Tag Archive for Cronyism

All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Republicans

AFP Mobilizes Grassroots to Oppose Detroit Bailout, Pension Deal

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AFP Grassroots Gear Up to Fight Detroit Bailout Deal

horizontal-black_13 The Michigan chapter of Americans for Prosperity is launching an effort to contact 90,000 grassroots activists across Michigan and engage them in opposition to the latest iteration of the Detroit bailout deal

The group plans to spend significantly in order to hold state legislators accountable if they choose to support an appropriation of Michigan taxpayer dollars for this deal. Checkout StrongerDetroit.com for more information on the bailout and AFP’s grassroots efforts.  Scott Hagerstrom says:

“Detroit receives more of our hard-earned tax dollars than any other municipality in Michigan.  It should be clear to all of us that throwing more good money after bad can’t save Detroit from big-government policies that constrict private growth and rob taxpayers of wealth. Allowing the City of Detroit to sit on $3 billion in assets while pensioners see cuts is not acceptable. Lawmakers in Lansing need to know that 90,000 Michigan activists are watching closely as they consider appropriating more money to throw down the drain.”

And we agree.

Detroit tries to have its cake and eat OURS too, and our GOP legislators could very well sell us down that river.

Go get em AFP.

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Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Philosophy, Republicans

Amash V Ellis Money Quote

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ellisThere is very little you need to know about Brian Ellis

Ellis who is challenging constitutional Republican incumbent Justin Amash in the third congressional district race holds little support from any grass roots.  Ellis’ primary financing is from himself and Washington lobbyists, with less than 3% coming from small donors.

But the real kicker is what the former Granholm appointee and Michigan strategic fund huckster says openly.  From the Washington Examiner:

Ellis also has no patience for Amash’s insistence on abstract ideas like the Constitution and liberty. “He’s got his explanations for why he’s voted,” the Weekly Standard quoted Ellis saying, “but I don’t really care. I’m a businessman. I look at the bottom line.”

Oh.  How nice.

Though we’ve probably reported on this before, its good to have a reminder there are still plenty of RINOs to go around.

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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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Conservative News, Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics

Pay Attention Lansing

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Is It Possible For The State To Make This Right?

pighuntMark Baker and his family were terribly wronged.

Period.

It was his courage to stand up against the formerly unimaginable wanton persecution by state agencies like the (feral) DNR and the AG’s office. IT was the support of people who were aware of what was going on that allowed him to survive, and cause the Attorney General’s office to fold under the weight of a huge, easily recognizable, mistake.  It was his willingness to suffer the loss of business as the state threatened his customers, and cut off his sole income.

And all throughout this process other farms were shut down and forced to slaughter their livelihoods because they had no means to fight ‘city hall.’

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Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Rent Seeking

The Rural Michigan Squeeze

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chainedIt took a little time for it to sink in, but Michigan’s legislature may have made the same mistake with ATT, that was made with BCBS.

Consider the decades of [government enforced] monopoly protections and the ability to hang their lines exclusively prior to deregulation. A compact that allowed ATT to profit heavily through its stand alone status, was then modified to ATT’s desires during the breakup of the bell system in 1974. Also consider the effects on small rural operators that rely on ATT for service access.

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Michigan Politics

The 2013 RightMi.Com Scorecard

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scorecardMost folks actively watching the goings on in Lansing might already be aware of the MichiganVotes.org site run by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Nowhere else can you find a more complete collection of legislative efforts.  Easily referenced, and with a record of votes by legislator, party, the chambers the votes were taken in, and legislative sessions. It is an incredibly useful tool when trying to find out how your legislator voted on any particular issue of interest.  Its a great way of keeping these ‘servants’ in check when they claim to be conservative, but vote like the liberals or something even worse.

How cool is that?

One feature often overlooked however,

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Michigan

China Benefits from Michigan Taxpayers with our Lansing Legislator’s Help

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Snyder-China_GuvOfficeTaxpayers Lose Again, Fisker Automotive Sold to China’s Wanxiang
Wanxiang bought Fisker’s battery supplier, A123 Systems LLC, last year through a similar bankruptcy sale. A123 and Fisker were both recipients of a controversial U.S. Department of Energy loan program meant to support clean energy technology. Michigan taxpayers also suffered dearly when the quasi UN-elected MEDC give away tax dollars to A123 Systems in taxpayer funded subsidies.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/18/us-fisker-wanxiang-sale-idUSBREA1H1LM20140218

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Rent Seeking

Baker Farm Still Standing

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Michigan farm family has had to endure an out of control bureaucratic nightmare

pighuntMark Baker being interviewed a couple of days ago by the Alex Jones folks.

There is a great point made towards the end of the Mark Baker interview here. The Baker family has had to endure an incredible pressure brought on by an out of control Lansing bureaucracy. While other farmers have folded, allowing the state to destroy their property, the Bakers have remained firmly resolved that they are protected by the US Constitution.

They are correct. (Interview/segment starts at about 14:40)

We applaud and pray for the Bakers as they courageously face an ever increasing Statist government.

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