Mike Bishop is Newt Gingrich

by: SoberOakland

Sun Sep 23, 2007 at 07:55:51 AM EDT

The Detroit News reports that Bishop met with Gingrich this past weekend and likes what he hears.  After Gingrich spoke, Bishop commented:

"He's talking my game," whispered Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop near the end of the talk. Bishop intended to meet privately with Gingrich later today.

Let's hope that the so-called Democratic Speaker of the House, Andy Dillon, finally realizes that his "good friend" Mike Bishop is no friend. 

Mike Bishop is Newt Gingrich.

Mike Bishop: The $440.50 per hour Man

by: SoberOakland

Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 06:18:03 AM EDT

At Mike Bishop's $105,650 annual salary, that means that he was paid more than $440.50 per hour for the Senate's work in the first six months of this year.  This does not include additional payments to Bishop for his "expense allowance".

$440.50 per hour.  That's working out pretty well for Mike Bishop, but how's that working out for you?

Mike Bishop's 92% Pay Raise

by: SoberOakland

Fri Jun 29, 2007 at 23:59:41 PM EDT

According to the Lansing State Journal, state employees are not happy:

State workers are feeling picked on and stressed out, said Ann Lantzy, a secretary in the Attorney General's Office.

"I'm sorry the state is in such terrible condition, but we are not the ones that did it," said Lantzy, a Lansing resident who has worked for the state for 32 years. "I don't see the Legislature giving up a whole lot."

Mike Cox's secretary is right.  The Legislature isn't giving up a whole lot.  In fact, they're not giving up anything (unlike Granholm).

Take Mike Bishop, for example.  He became a member of the Michigan Legislature in 1999.  His salary at the time, according to the State Officers Compensation Commission, was $55,054 per year.  But now, just 8 years later, Bishop's salary as Senate Majority Leader is $105,650.

That's an increase in pay of $50,596, or 92%!!! -- more than 12% per year!!!

How many state employees have received a similar increase in the last 8 years? 

Mike Bishop's hypocrisy.  You're paying for it, Michigan taxpayers.  Are you getting your money's worth from Mike Bishop?

Mike Bishop Confuses "Man-Date" with "Mandate"

by: SoberOakland

Fri May 04, 2007 at 22:15:40 PM EDT

Today's Muskegon Chronicle calls him out on this:

Right-wing senators holding a narrow Republican majority thus continue to operate under the delusion that there was no referendum during last fall's election on the core issue of de-funding Michigan -- an election that saw an arch-conservative guru of tax cuts soundly defeated by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the former House Republican majority tossed out on its collective ear, and the GOP's edge in the Senate reduced to a scant few seats.

This past election was no mandate from the body politic to scrap the Single Business Tax without a full replacement. This was not an affirmation of cutting the sinews of state government. This was not an endorsement of "no new taxes now or anytime for anything."

Sometimes the truth hurts.  And as items like this begin to reveal what Mike Bishop and his Senate Obstructionist Caucus are all about, they are in for some pain.

Just go read the whole thing!