In an article a few days ago, “I should kick his ass!” Leon Drolet said of Andy Meisner I put up a poll to see who my readers think would be the victor in a street fight.

Duncan Hunter on the amnesty bill:

“From the very beginning of the immigration debate, the American people were clear in their strong opposition to granting amnesty to more than 12 million illegal immigrants. While this flawed piece of legislation should never have been considered in the first place, I commend my colleagues in the Senate who positioned themselves with the American people and rejected this amnesty bill.

Tax vote threats might cut both ways this time
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Michigan continues to face a budget crisis of frightening magnitude that has buried it in a deep fiscal hole. Given the makeup of the current Legislature, it can only be resolved through a cooperative effort — not threats of political blackmail by anti-tax radicals who would happily sabotage our state’s success in digging out. When playing with fire, though, it’s easy to get burned.

McCain won’t give up on immigration; other GOP candidates say good riddance

The Senate has turned the page on immigration, but it’s unclear whether Arizona Sen. John McCain can do the same in his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

McCain is a co-author of the defeated bill, which would have given millions of illegal immigrants a way to earn citizenship as well as strengthened border enforcement.

Democrats target Knollenberg
Radio ads accuse eight-term GOP congressman of voting against military benefits, a charge he denies.

Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced that former Lieutenant Governor Dick Posthumus will serve as Michigan’s honorary state chairman of the Romney for President campaign.

In the announcement, Posthumus said:

“As I surveyed the field of candidates, it was important to me that our party’s standard-bearer be a strong, conservative leader who believes in the fundamental strength of the American people. After meeting with Governor Romney and carefully studying his record, I know he is the right candidate to lead our nation forward. Mitt Romney’s real-world experience in turning around difficult situations is what America needs right now. I am confident that, as the American people get to know Mitt Romney, they will see a leader who doesn’t just talk about a better future, but actually makes it happen.”

Transcript: ‘Special Report with Brit Hume,’ June 26, 2007 FOX News – USA PETE HOEKSTRA (R), MICHIGAN: We are committed to having a comprehensive immigration reform bill, but the Senate bill isn’t what we believe is the direction

Congressman Mike Rogers is getting a divorce

I got this email today from a Sarah Pinkel on Fred Thompson. I have no idea who Sarah is, but thanks for the email:

There is a serious trail here … why FT’s handlers want him to stay away from media and opponents.

Fred Thompson Voted in 1996 to continue chain migration

Sen. Thompson in 1996 voted against the Simpson Amendment to S.1664. It was a vote in favor of a chain migration system that has been the primary reason for annual immigration levels snowballing from less than 300,000 in 1965 to around a million.

Sen. Thompson supported provisions that allow immigrants to send for their adult relatives. Then each of those relatives can send for their and their spouses adult relatives, creating a never-ending and ever-growing chain.

Sen. Thompson voted in 1996 against the Feinstein Amendment to S.1664. The Feinstein Amendment would have reduced annual admission of spouses and minor children of citizens to 480,000 and significantly reduced annual limits other categories of chain migration such as parents of citizens and adult unmarried children of citizens. By voting against the Feinstein Amendment, Sen. Thompson voted in favor of a system of chain migration that has been the primary reason for annual immigration levels snowballing from less than 300,000 in 1965 to around a million today.

Voted to grant amnesty to close to one million illegal aliens from Nicaragua and Cuba in 1997 Sen. Thompson voted to grant legal status to Nicaraguans and Cubans who had lived in the United States illegally since 1995, along with their spouses and minor unmarried children. The overall ten year impact of this legislation will be the addition of some 967,000 people to U.S. population. There was no separate vote on the amnesty, as it was inlcuded in the DC Appropriations bill.

The only opportunity Senators had to vote in favor of or against the amnesty was the Mack Amendment to S.1156. The Mack Amendment passed 99-1. In 1996, removed higher fines for businesses which hire illegal aliens Sen. Thompson, in committee consideration of S.1664 protected businesses from having to pay higher fines when they are caught hiring illegal aliens. Under the idea that current fines were not enough of a deterrent against businesses cutting their labor costs by hiring illegal aliens, the Senate immigration subcommittee approved higher fines. Various study commissions have found that the willingness of U.S. businesses to hire illegal aliens is the No. 1 incentive for foreign workers to become illegal aliens here. But Sen. Thompson voted with a 10-8 majority in the Judiciary Committee to remove the higher fines from the 1996 legislation against illegal immigration.

Tried to kill voluntary pilot programs for workplace verification in 1996 Voted to strip legal reforms from 1996 bill Voted for a foreign worker bill with no anti-fraud measures in 2000. Sen. Thompson helped the Senate pass S.1723 in a 78-20 Voted in committee against including worker safeguards in H-1B bill in 1998 Sen. Thompson joined 9 of his Senate colleagues to keep employee safeguards from inclusion in S.1723.

Voted to allow firms to lay off Americans to make room for foreign workers in 1998 Before the Senate passed the H-1B doubling bill ( S.1723), Sen. Thompson had an opportunity to vote for a measure requiring U.S. firms to check a box on a form attesting that they had first sought an American worker for the job. Sen. Thompson voted against that, joining those who said the requirement would give government too much authority over corporations? right to hire whomever they please from whatever country. Voted to allow firms to lay off Americans to make room for foreign workers in 1998 etc etc. Americans for Better Immigration gives him a C rating.

Fred Thompson on abortion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO_HA_0cdM0&eurl=

Fred Thompson is a member of the moderate wing of the Republican Party.

Statewide Smoking Ban Nets Second Hearing
Legislation that would ban smoking in restaurants and bars in Michigan received its second hearing today.

Under HB 4163, introduced by Rep. Brenda CLACK (D-Flint), the state’s public health code would be amended to prohibit smoking in places of employment. In opening today’s hearing, Rep. Andrew MEISNER (D-Ferndale) noted that since the House Commerce Committee last met on HB 4163, two more states have adopted statewide smoking bans — Tennessee and Oregon.

Today’s hearing included testimony from impassioned advocates and opponents alike.

Dr. Ken WARNER, dean of Public Health at the University of Michigan, exhorted the panel members to live up to what he argued was their constitutional duty to protect the citizens of the state of Michigan from second-hand smoke.

“Increasing numbers of professional societies and associations are refusing to hold their conventions in states that permit smoking in bars,” Warner said. He reviewed some of the facts that were presented during the last hearing on the bill by noting that second-hand smoke exposes non-smokers to arsenic, benzyne as part of a “toxic stew” of over 4,000 chemicals.

By not enacting HB 4163, Warner said lawmakers were stating that; “it’s the official policy of our state that customers must inhale arsenic while dining in a restaurant.”

Warner noted that several countries including Ireland and effective Jan. 1, France, have gone smoke-free. With 31 states having gone smoke free, he said it’s not a matter of if, but when the state will opt to snuff out smoking in restaurants and bars.

Speaking in opposition of HB 4163 was a recent graduate of Lansing Catholic High School — Emily NABOR.

“The government’s laisez-fair approach to business has developed the strong economy we have,” said Nabor. “I think it’s un-American for the government to tell every bar and private club to ban smoking in their establishments.”

Nabor noted that neither the workers nor the patrons are forced to enter into establishments that allow smoking and that ultimately the market will reward or punish establishment owners who don’t make the right decision on allowing smoking or not.

“I know that smoking is unhealthy and it affects more than the smoker,” Nabor said. “Some people advocate a ban to protect non-smokers, but tobacco is a legal product. It would ludicrous to ban driving to a place of employment, or eating fatty foods at a place of employment.”

—

A leftist Democrat from one of the most unsafe cities in the country is trying to ban smoking in public places in Michigan.

Democrat’s have been a majority for six months, and they are already trying to raise taxes on a host of things and trying to restrict individual freedom with this latest smoking ban.

Michigan smokers are already punished enough with the second highest cigarette tax in the nation.

I know a ton of people that light up at a bar when they are drinking that normally never smoke. Or older people that have a glass of wine and smoke a cigar. Or one of the more causual users that smokes 3/4ths of a pack in one night.

Either way, it’s their choice. What’s next…restricting profane language at a bar?

Cigarettes and beer go together like cookies and milk. They compliment each other nicely.

Please contact Rep. Clack to let her know that she should focus on her constituents living in fear of stray bullets from a drive by shooting rather then going after smokers.

Clacks email is: brendaclack@house.mi.gov

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Republican Presidential Nomination
Real Clear Politics Average
Giuliani 25.6%
Thompson 19.6%
McCain 16.4%
Romney 10.0%
Giuliani +6.0%

South Park ‘Butt Out’ – For more funny videos, click here

Cutline: (AP) — US actress Cameron Diaz, takes pictures of press photographers as Sol Guy, an MTV Canada host, behind left, and guide Freddy Quispe stand with her during their tour of the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu near Cuzco, Peru, Friday, June 22, 2007. Cameron’s bag reads in Chinese ‘Serve the People,’ a famous political slogan by Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong, which has particular relevance in Peru where the Maoist Shining Path insurgency almost brought Peru to edge of chaos in the 1980s and early 1990s with a campaign of massacres, assassinations and bombings, when nearly 70,000 were killed.

It’s just as well her face is covered. I’d be embarrassed, too. Diaz’s father is a second-generation Cuban-American, but apparently he didn’t teach her a damn thing about her family’s escape from repression, or being in Hollywood has turned her into such a complete and utter dumbass, she’s forgotten. Of course it’s always possible she’s just trying to improve her career prospects, because Hollywood is usually kinder to actors with left-wing leanings, and Cameron — who’s never been a great actress — getting a little shopworn for the sex-pot roles that have made up her career so far.

First, we had Che Guevara t-shirts, now Chairman Mao handbags.

Courtesy of Peoria Pundit

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YOUTH UPDATE
Delegates from the Teenage Republicans and College Republicans are meeting with Michigan GOP Chair Saul Anuzis, and Youth Chair Matt Hall to ask that the youth budget be increased.
Sources indicate that the youth representatives are asking for $4,000 per year.

Right now, all three youth organizations are given (TARS, YRS, & CRS) $1,000 that is given at at the discretion of the youth chair. The $1,000 level of funding has been in place for quite some time now; at least since Betsy DeVos was chair (If I remember correctly)

In the past, little monies from the youth budget have made it to the youth organizations. Instead being spent on youth chair phone bills among other things.

The youth organizations need to show that they are worth the extra funding that they are seeking.

THE YR SITUATION
As many of you know Mike Flory, the Young Republican Chair has stepped down. From what I hear, there are two groups of people seeking to take over the YRS.

The Oakland County YR Chapter is seeking to have the state organization chartered. Most of the YRS in O.C are said to be Mitt Romney supporters.

Here is where Matt Hall enters the picture. Hall is a staunch McCain supporter and is on a mission to see to it that all three youth organizations are run by McCain supporters. So far the TARS and CRS are Chaired by McCaniacs. Hall is also working on getting the YRS chartered and no doubt having a McCain person chair the organization.

What is unclear is whether Hall is consolidating youth organizations as a hobby, or whether he is taking orders from the Michigan McCain operation to do so.

I love this cartoon…

CHICAGO — The Rev. Jesse Jackson was arrested Saturday at a demonstration outside a south suburban gun shop and charged with one count of criminal trespass to property.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286412,00.html

The former EPA Director Christie Todd Whitman is going after Rudy for not sufficiently taking care of WTC rescue workers. I don’t understand why one liberal Republican is going after another. They seem to generally hold the same views. Read the story here.

John McCain is desperate for funds. His constant pounding of conservatives on the amnesty bill is finally taking it’s toll. For those of you that support John McCain, consider this: If he does make it through the primary, is he going to be able to beat Hillary Clinton? He is hawkish on the war while the vast majority of America is against. Secondly, how can McCain possibly drive out the conservative base? I do not believe that Hillary being his opponent is going to be enough to draw out the conservative vote.
Related Article: Robert D. Novak: Rudy out of Iowa while McCain campaign sinks?

WASHINGTON – Republican John McCain and Democrat John Edwards are in danger of losing their place among the leading presidential contenders if their spring fundraising falls too short of earlier totals. Read More

As I am sitting here updating the blog, I can hear Ted Nugent over at Veterans Memorial Park. He’s singing “Cat Scratch Fever”. I believe The Senator is at the event consuming large beers and chain smoking Camel Filters.

Said Drolet in response, “He calls me a bully while he’s trying to shake down Michigan citizens for whatever is left of their lunch money? I should kick his ass.”

Asked if Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM was also a bully for the tactics she is using to push for a tax hike, the loyal Meisner said no….

…Back on the tax issue, Meisner joined a growing line of Democrats who say the same thing when asked, “When will you vote on a tax hike?”

“I don’t know,” was the familiar response. After the taping, he suggested it would be after the July 4 break.

(Contributed by Senior Capital Correspondent Tim SKUBICK.)

Yet another issue that Duncan Hunter is right on, and John McCain is wrong on.

(To his credit, Romney disagrees with McCain on this point also)

Hunter: Closing Guantanamo Bay would represent a major setback in the War on Terrorism
San Diego – U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, will be holding a press conference today to respond to media reports that the United States is considering closing the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. During media appearances this morning, Congressman Hunter said that closing Guantanamo Bay would represent a major setback in the War on Terrorism.

How to solve the 2008 Budget Crisis

By Representative Kenneth B. Horn

With the 2007 budget crisis averted, Lansing lawmakers turn their attention to the even larger hole in the 2008 budget. With inflation, proposed new spending, and the gimmicks and one-time fixes applied to the 2007 budget, the anticipated shortfall is pegged at roughly $1.9 billion.

Can we solve this challenge with no tax increases? Well, that’s actually what I’m fighting for, for a couple of reasons. First of all, let me remind you of the genesis of the “Two-Penny Plan” that I proposed earlier this year. At the time, I could not agree with the administration that a 2% sales tax on services for 2007 was necessary or required (and I was proven to be correct.) The OTHER Two Penny Plan would simply have us spending 98 cents, this year, of every dollar Michigan spent last year.

I previously wrote, “I can draw no logical conclusion that the reason our children and our family businesses are leaving this state is because your family hasn’t been sending enough of its money to Lansing. As much as any leader would like to say we’ve reduced spending, we haven’t. The state budget has increased every year.

While taxes have been cut, increases in fees, licenses and government regulation have more than made up that difference. We are not spending less than we did 10 years ago or even 4 years ago. Further, I can’t see the logic in proposing the way to cure Michigan’s economic woes is to increase the number of government programs, and spend more money.”

I still assert that in a time of financial stress as we are facing now, we should not, at the very least, promote any new state spending.

Through no fault of Michigan’s tax payers, the state’s credit rating took another dip. With regard to our reserve funds, instead of earning $137 million in annual interest, as we did in 2000, we now pay $66 million in short-term debt obligation. In essence, it’s like using a credit card to pay off our debts. There are a number of reasons for this, but we should remember that billions have been pulled from reserve funds to balance budgets, while we the state should have been re-structuring and otherwise preparing to live within our means.

Well… here we are, with a huge 2008 deficit and allegedly no further gimmicks to draw from. I still stand by the principle that the state should live within its means, and I still cannot support asking the taxpayer to give more. I will suggest that my colleagues again consider the two-penny approach with these additional thoughts: for each penny cut from “front-line” services, one penny will be cut from the highest levels in each department. It is my hope that this will avert any inappropriate political scare tactics, as we experienced in the most recent budget negotiation. I’ve already co-sponsored and voted for a measure to cut my own pay by 5%.

If you recall, according to the non-partisan House Fiscal Agency, 2% of the overall 2007 budget is roughly $860 million. In the State of the State earlier this year, the administration proposed nearly a billion dollars in new spending for 2008. Implementing the Horn Two-Penny Plan and withdrawing the promise of new spending is a sound strategy that sets us up nicely for future balanced budgets.

I’ve had people in my office as late as today asking me to raise taxes because they’ve heard we’ve cut government to the bone. Some have stated over and over that we cut 4 billion over last 4 years. Show me! It’s simply not true that state spending has gone down, it’s that dollars have been shuffled like an old deck of cards. At the bottom of this e-newsletter is a PDF file with a chart from the non-partisan House Fiscal Agency that shows spending by the state increasing every year. I encourage you to examine this document.

On Mackinac

At the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Conference last week on Mackinac Island, the Governor made a grand speech. She talked about budget cutting and tax cutting. The Governor again mentioned that the state employs only 52,000 workers, down from previous years. The fact is that the House Appropriations Committee is budgeting for 57,000 employees in 2008 (and there were 56,000 budgeted for last year.) The dollar request stands at 9.1% over last year.

The Governor suggested that the Legislature was “too far apart” and that she would use her executive authority to “keep us in session until the job was done.” The truth is that House Speaker Andy Dillon and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop are very close to a Single Business Tax replacement, and are leading a true bi-partisan effort on the 2008 budget. “No summer break,” the Governor said as she shook her finger at us. I have no problem with this, though her threat wasn’t really necessary. After all, we worked through the Easter break, and I haven’t had a summer break since high school.

To punctuate a point, though, the Governor could have asked those in attendance to join her at the mansion and not leave the island until a deal was struck. The leaders were in attendance and ready to work, but instead the Governor left the island for personal reasons. I believe that it would have demonstrated good faith bargaining for the Governor to stick around and roll up her sleeves for a couple of days.

End Result on the Single Business Tax Replacement

Very shortly, we should see significant progress on the SBT replacement. I still hold some hope that we’ll see some significant tax relief for Michigan businesses. In the end, however, we’ll likely settle on a “revenue neutral” plan. It’s still a tough negotiation.

But, I’ll continue my fight for my two-penny plan because I recognize that residents and business owners will not balk at modest tax rates if we demonstrate we’ve truly cut to the bone. Taxpayers are simply asking for tax dollars to be spent wisely. A sound tax policy is a reflection of a reasonable spending policy.

No Michigan resident should ever be made to feel guilty or selfish when asking for government costs to be contained. After all, you should not be rendered subservient to your own government because of years of financial political gamesmanship.

I stand behind the Horn Two-Penny proposal that we trim government spending through a modest 2% overall cut. I’ll continue to ask for no new spending during these tough times, and will demand true fiscal restructuring that will protect our school budgets. We owe this to the taxpayers who have to balance their own checkbooks every day.

As always, feel free to contact me at: kennethhorn@house.mi.gov with any comments, questions or concerns. Thank you.

—

Note: I managed the primary race against Ken Horn last year for Tim Kelly who is now the Saginaw GOP Chair. Ken is turning out to be a great State Representative, from supporting gun rights to standing firm against tax increases.

Thanks Ken!

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Links of interest
Gillespie returns to West Wing

Nader ponders run, calls Clinton ‘coward’

Conyers launches site for DoJ whistleblowers

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John McCain…so what’s the good news?
If McCain isn’t going to do anything conservative, shouldn’t he at least say conservative things like Mitt Romney?

John McCain in Detroit pushing amnesty agenda
Det News

McCain takes stand on immigration, energy
Detroit Free Press

MCCAIN FADES IN IOWA New York Post – Jun 21 11:13 AM
Sen. John McCain has fallen to single-digit numbers among Republicans while Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has edged into the lead of Democrats in a new poll of Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus voters. McCain, once the GOP presidential front-runner

McCain Drops to Single Digits in Iowa Poll NewsMax.com, FL – 8 hours agoFred Thompson, the actor-politician who hasn’t formally said he’s running, is tied for second with Rudy Giuliani. The poll was done after Giuliani

McCain says U.S. neglecting Latin America Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jun 20 1:52 PM
The United States has been neglecting Latin America, allowing militants to gain a foothold there and compromise national security, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain said on Wednesday.

Unusual spot for McCain — polls falling Miami Herald – Jun 21 3:13 AM
How did Sen. John McCain, the one-time front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, come to this?

McCain Gives Way To Negativity CBS 5 Phoenix – Jun 21 6:17 AM
John McCain, the self-described “Happy Warrior” of the 2000 presidential race, goes negative amid numerous challenges.

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Giuliani Regrets Joining Iraq Study Group Fox News – Jun 21 11:53 AM
Presidential contender Rudy Giuliani says it was a mistake to join the Iraq Study Group because of his busy campaign schedule.

Rudy Tough On Illegal Immigration?Human Events, DC – 15 hours ago… says he’s supporting Rudy Giuliani for President in large part because the New York “didn’t have to be taught” on the issue of illegal immigration.

Bush Vetoes Stem Cell Research Bill
Wednesday, June 20, 2007

WASHINGTON — President Bush vetoed an embryonic stem cell research funding bill Wednesday and called on Congress to put aside politics and support legislation that would advance science without crossing an ethical line.

“If this legislation became law, it would compel American taxpayers for the first time in our history to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos,” Bush said from the East Room of the White House, where he was joined by doctors and stem cell patients. “I made it clear to Congress and to the American people that I will not allow our nation to cross this moral line.”
Read the Entire Story

Thomas Ravenel is in the middle

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, a former real estate developer and rising political star, was indicted Tuesday on federal cocaine charges.

The millionaire — also the state chairman for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign — is accused of buying less than 500 grams of cocaine to share with other people in late 2005, U.S. Attorney Reggie Lloyd said. Ravenel, 44, is charged with distribution of cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

Giuliani’s campaign sent out a prepared statement saying Ravenel had stepped down. Giuliani spokesman Elliott Bundy said he did not know when Ravenel stepped aside.

The investigation into Ravenel arose from a drug case last year in Charleston, Lloyd said. State Law Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart said his agents were aware of the allegations before Ravenel was elected in November. The case was turned over to the FBI on April 1 “when the investigation reached a certain level,” Stewart said.

“There was nothing we could take action on prior to the election,” Stewart said.

Read the full article here

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NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg Switches Party Affiliation From Republican to Independent

I wonder when Rudy is going to admit the truth and do the same?

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Greenpeace targets Dingell, Boucher
Frustrated at the lack of progress on global warming legislation, a Greenpeace representative told The Hill yesterday that Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.) should lose their energy committee and subcommittee posts.

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Dems Back Away From Tax Vote/$1.5B Is Magic Number
Senate Republicans need reforms to provide political cover for any tax hike they pass. House Democrats want a tax hike, but aren’t willing to back the reforms that give the Republicans the cover they’re asking for.

In the meantime, Democrats are leery that Republicans may maneuver them into taking “bad” votes for tax hikes that won’t ever be enacted. (Envision the following campaign ad, “He/She voted three times to raise your income taxes.”).

That is the status of the state’s current budget negotiations impasse. MIRS has learned the administration and legislative leaders have agreed to raise revenue $1.5 billion, $1.2 billion with a general tax increase and another $300 million in other additional revenue.

But this week’s planned tax hike in the House is collapsing. Democrats are now waiting for Senate Majority Leader Mike BISHOP (R-Rochester) to come up with a reform-for-revenue menu — “Here’s the tax hike we’ll give you for Reform A. Here’s the tax hike we’ll give you for Reform B. Here’s the tax hike we’ll give you for Reform A & B.”

With this as a backdrop, the Democratic-controlled House today, did not take even a “test” vote on a tax hike. Recall that, as of last Friday, the supposed plan was for the House to hold a test vote today on some kind of tax hike. The House was then to come back Wednesday and keep the voting board open until the needed 56 “yes” votes were recorded.

Although no vote on a tax hike took place today there were signs that something was in the air, including:

- The House started a curious practice of opening session at 10 a.m. and then splitting off for committee hearings. At 1:30 they rendezvoused for party caucuses.

- Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM was close at hand in the House today.

- The areas around the desks of potential GOP “yes” votes — Rep. Mike NOFS (R-Battle Creek) and Rep. Richard BALL (R-Bennington Twp.) — remained pretty crowded. It appears that Ball may be holding out for reforms, while Nofs is keeping his own counsel.

MIRS asked one insider this week whether a deal between the House and Senate on a tax hike was “greased.”

“No, this isn’t greased,” the source responded. “And the SBT replacement took six weeks — and that was greased.”

More and more it’s beginning to look like the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 budget negotiations may not include a longer-term solution to the structural deficit.

A longer-term solution would have to involve relatively strong labor reforms, the sort of reforms Republicans believe would actually help Michigan’s economy for years to come. These types of reforms include, but are not limited to:

- Making Michigan a “right to work” state;

- Amending PA 312, the state law requiring binding arbitration to settle contract disputes between municipalities and unions.

- Getting rid of, or watering down, the state’s prevailing wage laws.

The trouble is that it seems a virtual sure bet that the Democrats will never go for anything but the mildest approaches to these levels of reforms, if that.

Democrats argue that even the Senate Republican caucus couldn’t come up with enough votes to pass these reforms, with the possible exception of minor tweaking of PA 312. But the Republicans argue “so what.” That just puts the GOP lawmakers on par with where the Democrats are in regard to a tax hike. They need the votes from the other party to pass what they want to pass.

Republicans do seem to agree on school employee health care reform aimed at Michigan Education Special Services Association (MESSA), the union-owned health insurance organization for teachers and education employees, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan.

Democrats are voicing support for school employee health care reform, but are opposed to what the Republicans claim is the crux of the issue — allowing the release of claims data so school districts can shop for better quotes.

And, in the absence of the reforms they believe they need, the Republicans seem to be forced to look more and more to slicing state government spending — measures that in some cases could be (and will be) called “reforms,” but look increasingly like deepening budget cuts during tight financial times.

Today, House Majority Floor Leader Steve TOBOCMAN (D-Detroit) said he’s hoping to have a tax increase on the governor’s desk by July 4. It remains to be seen whether this new deadline can be met. MIRS NEWS

Tax-hike talk in Lansing fires up prospects for recalls – Dozens could be targeted, Drolet says

BY DAWSON BELL FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Created: 6/19/2007 9:18:42 AM
Updated: 6/19/2007 9:19:04 AM

Gov. Jennifer Granholm says Michigan lawmakers need to act by July 4 to enact tax hikes to ease the state’s budget crisis.

But it remains a bit of a hard sell in part because of a deadline that falls three days earlier. On July 1 it becomes legal to launch a recall campaign against a legislator serving a term that began in January. That’s all 148 of them.

Organizers of prospective recall campaigns are increasing the volume of their saber rattling, showing up Monday at a Macomb Community College budget forum sponsored by a Detroit lawmaker wearing “Recall Lansing” T-shirts and setting dates for “Recall Boot Camps” next week to train volunteers.

Leon Drolet, a former state representative from Macomb County and leader of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, said the boot camps will provide practical information about how to conduct a campaign. Leading them will be a pair of Wisconsin grassroots activists with a 75% success ratio.

Drolet said 20 or more members of the House and Senate could be subject to recall campaigns if they back a big tax hike. He said the targets are likely to include a small number of Republicans betraying conservative principles and Democrats from districts where opposition to taxes is high.

House Majority Floor Leader Steve Tobocman, D-Detroit, said Monday the anti-tax groups are “grandstanding,” but he acknowledged attempts to remove some members who support tax hikes are almost inevitable, both because Michigan’s recall guidelines are broad and because “some of the recall folks are really zealous.”

But Tobocman said he thinks a bipartisan vote to raise taxes will happen because “there’s no other way to move the state forward.” The current draft favors an $800-million income tax increase and several hundred millions from taxing entertainment and the like.

Tobocman represents a district in which support for higher taxes is not likely to trigger large grassroots opposition.

But, he said, “We make decisions every day that have political consequences. This is a bigger decision so the consequences are going to be bigger.”

Drolet said it’s fine with him if backers of a tax hike view the recall talk as a threat.

Contact DAWSON BELL at 313-222-6604 or dbell@freepress.com.

Copyright © 2007 Detroit Free Press Inc.

—
A note from Steve Japinga:

Americans for Prosperity is having their national conference this
October in Washington D.C. The dates for the conference are October
3rd through the 6th. Americans for Prosperity is an organization of
grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited
government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels.
The grassroots members of AFP advocate for public policies that
champion the principles of entrepreneurship and fiscal and regulatory
restraint.

We will be paying for transportation to and from Washington as well as
hotel rooms at the luxurious Mayflower Hotel (4 blocks from the White
House). Let me know if this is something you would be interested in.
All we ask is that you pay the registration fee, which is either $29
for student or $49 for general admission, but hurry to take advantage
of this early registration fee. There is no difference between a
student admission and a general admission.

Check it out: http://americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=2662

Below is the list of speakers:

John Stossel, ABC’s 20/20
Dinesh D’Souza, Hoover Institute Fellow & bestselling author of Ronald Reagan
Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Congressman Jeff Flake (AZ-6)
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
Steve Moore, Wall Street Journal
John Fund, Wall Street Journal
Art Laffer, economist
Robert Cochran, Producer of the hit Fox show “24″
Nick Grillo, Producer of Gods and Generals
Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform

Invited Speakers include:
Rush Limbaugh
Congressman J.C. Watts
Michael Steele
Former Governor Mitt Romney
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Attorney General Edwin Meese
Former Senator Fred Thompson
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Senator John McCain
Congressman Mike Pence (IN-R)
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford
Morton Blackwell, Leadership Institute

Please contact me as soon as possible so I can save you on a spot on the trip!

Steve Japinga
517-853-9073 (Work)
stevejapinga@gmail.com

Poll: Fred Thompson tops McCain, gains on Giuliani The Tennessean – Jun 18 12:07 AM
WASHINGTON — Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani continues to lead the Republican field in the USA Today/Gallup Poll, but former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who hasn’t yet formally entered the race, for the first time edges into second place over Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Immigration killing McCain in S. Carolina By: JONATHAN MARTIN 06/18/2007 05:36 PM Blog: McCain’s pro-White House immigration stance drags numbers down, despite institutional support.

McCain voices optimism on immigration plan Boston Globe – 9 minutes ago
Senator John McCain of Arizona said yesterday that he was “guardedly optimistic” that the Senate’s controversial immigration legislation will pass Congress, and added that he has been stunned by the personal attacks on him from conservatives angry about the bill.

McCain’s record is liability as he plays financial catch-up with rivals International Herald Tribune – Jun 18 6:27 AM
Many of the natural big campaign contributors are wary of giving to the Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who needs to raise money now to prove his viability against better-funded opponents.

Giuliani pushes ID cards, border fence in state stop The World – Jun 18 5:38 AM
PORTLAND – Rudy Giuliani said Friday the United States needs a technological fence and tamper-proof ID cards for foreigners in the country.

Firefighters give Giuliani mixed reviews Boston Globe – Jun 17 2:08 AM
NEW YORK — Their images are permanently etched in photographs after the fall of the World Trade Center towers, Mayor Rudy Giuliani and firefighters cloaked in the same gray dust. For months afterward, they stood together at funerals for firefighters.

Brownback apologizes to Romney AP via Yahoo! News – Jun 18 6:55 PM
Republican presidential hopeful Sam Brownback on Monday telephoned rival Mitt Romney to apologize for a campaign staffer’s e-mail criticizing the Mormon church.

GOP’s Romney surges in early voting states CNN.com – Jun 18 1:29 PM
BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) — Forget the national polls for Mitt Romney. Slowly, methodically, the Republican presidential contender has seized the advantage in the early states that count, relying on a solid organization, $4 million in advertising and an aggressive approach.

Fred Thompson: Not So Conservative? Newsweek – Jun 16 1:18 PM
The right has a crush on Fred Thompson, but his own papers suggest he is less conservative than they think.

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Bits And Tidbits
Recall Boot Camps?
Today, the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance (MTA) announced that it plans on hosting a series of ‘Recall Boot Camps’ across Michigan to train citizens on how to recall state lawmakers who vote for tax increases.

MTA is bringing in Orville SEYMOUR and Chris KLIESMET to train at boot camps. Seymour and Kliesmet are being billed as the “Nation’s Premier Recall Experts.” They are from Wisconsin’s Citizens for Responsible Government Network, a group that has recalled 15 Wisconsin politicians and has a 75 percent recall success rate.

“We are thankful that Mr. Seymour and Mr. Kliesmet are willing to come to Michigan and help share their formula for successfully recalling politicians,” said Leon DROLET, Executive Director of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. “No group anywhere in the country has had a better record in winning recalls.” (MIRS NEWS)

I am experienceing a high volume of email…I will be back within the next couple days.

Conservatively Yours,

Joe

Conservative activist coming out
http://pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=25528

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Dennis Lennox’s letter to the Detroit News against a part time legislature

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Job temps making laws The Saginaw News – Saginaw,MI,USARoger Kahn, Republican of Saginaw Township, and Rep. Andy Coulouris, a Saginaw Democrat, in pooh-poohing a part-time legislature. It is a long-shot anyway.

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Affirmative action foe is on U.S. rights panel
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007706120316

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The Catholic League doing what they do best, kicking anti Catholic ass

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Not Legal? No License State Rep. Dave AGEMA (R-Grandville) introduced legislation (HB 4881) that would only allow those who are U.S. citizens and legally live in the country to get a driver’s license. Similar legislation has died in past legislative sessions.

Rep. Chris Ward (Minority Floor Leader) backs off from supporting McCain

State Rep. Chris Ward, R-Brighton Township, has thrown his support in the Republican presidential primary race behind television actor and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson. Ward had previously endorsed Arizona Sen. John McCain, with whom he shares support for campaign-finance reform.

But now Ward said that Thompson “has shown the type of strong leadership we need in the White House. He has a proven record in the United States Senate and is the most electable Republican.”

Thompson, an actor in the popular TV series “Law & Order,” hasn’t yet officially declared his candidacy, but has taken steps toward doing so.

Source: Livingston Daily

McCain backer bails over immigration

S. Carolina’s Aiken County chair says he’s too far from him on ‘amnesty bill’

Updated: 1:24 p.m. ET June 8, 2007

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Republican White House hopeful John McCain’s support for a bipartisan immigration bill has cost him the backing of a South Carolina county campaign chairman.

David Nix, who had been heading the Aiken County campaign for McCain, told McCain press secretary Adam Temple that he was quitting as county chairman because of the immigration bill, which some critics have decried as providing amnesty for illegal aliens.

Nix’s e-mailed resignation Wednesday came in response to an e-mail from Temple about McCain’s Tuesday night debate performance “As most of you saw last night, Senator McCain did extremely well last night,” Temple wrote. He asked McCain’s county chairmen to call into radio shows to talk up McCain and his agenda.

Nix, who served as the county GOP chairman from 2000-2004, responded with a brief note.

“Please consider this my resignation as Aiken County chair for McCain. I am too far from him on the Amnesty Bill. I was hopeful that he could keep his nose clean this time around, but he can’t read the pulse of the American citizens,” he wrote.

Nix did not respond to a message left seeking comment. McCain’s South Carolina campaign spokesman, B.J. Boling, confirmed the contents of the e-mail.

Attorney General Henry McMaster, McCain’s South Carolina campaign co-chairman, said McCain won’t have agreement from any leader on every issue. He noted McCain has 80 county chairs and co-chairs and hundreds of other endorsements.

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Recent News Articles

Fred Thompson Draws Even With John McCain in Latest Poll
National Ledger, AZ - 1 hour ago
Fred Thompson is not even in the presidential race yet and already he has drawn even with one time GOP frontrunner John McCain. Many believe that McCain has

McCain: Time Short for Immigration Bill
ABC News - 1 hour ago
Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said Saturday that time is running out on overhauling immigration policy. “We’ve got other things to do in the

John McCain Without Money
National Ledger, AZ - 14 hours ago
John McCain’s heavy-spending, money-short 2008 campaign. McCain is concentrating heavily on the rich target of lawyers and lobbyists in Washington

Pure Horserace: John McCain’s Bad Day
CBS News, NY - Jun 8, 2007
John McCain couldn’t have been happy seeing the bill he co-sponsored hung up, maybe never to be resurrected. Throughout debates and testy campaign exchanges

McCain Meltdown Madness: Ignoring Existing Immigration Laws
Post Chronicle - 18 minutes ago
As Senator John McCain slips further and further into the grips of neurotic self-delusion, his arguments in favor of legalizing 12-30 million illegal aliens

Gingrich: McCain Can’t Win
ABC News - 22 hours ago
Newt Gingrich predicts John McCain will never be the Republican nominee for president. And McCain admits he might be right. The former House Speaker argued

See Rudy and John run

In July 1861, the Union Army marched out of the capital to meet the Confederates forming up at Manassas. Washingtonians packed picnic lunches and followed to enjoy the rebel rout.

By nightfall, the Union Army was straggling back to the city. Stunned and panicked spectators had already returned to report the defeat of Gen. McDowell’s forces. What the First Battle of Bull Run meant was that the rebels were stronger and tougher than anticipated, and Mr. Lincoln’s war was not going to be easy or short.

In Republican presidential politics, the Iowa straw poll, held the August before the January caucuses, serves the role of Bull Run. It is the first major skirmish of the presidential season and registers the appeal of a candidate to the nation’s first voters, the strength of his organization and the extent of his financial resources.

Thus, it is a stunning development that Rudy Giuliani, then John McCain just pulled out of the Iowa straw poll on Aug. 11.

What seems to have happened is this.

Having spent less time in Iowa than McCain or Mitt Romney, with an organization regarded as feeble compared to theirs, Rudy feared a crushing defeat on Aug. 11 that would have destroyed his aura as front-runner. Rather than be humiliated, he elected to forfeit the game.

That left McCain nothing to gain on Aug. 11, but a lot to lose. Now, he could not claim to have defeated Rudy, his main rival, but he would risk an embarrassing loss to Romney, who leads in many Iowa polls and whose organization is said to be the strongest in the state.

Bottom line: Mitt Romney is now the favorite to win the Iowa Caucuses in January, eight days before New Hampshire.

And recall: John Kerry’s three-point victory in Iowa in 2004 propelled him to victory in New Hampshire and virtually every other primary save South Carolina and Oklahoma.

There is a real question today whether Rudy, whose liberal stance on gay rights and right-to-life is anathema to most Iowa Republicans, will even play in the caucuses. Why risk a deathblow to his candidacy in what may be one of Rudy’s weakest states?

McCain has to consider whether he, too, wants to risk a defeat there in January, which could be fatal to his candidacy, or whether he is not better advised to await Romney in New Hampshire, the way he did George W. Bush in 2000, when McCain – wisely, it turned out – ducked Iowa altogether.

The withdrawal of Rudy and McCain not only dims their luster, it puts pressure on Romney to run up the score on Aug. 11 and show intimidating strength. And it presents an opening for a second-tier candidate – former Govs. Mike Huckabee, Tommy Thompson and Jim Gilmore, Reps. Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo and Ron Paul, and Sen. Sam Brownback – to break out of the pack.

Whoever now runs second to Romney in the straw poll – especially if he can put distance between himself and No. 3 – will begin to attract attention from the media and see his contributions increase.

The McCain-Giuliani cop-out will cause Fred Thompson to review his strategy. Wisely, he has passed up the straw poll. This would have cost him hundreds of thousands of campaign cash for a tent, tickets, food and buses at the all-day affair in Ames, and availed him nothing. For his late entry would have precluded a first- or second-place finish.

Thompson now has to ask himself whether he should even go to Iowa – or do as McCain did in 2000, skip the state and take his stand in New Hampshire.

Writing off Iowa makes sense for Thompson. For it is hard to see how he could make up for the lost six months he has already ceded to the other candidates in organizing the state. Most Iowa political activists have already committed to other candidates.

The same would hold true for Newt Gingrich, should he decide to run, which appears unlikely now that Fred Thompson has moved into the vacuum left by conservative dissatisfaction with the front-runners. But should Newt get in, it would make no sense for him to go to Iowa and play against a deck that seems stacked for Romney. Better to wait for New Hampshire.

Neither the Iowa straw poll nor the caucuses are necessarily decisive. Sen. Phil Gramm won the straw poll in 1996. George H.W. Bush defeated Ronald Reagan in the caucuses of 1980.

But the Iowa Caucuses have always been important, and often crucial.

Jimmy Carter’s victory led to the nomination in 1976. Kerry’s victory led to the nomination. George W. Bush’s smashing victory in the Iowa straw poll of 1999 and follow-on triumph in the caucuses propelled him through defeat in New Hampshire to the White House.

Mitt Romney has been robbed of a triumph over his two main rivals on Aug. 11. They evaded the trap he had set. But in running Rudy and John out of Ames, Romney has shown real strength, and must now be the favorite to take Iowa in January and probably is the man to beat in New Hampshire.

DIALOGUE WITH A “MCCANIAC”

Since the John McCain supporters can be counted on one hand in the 5th district, I decided to get out my frustration by visiting the Michigan for McCain blog. Now, more than ever after these recent immigration happenings, I couldn’t help myself. Below, you will find a dialogue between me and one of the McCain bloggers, Charles Szafir, with whom I don’t believe I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. As a further note, I wanted to say that the term “McCaniac” was not crafted by me. I found the term on the blog. For those of you that like McCain as much as I do, fell free to visit the above blog and give them Gehenna!

Joe Sylvester said…

McCain Votes with Debbie Stabenow & Carl Levin http://bconservatives.blogspot.com/2007/05/mccain-voted-with-carl-levin-and-debbie.html

1:42 AM

Michigan Straight Talk said…

Yes, you are right John McCain votes in line with Stabenow and Levin. McCain is pro-choice, pro-big government, against the War in Iraq, against free trade agreements, against the War on Terror, against privatization of social security, against tax cuts, etc…

If you haven’t picked up the sarcasm, then you obviously A) live under a rock or B)choose to ignore the facts.

9:05 PM

Joe Sylvester said…

McCain has shitty ratings from both the Right to Life and the NRA! In 2000 the pro abortion groups were running ads against Bush…they never mentioned McCain.
He also said that if his daughter wanted to have an abortion, that they would have a family meeting about it. This shows a clear lack of understanding of the abortion issue. You simply say, “No, its a human being.” Sometimes McCain is for Roe v Wade sometimes hes against it.
If you ask anyone that is in the RTL movement they do not support McCain. We know better.
McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts with all of his liberal buddies.
Most recently he is standing with the liberals in trying to destroy this country with amnesty.
Yes, McCain is pro Iraq war…the people are not. Someone must have forgotten to send him the memo that the campaign plan that was used in 2004 isn’t going to work in 2008!
I didn’t say he votes in line with them all the time…but he does vote with them almost more than any other Republican does.

8:03 PM

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LINKS OF INTEREST

HOW JOHN McCAIN THREATENS THE PRO-LIFE CAUSE

By Douglas Johnson, Legislative Director, National Right to Life Committee

McCain Softens Abortion Stand

McCain Flip-Flops, Supports Immediate Reversal of Roe v. Wade

The Pro-Life Case Against John McCain:
Source: National Right to Life

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Abortion

THEN: McCain Opposed Overturning Roe: It Would Force Women To Seek Illegal Abortions. [San Francisco Chronicle, 8/20/99]

NOW: McCain Wouldn’t Be Bothered By Supreme Court Ban On Abortion, Would Sign South Dakota’s Abortion Ban. [CBS News, 1/25/06; ABC News, 3/29/06; ABC News, 2/26/06; NationalJournal.com, 2/28/06]

Evil

THEN: McCain Called Falwell “Evil Influence” on GOP. [Kansas City Star, 5/28/05]

NOW: McCain Met With Falwell To Lay Groundwork for 2008 Run And Agreed To Speak At Falwell’s Liberty University. [US News and World Report, 11/14/05; Lynchburg News & Advance, 3/28/06]

Tax Cuts

THEN: McCain Opposed Bush Tax Cuts. [Baltimore Sun, 5/27/01; Statement, 3/18/03]

NOW: McCain Voted For Bush Tax Cuts. [New York Times, 2/21/06]

Gay Marriage

THEN: McCain Opposed Federal Gay Marriage Ban. [Los Angeles Times, 1/25/05]

NOW: McCain Said He’s Willing To Support A Federal Marriage Amendment. [Meet the Press, 4/2/06]

Racism

THEN: McCain Condemned Bush For Failing to Denounce Racist Beliefs At Bob Jones University. [Fox, 2/24/00]

NOW: McCain Endorsed George Wallace Jr., Keynote Speaker at White Supremacist Group Gathering. [AP, 11/17/05; 6/6/05]

Creationism / Intelligent Design

THEN: McCain: Local Schools Should Decide on Teaching Creationism. [Times Union, 8/28/99]

NOW: McCain: “Young People Have the Right to Be Told” About Intelligent Design, Refused To Exclude It From Science Classes. [Courier Journal, 12/20/05; Arizona Daily Star, 8/28/05; NPR, 11/7/05]

Campaign Finance

THEN: McCain Was A Champion For Campaign Finance Reform. [New York Times, 10/22/01]

NOW: McCain Laying the Groundwork To Opt Out Of Campaign Finance System For ‘08 Campaign. [National Journal, 12/17/05; Hotline On Call, 12/16/05]

My commentary on John McCain and Religion:

Every time I hear McCain in a debate I like him less each time. A couple of debates ago (I believe at the Reagan Library) the candidates were asked about God. McCain responded with something very weird, and forgive me here if I slaughter it: When I am at the Grand Canyon I feel something.

I had a chat with my grandmother about it and she said, “What the Hell is wrong with him? I’ve never heard something so stupid.” Needless to say, I believe that McCain lost my grandparents vote.

What is wrong with a Huckabee, Nicene Creed type answer? As a Catholic that is what I look for. Instead of hearing that, I hear something along the lines of something that my hippie-Wiccan brother would say.

My brother: “I feel a negative energy”
Me: “It’s called Satan, now straighten your act up!”

Now, I didn’t have quite the reaction that she did, but it got me thinking. The issues that McCain constantly flip flops on are ones that are generally related to religion. Abortion, gay marriage, race issues, creationism-evolution, stem cell research are among them.

His wavering on these issues tells me that he doesn’t have a firm grounding in Christianity. It can’t be that he is from a liberal state and is pandering, because that certainly isn’t the case.

I think it would be interesting to see what he actually thinks and if he is actually a Christian.

One thing is for sure, I like Romney’s thoughts on religion far more than McCain’s, and Romney is not even a Christian by definition. There is a reason why Evangelicals do not like McCain, and I’m sure the feeling is mutual. Unfortunately for McCain, I think that the fundamentalists smell a rat and I don’t see him capturing that voting block.