Jen Kuznicki
“If you’re a parent of an 18-year-old student graduating from high school, you tell them, ‘Go into any other field but manufacturing.’ But, in fact, southeast Michigan probably has more job postings in advanced manufacturing than almost any region in the country,” Sleight said. -Livingston Daily
Michigan lawmakers eye part-time status
Lansing political consultant Craig Ruff said he worries that while legislators are back in their district for extended periods of time that the governor, staff and lobbyists can act without much oversight.
“I worry about that shift in power,” he said. “And the other thing is that constituent services have to go on whether a legislator is sitting at a desk in the Capitol or at home.” -Livingston Daily
Tim Skubick: 2 Dems start to position themselves for a run against Gov. Rick Snyder
Whitmer and Schauer.
Snyder could be more environment-friendly, advocates say
“For now, though, if we were to scrawl a quick note at the bottom of this one it would say that ‘the Governor shows remarkable potential, but he has yet to really apply himself. As a bit of a nerd, he must better stand up for himself when confronted by bullies in the legislature.” -The Detroit News
Diane Hathaway, ex-Michigan justice, pleads guilty to bank fraud
Lock her up.
King: UAW needs to refocus, re-energize
Meanwhile, in the UAW stronghold that was Michigan, voters rejected pro-union ballot proposals that King strongly and publicly backed, while Republicans pushed through right-to-work legislation that will allow workers to opt out of paying union dues.
And just last week, the federal government released its latest statistics showing that union membership declined nationwide last year. -The Detroit News
Abortion rights supporters, opponents in metro Detroit mark 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade decision
“… I’m flattered you’re all so interested in my vagina, but no means no.” -Lisa Brown
-Detroit Free Press
Michigan families add voices to call for national immigration reform
Sergio Martinez, 24, of Detroit and an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, is among three Michiganians who were traveling to Obama’s speech.
“It’s going to be amazing, going from (facing) self-deportation to potentially meeting the president,” Martinez said Monday evening before boarding a plane. -The Detroit News
Justin Amash most conservative Michigan member of Congress and a ‘firewall for freedom,’ PAC says
Heritage Action, the lobby wing of the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, said Amash scored 91 percent on the scorecard.
A score of 90 percent gives a lawmaker Sentinel status, which Heritage Action said denotes a fierce defender of conservative principles. -MLive
Michigan has to go beyond ‘right-to-work’ legislation, economist tells Economic Club
“The bad news is that your state still has a very high tax burden,” Genetski, a University of Chicago economist and author told the Economic Club of Grand Rapids Monday, Jan. 28.
Genetski told a luncheon gathering at the J.W. Marriott Hotel he was disappointed when Gov. Rick Snyder called for $1.4 billion in new taxes to fix the state’s roads in his recent State of the State Address.
“If roads are that important — and they may very well be important — the state should do what any business or family does,” said Genetski, whose son, Robert Jr., is a Republican state representative from Saugatuck.
“They have to prioritize. They have to take money from other areas that are not essential to the state and use them elsewhere.” -MLive
Michiganders could face May vote on how to pay for billions in road, bridge repairs
That bothers residents such as Ronald Howtz of Dearborn Heights, who said he feels he would take a hit either way.
“Most of these things just hurt the working class and the poor,” Howtz said.
Supreme Court to decide if convicted former Detroit police officer gets retrial
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a retrial so that Lancaster could raise a diminished mental-capacity defense, something Michigan courts would not let him do.
Michigan officials say that decision should be overturned because the diminished mental-capacity defense was not available in Michigan, and federal courts should not second-guess reasonable state court decisions.
AG: Hamtramck doctor issued more prescriptions than Henry Ford Medical Center
Qandil issued nearly 2.5 million controlled prescription pills in a year period between August of 2011 and August of 2012 as follows:
Promethazine with codeine: 852,352 dosage units
Hydrocodone: 830,383
Alprazolam: 361,418
Carisoprodol: 119,239
Oxycodon: 76,076
The data reveals that Qandil issued nearly 80,000 prescriptions in a single year, nearly 80 per day if his officer were open all 365 days of the year.
Most of the prescriptions were drugs that are heavily sold in the black market and abused.
Treasury files sales plan for remaining GM stock
The announcement comes a month after the officials said the Treasury would sell 200 million shares of the common stock to GM for $5.5 billion. The then repurchase price of $27.50 per share represented a 7.9 percent, or about $2, premium over the stock’s Dec. 18 closing price.
The government would need to sell its remaining shares at an average price of about $70 to break even. That’s up more than $15 from earlier last year, when the U.S. Treasury would have to sell its 500 million remaining shares at about $53 per share.
Stephen Henderson: The right way to stop gun violence
Register the legal owners because they aren’t reporting their weapons when they are stolen or something.
Roe v Wade: After 40 years, deep divide is legacy
“I can look back at those 40 years and say without a doubt, the world is not a better place because of abortion, women are not in a better place,” she says. “What it has created is a world where you’re almost expected to abort if you’re pregnant at an inopportune time.”
In an interview, Earll mused on how the anti-abortion movement has persevered since Roe.
“We’ve had 40 years of marketing by Hollywood and the cultural elites that abortion is a good thing, and we still have a battle going on,” she said. “We’re holding our own.”
Supreme Court Justice Hathaway expected to plead guilty to bank fraud
Hathaway was halfway through an eight-year term on the court, the result of a major election upset over then-Chief Justice Cliff Taylor in 2008. Hathaway’s victory put Democrats in control of the court for a two-year period. She was a Wayne County judge for 16 years before joining the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Young, a Republican, released a statement, in which he said the scandal diminishes the public’s trust in government. He said Hathaway’s departure and the criminal charge “bring to a close an unhappy, uncharacteristic chapter in the life of this court.”
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder will choose Hathaway’s successor and likely stretch the GOP’s majority to 5-2.
Snyder calls for $1.2B in higher vehicle registration fees, gas tax change to fix roads
Hiking the registration fee by about $60 per car or light truck on average would generate as much as $600 million a year, officials said.
Early in 2012, lawmakers introduced a proposal to abolish the state’s 19-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax and 15-cent-a-gallon diesel tax and replace them with a 10.1% wholesale tax on both.
Gun show crowd stocks up, in fear of future ban
“They’re punishing law-abiding citizens,” said Sam Berry, 25, a Dearborn Heights gun instructor who bought several cartridges.
Flint police looking for killer in church slaying
Dewayne Patton, 48, of Flint Township said he was standing near the back of the church when he heard a gunshot and yelled for everyone to get down.
“It’s a just a shame,” said Patton. “I know back in the day when I was growing up, we never had anything like this.”
Detroit Central Planning wonder-city
Will the next Detroit mayor support the city’s 50-year plan?
“Who knows who will be mayor 10 years from now,” said Rip Rapson president of Kresge Foundation, which pledged $150 million to the plan’s implementation over the next five years. “I think we’re creating the scaffolding that will make that important, but not determinative.”
Start your engines: 50 vehicles set to debut at Detroit Auto Show
Chevrolet will debut five world cars, none of which will be sold in the U.S.
There are rumors that Ford Motor Co., which ranked second to GM in 2012 U.S. sales, will offer a sneak peek of its next-generation F-150 — the best-selling vehicle in the U.S.
Bush, Obama strategists to share stage at Michigan political leadership events in Livonia, Grand Rapids
Karen Hughes, a strategic adviser under Republican President George W. Bush, is expected to join Robert Gibbs, a longtime advisor to Democratic President Barack Obama, at Michigan State University’s annual Michigan Political Leadership Program fundraising breakfast and dinner on February 28 and March 1.
“I would like to heighten awareness of drug problems such as the growing meth, heroin, and cocaine problems,” he said. “I think awareness could reduce drug use in communities.”
In 2011, a total of 21 methamphetamine labs were reported to UPSET in its 12-county service area. Last year, that doubled to 42 meth labs being reported to the agency, the majority of them being in Marquette County, said Sholander.
Wolverine waiting for EPA to make next move
“The way that they had proposed rules would make it impossible to build a solid fuels plant,” he said. “The only thing that would’ve fallen under the rules would have been a natural gas plant.”
Tim Skubick: Is the Tea Party a toothless tiger or formidable opponent? Let’s find out
Many feel it’s about time that we have a showdown vote to ascertain just how mighty the conservatives are. Let the Tea Party field challengers to the likes of Rep. Fred Upton (R-West Michigan) or Rep. Dan Benishek (R-Upper Peninsula).
First look: Behind the scenes of the 2013 Detroit auto show (photo galleries)
More than 50 worldwide and North American unveilings are expected for the show, which opens to the public Jan. 19 at the renovated Cobo Center, One Washington Blvd.
Congressman Fred Upton: Background checks for gun purchases should include mental health records
After the Sandy Hook shooting, the National Rifle Association proposed having armed guards in schools. Upton said that while the approach may work for some schools, he doesn’t think that a nationwide mandate is the way to go.
“To mandate that, I don’t think its the answer to keep kids safe,” Upton said. “You have a lot of accidents (and it) could create more of a problem than not. I’m not sure it adds to the security.
“Kids can’t learn in an environment where they feel unsafe,” Upton added. “It just doesn’t happen.”
“You only get one chance,” Heartwell said to Lambert, who lingered at the podium and questioned the mayor’s decision. “Did you hear me? Do I need to have you removed from the room?”
Detroit News Editorial:House GOP should pass spending cuts
For Republicans, a pre-emptive plan for reasonable budget cuts passed well in advance of the deadline is the winning strategy — for them and for the nation.
Hoffa: Time for filibuster reform in Washington
The modern filibuster makes it far too easy for a tyrannical minority to strangle the democratic process. It’s time to reform it and restore majority rule.
Pure Michigan brand could be tainted, marketing experts say
“My gut reaction is I would be horrified if I were running the Pure Michigan campaign. I would go insane about this,” said Christie Nordhielm, clinical associate professor of business administration at the University of Michigan.
Obamacare will be GOP’s savior in ’14
Nobody is going to be happy. And this is one Washington mess voters won’t blame on Republicans.
Obama assured that when he embraced the derogatory “Obamacare” as the bill’s handle.
Farmington Hills woman pleads guilty in $4.7 million Medicare scheme
Medicare fraud costs taxpayers 4.7M
The foster homes submitted more than 185,000 (bogus) claims to Medicare from 2004 through 2011, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Demolition of dreams: 12 Detroit homes razed by mistake
Government mistake costs people their home
Mistakes like this are rare, city and state officials said.
Some Bridge Card holders enter 2nd day without funds
Some Bridge Card holders enter 2nd day without funds
Efforts taken to decriminalize pot in Grand Rapids being thwarted by Kent Prosecutor Tuesday
Talk of GOP primaries follows ‘fiscal cliff’ vote
Talk of primaries follows fiscal cliff deal
“It’s not too early to be looking at 2014. I think there are going to be a lot of primary challenges. People are fed up.”
Republican Party seems as divided, angry as ever
GOP Divided
“People are mad as hell. I’m right there with them,”
Americans face higher prices, flat wages in 2013
America 2013: flat wages, higher food prices/taxes
Higher costs are expected for food, airline flights, rent, housing prices, government fees, shipping costs and college tuition.
MI legislators who missed the most votes
Which State legislators missed the most votes in 2012
Muskegon abortion clinic shut down by fire officials
Code violations shut down abortion clinic
New Year, New Taxes from Obamacare
Obamacare’s new taxes for 2013-what the Democrats voted for
Domino’s pizza mogul, Tom Monaghan wins temporary court order against HHS mandate.
Monaghan gets court order against contraceptive coverage.
Snyder signed one abortion bill today, vetoed another
MI Gov. Snyder signed one abortion bill today, making for safer abortions in MI. He vetoed the Blues Bill too, because the abortion language tie-barred to it didn’t please him.
Then he wrote, “Is my analysis perfect? It is not; but it is one person’s attempt to carefully balance an explosive and emotional issue in a thoughtful way. I have learned that there will be people on both sides of this issue that will hate me for either one bill or the other. I have already seen hatred and lack of reason from people who are friends of mine.”
I want to address the questions I get from people who think I am unfair to the Gov for arguing vehemently about the positions he takes, because the Gov says here that he is the one with reason and thoughtfulness. It sounds to me like he is feeling the heat of being politician, and doesn’t much like the heated fight that politics is.
As a county Republican chair, I get reactions by some in the party who find it bad form to disagree publicly with a fellow Republican, much less, vehemently press your point, naming names and telling everyone what exactly it is I feel he is going wrong.
Here is my view. I’m the Governor’s boss. We citizens are the bosses of ALL politicians. I want Michigan and America respected.
That’s it.
I will not surrender my constitutional rights while fighting to return this state and nation to the constitution.
As far as his abortion-thoughtfulness goes, he is right, you can’t outlaw abortion because of the Supreme Court. But I take serious offense to him calling abortion, “women’s rights.” No matter what Roe v. Wade settled (unconstitutionally I might add) it does not give a person the right to take another’s life.
There are plenty of murdered unborn women who never got a right to life, the most basic human right of all.
The Michigan Republican party is dysfunctional.
During the Republican primary of 2012, only two candidates were viable in the state, Santorum and Romney. Santorum was seen as too conservative, too ideological and too socially conservative to win in a general election, and Mitt Romney was ‘electable’. The Michigan Republican party told me that Democrats in Michigan would never vote for Santorum, but they would vote for Romney, because Romney doesn’t talk about social issues, and he is more of a moderate, and that is what would attract Democrats. Of course, the Romney campaign called it a dirty trick when Santorum reached out to Democrats in the state of Michigan primary with some calling prior to the vote. The Arizona state primary was held on the same day as the Michigan primary, and John McCain pulled a win in Arizona for Mitt, and here, in his own homestate, Romney split the delegates with Santorum. But then, the Michigan RNC Committeeman and the MIGOP Chair changed the rules and voted the delegates in Romney’s favor. What I am pointing out, is that the Michigan Republican party is dysfunctional. They are a mess because of the deceit that they perpetrate in full view of all. The deceptive communications from them, the disingenuous ways they use volunteers, and the sickening spin and outright lies they spew. Mitt Romney, after all that turmoil, still did not win Michigan, yet if you talked to any staffer at any level, the aides had them convinced that as long as we do not approach social issues, Romney would take Michigan. But Romney didn’t take Michigan, was lambasted in the media for his non-existent war on women, but he did take Arizona. Pete Hoekstra had the best name recognition of all the primary candidates for the Senate race, and his campaign kicked off on Super Bowl Sunday with an ad featuring a Chinese woman with broken English, thanking Stabenow for all the great jobs she sent China. And then he defended it for the rest of the year, which got him nowhere. The only thing that works in the Michigan Republican party is the local grassroots who reach out to their district rep and congressional candidate. Other than that, the consultants should look into another line of work, because they are continually losing. They are all of the same mind, that is, of moderate influence, and argue vehemently against conservatism.
Obama, Romney crisscross country in final weekend of campaign
From The Detroit News GET HERE TUESDAY, GET HERE QUICK!
Mayor George Heartwell: ‘Obamacare’ will improve access to healthcare for poor children
From MLive Grand Rapids proving you do not have to be intelligent to become the mayor of a large city in Michigan. Michael Moore, you have a chance…
Democrats have a chance to chip at GOP majority in state House
Detroit Free Press That’s quite a title for a tepid possible 6 seats…
Michigan’s home health care proposal draws support, concern
From The Detroit News. Prop 4 is a terrible proposal, and should be soundly defeated.
Maroun ad aimed at Detroit is blasted.
Detroit Free Press: “Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel (Matty) Moroun’s latest flyer in support of Proposal 6 arrived in Michigan mailboxes Saturday and drew immediate outrage for trying to inflame anti-Detroit sentiments with inaccurate claims. ”
Hey Detroit, this is how the rest of the state views you, and we are sick of it.
Tim Skubick: Here’s why one of these guys is going to win the presidency
From MLive Skubick is way off, Romney has the momentum for women, where has he been? Liberal women overplayed the vagina, vote with your lady parts disgusting mantra, and I believe they are just stupid enough to continue doing so. In fact, less women will be in government thanks to the 2012 YEAR OF THE LIBERAL WOMEN LOSERS.
Great title by the way, duh, yeah, one of them will win…(and this guy gets awards?)
How politics are pulling Americans apart.
Detroit Free Press: I hate to hear farmers whine. Hey Mr. and Mrs. Send, the farm bill is 80% food stamps, what a disgrace.
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