R-E-S-P-E-C-T

by: LiberalLucy

Sat Sep 22, 2007 at 19:30:00 PM EDT

A chance conversation with a Republican House Communications staffer about Republican Representative Chris Ward's departure from his party's position on raising income taxes. When I mentioned how much I respected Rep. Ward's decision and that I planned to do a post about it, the staffer was clearly surprised and said:

Staffer: Well I wish you would show more respect to the rest of our caucus. After all, they are elected officials too.
LiberalLucy: Very true, however there's that issue of their duty to their constituency, and that's where the gray area comes into play.

Where is the respect in this entire process?

• Is it merely between the legislators themselves?

• Is it between the 10+ million citizens and the 148 legislators?

• Is respect only reserved for members of a political party or ideology?
  

As a resident of Michigan, I show my respect by voting, paying taxes and being a good steward of this state's resources. In return, I expect that my state government will provide emergency personnel, quality education, opportunities for employment, a social safety net for those who need it, care for our elders and much more.

We show respect to our legislators by voting for them, by making sure that they have generous salaries and benefits, staff to support them, offices to house them and by communicating with them about our needs and concerns.

In return, legislators are responsible for speaking on behalf of their constituents and enacting legislation that both serves and protects the people and the state of Michigan. When constituents fail to speak, legislators listen to only themselves, their party and the special interest groups that come with checkbooks.

Legislators are public servants. They are elected by and for the people to serve this State. Legislators are also human beings who are not somehow elevated by election to something more than the rest of us. Public servants with the same frailties as the rest of us. Not gods. Not omniscient.Not better or worse. Simply human. And as humans, they deserve respect but in order for them to get it, they have to give it.

So while we have this brief pause in the process, let's get back on that two-way street. Regardless of your position or your feelings, call and email your representative and senator. Give them that respect, and in return ask them to listen to you. Because in the end, if we can't have shared respect, what do we have?

What about the Senate?

by: LiberalLucy

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 15:34:50 PM EDT

Perhaps I've been entrenched at the House for too long, perhaps I've developed a political Stockholm Syndrome and I feel for my Democratic 'captors', or perhaps there's still a shred of logic left in my tired, sleep deprived brain, but I'm going to take the more unpopular road for just a moment.

Have we forgotten about the Senate?

Yes, it'd be nice if all 58 Democratic House members could just hit the green button and head home. If that had been the case, we'd never be having this discussion. It'd be done and over, period.

However, thanks to that little 'wrinkle' that is our great system of checks and balances, it has one other body to get through first, the Senate.  Most unfortunate for us is the so-called leader Republican Mike Bishop, who despite the copious amounts of hair product and vanity in his possession, is still the majority vote leader.

Already proven himself to be the biggest obstructionist of them all, I really doubt that we'll ever find Bishop encouraging his members to vote for a Democrat-only House bill, and that leaves us back at the illogical political standoff at O.K. Corral, again.

Many of you have said this morning that we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, but is it really crossable? Will a single party bill actually help or hinder the chances of preventing a government shutdown?

I'm convinced that this situation and these questions have been asked and played out in the minds of some of the state's most brilliant political strategists for months and months. Still the overwhelming factor crushing it all is the out-of-touch evil Bobsey Twins of Bishop and DeRoche of the House. They don't care and just like with small children, no one can seem to make them care.

So back to the Democratic vote only option. Dillon was asked this morning by a reporter whether or not it would pass the House as a Democrat-only bill, and he said that time was drawing very near, so for those of you shouting for that, rest assured that's a very real and near option. But again, what about the Senate?

We're at the impasse of picking our poison. Neither seems very desirable or healthy, because in the end, there's still that pesky Senate to get past.

House Republicans want their Shutdown

by: LiberalLucy

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 08:52:37 AM EDT

To no one's surprise and to every one's dismay, House Republicans again reneged on an agreement to reach a bi-partisan deal that would prevent the state government from shutting down on October 1st.

After Dillon finished speaking to the press, House Democratic Communications passed out a list of reforms had already been introduced, to prove that the Dems were doing all they could to get this problem solved.

Clearly, with the exception of Rep. Chris Ward (R-Brighton), the House Republicans can't decide who they want to anger more. Us the constituency or Dillon and the House Dems.

After some badly-needed shut eye, I'll do a more extensive piece, but for now, I can barely keep my eyes open.

Yup, they did it again...

by: LiberalLucy

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 07:55:49 AM EDT

As one reporter put it, "What just happened to the last six hours of my life?"

I'm not quite sure to do, the media isn't quite sure to do, but the general consensus is that everyone is on the point of exhaustion.

Many of us have been up for 24 hours now, and there's a copious amount of caffeine that's being made and consumed at a somewhat equal rate.

While there are a few lobbyists left in the gallery, most have succumbed to need for sleep and gone home.

What is amazing is the resolve and furor of the Democratic Caucus. Without a doubt, each and everyone of them is beyond tired. But not only is no one breaking ranks by leaving, they continue to stand tall and strong together.

They will not give in.

Say 'Thanks' to this Republican, he's earned it.

by: LiberalLucy

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 05:49:19 AM EDT

People are used to having the left fight the right and vice versa, and sometimes when those two sides get along, people become confused and forget what you're supposed to do when they aren't fighting.

This is one of those rare times where I would ask you to consider stepping away from the norm. I'm guessing that after you read this, you'll understand why.

We're in the middle of a constitutional crisis. We have to come together and make a compromise.

I'm going to pay a very heavy political price for doing this. But I feel some solace in knowing I'm doing the right thing.

Citing constituent opinion "3 to 1 against tax increase", Ward temporarily stepped aside from his leadership position within the House Republican Caucus because he joined ranks with Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) and Majority Floor Leader Steve Tobocman (D-Detroit) in voting for this bill.

When asked what reasons within his own district spurred his decision, Ward cited public education.

My public schools are feeling a terrible crunch. Cost of public education is skyrocketing, as are retirement, health care costs, etc. Good public schools mean a lot to me.

I abhor taxes, but this is a fair way to do it with the least impact on state services. This is the first of many, many difficult votes necessary for this chamber to move on from this crisis. I find some solace in knowing I'm doing the right thing.

I commend Rep. Ward, and I would ask that each and everyone of you, regardless of whether or not you live in his district, would do the same. Positive reinforcement has a longer lasting impact than does the negative. While we always know that doing the right thing isn't always popular, we are much more cognizant of it when we actually witness it.

Thank Rep. Ward by email or by phone 517.373.1784.

An End in Sight?

by: LiberalLucy

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 05:06:42 AM EDT

Republican Rep. Chris Ward of Brighton, so far the lone member of his caucus to vote with a majority of Democrats said that his fellow colleagues Judy Emmons of Sheridan and Dick Ball of Bennington Twp. would soon follow his lead.

It looks as if the Democrats will be wrapping up this day and night long vote quickly.

Four in the morning and still going strong

by: LiberalLucy

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 04:26:38 AM EDT

There are now 51 names green on the board. Only 5 more names to go.

This is endurance with a capital 'E'.

Thoughts at 3 a.m. from the House Floor

by: LiberalLucy

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 03:14:12 AM EDT

While the vote was officially started at 1:03 a.m. and even now as the clock inches toward three, it keeps going, there are some interesting things happen.

• The carpet on the House floor between the Democratic Caucus room and the Governor's office has seen a lot of traffic tonight.
• The Democrats are back in caucus.
• The Republicans are snoozing in their chairs.
• I think Craig DeRoche heeded my plea to stay away from the press box. Thank you!
• Leon is causing rowdy but hopefully sober (*cough Garfield, cough cough*) Republicans to shout up into the gallery to him. Rapunzel he is not.
• I think the media could have solved this last week. All they've been doing is theorizing, strategizing, and guessing about how it really should have been done since the first day I got here.
• There are still a lot lobbyists up in the Gallery. You can bet they aren't getting overtime.
• There are a lot of terrible jokes out there, and I think that by now on this 7th Day, I've heard them all, twice.
• The media people have a great sense of humor and a somewhat fascinating curiosity about blogs.
  
• A vulnerable Democrat (Dudley Spade of Tipton) just very slyly flipped green. Hot damn!
• The Republican Communications folks are all very friendly and have personally come up and introduced themselves to me. I now feel even sorrier for them that have to deal with DeRoche. They don't seem to deserve it.
• I'm still blogging fairly coherently. For a person with chronic illness who's also dealing with a massive 3 year-old kidney stone (I'm not kidding) and all the pain associated with it, I'm surprised how few mistakes I've made, and how quickly I've managed to catch them. Feel free to let me know if you find any, my eyes are glazed over right now.

Want to go to Mackinac? Just press Green

by: LiberalLucy

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 02:50:04 AM EDT

The House Dems should have been there for the Almo. They would have done us proud. We're now entering Day 7, and they are still standing strong.

Not as likely but definitely to the Republican's disfavor is that tomorrow starts the ultra-conservative funded Mackinac Policy Center Conference. Think of it as a giant cheer camp for the righty-tidies who gather together, remember how much they hate everything, except their special-interest donors (Amway, calling Amway!), rehash the tired rhetoric, do their Little Engine that Could exercises (I think I can stay on message, I think I can stay on message...)and take glee in predicting doom and gloom for the state, especially if a Democrat is in charge.

With session going so late tonight, a lot of them are going to be hard-pressed to make their fancy flights to Mackinac, much less drive the 3-4 hours to catch the ferry. Boo hoo.

But the definite theory that always wins is that the Democratic Caucus is standing firm for you, to save you the blood and guts that Republicans and Pigs would like to take from you.

So even when frustration and tiredness looms, remember that this is a collective effort, and if they can stand firm for 7 days, they can keep doing it till the cows come home.

And we're back!

by: LiberalLucy

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 01:17:22 AM EDT

Update (1:13 a.m.)With 48 yes votes on the board, the Democrats are looking for 8 more votes. You'll notice that some very safe Dems are staying yellow. This is political voting strategy at it's best.

Speaker Dillon and Republican Chris Ward are on the floor discussing right now. As NoviDemocrat accurately pointed out, Ward of Brighton is the only Republican to vote yes. He's also as far from the Republican side of the floor as he can get. Let me be the first to (very cautiously) applaud Chris Ward.

There's also some very interesting swing votes being pulled individually out to caucus rooms.

Expect to see a possible few red votes on the Republican and Democratic side turn green. There's a system of signals that have been set up, and when one key vote 'goes' red or green, that's when the previously few selected go as well. From this angle, it's like watching legislative Battleship being played. This is where term-limits start to really hinder the process and the People.

----------------------------------------------
The Governor has made a noticeable appearance on the floor talking with some key Democratic legislators, as is Lt. Governor John Cherry.

Attendance just ended, Rep. Agema was the only member 'excused', uhh, I'm not sure about that.

The voting board just opened on 5195, and the only difference is that the tie-bar for the use (service) tax has been removed.

Tallying the votes now.

Proper words to start the day with

by: LiberalLucy

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 00:37:46 AM EDT

Heavenly Father, we ask for your guidance as you have guided others that have come before us during times like these.
This great state has been a haven for your people and you have provided for their needs.
Allow us to hear your guidance so as to also understand those needs.
Grant us the ability to hear you and have us act as you direct us.
We ask not out of selfishness but with desire to do what is best for the people of this state, not only for this moment but for years to come. Amen.

As the Witching Hour Approaches

by: LiberalLucy

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 00:02:55 AM EDT

The voting board will be cleared, and at 12:01 a.m. the invocation will be given and we'll all stand for the Pledge. My guess is that there will be a new vote put up shortly afterwards.

Will we see changes? If past history is any guide, there's that chance. For those of you wondering why some Democrats are still yellow, including some very safe Democrats, keep in mind one thing. There's a method to this madness, just as there is with any voting body. I would guess that 99.9% of these votes and the order in which they proceed are pre-ordained in caucus. Don't fret, the Democratic caucus is all smiles and there's good feeling of control all around the Floor.

What you can't see from HouseTV

by: LiberalLucy

Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 22:54:05 PM EDT

Here's a brief list while I wait for both parties to return from Caucus.

• Sen. Mickey Switalski (D-Roseville) and Sen. Valde Garcia (R-Howell) have both been present on the floor tonight talking with various members of each party's caucus.
• The Gallery is chock-full of lobbyists some wringing their hands, others typing a million miles a minute on their Blackberries.
• Leon Drolet is sucking off power and wireless Internet from the state with his laptop in gallery. Very few people have been seen with him, but Rep. John Garfield (R-2 Drinking While Driving) of Rochester Hills has been quite cozy with him. If Drolet ever bothers to follow the law and file his donations, you'll see quite a sizable chunk of change from the Terrible Toupee himself.
• The Lt. Governor, Budget Director and former Senate Democratic Leader Bob Emerson, and representatives from the Governor's office are all present.

What is HB 5195?

by: LiberalLucy

Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 22:27:20 PM EDT

If you're looking at the board right there, there are some very interesting colors up. 

While we wait for the rest of the votes to be cast, here's what the bill does.

• Raises the income tax from the current 3.9% to 4.6%. In 2011, the income tax will drop back down to 4.2%
• 0.05 of that will go to school equity for those school districts that receive the lowest funding. ($83 Million)
• 0.025 will go to the DNR Fish and Game Conservancy Fund to help offset the license fees. ($42 Million)
• This bill is tie barred to reforms, including a use tax.
• The entire bill would supplement $1.1 Billion, leaving room for plenty more reforms and cuts.

The Democrats are heading back to Caucus as we speak. 

Vote Tonight: Live from the House Floor

by: LiberalLucy

Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 22:00:22 PM EDT

I'm not much of a betting kind of woman, but tonight I'd put good money on a vote on the state budget here in the House. Now, I won't go as far as saying there's a deal, but at this point, any movement is good movement.

For the 20th or so time, I'm suggesting that while you keep MichLib on your screen and frequently hit 'refresh', you should also pull up HouseTV.

The Floor is a-buzzin' and something is definitely about to go down.

Once again, this Liberal Lucy, the very first credentialed blogger of the Michigan House of Representatives reporting live from the House Floor.

From the 'Moderates-On-DeRoche' Mailbag

by: LiberalLucy

Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 21:21:56 PM EDT

I usually get copied on several angry constituent emails to Republican House Minority Leader Craig DeRoche every day. While the anger and frustration of the residents of the 38th House District is more than apparent, as far as I know, most of these letters have been from his more progressive constituents.

Today marks a bit of history, as far as my inbox is concerned. Now I'm getting angry constituent emails from members of his own party who would like nothing better than to see DeRoche (R-Irrelevant) fade off into the sunset of Novi, they are that disenfranchised.

Dear Liberal Lucy,

I've been loving your recent comments about Craig DeRoche. I swear he's going to be President of the United States some day! He is such an idiot! It used to be so much fun seeing him stumbling around on community access TV during his Novi City Council days, when his fellow council members had to routinely call him out on his mistakes. And good grief! He'd waste 10-15 minutes at a time asking dumb questions about such obvious points, and his colleagues would have to keep repeatedly dumbing down their answers until he finally was able to figure things out.

-snip-

I bill myself as a "moderate Republican", but I honestly don't know what I am anymore.  The Republican party has just been a bunch of jackasses in Michigan ever since the ultra-conservative Western Michigan cabal took over circa the Engler years. Our Republican leaders are so simplistic and idealistic, without any mental capacity for subtlety and nuances over issues.  That's why they love DeRoche so much, because he can bray "taxes are bad" and "Democrats are bad" as well as the best of them. He doesn't have a brain in his head and he can be manipulated so easily. (I also think conservative grandmothers love his baby face.)

Our best hope is to keep him in the spotlight as much as possible so he can be permanently humiliated into retiring from public office for good.

Keep up the good work, Liberal Lucy.  You might make a Democrat out me yet!  ;-)

Like I said in an earlier post, Craig DeRoche just makes my job so easy....

Is that an Echo from the Free Press I hear?

by: LiberalLucy

Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 14:01:31 PM EDT

I'll never go as far to say that I came up with the nickname 'Irrelevant' for House Republican Leader Craig DeRoche of Novi, but it sure is nice to do a whole post about it and then see similar thoughts in one of the state's largest newspaper four days later.

In my humble opinion, Brian Dickerson is one of the Detroit Free Press' better columnists. He's written quite a few very well put articles about various issues affecting the state throughout the years. Needless to say, I'm not surprised that he seems to be the first reporter to actually print what seems to be common knowledge between the legislative community at-large and the capitol press corps.

Dickerson starts with a bang out of the gate -

As state lawmakers grope for a solution to the budget impasse, the case of former state House Speaker Craig DeRoche shows just how irrelevant, and even destructive, a once-powerful lawmaker can become when his party is on the outs.

It was nice to see DeRoche's major accounting faux pas brought up by Dickerson as well. Democratic Representative Steve Bieda of Warren actually referred to it as 'Enron Accounting' in another post of mine. Here's Dickerson take on it -

He (DeRoche) has spent the last two months telling anyone who will listen that Michigan's $1.75-billion deficit is a hoax perpetrated by Democrats and the "real deficit" is only about $587 million. 

-snip-

So Bishop can't afford the luxury of full-time posturing, and he has largely treated DeRoche like an obnoxious kid brother whose presence he has to suffer, but not necessarily to acknowledge.

It is rather nice to see the press starting to write about House Windbag DeRoche. Even though his colleagues in the Legislature disregard just about everything he says and does and have left him out of negotiations since March, they might want to think about wising up.

While it's not generally my position to dispense advice to the Michigan Republican Party, I will offer up some in the hopes that everyone is spared the embarrassment and awkwardness that Craig DeRoche perpetuates every time he opens his mouth.

Time to cut your losses and your losers. Get a real leader in place before you're laughed out of Lansing and the state.

Someone Please Stop the Craig DeRoche Train Wreck

by: LiberalLucy

Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 01:45:04 AM EDT

I swear I have no idea how House Republican Minority Leader Craig DeRoche of Novi retains his title of leadership. 

The man is a walking public relations disaster.

While I start salivating the minute I see him walk over to the House press box, I have to be honest, my heart goes out to the House Republican Communications staff who are charged with handling him. What a miserable, thankless job.

He makes it so easy for both this partisan blogger and the objective mainstream media (MSM) to make him look like a fool, because he makes the most ridiculous statements.

Take for instance tonight's episode. The House floor was nearly cleared after the vote, Speaker of the House Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) had already given his press conference, and the Sargent at Arms were locking up. The lights had already dimmed, and when DeRoche walked over to the press box, there were only two of us still there.

While I'm not sure if Craig is smart enough to know who I am by now, his communications people surely do. I feel like hanging a sign above my head that says something like "Welcome to the Lions Den. Step right up to make your next absurd statement and have it broadcast to the good people of Michigan!" With record readership here at MichLib, there are more people than ever coming back for the daily episode of Craig's Follies.

DeRoche started out right away with more or less the same statement he's been making every time he sees us.

"This is just more political posturing from the House Democrats. They clearly aren't up to the task of governing."

Wow, good to know that the Senate and House Republican leadership was doing such a great job of communicating with each other. Perhaps DeRoche has found himself on communications blackout from every other Republican legislator?

"We'll try to be a part of the process. Everyone has been watching a train wreck. Bishop is being responsible by talking about all sorts of options. "

When the subject moved on to his own caucus and their votes tonight, the water continued to get murkier.

Vote, thy name is Procedure

by: LiberalLucy

Tue Sep 18, 2007 at 23:21:56 PM EDT

The good news is that the House just made it possible for the state to avoid a government shutdown on October 1st. (See the 5 day rule)

Basically, the bills will have to sit for 5 days before the Senate can act on them, and we're running up against the Oct 1 deadline.

When HB 5194 just passed 77-26-5, it was not a vote on raising the income tax, even though that's what has been negotiated all week.

What did just happen is something that's commonly referred to as a shell or vehicle bill, because it's a bill without much substance but designed to move the process along.

Instead of voting on a tax increase, they voted to give disabled veterans a $250 tax exemption. 

Don't despair though, if nothing else, the ball is now in the Senate's court, and while Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) made it clear shortly after the vote that he's continuing to work with House and Senate Republicans. Changes will (hopefully) be made in the Senate, and then they can kick it back to the House. 

The important thing is that the House has done what they can to make sure the government won't shut down. 

As for that second bill, it's another shell bill on the issue of use/service tax. We'll be waiting and watching to see what the Senate does.

Also the Senate passed a couple bills today (SB 632 and HB 4800), but not terribly significant to the budget.

The Senate is adjourned till noon tomorrow, the House till 1:30.

Stay tuned to MichLib for continuous updates. 

(Thanks to lpackard for her collaboration) 

Big Vote Tonight at 9:30 in the House

by: LiberalLucy

Tue Sep 18, 2007 at 20:45:28 PM EDT

Sources close to the talks between Democrats and Republicans believe that this could be the real deal that Speaker of the House Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) has been negotiating non-stop since last Friday.

I'll be there bringing you the latest, but be sure to tune into House TV and watch it as it happens.

Till then...