix our roads?
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(0)Nuh Uh.(0)Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy
Fostering Distrust
by Kevin Rex Heine • • 3 Comments
Wasteful stewardship of university resources characterizes convention candidate.
According to Michigan State University Board of Trustees Conflict of Interest Policy, some of the responsibilities of the individual and several members of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees are:
- Fiduciary Responsibilities: Trustees will act in a manner consistent with their fiduciary responsibilities to the University. Trustees will place the University’s interests ahead of their private interests. Trustees will exercise their powers and duties in the best interests of the Board and the University and for the public good.
- Conflict of Interest: (a) A conflict of interest exists when a Trustee’s financial interests or other opportunities for personal benefit may compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, the Trustee’s independence of judgment in fulfilling his/her Board duties. (b) Trustees will endeavor to remain free from the influence of, or the appearance of, any conflicting interest in fulfilling their Board duties. Trustees will exercise care that no detriment to the University results from conflicts between their interests and those of the University. (c) Trustees will attempt to refrain from accepting duties, incurring obligations, or engaging in activities that would be incompatible with, or in conflict with, their Board duties.
Now, I’m not a Harvard-trained Philadelphia lawyer, but I am an educated man who is perfectly capable of understanding basic legalese. And I gotta tell you, I’m having one helluva time reconciling that with this here 7 Action News investigation from WXYZ-TV in Detroit.
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(3)Nuh Uh.(0)Michigan Politics
Detroit News Report falls short on Michigan’s Road Fund Money Allocation Problem
by rabman13 • • 4 Comments
Michigan ranks dead last in the nation when it comes to its per capita spending on its roads and bridges, according to a report citing U.S. Census Bureau data. Is it because Michiganders don’t pay a high enough gas tax, or have our legislators been re-directing our road tax dollars elsewhere?
Michigan has the 5th highest Gasoline Tax in the nation, only Democrat controlled CA, NY, HI, CT are higher! Michigan’s gas excise tax is 19 cents per gallon. Michigan also collects sales taxes and an environmental regulation tax for a whopping grand total of 39.4 cents per gallon.
Michigan legislators have been stealing, robbing and shifting “our” road fund monies for years! Now that the kitty is bone dry they have the gull to suggest “we taxpayers” pony up by accepting a gas tax and vehicle registration fee increases.
Michigan legislative Transportation and Infrastructure committee chairs Wayne Schmidt (R) House and Tom Casperson (R) Senate would serve their constituents and all Michigan motorist well by pushing legislation that would outlaw any further diversions of Gasoline Tax monies from roads, bridges and infrastructure. Unfortunately these two seem more concerned about “Horse Trading” with politically well connected real estate developers.
~ Article continues below.
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(0)Nuh Uh.(0)Cronyism, Democrats, Detroit, Rent Seeking, Republicans
Snyder’s Detroit Bailout “Officially” Hemorrhages Our Money
by Corinthian Scales • • 9 Comments
Oh, joy… today makes it “official”.
via Crain’s Detroit
Belle Isle in Detroit is set to officially become Michigan’s newest state park.
The state is taking over the city-owned park under a 30–year lease deal with Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr.
On Oct. 1, Orr and Gov. Rick Snyder signed a proposed lease of the island to turn it into a state park; Detroit City Council counter-offered with a 10-year lease proposal, which was ultimately rejected by a state panel.
Included in the announcement of the proposed lease was the promise that the state would invest $10 million to $20 million in the park within the next three years.
The move goes into effect today; it’s expected to
save the bankrupt city[cost all state taxpayers] between $4 million and $6 million a year.
Bud Denker of Bloomfield Hills is senior vice president of Penske Corporation and executive vice president of Penske Automotive Group and Penske Performance. Denker joined the Penske enterprise after many years with several Fortune 100 companies including Eastman Kodak Company where he served as vice president of brand and marketing development. Since 2006, he has served as chairman of the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix and is also active in many Detroit-based organizations including the Downtown Detroit Partnership and The Parade Company.
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