HD064 Incumbent Martin J. Griffin (D-Jackson)

by: matt

Thu Jun 08, 2006 at 12:28:14 PM EDT

Campaign website

Biography:

Martin Griffin was born and raised in Jackson, one of seven children. He has resided here his entire life.  He is a graduate of Jackson Lumen Christi, Jackson Community College, and the University of Michigan.
Since taking office as Mayor of Jackson in 1995, Martin has made it his mission to make Jackson a better place to work and live.

To say that Martin has been a successful mayor is a bit of an understatement.  Today’s Jackson is a far cry from the Jackson of the early 1990’s, when closed factories, high unemployment, wasted industrial sites and a downtown in serious distress ruled the day.  During Martin’s tenure in office, Jackson has prospered under a redevelopment plan that cleaned up the city, added new jobs, created a booming downtown and nurtured business.

Martin has balanced the books every year while keeping taxes low. A shrewd budget planner, he has never raised taxes. While most cities are struggling with their bottom line, Jackson is  financially sound and has not been forced to lay off workers like other  cities in Michigan.
It’s no coincidence.

Martin’s common-sense approach to issues is truly bi-partisan. He has experience working for both Democrats (House Speakers Lew Dodak & Curtis Hertel) and Republicans (Congressman Carl D. Pursell).  Few people in elected office today share that perspective.
Martin listens to voters. “He keeps in close contact with the electorate,” said Warren Renando, former City Manager of Jackson. “He knows when they are mad about something, he knows what’s going on in the community, and he knows what the people are feeling. He understands what the community wants to do, and sees that it gets done in a fiscally responsible manner.”  (Quoted in Jackson Magazine.)

(Source: campaign website)

HD064 District Profile

by: matt

Fri Aug 26, 2005 at 01:00:00 AM EDT

Supporter of no reason absentee ballot does flip-flop

by: kjbas58

Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 22:59:58 PM EDT

Last week the committee voted out House Bill 4048, introduced on Jan. 22 by Rep. Martin Griffin, D-Jackson, that will allow anyone to get an absentee ballot at their local clerk's office for no reason. Currently, there are only six reasons that the law allows people to vote absentee, including a physical disability and requires assistance when attending the polls, has religious tenets that prohibit attendance at the polls, is an election precinct inspector in another precinct, is 60 years of age or older, will be absent from home on election day or cannot attend the polls because of being in jail awaiting arraignment or trial. This bill will allow anyone to get an absentee ballot.

But Subscription only MIRS reported that Rep. Chris Ward, R-Brighton, "no longer supports no reason absentee voting by mail, a change that could make an upcoming vote on the issue break down along party lines." Ward is the House Minority Floor Leader and the former clerk in Brighton Township, and as such he is "the leading GOP caucus voice on elections and related reforms."

HD064 Rep. Rick Baxter (R-Hanover) is incompetent

by: matt

Sat Aug 19, 2006 at 14:47:13 PM EDT

Democrats essentially say Baxter, R-Concord, should have known better when he pushed for the $500,000. When the budget made its way to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, she rightly vetoed it, they say.
The DNR attaches more strings to the funds. Maureen Houghton, a grants specialist for the department, said grants from the fund are allocated competitively. (emphasis added)

Greg Bird, spokesman for the state budget office, said Granholm's approval of the budget amendment would have been a "violation of federal rules," he said.
His comment, however, appears to mix federal rules and departmental policies. (emphasis added)

Backers of unfunded $1.9 billion tax cut still want their pork

by: matt

Fri Aug 18, 2006 at 12:51:08 PM EDT

• We go first to Michigan's glorious northland - to Petoskey - where there's a hole in the harbor breakwater. Fixing this would ordinarily be the responsibility of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Unfortunately, the Corps is a bit short of cash these days and the project has been delayed. Gee, I wonder who is in charge of funding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers?  Anyway, State Senator and parking deck enthusiast Sen. Jason Allen (R-Traverse City) proposed having the State of Michigan pick up the $400,000 tab (because we're just loaded with cash these days) until "The Decider" and his Republican Congress come through with the moolah (which would - in all likelihood - be never). No dice, says Governor Granholm. Here's Allen's response in the Petsokey News-Review:
  

  “It's unfortunate that the governor chose to veto this funding tool for the Petoskey harbor,” he said.
  

  Remember, this is a guy who just voted to gut funding for nearly a quarter of the state general fund budget to pay for a $1.9 billion business tax cut. Here's a clip from his official statement:
  

  “I see absolutely no logic in why the governor vetoed this funding,” Allen said. “I’m stunned to say the least.”
  

  Stunned. Yeah, that's the right word. OINK!

Jackson Cit-Pat slams Legislature on $1.9 billion business tax cut

by: matt

Wed Aug 16, 2006 at 12:30:51 PM EDT

Unless lawmakers vote to come up with some replacement revenue for the SBT, there will have to be severe, deep cuts in state services. Since state and local governments have been cutting their budgets for the last year or two, what is the huge $1.9 billion tax cut likely to do? Improve Michigan's crumbling infrastructure? Not hardly. Improve the schools? No again.

Don't read us wrong here. Of course tax burden is important. We're among those who believe the SBT should be phased out, but at least partially replaced. So the debate here is mostly about how the tax is cut, not whether it should be cut.

Wall Street wasn't impressed with the Legislature's action last week either. Standard & Poor's quickly notified the state that its credit rating is getting a negative outlook.

And lawmakers, unless we are very, very wrong, once that $1.9 billion tax cut begins taking effect, forcing cutbacks throughout the state, Wall Street's negative reaction will be echoed by Main Street Michigan. (emphasis added)

GOP Rep. Baxter: Minimum wage hike "the worst day" of his term

by: ScottyUrb

Fri Jul 14, 2006 at 01:09:54 AM EDT

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer criticized State Representative Rick Baxter (R-Concord) today after Baxter told a Lansing newsletter that the “worst day” of his first term was when the State Legislature approved raising the minimum wage.

“Rick Baxter’s comments are despicable and an insult to our hard working families in Jackson County and throughout the state,” said Brewer. “The minimum wage increase will help thousands of working families. Even Republican House Speaker Craig DeRoche realized the benefits and voted to increase the minimum wage. Baxter’s comments show Jackson County and the entire state just how out-of-touch he is with our working families. Jackson deserves someone in office who understands the people and Baxter is not that person.”

In the July 6th issue of the Lansing-based newsletter MIRS, Baxter was asked about his worst day in the Legislature. He said, “Quite honestly — I'm sure my party will hit me for this — the worst day was when we passed the minimum wage. That was one of those days when I sat back and thought, this day will never come while we're in power. That's pretty easy as far as the worst.”

After tireless pressure from Democrats and the public, the Legislature passed the minimum wage increase raising it to $7.40 an hour by July 2008. That’s up from the current $5.15 an hour, which is the federal rate passed in 1997 and has been unchanged since.

HD064 Former Representative Rick Baxter (R-Hanover)

by: matt

Fri Aug 26, 2005 at 01:00:00 AM EDT

Campaign Website

Biography:

POLITICAL
Baxter was elected to his first term in the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2004.
Before his election to the state House, Baxter spent two years as a Jackson County Commissioner. On the County Commission, Baxter authored a resolution “Honoring and Supporting Our Troops,” worked on a committee that looked into and found ways for the county to save money and other resources, and authored a resolution “Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage.”
EDUCATION
Baxter was educated primarily at Northwest Public Schools and is a graduate of Lenawee Christian. He graduated from Spring Arbor University with a degree in English and Business.
PROFESSIONAL
Since graduation from high school, Rick has worked for his family’s manufacturing business, Baxter Machine, most recently working as Chief Financial Officer.
ORGANIZATIONS
Rick and his family are members of the Horton Road Church of Christ. Through church, Rick has taught Sunday school classes, participated in prison ministry at the Parnall Correctional Facility, and enjoyed barbecues at the Inter-Faith Shelter in Jackson.
PERSONAL
Baxter was born July 18, 1979. Rick lives with his wife Erica and their three children: Isaac (7), Rachel (5), and Seth (2). (Republican Caucus)