Tag: Power (page 2)

The last election has had its consequences not only of statewide or national significance, but also in local areas as well. In Northern Michigan's Kalkaska county, we could have up to 5 casualties, as a shoot out in the OK Corral begins.

Four newly elected county commissioners, Stuart McKinnon, Dave Ritter, Tony Martini and the Chair, Mike Cox (all Republican) are being recalled by the Kalkaska Democrat party efforts and with active assistance from the local prosecutor, Brian Donnelly, a [Democrat] as well.  The recall effort has apparently been spawned by the prosecutor's objections to the commission's refusal to reinstate funding to his department.  The funding cuts had been made by the prior county board's actions.  It is also presumed to be payback for an attempt to have an outside consultant look at the prosecutor's office as well as other county operations by the 'Axe Man':

The board voted to retain the services of attorney John Axe of Axe and Ecklund, PC, to provide consulting services to the county for a cost not to exceed $9,375.

Said services are intended to "permit the county to operate on a balanced budget in the fiscal year beginning Jan. 1, 2012," as stated in the firm's contract with county.

"They've spent $10,000 on somebody they refer to as the `Axe Man,'" Donnelly said. "He is supposedly doing a study for them on how big the (county) departments should be."

Paul Scott promoted and was one of the sponsors to 2009-HB4377 which determined that "No business owner really has the right to decide what environment he or she shall provide."  It was passed in Dec 2009, and enforcement began 2010 preventing any business from allowing smoking inside or in serving areas.  It of course received the support of those legislators who held out for the casino constituencies and wanted to say "to hell with the 14th amendment, those places are exempt."  Scott was a founder of the smoking ban, and it says a lot about his philosophical 'nanny state' view of government.

So yeah, NOT a big supporter of the man, but ..

The MEA put $25,000 right out there for this recall attempt.  It is very targeted, and is designed for maximum effect on both Michigan's population, and to send a message to those who are in marginal districts that efforts perceived as anti-union will not be tolerated. And as the Snyder re-arranging of cheese goes on (yes I know there is some resistance here as well) there is a great deal of that A-U perception, right or wrong.

Let me be clear however, the MEA's political action to hit Scott will have a more chilling effect on those things WE IN THIS forum want.  While we rebuild a conservative base within the GOP ranks in Lansing, it will not help us if the other side of the aisle folks are putting fear of recall into the marginal areas that wind up giving the TRUE power in our houses; the majority.

It seems there are a lot of questions looking for answers as we begin the new week.  Jenkuz brings up a valid issue with yesterday's post and how we are going to proceed as a state if our 'Republican' defenders are sticking us as the Democrat destroyers did. Schuette though elected, has a part of his responsibility the obligation to give the administration's opinion in court.  However, he can also advise and encourage the abandonment of such actions as the appeal.

I'll be talking with the AG about the selection of Brian Zahra for the Michigan Supreme Court this week, and see if I can get some light shed on this issue.  We WILL need expansion of power generation in the future.

Then..

Corinthian Scales is correct in suggesting 4 years is too long a welfare stint.  My own solution?  Outsource it.

For those of you watching the International Bridge debate you already know that HB 4961  has been passed.  It cleared with an yea vote on June 3, wholly supported by the Michigan Democrat representatives. Not a single Republican voted in favor of it, and I guess you could say the dissent was indeed bipartisan, as Democrat reps: Bledsoe, Brown, T., Cushingberry,   Dean, Durhal, Lemmons, Liss, Mayes and Neumann sided with the wisdom of the Republicans in the room opposing the measure..

A reasonable way to know how wretched the effects of such a bill might really be, would be to look at that kind of line up.  That type of vote indicates a strong lobbying presence on one side of the aisle not at all respected by the other.  Further, it demonstrates that the few Democrats who really understand and oppose HB4961 are so turned off, that they would buck their party.

Jason Allen puts it on record here:

"I would like to express my personal disappointment in Governor Granholm and her administration's decision late last Friday to deny Wolverine Electric Co-operative's application for an air quality permit needed for its proposed power plant in Rogers City.

But I would be only a single voice expressing this displeasure.

Maybe I should be speaking on behalf of the hundreds of construction workers, engineers, suppliers and contractors who would find employment at the power plant construction project in an area of the state that has been experiencing near 20 percent unemployment levels.

But I'm certain that they also are letting the Governor and her administration know that they strongly disagree with her ill-advised action.

One, the Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty explained that while he is governor, he cannot command his state's law enforcement official to do anything.  He admits that she is on the other side of the debate (of health care) yet she has not committed to not performing a challenge, and that it could still happen.  The important part?  He will not assume a role of telling THAT AG office what to do, yet consistently maintains his position that the bill is flawed, and unconstitutional.  His AG may well have to participate on behalf of the people anyhow, but not by his word.  He has left it to the people as is their right to petition such things.

The other, Mike Cox, the Michigan attorney general explains that no matter what our leadership's opinion might be, he is charged with doing the correct and right thing by representing the citizens of Michigan in a fight against this bill.  Holding the constitution up as the protection against this power grab by Washington.  He asserts the commerce clause being used as justification to force buying of insurance is an overstepping of the government's authority.  In his naming of of the aggrieved, he did however concede to the governor's point of filing on behalf of the citizens, so that the governor may file against the Michigan citizens in support of Obama. - (my words)