Michigan Tea Party Scorecard - Release 3 - Jan 2011 thru Mar 2012 - Michigan Votes
The Tea Party Scorecard only includes votes on core tea party issues, primarily fiscal responsibility, limited government, and private sector job creation.
Unanimous and party-line votes are largely excluded to highlight the differences between members of the same party rather than differences between the parties.
"Messy" bills with complex, competing content were also excluded as no clear "correct" vote could be assigned.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Michigan - Sunshine Review
Michigan - Sunshine Review
Michigan set to release public records and social media policy
Lansing, MI Michigan state government is getting ready to launch a new comprehensive social media policy this coming August. The Department of Technology, Management and Budget, which is developing the policy, has announced that it will be completed in August and plans to include posts on all social media website, including Twitter and Facebook, as public records.
Public records lawyers and activists are praising the upcoming policy.
Herschel Fink, a media law lawyer told the press,
"If government and officials are communicating on issues of government policy, using these new means of communication -- social media -- then the public has to have access to that as well." [1]
Michigan set to release public records and social media policy
Lansing, MI Michigan state government is getting ready to launch a new comprehensive social media policy this coming August. The Department of Technology, Management and Budget, which is developing the policy, has announced that it will be completed in August and plans to include posts on all social media website, including Twitter and Facebook, as public records.
Public records lawyers and activists are praising the upcoming policy.
Herschel Fink, a media law lawyer told the press,
"If government and officials are communicating on issues of government policy, using these new means of communication -- social media -- then the public has to have access to that as well." [1]
The Obama Presidency. Minute by Minute
The Obama Presidency. Minute by Minute | POLITICO 44 - POLITICO.com:
President Barack Obama, in a statement at the conclusion of the G8 Summit at Camp David, said significant progress was made, although he cautioned there is much work to be done to stabilize the global economy.
"All the leaders here today agreed growth and jobs must be our top priority," he said. "The direction the debate has taken lately should give us confidence."
President Barack Obama, in a statement at the conclusion of the G8 Summit at Camp David, said significant progress was made, although he cautioned there is much work to be done to stabilize the global economy.
"All the leaders here today agreed growth and jobs must be our top priority," he said. "The direction the debate has taken lately should give us confidence."
What Should You Believe? Government Stats or Your Own Eyes?
What Should You Believe? Government Stats or Your Own Eyes? | Heartland Institute
Price inflation is running at an annualized rate of 4.8 percent, according to official data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That is more than double the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2 percent annual inflation.
And as millions of Americans have come to learn since the government 40 years ago began playing games with this and other economic statistics to make things look better than they really are, there is good reason to take this latest report with a shaker or two of salt. Even if we accept the figure at face value, there are good reasons to scoff.
For instance, at the American Institute for Economic Research, the economists strip out seldom-purchased big-ticket items that the Bureau of Labor Statistics leaves in its calculations.
The AIER’s Everyday Price Index studies the prices of things people buy daily, weekly, or monthly, such as groceries, prescription medicine, telephone and cable services, etc.
That’s the inflation rate that most directly affects people.
The Everyday Price Index shows inflation climbing 8.1 percent over the last year.
At an 8.1 percent rate of inflation, the purchasing power of the dollar falls by half in nine years.
On March 15 the Associated General Contractors of America reported, “The cost of construction materials accelerated dramatically in February.”
Price inflation is running at an annualized rate of 4.8 percent, according to official data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That is more than double the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2 percent annual inflation.
And as millions of Americans have come to learn since the government 40 years ago began playing games with this and other economic statistics to make things look better than they really are, there is good reason to take this latest report with a shaker or two of salt. Even if we accept the figure at face value, there are good reasons to scoff.
For instance, at the American Institute for Economic Research, the economists strip out seldom-purchased big-ticket items that the Bureau of Labor Statistics leaves in its calculations.
The AIER’s Everyday Price Index studies the prices of things people buy daily, weekly, or monthly, such as groceries, prescription medicine, telephone and cable services, etc.
That’s the inflation rate that most directly affects people.
The Everyday Price Index shows inflation climbing 8.1 percent over the last year.
At an 8.1 percent rate of inflation, the purchasing power of the dollar falls by half in nine years.
On March 15 the Associated General Contractors of America reported, “The cost of construction materials accelerated dramatically in February.”
State expects nearly $300 million more in revenue this year
State expects nearly $300 million more in revenue this year | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
The state's outlook is brightening with predictions of a $300 million surplus this year, lower unemployment and more jobs that pay better through 2014.
The extra state revenue this year sets up a fight over what to do with the money as lawmakers push to finish the budget in the next two weeks.
Democrats want to restore cuts to education and social programs, while the Snyder administration wants to earmark the money for one-time needs.
The state's outlook is brightening with predictions of a $300 million surplus this year, lower unemployment and more jobs that pay better through 2014.
The extra state revenue this year sets up a fight over what to do with the money as lawmakers push to finish the budget in the next two weeks.
Democrats want to restore cuts to education and social programs, while the Snyder administration wants to earmark the money for one-time needs.
Michigan Senate may vote today to dump pensions for new teachers
Michigan Senate may vote today to dump pensions for new teachers | MLive.com
Other provisions of the legislation would:
Make retirees pay at least 20 percent of their health care premiums. They currently pay no more than 10 percent.
Eliminate health care coverage for employees hired after July 1 of this year.
Instead, school districts would have to make a 2 percent matching contribution into an employee's 401(k) account in lieu of health coverage.
Exclude merit pay, tax-sheltered annuities and longevity pay from the definition of "compensation" for the purposes of calculating pensions.
Cap the final average compensation for new employees at $100,000, adjusted annually for inflation.
Other provisions of the legislation would:
Make retirees pay at least 20 percent of their health care premiums. They currently pay no more than 10 percent.
Eliminate health care coverage for employees hired after July 1 of this year.
Instead, school districts would have to make a 2 percent matching contribution into an employee's 401(k) account in lieu of health coverage.
Exclude merit pay, tax-sheltered annuities and longevity pay from the definition of "compensation" for the purposes of calculating pensions.
Cap the final average compensation for new employees at $100,000, adjusted annually for inflation.
Municipal, state pension reform message gaining momentum
COMMENTARY: Municipal, state pension reform message gaining momentum > Blog > State Budget Solutions
Current defined benefit plans, which guarantee pensions whether the money is there or not, put all risk for any shortfalls on taxpayers.
Right now, the deficit ranges from about $800 billion to more than $4 trillion depending on accounting assumptions.
Current defined benefit plans, which guarantee pensions whether the money is there or not, put all risk for any shortfalls on taxpayers.
Right now, the deficit ranges from about $800 billion to more than $4 trillion depending on accounting assumptions.
Biden: West Virginia voters who chose felon over Obama are frustrated, angry
Biden: West Virginia voters who chose felon over Obama are frustrated, angry - The Hill's Video
Asked what he made of a felon sitting in a Texas prison who won four out of 10 Democratic primary voters in West Virginia, Biden told Ohio television station WTOV that he doesn't blame people who are frustrated and angry over the economy.
Asked what he made of a felon sitting in a Texas prison who won four out of 10 Democratic primary voters in West Virginia, Biden told Ohio television station WTOV that he doesn't blame people who are frustrated and angry over the economy.
Michigan state police investigate election fraud claim
Michigan state police investigate election fraud claim | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
Incumbent Roy Schmidt announced his switch to the Republican party just before Tuesday's filing deadline.
The move angered Democrats who were unable to recruit a replacement.
Incumbent Roy Schmidt announced his switch to the Republican party just before Tuesday's filing deadline.
The move angered Democrats who were unable to recruit a replacement.
Michigan debates 'Stand Your Ground' law
Michigan debates 'Stand Your Ground' law | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
Since Michigan's law was enacted, justifiable homicides have gradually increased, according to Michigan State Police statistics.
There were no more than four justifiable homicides reported annually between 1997 and 2006.
In 2007, there were eight justifiable homicides, followed by six in 2008, 17 in 2009 and 16 in 2010.
Since Michigan's law was enacted, justifiable homicides have gradually increased, according to Michigan State Police statistics.
There were no more than four justifiable homicides reported annually between 1997 and 2006.
In 2007, there were eight justifiable homicides, followed by six in 2008, 17 in 2009 and 16 in 2010.
Senate OKs school pension tweak
Senate OKs school pension tweak | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
Lansing— The Michigan Senate voted Thursday to alter the fringe benefits of public school employment and eliminate pensions for new workers.
On a narrow 20-18 vote, the Senate approved legislation establishing a 401(k)-style defined contribution retirement plan for all employees hired after Jan. 1, 2013.
Senate Bill 1040 also would eliminate guaranteed lifetime health insurance coverage for newly hired public school employees.
Instead, new workers would get an additional 2 percent of salary dedicated toward their 401(k) retirement fund.
The controversial legislation now heads to the House. Speaker Jase Bolger said Thursday he hopes to deliver the legislation to Gov. Rick Snyder's desk with a new state operating budget by June 1.
The bill passed Thursday over the objection of some lawmakers, who said the Legislature should not be changing the pension and retirement benefits for thousands of employees who have worked under assumptions their costs were fixed.
In 2010, the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System had a $45 billion unfunded liability.
State budget officials estimate the liability may now be more than $50 billion, said state Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw.
Lansing— The Michigan Senate voted Thursday to alter the fringe benefits of public school employment and eliminate pensions for new workers.
On a narrow 20-18 vote, the Senate approved legislation establishing a 401(k)-style defined contribution retirement plan for all employees hired after Jan. 1, 2013.
Senate Bill 1040 also would eliminate guaranteed lifetime health insurance coverage for newly hired public school employees.
Instead, new workers would get an additional 2 percent of salary dedicated toward their 401(k) retirement fund.
The controversial legislation now heads to the House. Speaker Jase Bolger said Thursday he hopes to deliver the legislation to Gov. Rick Snyder's desk with a new state operating budget by June 1.
The bill passed Thursday over the objection of some lawmakers, who said the Legislature should not be changing the pension and retirement benefits for thousands of employees who have worked under assumptions their costs were fixed.
In 2010, the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System had a $45 billion unfunded liability.
State budget officials estimate the liability may now be more than $50 billion, said state Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw.
Richardville supports closing school pension plan to new hires
Richardville supports closing school pension plan to new hires - The Backroom - The Detroit News
Richardville’s endorsement of 401(k) plans for public school workers was the biggest development Wednesday in the Michigan Senate after several hours of closed-door negotiating over a bill to overhaul MPSERS, which faces a projected $50 billion unfunded liability for pension and health care benefits.
State Sen. Mark Jansen, R-Grand Rapids, said Tuesday he will offer an amendment on the Senate floor that would institute 401(k) employees hired after Jan. 1, 2013. MPSERS has more than 444,000 retired and active workers in public schools, community colleges, seven universities and some charter schools and public libraries.
Senators delayed voting on Senate Bill 1040 until Thursday to refine the language and get a fiscal impact of the proposed reforms, Richardville said.
Senate Republicans met in closed-door caucus meetings three times Wednesday — discussing the MPSERS bill at least twice.
“One of the members got up and said ‘You know 24 hours more to be prepared and make sure we don’t make a mistake is wisdom versus anything else,’” Richardville said.
The state of Michigan closed its employee pension plan in 1997 and instituted 401(k) retirement plans. The legislation pending before the Senate would increase pension contributions for current employees, require all retirees pay 20 percent of their health insurance premiums and eliminate retiree health care for new workers.
Pension experts have warned there may be millions in upfront costs to close the pension system because new hires would no longer being paying in to support the current retirees.
“Well, there are going to be some upfront costs, but you know like anything, it’s like closing cost on a lower-rate mortgage,” said Richardville, R-Monroe. “Yeah you’ve got to suck it up a little bit now, but over the long run … everybody talks about kids and grandkids. This actually does something for the classrooms of kids and grandkids.”
Richardville’s endorsement of 401(k) plans for public school workers was the biggest development Wednesday in the Michigan Senate after several hours of closed-door negotiating over a bill to overhaul MPSERS, which faces a projected $50 billion unfunded liability for pension and health care benefits.
State Sen. Mark Jansen, R-Grand Rapids, said Tuesday he will offer an amendment on the Senate floor that would institute 401(k) employees hired after Jan. 1, 2013. MPSERS has more than 444,000 retired and active workers in public schools, community colleges, seven universities and some charter schools and public libraries.
Senators delayed voting on Senate Bill 1040 until Thursday to refine the language and get a fiscal impact of the proposed reforms, Richardville said.
Senate Republicans met in closed-door caucus meetings three times Wednesday — discussing the MPSERS bill at least twice.
“One of the members got up and said ‘You know 24 hours more to be prepared and make sure we don’t make a mistake is wisdom versus anything else,’” Richardville said.
The state of Michigan closed its employee pension plan in 1997 and instituted 401(k) retirement plans. The legislation pending before the Senate would increase pension contributions for current employees, require all retirees pay 20 percent of their health insurance premiums and eliminate retiree health care for new workers.
Pension experts have warned there may be millions in upfront costs to close the pension system because new hires would no longer being paying in to support the current retirees.
“Well, there are going to be some upfront costs, but you know like anything, it’s like closing cost on a lower-rate mortgage,” said Richardville, R-Monroe. “Yeah you’ve got to suck it up a little bit now, but over the long run … everybody talks about kids and grandkids. This actually does something for the classrooms of kids and grandkids.”
Let voters decide fate of EM law, appeals court told
Let voters decide fate of EM law, appeals court told | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
The effort to repeal the state's emergency manager law is now in the hands of the state Court of Appeals after opponents on Thursday urged the panel to let voters decide its fate.
The group Stand Up for Democracy asked the three-judge court to heed the more than 203,200 signatures gathered to get Public Act 4 on the November ballot — roughly 40,000 more than needed.
A group called Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility successfully challenged the petitions last month, saying the type size in the petition headline was too small.
The effort to repeal the state's emergency manager law is now in the hands of the state Court of Appeals after opponents on Thursday urged the panel to let voters decide its fate.
The group Stand Up for Democracy asked the three-judge court to heed the more than 203,200 signatures gathered to get Public Act 4 on the November ballot — roughly 40,000 more than needed.
A group called Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility successfully challenged the petitions last month, saying the type size in the petition headline was too small.
Republicans deny Anuzis, Hughes reelection to party leadership posts
Land, Agema and Michigan GOP chairman Bobby Schostak will hold the three leadership posts for Michigan Republicans to the national party.
Schostak batted down a notion Agema and Land won because they successfully positioned themselves as more conservative.
"I'm not sure that they were any more to the right," Schostak said. "I think they were all pretty much within the same bandwidth of conservative values and issues. I just think that they're incumbents, they've been in office awhile and fresh people came kind of out of nowhere."
But John Yob, a GOP strategist and Agema backer, saw the election outcome a different way.
"If Bobby doesn't understand that Dave Agema is more conservative and thinks they came out of nowhere to win then he is in far over his head in leading our party," Yob said.
Michigan will send 59 delegates to the GOP national convention in Tampa, but just 30 will vote because of penalties from the national party for moving up the primary before state rules allowed. The three party leaders will be excluded from voting.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120519/POLITICS01/205190373#ixzz1vMBEOLAf
Schostak batted down a notion Agema and Land won because they successfully positioned themselves as more conservative.
"I'm not sure that they were any more to the right," Schostak said. "I think they were all pretty much within the same bandwidth of conservative values and issues. I just think that they're incumbents, they've been in office awhile and fresh people came kind of out of nowhere."
But John Yob, a GOP strategist and Agema backer, saw the election outcome a different way.
"If Bobby doesn't understand that Dave Agema is more conservative and thinks they came out of nowhere to win then he is in far over his head in leading our party," Yob said.
Michigan will send 59 delegates to the GOP national convention in Tampa, but just 30 will vote because of penalties from the national party for moving up the primary before state rules allowed. The three party leaders will be excluded from voting.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120519/POLITICS01/205190373#ixzz1vMBEOLAf
Weather service to issue new hazards forecast along Lake Michigan shoreline
Weather service to issue new hazards forecast along Lake Michigan shoreline | MLive.com
“We have a drowning one day and the next, we have four, five foot waves and I see parents on the beach not paying attention to their kids,” said Todd Dunham, a deputy with the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Department and head of the Marine Division.
“We have a drowning one day and the next, we have four, five foot waves and I see parents on the beach not paying attention to their kids,” said Todd Dunham, a deputy with the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Department and head of the Marine Division.
Paul backers pick up delegate slots to GOP convention; negate Romney sweep
Paul backers pick up delegate slots to GOP convention; negate Romney sweep | The Detroit News Among the 14 sometimes-contentious congressional district elections, Paul supporters picked up at least eight delegate slots to the Tampa convention in August out of 42 at stake, according to one Republican Party source counting the delegates, with sweeps in the Northern Michigan's 1st District and West Michigan's 2nd District.
"We came down with a plan and we got it done," said Joseph Jurecki, a Paul backer who won an election in the 2nd Congressional District at the Michigan Republican Party State Convention.
"We came down with a plan and we got it done," said Joseph Jurecki, a Paul backer who won an election in the 2nd Congressional District at the Michigan Republican Party State Convention.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Regardless Of What The Propaganda Says, This Is Not How A Free Society Treats People
Guest Post: Regardless Of What The Propaganda Says, This Is Not How A Free Society Treats People | ZeroHedge
It seems so bizarre that a country once regarded as the freest, most economically enviable in the world would treat its productive citizens with such hostility.
It seems so bizarre that a country once regarded as the freest, most economically enviable in the world would treat its productive citizens with such hostility.
The Crucial Trayvon Martin Evidence the Media Won’t Repeat
PJ Media » The Crucial Trayvon Martin Evidence the Media Won’t Repeat
The eyewitness did not see the beginning of the fight, but had a clear view of it when he heard George Zimmerman crying for help and went to his door.
He saw George Zimmerman on his back on the ground. Trayvon Martin, according to the eyewitness, was sitting on Zimmerman’s chest, raining down blows from a mount position, “MMA style.”
From the investigator’s description of a witness statement on page 38 of the discovery documentation, we learn:
When he investigated, he witnessed a black male, wearing a dark-colored “hoodie” on top of a white or Hispanic male and throwing punches “MMA (mixed martial arts) style.
” He stated that he yelled out to the two individuals that he was going to call the police.
He then heard a “pop.”
He stated that after hearing the “pop,” he observed the person he had previously observed on top of the other person (the black male wearing the “hoodie”) laid out on the grass.
The witness’s statement is transcribed in the next paragraph:
The eyewitness did not see the beginning of the fight, but had a clear view of it when he heard George Zimmerman crying for help and went to his door.
He saw George Zimmerman on his back on the ground. Trayvon Martin, according to the eyewitness, was sitting on Zimmerman’s chest, raining down blows from a mount position, “MMA style.”
From the investigator’s description of a witness statement on page 38 of the discovery documentation, we learn:
When he investigated, he witnessed a black male, wearing a dark-colored “hoodie” on top of a white or Hispanic male and throwing punches “MMA (mixed martial arts) style.
” He stated that he yelled out to the two individuals that he was going to call the police.
He then heard a “pop.”
He stated that after hearing the “pop,” he observed the person he had previously observed on top of the other person (the black male wearing the “hoodie”) laid out on the grass.
The witness’s statement is transcribed in the next paragraph:
I heard yelling out back in grass area of home but not sure at first but after second “help” yell I opened blinds, and saw clothing but everything dark outside. I opened door and saw a guy on the ground getting hit by another man on top of him in the strattle [sic] position hitting a guy in red sweatshirt or on the bottom getting hit was yelling help (guy getting hit on ground was wearing red calling out help). I said I was calling the cops and ran upstairs then heard a gunshot. When I got upstairs I saw the guy on top who was hitting the guy in the red lain out on the grass as if he had been shot.The witness was 30 feet away, with a direct and apparently unobstructed line of sight to the fight.
THE FACE OF GENOCIDAL ECO-FASCISM
THE FACE OF GENOCIDAL ECO-FASCISM:“am not exaggerating.
This is Finnish writer Pentti Linkola — a man who demands that the human population reduce its size to around 500 million and abandon modern technology and the pursuit of economic growth — in his own words.”
As Bob Zubrin has pointed out, such sentiments, if usually a bit less bluntly stated, are driving environmental policy nowadays.
It’s Himmler in a green shirt.
These are not nice people who want good things for everyone.
These are evil people who hanker after mass death.
Still, it’s educational to hear things like this: “The United States symbolises the worst ideologies in the world: growth and freedom.”
If you like growth and freedom, these people are your enemies. Remember that and treat them accordingly.
This is Finnish writer Pentti Linkola — a man who demands that the human population reduce its size to around 500 million and abandon modern technology and the pursuit of economic growth — in his own words.”
As Bob Zubrin has pointed out, such sentiments, if usually a bit less bluntly stated, are driving environmental policy nowadays.
It’s Himmler in a green shirt.
These are not nice people who want good things for everyone.
These are evil people who hanker after mass death.
Still, it’s educational to hear things like this: “The United States symbolises the worst ideologies in the world: growth and freedom.”
If you like growth and freedom, these people are your enemies. Remember that and treat them accordingly.
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