There's an interesting little tidbit on Saul's "blog" this morning, in case you missed it:
WEST MICHIGAN FOR WALBERG... Doug DeVos, J.C. Huizenga, Mike Jandernoa and Steve Van Andel are hosting a luncheon fundraiser TODAY... June 16th at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids from noon to 1:30 p.m. For more information and to RSVP contact Sandra Baxter at (616) 803-0496 or email her at SandraBaxterE@aol.com.
I don't see Dick's name on the invitation, but you gotta think Amway Guy will be there (or at least send a check).
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that the field of candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination has gone from seven to six.
Hard to believe, but former linebacker Secretary of State and current Congresscritter Candice Miller has sadly hung up her hat on campaigning for the state's highest office, according to MIRS.
Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul ANUZIS said today that based on a private conversation he had with the former Secretary of State last Monday night, she is out instead of being in.
"It has moved from very likely to highly unlikely she will run," Anuzis told the Off the Record panel after Thursday's taping.
Sheesh. And here I was sitting on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, convinced that with Candy in the race, it was going to be a sweet one. Okay, that's complete bull, but is anyone really surprised?
With Miller's departure, that means that Amway Guy Dick DeVos only has to take out buy off five other "opponents". They include -
That Guy that bought Dominos Pizza - Dave Brandon.
Ladies and Gents, meet the supporting cast of "See Dick Run and Lose, Part Deux" - 4 White Guys and the Token Dutch Female from West Michigan. And doesn't that seem just about right for our Michigan Goppers??
NEW DELHI: Faced with the challenge of slowing growth and the threat of legal trouble to its business in Andhra Pradesh, Amway India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the US-based direct seller Amway Corporation, is looking to reverse its fortune with the launch of a range of low-priced fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) products aimed at tier II & III cities.
Those legal troubles would be these legal troubles. Despite company assurances, Indian courts aren't so confident that their business model -- built on snookering suckers with dreams of diamonds and emeralds using as a hook cheap soap -- is quite legal.
The new line, labelled ‘Great Value Products’, is priced 20-30% lower than Amway’s existing range, and includes mass-market categories like coconut oil, hair oil, shaving cream, disposable razors, toothbrushes et al. Though the Rs 800crore Amway India claims it has grown by around 10% in 2007, industry sources say the growth may be closer to 5%.
What are your dreams? Selling disposable razors to my friends in one of the world's fastest growing economies, of course ... it's the American Way!
Update! ... This old comment from Nirmal? As true today as it was two years ago. Since I signed up for a Google Alert for Amway two weeks ago, everything I've gotten besides this has been from some independent distributor sucker in India writing about how he hopes to use the Amway business model to make a ton of money.
Capitol Journal: No do-overs. Derek says not to hold your breath when it comes to holding a second Democratic primary/caucus.
GR Press: Tracking donations to the candidates. Obama pulled in more money in 2007 in Kent and Ottawa Counties than Romney and Huckabee combined! (h/t Hazen)
Tim Skubick: Miller takes look at '10 bid. Tom discusses a potential gubernatorial run for Candice Miller.
DetNews: Mayor signed deal to hush up texting. More bad news for Kwame.
State Government/Legislation
AP: Granholm budget proposal less contentious than in past years. Boy, let's hope so. Kathy Barks Hoffman has more on the details of the Governor's FY 2009 budget.
BFM: "Best budget that I've issued since I've been governor." Cathleen dissects the budget.
Freep Editorial: Balanced, lean and realistic. "Granholm has put together a rational budget that still shows many signs of scrimping but appears to be structurally sound. In sum, it is essentially unchanged from the current year's budget at $9.8 billion for the general fund. The school aid fund is up slightly."
DetNews Editorial: Michigan needs modern driver licenses. In a shocking development, the Detroit News is supporting the plan being offered by Senate Republicans.
Energy, Environment and the Economy
WWJ: Rust Belt No More? Michigan Is Becoming Increasingly Innovative, Researchers Say. Good news for Michigan: "Innovative economic activity in Michigan increased 2.8 percent from the middle of 2006 to the middle of 2007, according to a new 'innovation index' developed by scholars at the University of Michigan-Dearborn School of Management."
Oakland Biz Review: Volt battery efforts roll ahead. "The Volt I think has also another mission, which is to get the technology leadership back to GM and back in this country in some sense," Patil said. "As a production plug-in hybrid vehicle it's going to be breaking a lot of new ground. It is creating a lot of excitement."
Great Lakes Guy: The Power of Money. The Great Lakes Guy takes a look at the initiatives to support renewable energy announced in the State of the State addresses from governors in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
AP: Delta, NWA inching closer to deal, says person briefed on talks. The companies want to combine so they can create one giant, lumbering, inefficient airline.
AP: Great Lakes advocates not pleased with Bush's spending plan. "According to the group's analysis, the president requested $297.6 million for Great Lakes programs, down from $353.76 million appropriated for this year."
Lansing City Pulse: Granholm and the environment. "There's room for improvement, but in comparison with the destruction that [former Gov. John] Engler wrought, she's stellar."
Odds & Ends
GR Press: Amway warns e-mail about charity is a scam. When it comes to Amway, it's hard to tell which scams are real and which ones are fake.
Media Mouse: Military Recruiting Numbers Released for Michigan and the Nation. This doesn't sound good: "Of those recruited in Michigan in 2007, only a little over 69% had high school dimplomas. Additionally, only ~45% of recruits from Michigan were what the military terms 'high quality.'"
BFM: Important Figures In Michigan Black History (Part 1). DJ highlights notable African Americans from Michigan in honor of Black History Month.
Let me know if I forgot anything. Drop your links in the comments section...
Amway has only given money to one Democratic candidate for the 2008 cycle so far. Guess who the money went to? Sen Obama.
Look for yourself in the Top Recipients of Amway Contributions at Open Secrets That 2,300 was the only Democratic Donation that Amway has made for 2008. See the chart here
Amway didn't contribute to any Dems in the 2006, 2004 or 2002 cycles. Wonder why they love Obama so much?
One of Michigan's own sons has been pulling together a series that not only will you not want to miss, you could also argue that as a voting population, we cannot afford to miss.
DHinMI, a political insider who now lives and works in Washington D.C., has written a thoroughly researched and well written series called 'Bush Authoritarianism: Blackwater + Amway = GOP' over on DailyKos.
There's a reason so much attention has been paid the DeVos/Amway and Prince/Blackwater conglomerate both here in Michigan and nationally. Partisanship aside, it's a fascinating study in the power of seemingly limitless wealth and what happens when that wealth conjoins with a strict religious-based agenda, the power of a military for hire, and direct access to one of the most powerful government officials in the entire world. Some might say it's the making of conspiracy theorists, others might remind you there's a reason conspiracy theories exist.
Regardless of where you are in your beliefs, I highly suggest you check out the series listed chronically below.
Update:Talking Points Memo has lots of coverage of Prince and Blackwater today. Michigan Messenger has a good article on Blackwater and the Michigan conservative establishment.
From the LA Times:
WASHINGTON - Blackwater USA, the private security contractor under scrutiny for its role in a deadly Baghdad shootout last month, has fired 122 of its armed guards in Iraq since it started protecting U.S. diplomats there three years ago, congressional investigators said Monday.
The firings, most frequently for weapons-related incidents, amount to about 15% of Blackwater's current workforce in Iraq. None of those fired has been subject to any legal proceedings or other sanction, the investigation found.
The detailed allegations, which the committee said were backed by thousands of documents, depict a security firm that almost routinely opens fire in Iraq's streets, occasionally attempts to cover up its transgressions and is frequently protected from censure and prosecution by its State Department overseers.
The memo describes incidents in which Blackwater guards eagerly rushed to battles involving U.S. soldiers; plowed their armored trucks into civilian vehicles for no apparent reason; and left scenes of violence without assisting wounded civilians.
In the 15-page memo, Waxman's staff says State Department officials ignored misconduct by Blackwater. And in one high-profile incident, the memo says, State officials were directly involved in making sure that a Blackwater employee who had been accused of killing an Iraqi guard while intoxicated was flown out of the country less than 36 hours after the Christmas Eve shooting.
"Even in cases involving the death of Iraqis, it appears that the State Department's primary response was to ask Blackwater to make monetary payments to 'put the matter behind us,' " the memo said.
If you're scratching your head right now and wondering what this all has to do with Michigan politics, and a reminder for those who are already aware:
Today's committee hearing -- which will include State Department Iraq policy coordinator David M. Satterfield and several other senior State officials -- is also expected to question whether Blackwater has been awarded security contracts in part through political ties to the Bush administration.
According to the congressional investigators, Blackwater won more than $1 billion in contracts from 2001 through 2006, including $593.6 million in 2006 alone. The memo alleges that more than half of the total has been awarded "without full and open competition," and notes that relatives of Blackwater founder Prince have been major Republican contributors.
Prince's brother-in-law is Richard DeVos Jr., former chief executive of Amway Corp. A former Republican gubernatorial candidate in Michigan, DeVos has donated more than $160,000 to the Republican National Committee and Republican congressional committees.
Amway attracted widespread attention in 1993 when it paid President George H.W. Bush $100,000 for an address to the company's distributors. At the time, the speaking fee was one of the largest ever paid to a former government official.
Copyright 2007 by the Michigan Caucus
(Please cite the Michigan Caucus as the author)
A new tool on the Web reveals that the Dick DeVos for Governor campaign made a dozen changes to a Wikipedia article about the soap heir by adding sympathetic comments, changing poll results, eliminating references to critical websites and wholesale removal of unflattering text.
The tool, Wiki Scanner, was developed by graduate student Virgil Griffith to reveal the identities of the computers used to make edits to Wikipedia. It has revealed edits made by the CIA, the FBI and even the Vatican. And, Wiki Scanner has isolated a dozen edits made by someone at the 2006 gubernatorial DeVos campaign.
In one incident on June 1, 2006, the DeVos campaign simply deleted three paragraphs (shown below) which pointed out his refusal to disclose his personal tax statements.
==Tax statements for 2006 candidates==
- Granholm and her husband earned about $178,000 last year in [[gross income]] and paid $35,000 in state and federal taxes, according to published 2005 tax returns.[http://www.mlive.com...]
-
- DeVos has not disclosed his personal tax statements. Without releasing actual documents, it is unclear whether Devos will have any conflicts of interest as governor. A conflict did emerge between the [[Amway Grand Plaza Hotel]] in Grand Rapids of which DeVos is a partial owner, due to some conferences the state government has held there. [http://www.freep.com...]
-
- Michigan Democratic Party chairman Mark Brewer and the Granholm campaign have criticized the DeVoses for not releasing his tax returns. DeVos campaign spokesman [[John Truscott]] said voters are more worried about the economy than what's being paid in taxes.[http://www.mlive.com...]
On other days the DeVos campaign kept itself occupied by deleting the link to the Democratic hit site "WhatYouDontKnowAboutDick.com" and deleting a photograph from the Wikipedia entry and replacing it with one more flattering.
The good news is when Chrysler rolls out its $7,000 cars made in Communist China by workers working for less than a $1 an hour it will actually be marked up to $10,000 after all the safety features required for U.S. roads are added in.
It appears the communists were not able to win the Cold War because they could not keep up with our defense spending and match our amount of nuclear missiles, so they are trying to win by exporting American jobs to China. According to the Detroit Free Press, Chrysler will begin importing the cars that are priced less than half of the lowest current Chrysler product in partnership with Chery Automobile Co. The company is owned by the local government of Wuhu, located in the southeastern province of Anhui.
It's news like this that makes it clear why under President Bush's watch we have lost more than 3 million manufacturing jobs. Bush has completely ignored the manufacturing sector to the point that the alleged new jobs being created are not making up for the lost manufacturing jobs in both quantity and quality. The current tax policies, unfair trade polices and lack of enforcement of trade polices by the current administration is making it impossible for U.S. automakers to compete globally, and - as the ownership of Chery illustrates - foreign governments are helping foreign auto companies compete by providing health care for employees for help with health care and even manipulating currency to make their cars cheaper and U.S. cars more expensive. U.S. car companies are not just competing against foreign car companies they are competing against foreign governments.
I fail to see how U.S. automakers can compete against a communist country - because that's exactly what they are doing - or how importing the cars here can be good for anyone. This administration continues to make it attractive for U.S. companies to offshore jobs, and there is no way we can compete against a country that pays workers less than a dollar an hour. We will never win a race to the bottom, and why would we want to?
Under free trade agreements, we should be exporting our products to sell in China, but the only thing we are exporting is our decent paying jobs. Not only is China not allowing open markets, but with some three-quarters of the population living in poverty how can they even afford to buy anything? China has unfettered and unrestricted access to U.S. markets. That's despite the fact they compete with slave labor wages and production and wages and benefits manipulated and controlled by a Communist Chinese regime. The obvious question is why do we allow them unrestricted access to sell products made in China when they do not reciprocate?
It seems ironic that people like U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, is constantly speaking on his cable show and elsewhere about inferior products - especially auto parts - that are being manufactured in China that are exact look-alikes, complete with packaging and company name, that is costing U.S. manufactures as much as $250 billon a year in lost revenue, but we are now embracing them. In fact, Chery was also sued by GM Daewoo for copying that company's Chevrolet Spark. Why are we allowing this unfettered access without addressing the rip-off of American products, copyright infringement and patent infringement?
Then there is the obvious question of quality. We are getting products from China that lack the basic quality control procedures of products made in the U.S. to the point that it is endangering lives. Just last month more than 900,000 tubes of Chinese-made toothpaste containing diethylene glycol - a sweet, syrupy poison - were pulled off the shelves of U.S. stores.
Some Republicans have no problem with buying products from an enemy that just a few years ago we were calling our ideological enemy bent on destroying us. It was just some 20 years ago when former President and conservative hero Ronald Reagan called the second largest communist nation in the world an evil empire, but now we are buying cheap cars from the largest communist country because they can make them cheaper by paying workers dirt-cheap wages.
Some are saying there's a double standard because the Democratic leadership is not speaking out against this like they did last fall when Republican Gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos, as head of Amway, invested more than $200 million in Communist China for building plants to manufacture the company's products. I think they should, but I don't see how much effect the governor of a state and a state party chairman can have on federal trade policy.
It should also be pointed out that they were pointing out the lies of a political candidate during an election. DeVos was falsely claiming that investment was creating jobs in Michigan. If Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda ran for political office making the same untrue claim then Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer would be 100 percent correct in debunking that claim. Frankly, LaSorda should stick to managing the Dodgers.
DeVos also claimed that Chinese law says if you sell to the Chinese it must be built or manufactured in China, and that only those products made in China are sold in China. The first part is true, but Brewer presented proof that DeVos lied when he said those products made in China were not sold here. That begs the question: why don't we tell the Chinese and Chrysler if you sell to Americans it must be built or manufactured in America like the Chinese do?
(Poor bastards...since his daddy bought a heart, maybe the Floating Head could buy a brain while he's down there? - promoted by Nazgul35)
Unable to fool the people of Michigan, Dick DeVos (R-ScAmway) is taking his message to Florida.
Using the same overpaid spin doctors that guided his failed 2006 gubernatorial campaign, DeVos is now busy trying to convince the voters of Orlando that they really do want to pay more money for the Amway Arena. The Orlando Sentinel reports:
The Magic have released a new poll claiming 75 percent of residents think the Magic's paltry contribution to the team's proposed new arena is adequate and fair. This sharply conflicts with a Sentinel poll two weeks ago in which 70 percent said the Magic need to pay more?
What explains this? The Sentinel hired Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, an objective survey group that had no stake in the outcome of the poll. The Magic paid the Republican consulting group OnMessage Inc.
The firm's web site notes that founding partner Brad Todd produced advertising for a Michigan gubernatorial run by Dick DeVos, the son of Magic owner Rich DeVos. The younger DeVos was trounced by Democratic incumbent Jennifer Granholm. He earlier had served as president and CEO of the Magic.
OnMessage is not objective analyst of public opinion. It is hired to mold opinion and run campaigns.
Since the election in November, Betsy and I have received wonderful notes of encouragement from so many of you. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Our family has been doing very well and we continue to consider ourselves to be very blessed. In fact, our oldest (Rick) just turned 25. Hard to imagine we have been parents that long. Seems like yesterday we were bringing home our first baby.
In addition, other blessings have come our way. After the first of the year, I started doing what Betsy has been doing for nearly 5 years now, mentoring one day a week with a young 4th grade boy at an urban school in downtown Grand Rapids. I am reminded again of our important responsibility as adults and citizens to be sure America's promise is just as much available to him as it is to our own children.
We've been keeping busy with many different projects too, most importantly helping to make more jobs for Michigan. Our son Rick is continuing to grow his film distribution business (www.spout.com if you are looking for DVD's) and our company, Windquest, in Holland, MI continues to expand and create a better life for more Michigan families, but we can always use more customers..you can check us out at www.windquestco.com . Does anybody need a closet organizer?
In all seriousness, I can assure you that my passion for our state has not changed. I still believe Michigan holds great promise for the future. Betsy and I could never turn our backs on this great state; Michigan is our home. It wouldn't be an easy road, but with real leadership and all of us working together to make Michigan competitive once again, we could already be on the road to recovery.but we're not.
The NBA franchise Orlando Magic will now play in an arena named by a company affiliated with its owner.
Rich DeVos, the co-founder of Amway Corporation, owns the basketball team.
The Orlando City Council voted unanimously to accept the naming-rights agreement negotiated between the Magic and Amway that renames the building the Amway Arena.
(snip)
Amway will pay the city of Orlando $1.5 million for the four-year deal.
Really? Only $1.5 million? That's chump change for that company!!
Gee...it's sure been lonely around here without Amway to talk about anymore.
But wait...never fear! Our friends from Ada are back in the news again! Hooray for Amway! From today's AP wire:
ADA, Mich. (AP) — Amway Corp. and Mary Kay Inc. have received direct-selling licenses in China, ending an eight-year ban that limited the rival companies' recruitment of distributors.
The relaxed rules could further open a market that, with more than $2 billion in annual sales, has become the largest for Amway's parent company, Alticor Inc. Almost a third of Alticor's sales are made by Amway's subsidiary in China.
"It's going to be different for us to do business in China than other markets, but that's always been the case," Alticor spokesman Rob Zeiger told The Grand Rapids Press for a story published Wednesday. "We've always asked for a firm, long-term set of rules to play by, and that's what we have now.
-snip-
China prohibited direct sales in 1998, when a rash of illegal pyramid schemes caused huge economic losses around the country. The impending rules to outline what can and cannot be done selling products directly to China's 1.3 billion consumers will affect the companies' bottom lines.
China was supposed to have direct-marketing rules in place by Dec. 11, 2004. The major point of contention for Alticor has been the ban on multilevel marketing.
Anyone want to speculate on how big of a cut the Chinese government gets as part of this?
(This is the 25th diary in Liberal Lucy's series. Thank you LL for making the differences between Governor Granholm and the Amway Guy so clear. - promoted by Cordelia Lear)
(When I started this list and blog, I did it in the hopes of reaching the average, non-politically involved citizen. I wanted to bring the facts, as they already existed, together and show voters exactly where the candidates stood on the issues. Michiganians have a right to know exactly who they are voting for.
I never imagined how many hours of research, moments of stress ("@$!*^ How am I ever going to come up with 25!"), this would take from me. I still had to go on with my life, job, responsibilities, even with losing my grandfather (my inspiration for #15) in the middle of it all. But as I toiled, my resolve strengthened, my dedication deepened, and this list became a true labor of love. I know I've educated myself, and I hope that I've educated and opened even a few people's minds along the way.
A thanks goes out to all of my friends, mentors, supporters, and those of you who take the time to read my simple little list.
An even bigger thanks goes out to everyone who loves our great state just as much as I do, and works hard to keep it great by voting tomorrow. Without you, this list would be pointless and completely in vain. Without further adieu...)
Tomorrow we decide.
Who will lead us into the next 4 years?
Who will help us get jobs, healthcare coverage, keep our rights, and protect our children?
Who will fight for us?
China - one of our biggest global competitors. China- A place that Tricky Dick sent and created thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars. China - The place that Dick DeVos' Amway calls home. Michigan- Where Jennifer Granholm is bringing thousands of jobs and millions of dollars to. Michigan - The place where Jennifer Granholm calls home.
The difference is clear.
Dick DeVos = China
Jennifer Granholm = Michigan
3. Dick DeVos has a clear record on lobbying for unfair trade practices with China, hurting Michigan jobs and workers. The facts speak for themselves - Dick DeVos isn't working for the people of Michigan, but those of China.
"One CEO firmly in the China camp is Amway's Dick DeVos -- though that's not surprising given the millions he has bet on Beijing." (Business Week, 9/14/98)
Official records through the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives showed the Amway Corporation, while Dick DeVos was President, lobbied for U.S. trade with China, including Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. (Amway Lobbying Report, 2/14/01)
On February 23, 2000, while Dick DeVos was President of Amway, Steve Van Andel, Chairman of Amway, testified before the Senate Committee on Finance in support of the PNTR.
The China Daily reported Amway Corp was "working hard to ensure the US Congress grants China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. The act is needed to pave the way for China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO)."(China Daily, 1/30/00)
Dick DeVos chose China, NOT Michigan. On May 17, 2006, the Detroit News published a letter from the former Amway President himself. In the letter, Dick DeVos said his company invested $200 million in China. (Detroit News 5/17/06)
Today, there are more Amway jobs in China than the company’s home state of Michigan. Alticor’s Media Blog admitted DeVos’ China investment ended with 4,300 jobs in China. (Alticor Media Blog, 4/13/06)
Today, Amway no longer considers itself an American company, admitting that it "…considers itself an Asian company, with nearly 70 percent of its sales coming from the region."(Detroit Free Press, 10/22/04)
3. Jennifer Granholm has worked tirelessly to bring jobs back to Michigan. In 2005 and 2006, Governor Granholm made 2 trips to Japan, and brought back over 1,000 jobs and $200 million in investment for Michigan.
Eighteen Japanese companies chose to invest in Michigan after meeting with Governor Granholm:
Konica Minolta Holdings purchased newspaper printing plate manufacturer American Litho in Grand Rapids. Konica plans to invest $13.3 million in expanding their facility to create 70 new jobs.
Meiden American, a heavy electrical equipment manufacturer, is planning to expand its Michigan presence by investing $10 million to open a new facility.
Shikoku Cable Company plans to invest $250,000 to expand its sales operations in Novi. The company manufactures coaxial cable for the satellite and cable television industry.
Taichi-S, an automotive seating manufacturer, is planning to invest $700,000 to expand its existing engineering facility in Farmington Hills.
JTETK, a partnership formed earlier this year between Toyoda Machinery and Koyo Seiko, nnounced the company will expand operations in Plymouth. The company manufactures auto parts including steering systems, bearings and drivelines.
Takao Metals, which currently has an engineering facility in Wixom, has recently begun construction on a new facility in Canton to expand engineering and light assembly operations. The parent company of Takao America will invest $10 million.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, which currently has an office in Sterling Heights, will locate a new facility in Wixom this summer. The company produces heavy equipment, including engines and power systems.
Mitsui Chemical, one of the world’s largest producers of chemical products, has announced the company will consolidate production at its Adrian facility this summer. The consolidation will generate approximately $6 million in investment and move jobs from the company’s Indiana plant.
Hitachi Automotive, one of three core member companies of the Hitachi Group, a leading maker of powerful, corporate transaction oriented mainframes as well as semiconductors, PCs and other information system and telecommunications technologies will grow in Michigan. Hitachi is located in Farmington Hills and employs 130 people.
Sekisui Chemical is a diverse company with a range of products from housing and agriculture to medical, electronics and automotive. Its Voltek division is located in Coldwater where it employs 170 individuals and generates sales of approximately $60 million.
Nippon Antenna is undertaking a site search for a new R&D facility in Michigan. The company produces a variety of antenna devices, including automotive and satellite systems, and currently has a sales center in Farmington Hills.
Nippon Piston Ring is completing a new plant in Grand Haven under the name NPR Manufacturing Michigan and preparing to hire new workers. The company currently operates its Assembled Camshafts, Inc. in Grand Haven.
Advanced Special Tools in Battle Creek will create a new subsidiary called Advanced Plastics Molding in Battle Creek. AST currently employs 55 workers at its manufacturing facility in Battle Creek’s Fort Custer Industrial Park.
Nakagawa Special Steel is opening its first sales office in Novi. Nakagawa is a steel trading company, established in 1924, specializing in steel for manufacturing including automotive, industrial machines and home appliances.
Taiko Device Technologies is opening its first North American office in Southfield. Established in 1968, Taiko manufactures and sells various electronics devices such as relay systems for automobile use.
A&D Inc. is establishing A&D Technology Inc. as its wholly-owned subsidiary in Ann Arbor, to commence development of its Measurement, Control and Simulation Systems business in the North American region. The company is investing $500,000 and hiring several employees. The company also recently acquired MTS Systems Corp.’s Powertrain Technology Division in Ann Arbor.
DENSO will invest $36 million to expand its North American headquarters in Southfield and create 250 new jobs.
Tokai Rika will invest $50 million to grow its operations in Battle Creek, Jackson, and Plymouth, creating 230 new jobs.
Sources:michigan.gov 5/18/06, Detroit News 9/22/06, Detroit Free Press 5/18/06, Michigan Economic Development Corporation 5/16/06)
SBT (Single Business Tax) - Everyone's talking about it.
It's an almost $1.9 Billion tax.
Dick says he's going to fix it when he's governor.
But let's back up and figure out exactly what Dick's definition of fixing actually is.
Last time I did math, fixing did not mean leaving the average citizen footing $5 Billion.
Since when is a $5 Billion tab better than $1.9 Billion?
Who's Dick fixing things for himself or the people of Michigan?
5. Dick DeVos' Turn Around Plan will cost Michigan taxpayers over 5 Billion dollars.
Tricky Dick is trying to pull another fast one on the people of Michigan. Using his figures here's the estimates of his so-called Turn Around Plan. (see below)
5. Governor Granholm is going to get rid of the SBT responsibly, without cutting vital programs.
Governor Granholm is the only candidate for Governor who has proposed a detailed plan to get rid of the Single Business Tax and replace it with the fair tax on businesses that will protect vital funding for health care, education, and public safety.
Granholm has said she favors eliminating the business tax, but only if it has a replacement as part of the deal. (Detroit News 6/11/06)
Some of the key points in her replacement plan include:
Encouraging Major Employers to Keep Jobs in MI.
Encourage Small Businesses to Grow, Attract Jobs of the Future.
Make Business Tax Structure More Fair
More from Amway Guy
The Michigan General Operating Budget is just over $9 Billion. (Office of the Budget)
Dick DeVos' Turn Around Plan will cost the people of Michigan $5.1 Billion. (Michigan Democratic Party, 7/06)
This calculation does not include Amway Guy's proposed cap on sales tax on gasoline. That number is estimated at an additional $285 Million. (Gongwers News Service 6/27/06)
What's more, DeVos is willing to steal from public education, police and fire just to make a tax cut.
The DeVos' plan, "would save drivers about $1 per fill-up, while wiping out an estimated $285 million that goes to public schools, local police and fire services and mass transit. Incredibly, DeVos reportedly called the revenue loss inconsequential." (
Detroit Free Press 5/14/06 editorial)
Dick wants to cut a tax that the State doesn't even collect on.
Treasury officials cited the same law (CL 211.9(j)) in noting that current law does exempt farm equipment from the personal property tax. (Gongwer 6/26/06)
George W. Bush.
Ethics.
Michigan Voters.
Not really three terms that really make sense when you put them all together.
Bush - Otherwise known as The President Who Forgot the Michigan Auto Industry If you're Dick DeVos, you might call him one of your best friends.
That is, if you determine your friends by how much money you give to them.
But you got to ask yourself, why raise all that money if you don't want something in return....
6. Dick DeVos loves him some George W. Bush (as long as he gets a little something in return...) Nothing wrong with having money, that is unless you use that money unethically. The DeVos record is clear.
DeVos Money and Ethics - not in Michigan's best interest.
Dick DeVos and his family were the largest contributors in the nation to the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign in 2000, giving $602,000. (The Wall Street Journal, 12/8/00)
In the 2004 Bush Campaign, Betsy DeVos was named a “Pioneer” for raising more than $100,000. (Detroit Free Press, 6/18/06)
Dick and Betsy DeVos were the nation's fifth largest donors to state Republican organizations and caucuses in 2003-04, giving $981,486. (Detroit Free Press, 6/18/06)
In total, Dick DeVos and family members contributed more than $4.7 million in the 2004 election cycle alone. (Detroit Free Press, June 18, 2006) Here's the real problem -
Betsy DeVos admitted she expected something in return for her contributions. “I know a little something about soft money, as my family is the largest single contributor of soft money to the national Republican party. Occasionally a wayward reporter will try to make the charge that we are giving this money to get something in return, or that we must be purchasing influence in some way. ..I have decided, however, to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence. Now I simply concede the point. They are right. We do expect some things in return.” (Roll Call, 9/6/97)
And Amway Guy's Dad agrees.
DeVos’ father Rich explained that Amway’s massive lobbying efforts and record political contributions allowed them to “buy access.” (Business Week 2/16/98)
And Dick won't disclose his tax returns, so who knows what else he's hiding from Michigan voters.
“I will be disclosing to the people of Michigan that which I think is appropriate to understand as they look to make a decision about their next Governor.” (WILX-TV, 1/11/06)
6. Governor Jennifer Granholm's personal and professional ethics are unassailable.
Speaking about her ethics proposal, Granholm said “Accountability and openness are at the heart of any democracy. This comprehensive package will ensure that Michigan voters have accurate, honest information on which to judge candidates and elected officials,” said Granholm. Michigan has recently been shown to be among the weakest states in the Union for public servant’s financial disclosure, and Granholm has asked the Legislature to approve the changes she is proposing in early 2006. (PAA Online 12/16/05)
Even the traditionally Pro-DeVos Detroit News agrees, saying Granholm's ethics proposal deserves action by lawmakers. Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed ethics legislation serves a useful purpose. It should put pressure on GOP state lawmakers to finish up some ethics business of their own.
The governor announced that she and Democratic lawmakers have introduced a package of bills to require state appointed and elected officials to disclose their financial interests. Part of the legislation requires candidates for governor to reveal their federal income tax returns going back for three years."(Detroit News 4/22/06)
(Update: According to the LSJ's Election Blog, the infamous Teddy has been pulled from Quixtar's online store. And still, no word from the DeVos camp since the ad debuted.)
Jobs, jobs, jobs.
That's the single biggest issue in this election.
Michigan's people want to know that there are jobs out there.
The thing about us Michiganians, we don't like to be deceived.
Just give it to us plain, simple and honest. Why did Dick DeVos send our jobs to China and lie to us about it?
7. Dick DeVos lied to us, the people of Michigan.
Not only did Tricky Dick cut 1,400 Michigan jobs, and invest $220 Million in China, but now those goods from China are being sold here in the US, even though Dick said that they weren't.
Facts Established:
Dick laid off 1,400 Michigan voters. (Detroit News 8/24/06)
Amway invested $220Million in China (Detroit News 8/24/06)
Amway created 4,300 new jobs in China (Alticor/Amway) Blog 4/13/06)
DeVos Campaign Says : Not one Michigan job has ever been shipped to China and nothing made in China is sold in the United States." (Setting the Record Straight, DeVos for Governor, 8/26/06)
Amway Teddy Bears sold in the U.S. are made in China. (Quixtar/Amway) Website)
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that the field of candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination has gone from seven to six.
