Tag Archive for Michigan

Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Republicans

Its Official – Arcand Is On The Ballot For CD1!

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Incumbent Dan Benishek has yet to turn in any signatures and has not yet filed.

10255365_1422616394659740_9023389005365349001_nAs of this writing, Alan Arcand is the only candidate for Michigan’s first Congressional District.

Turning in 1300 signature today (picture on right) at the the Secretary of State’s office this morning in Lansing,  the Iron River native has made his mark.  He is challenging Republican incumbent Dan Benishek in the August primary for the House seat in Michigan’s largest Congressional district. Arcand, an Air Force veteran and father of three young boys, cites Constitutional violations by both Congress and the administration as reasons for his campaign.

“Washington is definitely broken, and I’ve been fixing things all my life. It’s time for some serious repair of the federal government. We need to enforce the Constitution and regain control of the government to ensure the future and prosperity of our children.”

Arcand will be forming his campaign committee immediately upon his return to Iron River.

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All the Other Stuff, Michigan, Michigan Politics

AFP Major Tax Day Plans Across Michigan

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Americans For Prosperity Engages For Tax Day Rallies In Michigan And Elsewhere

afp-LH_smallAmericans For Prosperity is not exactly bashful this tax season.

On Saturday April 12, AFP will be with activists to stage demonstrations across the country, and at a couple of places in Michigan.  In Livonia, AFP is holding a Tax Day Rally at the VisTaTech Center, Schoolcraft College from 11 AM  to 3PM The rally will feature speeches by Tony Katz, host of the radio talk show “Tony Katz Tonight” on 93.1 FM WIBC and contributor to Townhall.com; and Frank Beckmann, host of “The Frank Beckmann Show” on News/Talk 760 WJR and Detroit News weekly columnist.

Up North, In Gaylord, AFP will have a “Going After the Bucks” Tax Day Rally at Big Buck’s Brewery in Gaylord; 550 S. Wisconsin Ave Gaylord, MI 49735 to rally for our economic freedoms! If you register, AFP is buying lunch! You can register here! (we hear the food is really good) Time of the rally is 11:30 to 3pm

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All the Other Stuff, Michigan

No Need for Public Concern

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Because Indiana is the epicenter for earthquakes

Christchurch, New Zealand - March 20 2011: Fitzgerald Avenue Bridge Destruction.Right?

Saturday, a taxpayer funded exercise in preparedness was going on.  From the always-up-to-something folks in state government:

LANSING. In an effort to practice and test its emergency mobilization capabilities, the Michigan State Police (MSP) is participating in a simulated exercise tomorrow; Saturday, April 5, 2014.

 

The simulated preparedness exercise will test the department’s response to an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request for police officers to assist the State of Indiana with recovery operations in the aftermath of a simulated earthquake. The scenario will require the mobilization of 60 MSP personnel from across the state to the Lansing area. ..

…

 

Please note: This is not a media event but rather an advisory to the media to help prevent any public concern during the activities of this simulated exercise.

Nothing to see here.

Move along now folks.

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Michigan, Opinion, Philosophy

Article V Debate In Traverse City

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What is an Article V Constitutional Convention and why did the Michigan Legislature apply for it?

912TBIn recent months, there has been an interesting divide in conservative politics on the efficacy of holding an Article V constitutional convention.

Points have been made vigorously on both sides of the issue. Some argue that an article V could get out of hand, while others see it as a way to harden  constitutional principles firmly with specific goals.  The fact is, that average Joe hasn’t a clue of what it entails, what the risks are, or what might be unexpected outcomes.

Here is an opportunity to hear both perspectives presented in a debate format among good friends; each, who are solidly on either side of the question.

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Michigan Politics

No, It’s NOT Under The Bridge

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Clearly, there are interests who will misrepresent data to freak out lawmakers into knee-jerk reactionary positions..

So when we find out the flawed data provided by Jackson Hewitt that was probably the basis for a couple of fence sitters to get lazy and stupid, we don’t have to pretend it doesn’t matter.  Some great big We-Told-You-So’s are due. Perhaps next time low information legislators will look a little deeper into what it is they are exposing the state to.  Mackinac Center Legislative Analyst Jack McHugh says:

“It maMCC_Masthead_2xy be water over the dam, but one report on the potential impact to employers if Michigan did not adopt the Obamacare Medicaid expansion has been exposed as being essentially bunk due to flagrant misuse or misrepresentation of the data it cited.

This is worth noting because the claims from Jackson Hewitt were widely cited by Republican lawmakers here who supported the expansion, and probably tilted others into that camp. Its conclusion was that “employers may pay substantially higher federal tax penalties under the ACA (Affordable Care Act) in states that do not expand Medicaid.” Jackson Hewitt estimated Michigan employers would pay between $42 million and $63 million in penalties without the expansion.

But a further study revealed that to be untrue.

The study notes incomplete demographics and assumptions of static employer behavior in the examples legislators used in justifying their yes votes. No, this is not water under the bridge, but rather a “teachable moment” that will be willfully ignored by those who took the blue pill with regard to Obamacare.

Read the rest.

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Michigan Politics

Wednesday Divertere – The Expert

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As the Obamacare fiasco goes on, so do the preposterous claims that it will save money.

The ACA planners undoubtedly ran into a man like Anderson in the video, yet were unswayed in their quest to make red lines out of blue (or transparent) ink. Economics however, not being too difficult, is still a basic skill that is not yet fully understood by the progressive left. (And those who think that expanding welfare in Michigan brings a financial advantage to the state)

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Michigan Politics

The Same Mental Condition That Brings You Obamacare

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Nothing new, but always disappointing.

The left has no tolerance for the suffering, unless THEY too are a part of the intolerant left.  Battling cancer ends the right to free speech apparently.  Julie Boonstra’s effort to let folks know how badly Obamacare has affected HER has simply made her a target for those who present themselves as champions of compassion.

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How ‘progressive.’  H/T AFP on Twitter

 

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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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Michigan Politics

January Numbers Indicate New Entrepreneurial ‘Opportunities’

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The numbers will of course, be revised.

They ALWAYS are.

dtmbBanner1_365855_7However, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget issued a release yesterday touting a reduction in the unemployment rate and an increase in the labor force. There were apparently 32,000 more WORKING in Jan 2014, than in December 2013.  There was apparently an 11,000 person increase in the LABOR FORCE (available workers) during the same time. And this resulted in a net decrease in the unemployment rate to 7.8%.

But the 32,000 gain in total employment has an interesting sidekick of payroll job reductions.  During the same period that employment gains knocked a point off of UE numbers, actual JOBS provided to workers by external employers, decreased.

MLIVE Puts it this way:

“Total employment rose by 32,000 from December to January, according to the department, while the total number of unemployed declined by 20,000. The state’s labor force increased by 11,000. But payroll jobs, which do not include self-employed, dropped by 8,000.”

Did you see that?  There must be a huge increase of persons who are now considered ‘self employed.’

Excuse me while I go out and congratulate the ‘bottle recovery specialist’ who just happens to be rummaging around in my dumpster.

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