You may or may not know that Rick Snyder wants to phase out the Michigan film tax incentive program, but Rick's just wrong! We have created an ad we want to get on the air to spread the word in the next few days, and you can help at www.rickswrong.com.
The governor's race is tightening up (despite what the polls may be saying), but there's an issue that can help push Virg over the top. The Michigan film tax incentive is a bigger deal than some people may think. Many people don't know that Rick Snyder wants to phase it out even though it's creating jobs, making us feel good about ourselves and our state again and keeping our young people from moving out of the state.
But the worst thing you can do with incentives is what Snyder is doing: talk about killing them. Hollywood is a small world, and no one wants to plan a film -- which can be a yearlong operation -- in a shaky environment. Snyder's possible election already has future productions reconsidering.
So forget phasing these incentives out. The minute Snyder announces that, he might as well kill them outright. No one will build. No one will invest. - Mitch Albom
Rick Snyder is indeed a genius. Isn’t that what the word nerd is supposed to imply? Although I still intend to vote for Virg Bernero, I feel today that Rick Snyder has to be recognized for the ingenious solutions he is proposing for Michigan should he become governor. You see I like when politicians think out of the box.
In business, it is always stressed a company needs continual improvement. Govenment is no different. Yesterday’s improvements are not enough. Present and future improvements are always necessary. All kidding aside, I completely agree with that business philosophy. I especially like it when the creativity of the workforce is employed right down to the lowest person in the chain. No one knows their job better than the person doing it. That could be the janitor, the machinist, the accountant or a worker in the state or local civil government system.
Here is where this applies to Rick Snyder: Mr. Rick Michigan has already announced his intention to kill the film industry jobs brought to Michigan by Governor Granholm. He is going to kill $600 million in revenue to get Michigan moving again.
It is a form of creative destruction that only someone of a nerd status can understand. After all, nerds are geniuses. Don’t you agree? Michigan residents should not be bothered by the notion that it doesn’t make sense because nerds, especially the tough ones, think at such a higher level than the rest of us.
The public bank concept is gaining ground on the state level, attracting proponents across the political spectrum.( Ellen Brown)
In his analysis “Improvements and efficiencies in local government”, Eric B gives the impression that a few reforms here and there can make local and state governments work. He goes on to give a supposed balanced analysis by presenting snippets from both Rip off Rick and Virg Bernero comparing their approach to efficiencies in government. It is very similar to what you see in the MSM press today. I do agree do with Eric is that efficiencies have their place in the scheme of governing. But these are not normal times and normal solutions will not solve the problem.
Rip off rick surely has some scheme to cut municipal pensions, sell assets/privatize assets, and outsource union labor but I doubt he has much more than that. Is that what Michigan needs?
I think Eric missed the big picture in his article and here is why. Virg Bernero is the only candidate who understands that the root of the problem is the Wall Street banks. He is the only candidate offering a meaningful solution by proposing to create a state bank. That is no small item. Consider what Virg Bernero said in the press release announcing his intention to set up a state bank modeled after North Dakota's bank.
"Michigann's Small business Community is still struggling to grow and create jobsand incremental changes just aren't getting the job done," Bernero said. "Hundreds of job-creating projects are still on hold because Michigan businesses and entrepreneurs cannot get bank financing. We can break the credit crunch and beat Wall Street at their own game by keeping our money right here in Michigan and investing it to retool our economy and create jobs."
The simple fact is that without an honest banking system there can be no recovery for Michigan. Talking “improvements and efficiencies in local government “is an issue that is meant to distract us from the real problem that Michigan and many of its cities will face bankruptcy if revenues don't start to increase. Of courrse bankruptcy for Michigan and its cities is just what some want in order to carry out the agenda of destroying unions and their pensions and selling off public assests to private companies for a dime on the dollar.
Last May, Carl Levin tried to pass banking reform legislation know as the Volker rule. That reform legislation would have re-imposed restrictions first implemented by FDR. That would have been good for Michigan. His reforms were completely shut down by the Wall Street banks and involve the mysterious flash crash that some have called an act of domestic terrorism by Wall Street banks. Consider what Barry Ritholtz wrote concerning that market flash crash.
I don’t buy into the many conspiracy theories that continually seem to get resurrected, but I expect that this particular thesis, from Max Keiser, may very well have legs:
“May 6th was an unequivocal act of domestic financial terrorism in America. A day that will live in infamy.
To scare the lawmakers, themselves large owners of the very banks and stocks that they are supposed to be regulating, a financial Weapon of Mass Destruction was put to their head and they acquiesced.
As the inventor of the continuous double-auction, market-making technology (VST tech. US pat. no. 5950176) that is referenced 132 times by program trading and HFT patents since 1996, I can tell you that Goldman, JP Morgan and the gang simply pulled the ‘buys’ from their computer trading programs and manufactured a crash. And when the coast was clear, and it was clear the politicians were not going to vote for anything that would break up the ‘too big to fail’ banks; all the ’sells’ were pulled from the computers and the market roared back.
This is a Manchurian Candidate market where program trading bots start the ball rolling in whatever direction Wall St. wants the market to go – and then hundreds of thousands of day-traders watching Cramer on CNBC jump on the momentum bandwagon and commit the crime for the Wall St. financial terrorists, who then say, ‘It wasn’t us, it was ‘the market!’”
Amped Content goes on to note that coincidentally the day after the crash, the “break up the too big to fail banks” amendment was soundly defeated by a 61 to 33 margin in Senate. And, a deal was struck to eliminate key provisions from the audit of the Federal Reserve bill. And, Goldman was meeting with the SEC to work out a settlement in their case against them.
I am always reluctant to put much stock into these nefarious “coincidences” — but I have to admit that Max’ theory here is quite intriguing . . .
Virg Bernero is trying to accomplish the same thing as Carl Levin tried to do in a different way by creating a state bank. Nothing will ensure the safety of Michigan pensions and revitalize the economy like a state bank. A state bank can take deposits and lend to small businesses to create jobs and tax revenue. Wall Street banks are refusing to lend in Michigan even while they are the beneficiary of trillions of dollars of taxpayer bailouts.
So what is so special about North Dakota? It doesn’t have to rely on a recalcitrant Wall Street for credit. It makes its own. (The Christian Science Monitor)
Have you noticed that the one state that has a state bank, North Dakota, has a budget surplus and is adding jobs? Consider Ellen Brown’s excellent article on the move nationwide towards state banks.
Amanda Paulson, writing in The Christian Science Monitor, quotes Arturo Pérez, fiscal analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures, which released its survey of state budget situations in December: "Unless you’re North Dakota, you’re probably a state that has had some degree of difficulty or crisis involving finances. It’s the worst situation states have faced in decades, perhaps going as far back as the Great Depression in some states."
“Unless you’re North Dakota,” that is—a state with a sizeable budget surplus, and the only state that is adding jobs when other states are losing them. A February 13 poll ranked that weather-challenged state first in the country for citizen satisfaction with their standard of living. North Dakota’s affluence has been attributed to oil, but other states with oil are in deep financial trouble. The big drop in oil and natural gas prices propelled Oklahoma into a budget gap that is 18.5 percent of its general-fund budget. California is also resource-rich, with a $2 trillion economy; yet it has a worse credit rating than Greece. So what is so special about North Dakota? The answer seems to be that it is the only state in the union that owns its own bank. It doesn’t have to rely on a recalcitrant Wall Street for credit. It makes its own.
Even some republicans are pressing the idea of state banks?
In Idaho, James Stivers, a Republican candidate for the State Senate, has also proposed a state bank to fill state coffers and protect the local economy. In the first indication of a political shift among grassroots Republicans, Stivers swept a closed-ballot preference poll at the GOP District 2 Central Committee meeting in Coeur d’Alene on February 13, winning the non-binding poll 10 to zero. Stivers declares:
An important part of sovereignty is the monetary authority. Currently, banks are allowed to multiply many times over the tax receipts deposited in their institutions. This special privilege is partly responsible for the ‘sucking sound’ in our local economies, as regional banks send their assets to central banks that are playing the derivatives markets of the world.
A state bank would restore this privilege to the people in a public trust and would give us the opportunity to back our deposits with the wealth from our public lands.
Virg Bernero understands this. Carl Levin understands this. The UAW understands this. There may be more, much more, to this story than is apparent on the surface.
UAW President Bob King on Friday urged JPMorgan Chase to "wake up" and "do the right thing" and halt foreclosures in Michigan and aid farm workers in North Carolina.
King's comments came as the United Auto Workers, church leaders and farmer laborers are withdrawing hundreds of millions of dollars from the New York-based bank in protest of Chase's decision not to implement a two-year moratorium on foreclosures in Michigan.
Don’t be fooled. The battle ground for economic reform is now at the state and local level. The contrast between the two candidates for Governor of Michigan is huge. Talking about fringe issues like efficiencies in government is a republican diversion in this election. You have to have revenues to be efficient with them. Rip off Rick understands this. That is why he does not want to debate. Public exposure is bad for him.
Virg Bernero sees the big picture. Has the right ideas at the right time and is the only acceptable choice for Governor.
Political pundits have been burning up the air waves and nets this week analyzing Tuesday's primary election results with Rick Snyder's takedown if not takeover on the Republican side getting lots of attention.
Much less is being said about progressives and labor torching Andy Dillon's plans to capture the Democratic Party for Big Business and conservatives. Dillon's grand political plans are in ashes and he is the guy holding the match that lit the fire.
Dillon, the former Republican, had declared war on mainstream Democrats in a thousand different ways as Speaker. It was a battle started by Dillon that divided Democrats and gave Republicans control of the political message.
Progressive policies around consumer protection, energy, expanding freedoms, corporate accountability and other issues were smothered by Dillon's right-leaning politics and personal ambitions. His spectacularly goofy strategy of letting Senate Republicans define the debate around the budget not only divided his caucus it left them without any real political strategy on taxes and government spending. Dillon's failure to lead House Democrats with an aggressive, populist agenda for change now endangers their majority--a majority that enabled Dillon to become Speaker and for which he did nothing to create.
There are some who complained that Tuesday's Democratic primary election was just about Dillon wanting to "shake things up" within the Democratic party and Big Labor fighting to keep the status quo power arrangement. But it was never all about--or even mostly about--the Democratic party, labor or power for the sake of power. It was a fight over values and whether progressives would continue to have an important voice in developing policies shaping the future of Michigan.
Conservatives and big corporations already have a Grand Old Party. Dillon wanted to give them another one. That was unacceptable to progressives who work on health care, environmental, family planning, equality and other policy issues. And it would be disastrous for voters who want real choices come Election Day.
To be sure, Dillon had some support from mainstream, more progressive Democrats. State Sen. Gilda Jacobs threw an 11th-hour Hail Mary pass defending Dillon's pro-life position on abortion, claiming against all evidence to the contrary that he was no threat to pro-choice voters and supporters of stem cell research. It was an embarrassing display for Jacobs but in the end her efforts were to no avail.
Mainstream Democrats wisely decided that Andy Dillon did not represent their values and gave Virg Bernero an opportunity to lead them in November.
Labor gets the lion's share of credit for helping Bernero win the Democratic nomination for governor, pumping money and people power into a race where both candidates were relative unknowns. It made a huge difference.
But Bernero's progressive support was universal. Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Lone Tree Council, Clean Water Acton, Equality Michigan Activists, Justice Caucus, NOW--and others--united behind Bernero and against Dillon.
Planned Parenthood sent out 300,000 pieces of mail to Democratic primary voters letting them know the truth about Dillon's conservative record on abortion, family planning and stem cell research. Sierra Club made thousands of calls and sent mail debunking Dillon's claims about championing clean energy legislation. Hundreds of thousands of email messages and mailings were sent by Clean Water Action and others.
Meanwhile, Dillon's corporate allies operated on both sides of the primary, giving money to Republican candidates as well as Dillon in hopes of gaining even more political control than they already have in Lansing.
Progressives still play on an uneven political field when it comes to money and politics. But the threat that Dillon posed of conservatives and big corporations capturing complete control of both political parties in Michigan has ended. For now.
(Well, not quite. Seemingly all of Macomb County.... including 2 members of Dillon's own caucus.... except Mark Hackel, a candidate for County Executive, came out and endorsed Virg Bernero for Governor today)
The gubernatorial campaign of Virg Bernero received a big boost in Macomb County today when 36 prominent Democrats endorsed his candidacy over the competing bid by House Speaker Andy Dillon.
Those backing the Lansing mayor's run include three longtime officials from the past -- former congressman David Bonior, former prosecutor Carl Marlinga, and former state Senate minority leader Art Miller.
Bonior said he hadn't known much about Bernero until recently, when the mayor made numerous, spirited appearances on national TV and radio shows defending federal loans to ailing automakers. Bernero's impassioned support for working families and American manufacturers, he said, is what Michigan needs from its next governor.
Others backing Bernero include: county Treasurer Ted Wahby, Clerk Carmella Sabaugh and Public Works Commissioner Anthony Marrocco; state Reps. Sarah Roberts and Fred Miller; county board Chairman Paul Gieleghem and 12 of his fellow commissioners; and Sterling Heights Mayor Richard Notte.
While Dillon and his supporter, Brady, continue to spin about Bernero's supposedly "anti-labor" record (despite the endorsements of the AFL-CIO, the state's largest labor federation, and the UAW, the state's largest union), labor-rich Macomb County is lining up to support Virg Bernero.
Not only that, but Bernero's endorsements today included David Bonior. As any good MichLib reader knows, Bonior is the chair of the board of American Rights at Work (a pro-labor organization), a former Labor Studies professor at Wayne State, and someone with a record of fighting for working families his whole career. It will be interesting hearing how David Bonior is spun into being somehow anti-labor too.
Also: Dillon got the endorsement of Buzz Thomas today.
On Saturday in Pittsfield, the three then Democratic candidates for governor of the state of Michigan answered questions about the issues for almost two hours. First they told the almost 100 Democrats gathered a little bit about themselves. First, though, Debbie Dingell, wife of long-time Congressman John Dingell told the crowd that contrary to what all the pundits have been telling us, “this will be a great year for Democrats.” On Saturday the Michigan Democratic Party executive board decided to hold an endorsement convention on April 17. The endorsement convention will let the candidates judge where their support lies and will help those that get the endorsement of the party faithful to raise money and recruit volunteers. After Dingell fired up the crowd the gathering got down to business. Stu Dowty, chair of the Washtenaw County Democrats acted as moderator as the audience submitted written questions. Click here for the rest of the story.
This very morning, as I ate my breakfast I happened to look down at the Detroit Free Press and read the
following:
"The Democratic gubernatorial campaign might get clearer today when
House Speaker Andy Dillon finally jumps in...
Dillon's entry into the Democratic race for governor has been awaited
in political circles the way frostbitten Michiganders wait for
spring...."
At this I nearly gagged on my hardtack and lard!
Andy Dillon? The Michigan springtime? Surely it must be a joke! Would
this be the same self-righteous mollusk who presided over a House so
inept and destructive to the very fiber of this beleagured state that
even my nemesis from the 1899-1900 session, the dastardly Edgar J.
Adams, pales by sheer comparison. Michigan's own Joe Lieberman stand-in
apparently feels inclined to run as a Democrat today...though surely we
can expect him to run as an independent spoiler if the whole of the
Democratic Party doesn't immediately accede to his wishes.
Balderdash, I say! Preposterous! Pure poppycock!
Well, my friends, one thing has become clear: if the State of Michigan
is in such disarray that a character such as Mr. Dillon can be
presented as a "very serious" Democratic candidate, perhaps being a
168-year old dead Republican isn't as much of a liability as I thought.
In that regard, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to
report to you that the "Idol of the People" has returned!
Today, I shall immediately commence formation of an exploratory
committee that will prepare my forthcoming intended re-election
campaign.
Lately there has been a lot of Debate over the number of Democratic Congressional Districts that Democrats could gerrymander out of the state of Michigan if they had complete control (right now they hold the Governorship and State House. They stand a good chance at taking control of the State Senate while the Governor's race is a tossup). A few people have said that it is possible to succesfully draw a map that would yield 12 Democratic seats and only 2 Republican seats. I've been trying for several weeks to draw a 12-2 map, meanwhile protecting endangered incumbents (specifically Schauer) and I've determined that a 12-2 map would be far overeaching and in a neutral or Republican leaning year might end up 9-5 or worse. I think the best Michigan Democrats could do is create 11 safe or Democrat leaning districts and 3 strongly Republican districts. I've drawn a map that I think does just that, although I still am not entirely confident that we could hold both of my "Thumb" districts in a Republican year. But without further ado, here's my map.
Many of us who live in our near Lansing have been tuned in to the controversial proposed deal to give developer Pat Gillespie millions of dollars in tax abatements to tear down the historic Lansing City Market along the Grand River and replace it with high-end condos and a newer, smaller City Market.
This issue has raised quite a bit of a stir, as the deal is opposed by many labor groups and historic preservationists. The giveaway is supported by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and developers.
In many ways, the City Market deal represents a larger issue, both in Michigan and throughout the nation. Should cities and the state give away huge chunks of money to private developers and firms with very few strings attached, particularly when it comes to labor issues? Shouldn't tax abatements have more strings attached to ensure economic investments stay within the community?
I wrote a column in today's (Lansing) City Pulse addressing the City Market issue, which is scheduled to be voted on by the Lansing City Council on Monday.
LSJ: With focus on budget, other bills sit and wait. Chris Andrews takes a look at all the issues that have been ignored during the budget debate (hint: there's a lot).
AP: Senate plan would hurt Mich. rivers, critics say. Environmental groups are criticizing the Senate Republican water withdrawal bills; Sen. Birkholz accuses them of "grandstanding." You can read more on in this Free Press article.
Democratic Edge makes the case that term limits aren't the problem, it's the candidates, stupid.
Lessenberry: Jack takes a look at the current status of the workplace smoking ban bill that's being held up by Sen. Bishop.
Michigan Messenger: Some Planned Parenthood Clinics Closing Due to State Budget Changes. "Clinics in Hart and White Cloud have already closed and others in Mt. Pleasant, Muskegon and Grand Rapids will close by the end of the year. Officials are concerned that the closings will deny critical services to women in those communities and even increase abortions."
Michigan's Economy
The Conversation: Quicken Loans picks downtown Detroit. The Gov's blog does a nice job of sorting through the good news about Quicken moving to Detroit.
LSJ: Mayor to announce plans for park stage. It sounds like Mayor Virg Bernero will be announcing plans build a permanent outdoor performance venue in Adado Riverfront Park later this morning. Keep an eye on the LSJ for more details.
Mining Journal: Mine decision delayed. "Michelle Halley, an attorney with the National Wildlife Federation, said she thinks it is ?interesting? the DEQ is seeking an extension. In her conversations with agency officials, she said it was unclear to her exactly what the DEQ would do during the extension period."
DetNews: GM launches effort to make Chevy green brand. GM is gearing up to re-launch Chevy as their environmentally-friendly brand by launching... a giant truck.
WWJ: Hunting Loonies: Canadian Consumers Could Provide Boost For Michigan Retailers. Here's an upside to the weak dollar: "Not only are there a lot of Canadians near Michigan, they are relatively affluent. AEG found that more than 520,700 Canadians live within an hour's drive of a Michigan border crossing and that their household incomes average $75,200 at the current exchange rate. That?s significantly higher than the roughly $46,000 (U.S.) average family income on this side of the border."
Local/State/National Politics
Media Mouse: Ehlers says he doesn't want to "go to war with Iran;" How has he Voted? Media Mouse has a great roundup of Rep. Ehler's voting record on Iran-related issues. Definitely worth a read.
BFM: Thaddeus McCotter - Today's Worst Person in the World. Keith chose McCotter for his ridiculous comments about Catholics United. You can watch the clip here.
Great Lakes, Great Times: Finally, my thoughts on the primary/caucus fiasco. Our own ScottyURB wants a caucus. Head over to his blog to share your thoughts.
Odds & Ends
BFM: We Sent Them to War, Why Can't We Send Them to College? "Now more than ever our returning soldiers need the assistance of the GI Bill. The good paying jobs that earlier veterans turned to in our automotive plants and steel mills are gone - and they're not coming back." To learn more about how Michigan Bloggers are supporting the troops, click here.
Let me know if I forgot anything. Drop your links in the comments section...
Happy Hump Day, everyone! Enjoy your morning cup-o-links...
Budget
Capitol Journal: And so it begins... Recalls! Derek shares his thoughts about the whole recall situation. Over on Michigan Messenger, Todd Heywood takes a look at Leon Drolet's ties to YAF.
BFM: Granholm defends Medicaid. The state still needs to figure out how to handle those $435 million in cuts, and the Gov says cuts to Medicaid are off limits. Also, be sure to check out this post, where Wizardkitten ponders Andy Dillon's future in politics.
DFP: Service tax repeal is plotted. Screw quality of life... just don't hike our taxes!
WLNS: Reaction to State Budget Deal. More crocodile tears from Rep. Rick Jones and Paul Opsommer.
LSJ: Lansing mayor says lawmakers 'got the job done'. Here's Virg: "A significant amount of our city income tax revenue comes from state employees. Our downtown business community would have been seriously impacted. And the long-term consequences for our city budget would have been severe to say the least. And though (state legislators) have been roundly and justifiably criticized, .... in the end, they got the job done."
Michigan's Economy
Michigan.org: MEDC Supports BMT Aerospace Expansion in Fraser. "The bonds, issued by the Michigan Strategic Fund chaired by Epolito, will be used to finance acquisition of a 56,638-square-foot existing manufacturing plant, acquisition and installation of machinery and equipment and renovation of the facility at 18559 Malyn Road. The project will be owned and operated by the company for the manufacture of gears and gearbox assemblies, primarily for the aerospace industry."
Michigan Messenger: Mayor Kilpatrick announces Detroit's economic clout. "While Detroit?s downtown corridor has seen remarkable investment and revitalization, the challenge for Mayor Kilpatrick is to somehow replicate downtown?s redevelopment in Detroit neighborhoods. The Detroit DrillDown report will help Mayor Kilpatrick make the case to businesses that investing in Detroit?s neighborhoods makes economic sense."
Ann Arbor News: High-tech auto research center dedicated in Ann Arbor. "We believe this will be the most significant economic driver in the next several decades," said Scott McCormick, president of the Connected Vehicle Trade Association. He said the center's goals are the make "smarter cars, smarter roads and create Michigan jobs."
WNEM: New GM-UAW Contract Could Mean More Work In Mid-Mich. "The new Flint engine plant would be able to build roughly 1,200 four- and six-cylinder engines daily, a figure that could save and even create some moderate job growth to the tune of 600 to 800 jobs."
Michigan Future: Xanadu Plan proposes new casino. Hey, I'm all for revitalizing Detroit, but are more casinos the answer? "The plan is to bring new wealth to the city of Detroit. It involves a new casino on top of an expanded Cobo Hall and revitalizing the area around Detroit City Airport."
The Conversation: Radio Address: Signing the MBT into law. It's official. The new MBT is a done deal. Hooray! Now... how about that 2008 budget?
Stone Soup Musings: I've got the vacation time blues. Kathy: "That brings me back to "Mr. $440.50 per hour Bishop" and friends. It's time to shake up the status quo in Lansing and model their benefits and perks to align closer with those of the constituents they represent, maybe then they'd understand what it feels like to get by with two weeks vacation or - horror - no vacation at all."
Blue Chips: House passes relief for college students. The Democratically-controlled House passed the College Cost Reduction Act on Tuesday, which aims to make higher education more affordable for all Americans. Quite a contrast to what we're seeing from Senate Republicans here in Michigan.
DNews: New round of tuition hikes are indefensible. This editorial from the Detroit News says college tuition hikes are indefensible. Yet they argue that the only answer is even more cuts to the state budget. The t-word is still off limits.
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood: Rogers Votes Against College Students. This is the bill I was referring to in the post above. Did you expect anything different from Mike? BTW... Walberg voted against it too. Knollenberg, Miller, and Upton were the only Michigan repubs to vote in favor of the bill.
Living Blue: Will He or Won't He? Yesterday you watched Joe Knollenberg's staffer high tail it away from his constituents. Check out this similar video from the LivCo Dems. At least Mike Rogers' folks invited them in for a meeting. Of course, their invitation to the upcoming "Take a Stand" event at the Michigan Capitol was promptly ignored. I gotta say though... I'm really liking all this guerrilla video footage. On a related note, LSJ editorial page editor Derek Melot thinks this is all a big waste of time.
AA News: Democrats targeting 7th District. A nice write up in the Ann Arbor news about the Democrats who are gearing up to challenge Tim Walberg. Glad to see the MSM is keeping an eye on this one.
Conservative Media: Editorial ignores real reason for no lobbying reform in Lansing in favor of cheap shots. Guru on the editorial that ran in the LSJ, then the Livingston County P&A: "The editorial laments the need for lobbying reform and takes some easy shots at the Legislature, but it does not even mention why there has been no action addressing lobbying reform or any meaningful ethics measures. It ignored the fact that the Republicans have controlled both the state House and Senate for more than a decade, and up until five years ago the GOP also had a veto-proof edge with a Republican governor as well. Why no reform then?"
Lessenberry: Essay: Tradition of Giving. Jack's essay from yesterday is great... you should really go read the whole thing. He discusses the generous philanthropy of folks like Eli Broad (a Detroit native and fellow Spartan), and then goes on to argue that, "while [philanthropy] is needed as much or more than ever, so is public spending. Michigan State is going to have a stunning art museum, thanks to Eli and Edythe Broad. But private donations, no matter how generous, can never cover the school's entire needs."
BFM: Working For A Living - Thursday Edition. Christine continues here excellent series over on BFM. Yesterday's workers were farmers. She says, "just like our legislators, except they aren't afraid of little pink pigs."
Between the Lines: Life experience makes Bernero more than an ally mayor. Anyone living in the Lansing area really ought to read this article about Virg Bernero. This is quite a story. The LGBT community couldn't ask for a better ally in the Mayor's office than Virg.
Did I forget anything? Drop your links in the comments section...
My friends,
