Tag Archive for U of M cronies

Cronyism, Detroit, Michigan, Opinion, Part Time Legislature, Taxes

Speaking of Fakes, Forgeries and Mysteries

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Just in from the You Gotta Believe Me files…

Orr-BealThe art world is buzzing, albeit quietly, about a prospective, voluntary sale of some Detroit Institute of Arts works — including an 1886 Van Gogh still life.

In the hubbub of Detroit’s Chapter 9 bankruptcy, the prospect of selling off the DIA’s collection was a key controversy. Selling even one painting to satisfy creditors or fund operations, DIA officials said then, could destroy the DIA’s standing in the museum world.

The DIA triumphed when the so-called “grand bargain” ensured the museum would remain intact last year. Instead of selling any art, the museum pledged $100 million to help the city pay down debt.

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So, where do the RINO Weiser shakedown monies go? Inquiring minds would like to know.

For that matter, where the hell have the L. Brooks Patterson endorsed (it’s a no-brainer, right?) metro county shakedown monies been going?

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2015 MIGOP State Convention, Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Philosophy, Taxes

The Lawyer for the People

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Two things here. When it comes to political expediency, AG “has referred all questions” Schuette, it becomes apparent that he’s in a Party money bundler‘s and the Nerd’s pocket. That’s right, “sit .. Stay .. now roll over .. good boy.”

The other is if it’s one who is in the big spending Democratic Party calling for tax hikes and bogus *transportation* funding, AG Schuette will fake having a pair in the name of rah-rah go Team R nonsense. However, if it’s AG Schuette’s teammates who call for a $2,000,000,000 constitutional amendment tax hike and bogus *transportation* funding? Nope. Not so much as a peep. I know, old story. Constitution schmonstitution. It’s all just doubleplusgood speak.

“I will not tolerate companies that seek to take advantage of Michigan citizens and get rich on the backs of hard-working entrepreneurs through trickery and deception,” Schuette said in a statement.

How about Snyder’s government ran like a business? Trickery and deception? Does the busiest travel time of the year mean anything? Seriously, our AG needs to stop boring us with his ignoring taxpayer funded appointed bureaucrat propaganda crap and do his damn job. Oh, that’s right, Snyder appointed Etue to sit with the MDOT toad where they all rub elbows together with our AG.

Never mind.

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2015 MIGOP State Convention, Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Proposal 15-1, Taxes

It’s not a Glitch – It’s a Feature!

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It’s good to see the folks over at MCC finally catching up to our 10x25MM, here at RightMi.com.

Double Tax on Some Fuels is Problematic for $2 Billion May 5 Proposal

Money quote? “Murray [a JournoList-esque hack] replied that he could not respond by this report’s deadline. Calley’s office has yet to respond.”

allah Shazam! GasTaxRegistrationFreesHikeDon’t hold your breath, Mr. Spencer, as Lt. Lapdog appears preoccupied with a family *matter*. And, as J-man, in comments, points out another issue surrounding the Republican Party’s big spending, nanny statist, corporate Nerd, well, with regard to Ruth Johnson, any future political aspirations she may have had are toast.

The video below is the Prop 15-1 commercial with bona fides.

Remember, Boobus Michiganderus, that May 5 proposal is a constitutional amendment vote. There ain’t no coming back from that $2,000,000,000.00 per year tax hike.

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2015 MIGOP State Convention, Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Proposal 15-1, Taxes

Why is Prop 15-1 a $2 Billion Dollar Tax Hike?

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I don’t have time to mince words today so, I’ll let the headline speak for itself.

Media Muddles Magnitude of May Tax Hike Vote

Speaking of muddlers, it’s the parasite from Monroe, who wouldn’t go away.

allah Shazam! Yes, here’s how they voted on SB 509 and SB 1149 (Take note of names alleged Taxed Enough Already folks). More background here. Furthermore, good riddance to an Engler era affirmative action toady. Downside is Meekhof replaced that with a Richardville toady.

That said, Governor Spanky presented his $54 Billion dollar budget yesterday.

Ps. with respect to the MCC article above, well, Jim Stamas is a documented a**hole.

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2015 MIGOP State Convention, Cronyism, Detroit, Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Philosophy, Proposal 15-1, Taxes

R Gang: 16.7% Sales Tax Hike for *roads* is a “Grand” Bargain

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How will that Sales Tax Hike work? Here’s more Snyder/Calley & Jones Day “Grand” bargain at work.

Snyder_OrrCosts for water service would rise an average of 9.3 percent this year in Metro Detroit under rates proposed Wednesday by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

The department’s board discussed preliminary water rates for the 2015-16 fiscal year, which would rise 3.4 percent for Detroit customers and 11.3 percent for suburban users, on average.

Suburban customers’ water bills could be even higher, [snip]

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Remember what WXYZ warned? Pay up, suckers.

Not to say I told ya so, but… I told ya so.

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2015 MIGOP State Convention, Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Proposal 15-1, Taxes

MDOT: Does Governor Snyder Have a Cousin in Railroads too!?!?

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MDOT is a gift that keeps on giving fodder against a 16.7% sales tax hike scheme.

The State of Michigan is paying $1.1 million a year to lease 23 passenger rail cars it can’t use — and likely won’t use for at least another two years — as the taxpayer tab for the troubled project approaches $12 million and counting.

The 1950s and ’60s-era double-decker cars are sitting in a rail yard in Owosso, where they are expected to remain for the indefinite future.

The Michigan Department of Transportation started leasing the cars in 2010 for two commuter rail passenger services proposed between Detroit and Ann Arbor, and Howell and Ann Arbor.
….

Sen. Goeff Hansen, R-Hart, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, said he doesn’t want to say much until he has more information on the contract. The deal was signed during the administration of former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, but amended four times during the administration of Snyder, a Republican — each time to increase the contract’s maximum cost.

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Interesting, yes? Speaks volumes how the players on Team R continue to dare not speak out of turn about their beloved Party leader, yes?

What’s even more interesting is the owner, Louis P. Ferris, Jr., who has been networking with the Peoples Republic of Ann Arbor’s Socialist former mayor for the past decade.

P3 projects. Public funds. Private profit. Partnership to extort our money by force of government bureaucrats.

No? But of course, Mr. Transparent.

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Cronyism, Detroit, Rent Seeking, Republicans

Pay up Suckers

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Never underestimate the local ‘Team R’ actors who will roll with RINO Ron’s DIA Bailout.

gingell_mike_smIn the letter, which Gingell read to The News, Gargaro said he wants to work on connecting the three art authorities — which are contracted with the DIA and collect tax money on behalf of the county — with compensation decisions by meeting with them three or four times a year.

“So the county art authorities have opportunity for input, so that’s a good measure,” Gingell said. “They would review the DIA audited financial statements and discuss it in an open forum with the art authorities. It’s definitely more outreach, more transparency, more practical steps to address compensation.”

Reached by The News Wednesday afternoon, Gargaro declined to discuss the specifics of the letter or what it was offering. “I haven’t had a chance to speak with the commissioners about it yet,” Gargaro said.

In other words, Eugene Gargaro hasn’t read the official script yet.

Gargaro is expected to meet with commissioners during their caucus Thursday morning, Gingell said. That will take place just before the start of the regular board meeting, at which commissioner Dave Woodward, D-Royal Oak, had planned to offer a resolution to dissolve the Oakland County Art Authority, which sends $11 million a year to the DIA.

Gingell said once all 21 members of the board read the letter and speak with Gargaro, “my personal opinion is things will move on” and the issue of dissolving the art authority will be over.

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Yep. Easy peasy. Just another case of watching the layers of bureaucrats and their insider onion peel.

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Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Rent Seeking

So, Weiser was in on the DIA Raises too

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Ho, ho, ho, this certainly is fun. The chair of the DIA just threw RINO Ron under the bus.

“We sincerely regret that we did not anticipate the way in which our promotion and compensation decisions in late 2011 and early 2012 would be perceived in late 2014 in light of the conditions that developed for the city and the region as the DIA millage was approved in late 2012 and as the City of Detroit entered bankruptcy in 2013,” Gargaro said.

This from, Thursday, December 16, 2010:

“We are happy to welcome these prominent community members to our board,” said Eugene A. Gargaro, DIA chairman of the board. “Their dedication to the arts and array of experience and expertise will help us continue to provide great art and educational programs to the community.”

Re-elected members include Jeffrey Antaya, chief marketing officer, Plante & Moran, PLLC; Eleanor Ford, philanthropist; Thomas Sidlik, retired from Chrysler; Ronald Weiser, retired ambassador to Slovakia; and Janis Wetsman, art collector and philanthropist. Marc Schwartz, managing partner in SM/ART Editions, was re-elected to the board after a two-year hiatus.

Lying frickin’ liars.

Shall we talk about those low interest loans, Ron?

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