Yeah, I know that this isn’t much of a huge surprise.
But what caught my attention, and will make people scratch their heads wondering how things could get any more screwed up, happened yet again just within a week.
Twice, even.
{More after the fold}
(7)Nuh Uh.
(0)As expected…
Detroit’s planned 3.3-mile $137 million Woodward Avenue streetcar project faces a $12 million funding shortfall, and Michigan members of Congress warn the project could be in jeopardy unless the Transportation Department gives it more money.
A two-page letter to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx obtained by The Detroit News on Tuesday warns that the project urgently needs additional grant money to proceed. But even without federal funds, officials of the so-called M-1 project says it would survive — but concede it might have to be scaled back.
Whoa! Has anyone looked at the top two names listed on the M-1 Rail Board of Directors? Click here. So, you mean to tell me that Roger Penske, or Dan Gilbert, both billionaires, can’t reach into their front pocket and pull out $6M each? YGBFKM. Better yet, if one looks a little further down the Board of Director names listed one will see Ilitch Holdings. How about giving a little back to the rest of us in the state, Mike and Marian? There you go. Penske, Gilbert, and Ilitch, can all pony up $3M each to cover the “shortfall”.
Funny how yet another .gov subsidized P3 project always has these budget “shortfalls,” isn’t it?
The May 1 letter, which has not previously been made public, discloses that Detroit applied for a supplemental $12.2 million grant from the Transportation Department’s TIGER grant program. The project received $25 million in federal funds from the program in January 2013.
“Without the requested $12.2 million TIGER grant, this important project will be delayed indefinitely, and we fear the resulting costs could make the project unaffordable,” said the letter signed by Sens. Carl Levin of Detroit, Debbie Stabenow of Lansing and Reps. Sander Levin of Royal Oak, John Dingell of Dearborn, John Conyers of Detroit and Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township. The lawmakers, all Democrats, urged Foxx to “award a TIGER grant to close the funding gap.”
Ah, all Democrats Socialists. I guess that is where the Ilitch’s paid their “fair share” already.
Subsidies in perpetuity! Get ready to keep paying up, Nerd voting suckers.
(15)Nuh Uh.(0)A round up of Michigan bloggers and their work
From The Right – Michigan Gives Up – A reminder the the GOP totally caved to progressive goals.
PartTimeMi.com – Suspension of the Part Time Legislature Ballot Initiative Due to numerous reasons it will not happen in 2014 by ballot.
Republican Michigander TWOFER –
Michigan Capitol Confidential – Yeah, Detroit is going to get even more of the pie. It’s Just amazing
The Shekel – Firearm Law Improvements in Michigan A couple of improvements, and looking for more.
The Voice of One Crying Out in Suburbia – When Did Modesty Become An Ironically Dirty Word? Seriously.
WatchDog Wire – Izzy tells us how ‘eco-tourism’ gets a great big boost from the starry eyed pols in Emmet County – $15 million in bonds approved by county commissioners and fulfilled by taxpayers. Whatta bargain!
If you have a Michigan based blog that should be included, or have a Michigan based story that cannot be missed, shoot a message over via the tips link above.
(7)Nuh Uh.(0)Was that crappy cow-box computer company a bastion of nepotism?
Gov. Rick Snyder on Friday appointed the father of House Speaker Jase Bolger to the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees.
James Bolger, of Whitehall in Muskegon County, is a former state police leader, a criminal justice instructor at Grand Valley State University and alumnus of WMU.
The Republican governor appointed Bolger to the remainder of an eight-year term that expires on Dec. 31, 2020.
….“I look forward to my dad’s efforts to help WMU continue to excel and prepare their students for success while providing parents exceptional value for their investment,” Jase Bolger said in a statement.
And, only 18 months for his brother to leap up the government trough. One can’t really figure out why Jase Bolger votes the way he does, can they?
(20)Nuh Uh.(0)Michigan Right to Life has just issued its endorsements for the 2014 primary. RTL swings a significant number of Michigan primary voters, so its endorsements will decide some races.
RTL will recommend all candidates if they are all pro-life, but if there is a serious non-pro-life candidate, they will pick one pro-life candidate to endorse. Their noteworthy endorsements are listed below.
Congress:
3. RTL endorsed Brian Ellis over Justin Amash. They did not endorse Amash in 2012. They apparently are still ticked over Amash not voting to defund Planned Parenthood (he opposed targeting a specific organization). This may complicate Amash’s reelection.
4. John Moolenaar. Does this mean that self-funding businessman Paul Mitchell is not pro-life? Tea partier Peter Konetchy is also running.
6. Fred Upton is again endorsed, despite his long pro-abortion record.
8. Both Mike Bishop and Tom McMillin
11. Kerry Bentivolio over Dave Trott
(6)Nuh Uh.(0)Other no-bid contracts on wasteful spending eliminated from Wisconsin government.
“I guess if I were running a multimillion-dollar company, which you are called MDOT, and I only got one bid, boy, would I be nervous as to what I had missed, and I guess I would step back and look at the entire process and start all over again,” said Sen. Bruce Caswell, R-Hillsdale.
Ironic is who is now the fly in Snyder’s Big “transparent” Government ointment. Yet, MDOT and the Republican brain-trust say they need more money for fixing roads? Gee, one wonders why…
click to enbiggen
(25)Nuh Uh.(0)Y’all need to read this bootlicking garbage.
I’m seriously thinking about switching over to the wacky tobacky Nolan smokes.
(20)Nuh Uh.(2)The governor’s spin people are certainly working overtime trying to pour industrial quantities of perfume on his latest pig (a.k.a. Detroit Bailout).
I’m not going to go (too much) into why this was a terrible package of bills. I’ve done that enough already.
No, today I’m going to go into why Gov. Snyder can’t just show just a tad of integrity, take a position on an issue and simply stick with it.
It really isn’t that difficult to do (unless of course your name is Rick Snyder).
{Continued after the fold}
(7)Nuh Uh.(1)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.
(7)Nuh Uh.(0)A long time ago, I would be asked to accompany family members who wanted to go to the local Fretter or Highland whenever they wanted to buy any appliances/electronics (yes, I know that I’m dating myself here). They always had this question in mind, ‘How An Appliance Home Warranty Can Help Protect Your Budget?’ Part of it was because they knew that I had a vehicle big enough to bring home whatever they bought without much trouble. The other was that I could usually be counted on to hook it up after I brought it in.
One of the things I hated most about those experiences was dealing with the salesmen when actually making the purchase.
Even though my relatives were usually buying something listed in the newspaper ad so what we should be paying going out the door wasn’t a mystery, at the counter the salesman would always give them that sincere look and always ask them if they wanted to purchase additional items to go with what they were there to buy in the first place. Looking a little baffled at the salesman’s question and not appearing certain about how to answer, I’d step in at that point and tell them firmly, but politely, that I’ve hooked up enough TV’s, stereos, etc. to know what else I would need to get it to work and would’ve had it on the counter if we actually needed it. Being a little put off, but still undiscouraged, they turn to them again and ask about getting additional “warranty/insurance coverage” for their purchase. More often than not, it wasn’t any better than the manufacturer’s warranty. I strongly told them “no” for a second time.
At the time I didn’t know this, but they were using a technique called “upselling” which is a used for the benefit of the seller in additional to the actual sale of the item.
“Upselling” is also a technique being used by the Republican Leadership in Lansing to rationalize to the people they represent why they have abandoned their own stated principle of, ‘government practicing fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.’
{Continued below}
(8)Nuh Uh.(0)
