Your Defending Fathers

2 days ago

1st half hour today, Thursday 12-13-18; MIRS News Service

As Republicans Pass 'No Stricter' Bill, Allor Pulls Her Co-Sponsorship

Rep. Triston COLE (R-Mancelona) says his so-called "no stricter than federal" legislation does not stop the state from adopting more stringent rules and is really about transparency, forcing department directors to explain to lawmakers why they want to exceed federal standards.

And enough of his Republican colleagues agreed with him today to send it off to the Governor for a signature. They voted 57-51 to pass Click to add MIRS Bill Hound HB 4205.

But Rep. Sue ALLOR (R-Wolverine), originally a co-sponsor, not only voted against the bill, but asked her name be taken off the legislation. She said poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are her main concern.

"At the time I did agree with the basic premise of the bill, but as time has gone on and there has been more information come out with regards to contamination and contamination concerns, PFAS, not being able to get solid answers from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)," Allor said. ". . . When you look at EPA standards, they are set for across the country." She said she wants the state to be very specific to the situation in Michigan and not be tied to a generic one that is for the whole country.

The bill would prohibit a state agency from promulgating a rule, except an emergency rule, that is stricter than the applicable federal standard unless the agency director determines there is "a clear and convincing need to exceed" that federal standard (See "House Starts, Then Stops Debate On 'No stricter Than Federal'," 12/6/18).

The director would have to put those reasons in writing and submit the explanation to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), Cole said.

"Right now, we have unelected bureaucrats placing rules that have the power of law that circumvent elected officials like myself and the rest of my colleagues. This offers some transparency about why they are making these rules that would take us introducing legislation to end. So this helps stabilize the regulatory side of things to continue making Michigan the best place for businesses to operate," he said.

He also noted that the bill would apply to all manner of rules, like workplace safety rules, not just environmental standards.

"This would push the departments to offer their reasoning, not just offer up what the rule should be. This forces them to put a justification to it, again transparency for why they are pushing the regulation they are pushing," Cole said.

Cole said the bill would "empower" elected officials.

Rep. Abdullah HAMMOUD (D-Dearborn) argued on the floor before the vote that it would do the opposite. He contended the legislation would be elected state legislators ceding control to the federal government.

Whether Gov. Rick SNYDER will sign the bill is not clear. He has previously vetoed such legislation, but Cole said he worked with the administration to address its concerns about the bill. He said wording was adjusted in several places to address those concerns.

But he stopped short of predicting whether Snyder would sign and the Governor's office has not stated a position on this latest version of the bill, yet.

Only Republicans voted in support.

Republicans joining Democrats in dissent included Allor, Reps. Martin HOWRYLAK (R-Troy), Larry INMAN (R-Williamsburg), David MATUREN (R-Vicksburg), Dave PAGEL (R-Berrien Springs) and Scott VANSINGEL (R-Grant).

Rep. Sherry GAY-DAGNOGO (D-Detroit) and Rep. Bettie Cook SCOTT (D-Detroit) were absent. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

3 days ago

1st hour discussion, Wednesday 12-12-18; MIRS News Service

Line 5 Tunnel Bill Shoveled Onto Gov's Desk

The Legislature today sent Gov. Rick SNYDER a bill paving the way for a new state authority to oversee an underground tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac as a replacement for Line 5.

Shortly after burrowing up from a House committee today, Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1197 passed the House on a 74-34 vote, with several Democrats crossing over to support it. It was concurred by the Senate shortly after on a 25-12 vote and shipped off to the Governor's desk.

Snyder today said he looks forward to receiving that bill sponsored by Sen. Tom CASPERSON (R-Escanaba), and that appointments to the proposed Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority would come "fairly soon."

In the Senate, Sens. Joe HUNE (R-Fowlerville), Rick JONES (R-Grand Ledge) and Tonya SCHUITMAKER (R-Lawton) voted no and Sen. Adam HOLLIER (D-Detroit) joined most Republicans in voting yes.

House Democrats crossing over to join Republicans in supporting Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1197 were Reps. Wendell BYRD (D-Detroit), Sara CAMBENSY (D-Marquette), John CHIRKUN (D-Roseville), Scott DIANDA (D-Calumet), Fred DURHAL III (D-Detroit), Brian ELDER (D-Bay City), LaTanya GARRETT (D-Detroit), Patrick GREEN (D-Warren), Jewell JONES (D-Inkster), Robert KOSOWSKI (D-Westland), Leslie LOVE (D-Oak Park), Phil PHELPS (D-Flushing), Terry SABO (D-Muskegon) and Tenisha YANCEY (D-Grosse Pointe).

Republicans who voted no along with Democrats were Reps. Sue ALLOR (R-Wolverine), Larry INMAN (R-Williamsburg) and Jeff YAROCH (R-Richmond). Reps. Sherry GAY-DAGNOGO (D-Detroit) and Bettie Cook SCOTT (D-Detroit) did not vote.

While the bill creates a new Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority to oversee the proposed tunnel -- subject to an agreement between the state and Enbridge currently being negotiated -- it first gives that authority to the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) with the idea it would transfer that power to the new tunnel authority once Snyder appoints its three members.

Earlier this morning, the House Government Operations Committee, chaired by House Speaker Pro Tem Lee CHATFIELD (R-Levering), moved Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1197 to the House floor, with committee Democrats House Minority Leader Sam SINGH (D-East Lansing) and Rep. Christine GREIG (D-Farmington Hills) passing on the vote.

Democrats won one amendment from Singh in committee, which provided the proposed tunnel agreement ensures the MBA is reimbursed for any loss of profit from the leasing of space in the tunnel to data and telecommunications transmission lines.

Former MBA Chair and Republican Bill GNODTKE during committee expressed concerns over whether the new tunnel would compete with the MBA on fiber services, as the MBA nets more than $500,000 in fiber leases each year.

An amendment offered by Cambensy and adopted on the House floor would require the proposed tunnel agreement to have a plan for engaging "this state's labor pool in the project."

Other Democratic amendments -- like putting a five-year end date on decommissioning Line 5, removing the requirement that the Attorney General pay for outside counsel if it doesn't represent the authority in litigation, and paying tunnel workers the prevailing wage – were all rejected, both on the House floor and earlier today in committee.

But the Oil & Water Don't Mix Coalition warned that legal challenges to the bill are "near-certain" if Snyder signs the bill. Liz KIRKWOOD, executive director of For Love of Water (FLOW), said during committee today she believes there's a title-object constitutional issue with the bill (See "Constitutionality Of Mackinac Tunnel Legislation Could Be Issue," 12/10/18).

Snyder today was asked if he was concerned if the Line 5 bill would go to court, to which he replied, "many things go to court" and that "we do what we do best and assume we're doing it on a legal basis."

Asked if he's drafted an "unconstitutional proposal," the Governor replied, "I think you are leading the question on that one, and I'll just let that go. I think we wouldn't be doing it if we didn't think we had grounds for what we're doing."

Democrats, environmental groups and activists raised other issues with the legislation. The Michigan League of Conservation Voters, in a statement today, called the bill an "irresponsible and dangerous proposal" that was "jammed through the Legislature at the 11th hour."

They claimed it "imperils our water by keeping oil pumping through the damaged Line 5 Pipeline for another decade or more."

Singh, on the House floor, said the legislation contained no hard date by when the current Line 5 would be decommissioned, nor did it have the protections for taxpayers he wanted to see or job opportunities for northern Michigan residents on the project.

During committee, when Singh mentioned his concern with the bill not actually calling for the decommissioning of the current Line 5, Keith CREAGH, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said the expected third agreement, which is still under negotiation, would provide specific milestones for completing the tunnel.

Creagh said current talks involve instituting economic "incentives" and "penalties" to ensure the tunnel is completed, or to have "cash reserves" to make sure the tunnel is completed. He also said a prior agreement between the state and Enbridge called for permanent deactivation of the current Line 5 pipelines once the tunnel is in place.

Yet Chatfield spoke in favor of the bill, saying it wasn't a Democratic or Republican issue and that it's an issue that should concern the whole state. He thanked Snyder for getting Enbridge to the table and said this was the right solution.

Dianda said in a statement today, "This plan provides certainty to northern Michigan families that their home heating costs will stay low, while also making sure our Great Lakes are preserved for future generations."

Earlier today in committee, Gnodtke went through a number of lines in the bill he saw as problematic. He and current MBA Democratic member Barbara BROWN urged the committee to instead draft up a separate statute that would create the tunnel authority. Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1197 amends the law that enabled the MBA to build the Mackinac Bridge.

Greig expressed concerns about the timeline provided in the bill -- the tunnel authority would enter into an agreement by Dec. 31, provided the administration presents a plan to the authority by Dec. 21.

According to the House Fiscal Agency (HFA) report, even if Snyder didn't meet that deadline, the Straits Corridor Authority would still need to act on a proposed agreement within 45 days after one is presented.

There were also concerns raised about the costs for taxpayers. While the bill requires the tunnel agreement provides that the private party pay to build the tunnel, the Attorney General would need to pay for counsel chosen by either the MBA or the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority if the AG declined to represent either body in a matter related to the tunnel. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers published a note.

3 days ago

Dave Agema’s Speech - Michigan Grassroots Alliance (12-8-18) ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

2 weeks ago

1st hour discussion today, Friday 11-30-18;
MIRS News Service, Lansing

Bill Strips Campaign Finance Oversight From 'Partisan' Secretary Of State

A state "Fair Political Practices Commission" would administer and enforce the state's campaign finance laws, not the Secretary of State (SOS), under a package of bills introduced by Sen. David ROBERTSON (R-Grand Blanc) today.

Other expected "implementation" bills introduced by GOP senators today touch the voter-approved Proposal 2 redistricting commission and Proposal 3 voting access proposals. (See "Lame Duck -- 5 Things That Fly, 5 That Die, 5 That May & 5 That Stay," 11/21/18).

The main bill in the Robertson election package, Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1250, creates the Fair Political Practices Commission as an autonomous entity within the SOS and gives the commission the ability to administer and enforce the state's campaign finance law and hire an executive director and staff.

All throughout the bill, which is an amendment of the state's campaign finance law, references to the Secretary of State are crossed out and replaced with "commission."

The bill gives the commission six members, with no more than three from the same political party. The Governor is allowed to appoint three members each from two lists: One submitted by the state central committee for the Republican Party and one submitted by the state central committee for the Democratic Party. The commission members must serve for four years.

Senate Republicans spokesperson Amber McCANN said Robertson feels it would be "worthwhile" to consider moving to a bipartisan commission for campaign finance and elections issues, rather than having those functions "in a partisan office."

Secretary of State-elect Jocelyn BENSON spokesperson Liz BOYD today called it "shameful" that "legislative Republicans are now trying to thwart the will of the voters with bills that ignore their voices, defies history and will make Michigan a national punch line by effectively ending enforcement of the campaign finance laws they are required to abide by."

Asked about the notion that the bill is about taking these powers away from Benson, McCann said, "I don't think Ms. Benson or anyone that would have that office would be short on any amount of work to be done with this change. I think there are plenty of other responsibilities that are housed in the Secretary of State's office."

McCann said instead of having these campaign finance issues and oversight of such issues subject to "a single officeholder with a partisan bent," Robertson wants to consider this bipartisan commission idea.

Asked what Senate Majority Leader Arlan MEEKHOF (R-West Olive) thinks of the Robertson bill, McCann said, "he's interested in the concept."

Craig MAUGER, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN), said the bill appears to be setting up a structure similar to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), which is also a six-member commission that cannot carry more than three members from any one party.

Mauger said the FEC has "been pretty much defunct" and not able to enforce campaign finance laws because of the partisan split on the commission.

He also said the bill doesn't appear to provide any guidance on how long the list of commission member choices each party would need to provide to the Governor.

"Could the parties just provide three names and say, here are the three people we want you to put on?" Mauger said.

Senate Democrats spokesperson Rosie JONES said she hadn't reviewed the Robertson bills, but said that anytime campaign finance bills are introduced in lame duck session, "we definitely raise an eyebrow."

The main bill in Robertson's package is Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1250, while Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1248, Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1249, Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1251 and Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1252 are all tie-barred to it. The entire package was sent to Robertson's Elections and Government Reform Committee.

Meanwhile, Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1254 was introduced by Sen. Phil PAVLOV (R-St. Clair) and touches on the independent redistricting commission, while Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1238 was introduced by Sen. Mike KOWALL (R-White Lake) and touches on many of the same subjects that Proposal 3 did.

The unveiling has stoked fears from Voters Not Politicians (VNP) that Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1254 will serve as a vehicle to alter the redistricting commission approved in Prop 2.

"Senate Bill 1254 seeks to interfere with the voice of Michigan voters who overwhelmingly supported the constitutional amendment as it was written," said Katie FAHEY, executive director of VNP, in a statement. "Given past activities by the Legislature this week, we expect this bill may only be a shell and that lawmakers will use to alter the fair, impartial and independent nature of the Commission that was overwhelmingly approved by voters."

Fahey is referring to the bills affecting the minimum wage and paid sick leave that were subbed in with more changes to both proposals, with both bills having already cleared the Senate (See "Senate Bill Hikes Minimum Wage To $12 By 2030, Then Leaves It There," 11/28/18).

Todd COOK, the lead voice for the Promote the Vote effort, said the coalition is still reviewing the legislation and that it looks forward to "working productively with the legislature. It's our hope there isn't an attempt to circumvent the will of 2.7 million voters." Cook said the goal of Proposal 3 is to establish a secure system.

Yet McCann described both Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1254 and Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1238 as "implementation bills" that "don't seek to change anything to do with the actual substance of the policy that was approved by voters."

Asked about these bills serving as vehicles for other ideas for redistricting and voting regulations, McCann said, "the bills as introduced were strictly implementation bills, there isn't a plan to sub out those bills with some ulterior language or policy." She added, however, that if there's any technical changes needed, or something brought to the sponsor worth considering, that's still a possibility.

McCann acknowledged both constitutional amendments didn't specifically call for implementation legislation to be enacted as far as she knew, but she said it's not unusual that approved ballot proposals often have "broad strokes" and that legislation is needed to accompany proposals.

Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1254, Pavlov's bill that touches on redistricting, was sent to Meekhof's Government Operations Committee. And Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1238 was referred to Robertson's Elections and Government Reform Committee. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

2 weeks ago

1st hour discussion today, Thursday, 11-29-18; MIRS News Service, Lansing

Senate Bill Hikes Minimum Wage To $12 By 2030, Then Leaves It There

The Senate's changes to the minimum wage initiative not only keeps the tip credit system around, but unchains any future increases after 2030 from inflationary increases, meaning the minimum wage would stay frozen at $12 an hour after 2030.

The new version of Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1171 approved by the full Senate today changed the minimum wage proposal to allow for a $12 minimum wage and a $4 minimum wage for tipped workers by 2030, keeping the status quo that calls for tipped workers to be paid the difference between the regular minimum wage and the tipped wage if they don't make it up in tips.

But a substitute version of Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1171 that debuted this morning in committee also unhooks future minimum wage increases from the consumer price index (CPI).

The ballot proposal would've hooked increases to the $12 minimum wage after 2022 to the CPI. And, starting in January under the law in place before the ballot proposal passed this fall, annual adjustments to the state's minimum wage would've already been hooked to increases to the CPI.

Assuming 2 percent growth each year, the state's current $9.25 per hour wage would've eventually grown to roughly $11.73 by 2030, according to MIRS' estimates.

Asked about why the bill ditches the CPI increases, bill sponsor Sen. Dave HILDENBRAND (R-Lowell), said in committee today he had been "uncomfortable" with tying 2014 legislation to the CPI, which is when the Legislature approved a minimum wage increase after a similar ballot proposal campaign to raise the wage.

But the idea was by tying future increases to the minimum wage to the CPI, the Legislature wouldn't need to revisit the issue, he said.

However, the issue was revisited this year, with the Michigan One Fair Wage campaign sponsoring the $12-an-hour campaign.

"We have a full-time Legislature, and since we're going to be reviewing this issue, sounds like, every so many years, why have an automatic increase in it?" Hildenbrand asked.

Pete VARGAS, campaign manager for Michigan One Fair Wage, said there shouldn't be a "time limit" on when Michigan citizens can exercise their constitutional rights to initiate legislation.

Senate Minority Leader Jim ANANICH (D-Flint), who asked the question about the CPI during committee, said he disagreed with Hildenbrand's approach, adding that it's important that as costs go up, people's incomes go up as well.

Peter RUARK, senior policy analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP), asked about the CPI issue. His hope is that the "next Legislature will do a better job and fix this mess that the Senate has created today."

Ananich also pointed out Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1171 would actually decrease the percentage of the regular minimum wage that tipped workers are paid from 38 percent to 33 percent under the new bill.

The original minimum wage proposal had eliminated what's known as the tip credit and instead would eventually bring tipped workers – who are now paid a minimum of $3.52 per hour -- up to the same level as all other minimum wage workers. That goes away in the Senate-passed bill.

The Senate bill would also phase in the minimum wage hike slower than the ballot proposal, which had provided for $12 an hour by 2022. The MLPP called the Senate's annual 23-cent hike until 2030 a "minimal and sluggish increase" that would "fail to keep up with the ever-rising cost of inflation and the cost of living."

The full Senate today approved Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1171 on a 26-12 vote, as well as Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1175, which includes a number of changes to the paid sick time proposal. Sen. Tory ROCCA (R-Sterling Heights) joined the Democrats in opposing the bills.

Sen. Curtis HERTEL Jr. (D-East Lansing) spoke out against both bills on the floor prior to passage, but otherwise there was no other debate. Both bills will now head to the House.

Hertel said he predicted that when the Legislature adopted both proposals that it was "nothing more than a political game" and that voters wouldn't be told about plans to change those proposals until after the election.

"Lo and behold, that is exactly what has happened," Hertel said.

On the paid sick leave changes in Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1175, sponsored by Sen. Mike SHIRKEY (R-Clarklake), the substitute changes the maximum amount of paid sick leave a person can earn to 36 hours a year, as opposed to the 72 hours in the original proposal.

Also, the substitute would allow workers to earn 1 hour of paid sick leave time for every 40 hours worked, instead of the original 30 hours worked.

The substitute also exempts businesses with 50 or fewer employees from the law, and only allows employees eligible to use sick leave after working for one year and 1,250 hours for the same employer over the past 12 months, among other changes.

The MLPP said the 50-or-fewer employees provision would end up "locking out many of our state's lowest paid workers from paid sick leave."

Both ballot proposal-altering bills advanced from Senate Majority Leader Arlan MEEKHOF's (R-West Olive) Government Operations Committee this morning on party-line votes, with Ananich and Sen. Morris HOOD III (D-Detroit) in opposition.

Individuals representing both proposals spoke out in committee against the bills that changed them, advocating for the proposals in their original form (See "Paid Sick Leave, $12 Minimum Wage Supporters Decry 'Gutting' Of Policies," 11/20/18).

Some protested against the Legislature moving to change the initiatives that were ultimately approved by the Legislature after organizers had garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures, arguing such a move subverted the will of the people.

"Gutting this proposal after adopting it is a cynical ploy to undermine the will of the 400,000 Michiganders who signed the One Fair Wage petition to support increasing the minimum wage," said Dr. Alicia Renee FARRIS, the steering committee chair for Michigan One Fair Wage, in a statement.

And the issue of whether such an alteration of an approved by the Legislature during the same session is constitutional was raised, as well (See "Adopt & Amend Ballot Q In Same Session? Never Done Under '63 Constitution," 9/4/18).

"Adopting the One Fair Wage proposal only to later gut it in lame duck is blatantly unconstitutional and will lead to costly time-consuming court challenges," Vargas said in a statement. "Regardless of one's feelings on raising the minimum wage, we expect all our elected leaders to uphold the constitution and preserve the rule of law at all times."

Meekhof said the state constitution doesn't prohibit the Legislature from amending an adopted initiative in the same session. And in reference to an opinion from former Attorney General Frank KELLEY saying the Legislature cannot do such a thing, which critics have pointed to as grounds for opposing the legislation, Meekhof said, "it's just his opinion."

Asked if the issue would eventually end up in court, Meekhof said, "That's not up to me."

A number of business groups spoke out in favor of the bills, including the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce on the paid sick leave bill, and the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA) on the minimum wage bill.

NFIB State Director Charlie OWENS thanked the Senate for making "major changes" to "the extreme and poorly drafted sick leave proposal forced on employers by outside special interest groups."

Business groups portrayed the sick leave proposal as more stringent than other states' sick leave policies and a threat to Michigan's ability to compete.

"Without changes, Michigan's new mandatory paid sick leave law would make Michigan an outlier in the Midwest and jeopardize our state's competitiveness," said Jim HOLCOMB, executive vice president and general counsel for the Chamber, in a statement.

NFIB is hoping the House will take up the paid sick leave bill next week. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

2 months ago

1st half hour of 2nd hour today, Monday 10-1-18; MIRS News Service

Union-Powered Group Has 120 Canvassers Knocking Doors For Whitmer

A 501(c)4-SuperPAC created to motivate suspected disenfranchised 2016 Democratic voters in battleground states like Michigan hit their 600,000th door this week as the union-powered group shoots for 1 million doors by Election Day.

For Our Future has 110 staff, with the promise of 120 by week's end, knocking on the doors of potential voters and talking to them about candidates like Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gretchen WHITMER on issues the field staff has flagged as those voters care about.

During the primary, the staff conducted more than 200,000 interviews in the state's 12 most populous counties and found that outside of Detroit, where residents want more police first and foremost, the issue of fixing roads, bridges and local infrastructure was the biggest issue.

As the summer progressed and more potholes were fixed, the paid canvassers found education funding, clean water and gun violence prevention surfaced to the top, as well.

An underlying sentiment, however, according to For Our Future spokesperson Josh PUGH, was a negative feeling about President Donald TRUMP.

"Trump is very divisive," reads a For Our Future memo released earlier this month. "For voters who dislike Trump, we can drive even more action and support by talking negatively about him."

The feeling isn't universal, however, and for those voters the canvassers are trying to persuade, the canvassers avoid talking about Trump and speak about other issues. They instead try to connect the voters' policy concerns with Whitmer and other Democrats.

For Our Future is not affiliated with the Democratic Party. It was an outfit most intensely fueled after Trump's surprise win over Hillary CLINTON by NextGen America's Tom STEYER and organized labor as a way to get back in touch with their traditional urban and blue-collar workers.

The group is now funded by the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, National Education Association, UAW and other union groups, along with NextGen America.

"Our trusted, traditional methods told us one thing, yet we got a different reality," the For Our Future memo reads. "In states like ours, canvassers on the front lines were telling a different story about the types of conservations happening at the doors."

Instead of using polls, For our Future used face-to-face, open-ended questions to find out what was on the minds of voters. Among other things, what they found was that traditionally Republican voters who swung away from Trump in 2016, particularly in Oakland and Kent counties, were most passionate about gun violence prevention.

They also found specific issues Detroiters care about - crime, abandoned homes, "redlining" in car insurance and charter schools - didn't show up in polling in other areas of the state.

"Because we've asked, we've learned so much about what our neighbors in Michigan actually care about, and we're taking those issues to heart, integrating them into our field conversations in real time," Pugh said. "Over the next 42 days we will have thousands more conversations with voters, asking them to vote for progressive candidates up and down the ballot and making sure they have a plan to get to the polls or turn in their absentee ballot."

MRP Makes 2 Millionth Voter Contact

In related news, the Michigan Republican Party (MRP) today reported making its 2 millionth voter contact of the 2018 election cycle, the largest number of voter contacts to date for any election cycle. Since voter contact is volunteer-driven, MRP officials say this indicates increased levels of enthusiasm among Republican grassroots activists.

"The Michigan Republican Party has built a grassroots organization that is unparalleled in our state's history," said MRP Chair Ron WEISER. "We have invested in new technology and training that make our volunteers more productive than ever. These factors coupled with our volunteers' high level of enthusiasm will help put Republicans over the top this November." ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

2 months ago

1st half hour discussion today, Monday 10-1-18;
MIRS News Service

Dems Still Leading At Top Of Ticket

Democratic candidates in all of the statewide races hold leads over their Republicans opponents in EPIC-MRA polling for the Detroit Free Press and three TV stations.

Gubernatorial candidate Gretchen WHITMER is up 8 percentage points. Attorney General nominee Dana NESSEL is up on Republican Tom LEONARD by 6 percentage points. Secretary of State nominee Jocelyn BENSON over Mary TREDER LANG by 9 points. U.S. Sen. Debbie STABENOW by 23 over John JAMES.

The survey of 600 likely voters found 11 percent undecided in the governor's race. In the Secretary of State race, that undecided number is 19 percentage points. For U.S. Senate, 6 percent remain on the fence.

Pollster Bernie PORN believes the race for governor is "tightening" and the reasons may be in part because of Republican Bill SCHUETTE's commercials linking Whitmer to former Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM and the rollback of the Granholm-era tax hike.

However, he downplayed the Schuette campaign strategy to accuse his opponent of not prosecuting Larry NASSAR. Asked if the race would be decided on that he told MIRS, "Not at all. There are other issues that people respond to. What will decide it will focus on how people are responding to President (Donald) TRUMP (and) and it looks like a blue wave" is out there.

When you factor in the Trump "X" factor in the governor's race Republican Schuette garners 79 percent of those voters who think the President is doing a good or excellent job. If the voters are anti-Trump, Whitmer secures 70 percent of those voters. Pollster Richard CZUBA has said there are not enough Trump voters out there to elect Schuette.

The key to the governor's race may be the independent voters, especially women.

The two contenders are tied for the independent male vote, but Whitmer has a 23-point lead with female independents. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

3 months ago

3rd hour discussion today, Friday 9-28-18;

I have personally endorsed Kerry Lee Morgan for the Michigan State Supreme Court who is on the Tuesday, November 6th, 2018 general election ballot.

Here is a research paper authored by Kerry Lee Morgan wrote back in 2004;

file:///C:/Users/Trucker%20Randy/Downloads/DefendLawDefendLife.pdf ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

3 months ago

1st hour discussion today, Monday 9-24-18; MIRS News Service

Whitmer, Schuette Accuse Other Of Lying About Nassar Prosecution

The major-party gubernatorial candidates today accused the other of lying about the circumstances of the eventual criminal prosecution of sexual assailant Larry NASSAR during emotional press conferences involving other county prosecutors.

The simmering tension between Republican Bill SCHUETTE and Democrat Gretchen WHITMER about why Schuette's Attorney General's office and not Whitmer's Ingham County took up Nassar's prosecution boiled over today with vastly different stories.

Today's spark was a Michigan Republican Party (MRP) internet ad makes the claim that Whitmer "refused to prosecute Larry Nassar on sexual assault charges." Nassar is the former Michigan State University doctor who treated female athletes and used his position to sexually assault hundreds of women. He has received various sentences in different jurisdictions that will keep him behind bars for the rest of his life (See "Judge After Giving Nassar Up To 175 Years: 'I Just Signed Your Death Warrant,'" 1/24/18).

First, Whitmer, the interim Ingham County prosecutor in 2016, responded at a 1 p.m. press conference at Lansing's Ingham County courthouse, where Nassar received one of his sentences.

She said her office executed the warrants for evidence that assisted federal prosecutors in getting Nassar his first 60-year sentence for child pornography. From there, Whitmer said that in consultation with the Michigan State Police (MSP), she opted to let the Attorney General handle the criminal prosecutions so Nassar's victims -- who were spread across various jurisdictions -- wouldn't need to relive their trauma multiple times.

Also, the Attorney General's office had more resources to prosecute the case, she said.

The decision was made in 2016, at a time when the presumption among political insiders was that both Whitmer and Schuette would run for governor.

"I referred it to my political opponent because it was the right thing to do," said Whitmer. "And for him to accuse me of failing to prosecute Nassar is not spin. It's not an angle. It's not a falsehood. It's a lie."

Next, two and a half hours later, Schuette held court with reporters at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce headquarters to "set the record straight."

He said on Oct. 4, 2016, Michigan State University Police Chief Jim DUNLAP contacted Schuette to tell him Nassar's survivors needed a review of the case. Schuette said he told Dunlap, "I am your advocate."

Two days later his team met with Dunlap and announced the criminal investigation into Nassar was being launched.

"Let me be very clear, this case was referred to me by Jim Dunlap, chief of police of Michigan State University . . . I'm told Gretchen Whitmer said she referred the case to me. That is not true. Nothing could be farther from the truth," he said.

Both Whitmer and Schuette brought with them a small posse of county prosecutors to back up their assertions. For Whitmer, it was that taking the case to the Attorney General was the right decision. For Schuette, it was that Whitmer could have prosecuted the case herself, but did not.

Standing by Whitmer's side were Macomb County Prosecutor Eric SMITH, Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. HILSON, Alpena County Prosecutor Ed BLACK, Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff GETTING and Ingham County Sheriff Scott WRIGGELSWORTH.

Her press release quotes former U.S. Attorney Pat MILES that commends Whitmer for taking the "swift action to stop Larry Nassar once and for all. Her office got the search warrants that got the evidence that put Nassar behind bars, where he belongs."

As for her decision to call in the AG's office, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym WORTHY is quoted as saying Whitmer "followed policy and procedures and suggesting otherwise is shameful."

Standing up with Schuette was Shiawassee County Prosecutor Deana FINNEGAN, Clinton County Prosecutor Charles SHERMAN, Calhoun County Prosecutor David GILBERT, Cass County Prosecutor Vic FITZ and Midland County Prosecutor J.D. BROOKS.

"Many times, serial rapists or crimes of this nature cross county lines . . . we routinely take the cases that come to us, that happen in our jurisdiction, in my county, and we prosecute them knowing full well they will be prosecuted in (another) county, as well," Finnegan said. "We do not refer those cases to the Attorney General because they happened in our county. It's our county that needs to seek justice for our victims. We don't pass them off."

Finnegan said that's her philosophy and the philosophy of a vast numbers of counties.

"That's what they do. Good prosecutors take care of their own counties," she said.

The underlying theme at the Whitmer press conference was the appropriateness of using the Nassar case in the campaign.

The Whitmer press conference featured a pair of Nassar survivors who said making them relive their assaults through an ad showing Nassar's face on TV is an "insult to me. It's an insult to my family. It's an insult to everyone who has survived sexual assault," according to Jane KATZER.

Grace FRENCH told the press, "By making this a political point, we're essentially saying the that validity of sexual assault depends on what side of the aisle we sit on . . .

"I call on Bill Schuette politely and respectfully: Make the Michigan Republican take down this ad. Leave my abuser's face out of politics. Leave sexual assaults out of politics. It's a human issue," she said.

Asked specifically about this quote, Schuette, said, "This is about my record. This discussion we're having today and Sen. Whitmer and making decisions. I made a decision to prosecute Larry Nassar . . . Any instance of sexual assault is horrific. And every victim of sexual assault deserves justice."

Finnegan added that as a survivor of a molestation at the hands of an 8th-grade teacher, what she went through made her a stronger person and drove her into the line of work she went into.

"It sure as heck made me want to prosecute these types of cases myself," she said.

The MRP Chief of Staff Colleen PERO said in response to the Whitmer press conference about their internet ad, which may be airing on some cable TV stations, "Our ad correctly stated that Gretchen Whitmer had the opportunity to prosecute Larry Nassar for sexual assault but failed to do so. This is a statement of fact. Bill Schuette is a leader who took on this tough case and successfully prosecuted Nassar. Gretchen Whitmer did not. This is an important part of Gretchen Whitmer's record that voters deserve to know." ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

3 months ago

3rd hour discussion today, Friday 9-21-18; MIRS News Service

Gilbert Weighs Launching '2020 No-Fault Auto Insurance Ballot Initiative Question

Asked if he's considering launching a petition drive to put initiative legislation on the 2020 ballot to reform no-fault auto insurance, Quicken Loans Chair Dan GILBERT told MIRS today, "Every option should be on the table to ensure we get the kind of reform that lowers rates and makes our cities and state more competitive."

Gilbert, a prominent Michigan developer, made the comment in an emailed statement, prompted by questions about a rumored petition drive.

"Michigan drivers pay the highest rates in the nation -- literally thousands of dollars more annually than across the border in Ohio, primarily, because Michigan is the only state in the nation where drivers are mandated to carry wasteful medical coverage on their auto insurance plan when they already are covered under their health insurance plan," he stated. "Additionally, the law also allows medical services and procedures to be billed at obscene rates when the medical coverage is being paid for by the auto insurance plans," he stated.

The idea drew a variety of reactions.

"The devil is always in the details," said Laura WOTRUBA, spokesperson for the Michigan Health and Hospital Association. ". . . We would have to actually see what would be in the language."

"We have gone down this path before with insurance-backed ballot initiatives back in 1992 and '94 which the voters resoundingly rejected," said John CORNACK, President of the Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault (CPAN).

"We need to do whatever it takes to lower auto insurance rates and help Michigan families make ends meet," said House Speaker Tom LEONARD (R-DeWitt). "The current system is broken and needs serious reform. I have always been open to any plan that provides real rate relief for Michigan drivers."

Pete KUHNMUENCH, executive director of the Insurance Alliance of Michigan, said he thinks it "demonstrates the frustration" people have with the lack of action on the part of the legislature. A ballot proposal would be "quite a large undertaking," but it would just be an up or down vote on whatever plan is submitted, he noted.

"Hopefully, you get a better product through the legislative process," he said.

Rep. Lana THEIS (R-Brighton), chair of the House Insurance Committee, agreed with Gilbert that every option "should be considered 'on the table,'" but she said she would prefer a legislative fix.

Gilbert indicated he would too, actually.

"Every day we wait is a day too long. There is an important election just weeks ahead, and we are hopeful that it will bring in leaders committed to delivering real reform and relief for all drivers in the state of Michigan," Gilbert said in his statement.

Gilbert is the founder of Quicken Loans as well as Rock Ventures LLC, which is the umbrella entity for his businesses. He often gets credit for helping to revive the city of Detroit by moving his companies to central business district there, where they now own more than 100 properties and employ more than 17,000 people.

His frustration with no-fault shows in his statement.

"In essence, a handful of unscrupulous plaintiff lawyers have gamed a system by literally legislating that Michigan drivers purchase car insurance at astronomical rates because of the compulsory provisions they have persuaded the legislatures to maintain in the current auto insurance law," he stated. "Next to auto insurance reform, there are few if any steps our leaders in Lansing could take that would have more of an immediate, positive impact on the pocketbooks of the majority of Michigan citizens."

But Theis noted that the insurance code is "many hundreds of pages long and extremely complicated," so she sees a reform by initiative as unlikely.

"If this were going to be addressed at the ballot, it would likely ask for a yes or no vote on the full repeal of auto no-fault. Based on my discussions at the doors over the last few months, such a measure would pass," Theis said.

Wotruba said that ballot proposals "can get written a little sloppy sometimes." Her hospital association in the past has opposed proposals to get rid of the lifetime unlimited personal injury protection (PIP) now mandated in no-fault law.

"For the hospitals, a lot of times we are the first point of contact for a patient who has sustained serious injuries in an auto accident. So our patients are our number one concern in this. That could be short term care or it could be long term care if the injuries are catastrophic," she said. "In any of these proposals, our litmus test for evaluating where we are going to be on those is, 'Is the care for that patient that they might need protected?'

"And it can vary from proposal to proposal . . . The other litmus test is, does it actually deliver rate relief to drivers? Sometimes they're crafted and the talking point is that they do, but when you are looking at the information, it doesn't."

Cornack said CPAN already has a plan out there that would address the problem.

"We have put forth a comprehensive and well thought-out reform package known as the Fair and Affordable Package that can, and should, be used for legislative reforms that are necessary to improve and reduce auto insurance premiums for Michigan drivers. This includes cost containment, effective rate regulation including use of non-driving rating factors and transparency of state's insurance industry and regulatory system," Cornack stated.

Kuhnmuench said he'd have to know what was in the proposal before he could say whether his Insurance Alliance would endorse it. But the keys points insurers want to see included in any reform is choice for drivers in the level of their PIP coverage, anti-fraud measures and a fee schedule for medical services.

"Clearly, what we have on the books is a creature of the legislature and I think the legislature ought to fix it. In our view, we have a broken, outdated no fault system. It was implemented by the legislature and it can be fixed by the legislature," he said.

He said he believed the 1992 ballot question was a very similar proposal, providing PIP choice and a fee schedule.

"We're kind of talking about the same thing over and over again decades later," he said. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

3 months ago

1st hour discussion today, Thursday 9-20-18;
MIRS News Service

No Sign Of Organized Opposition To Proposal 2 Or Proposal 3

The constitutional amendment that would revamp how the state redraws its legislative lines doesn't appear to have drawn any organized opposition advocating its defeat on the November ballot.

Proposal 2, backed by Voters Not Politicians (VNP), has been criticized all around by the likes of the Michigan Republican Party (MRP), the Michigan Freedom Fund (MFF), the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and other Republicans.

Yet unlike the marijuana legalization proposal, VNP's redistricting proposal has yet to draw a similar organized effort to urge a “no” vote on Prop 2.

The same appears to go for Proposal 3, the voting access amendment backed by the ACLU, NAACP and League of Women Voters of Michigan. No organized opposition has formed against it and the usual suspects aren't planning anything imminent.

A ballot committee called "Protect My Vote" did file a challenge to Promote the Vote's petitions. That same group paid for this video calling for a “no” vote on Prop 2, which appears affiliated with the MFF based on the disclaimer at the end of the ad.

MFF Executive Director Tony DAUNT said while his group is opposed to Prop 2 and Prop 3, he typically doesn't discuss strategy moving forward. He noted there's "interest" among some folks to launch a “no” campaign, but said there needs to be more than just interest. To his knowledge, that hasn't come together at this point.

The Chamber fought the VNP proposal all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court (MSC) and lost. Rich STUDLEY, president and CEO of the Chamber, had already announced his group wouldn't fight it further during the general election campaign (See "Chamber Not Planning Or Leading 'Vote No On All' Campaign," 8/17/18).

And while the MRP will continue to "educate our members on why these initiatives are wrong for Michigan," the party won't be putting any money into it or organizing any opposition ballot committees, said MRP spokesperson Sarah ANDERSON.

Anderson also said the MRP also wouldn't be formally fighting against Prop 3, and Studley said the Chamber hasn't taken a position on it one way or another, and there's no plans to do so.

Meanwhile, the VNP campaign held court with reporters today and featured three Republicans who support the redistricting proposal, including former GOP House Speaker Rick JOHNSON.

The other Republicans were former lawmakers Mickey KNIGHT and Bill BOBIER, and former Democratic lawmaker Barb BYRUM rounded out the panel. All four of them endorsed Prop 2.

Johnson, when asked if he thinks gerrymandering contributes to partisanship, said today, "Oh, hell yes. Absolutely."

"We need change," Johnson said, explaining why he endorses Proposal 2, adding later, "this country and this state can't continue down the road we're on right now because we're all going to be broke. Real simple. There won't be a legitimate unit of government that can stand this stuff that's going on."

Johnson's name appeared alongside fellow Republican and Proposal 2 supporter Joe SCHWARZ on a recent Detroit News editorial backing the constitutional amendment, noting the late U.S. Sen. John McCAIN also supported ending gerrymandered districts.

VNP's first ad mentioned the likes of former President Ronald REAGAN and ran on FOX News (See "First Pro-Redistricting Ad Runs On Fox News, Quotes Reagan," 7/24/18).

Polling commissioned by MIRS found Prop 2 sitting at 43 percent support, with 34 percent undecided (See "Prop 2 Leading, Still Under 50%; 34% Undecided," 9/18/18).

While 64 percent of Democrats support it, 34 percent of Republicans approve of it and 39 percent of GOP voters don't. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

3 months ago

1st hour discussion today, Thursday 9-13-18;
MIRS News Service

Two Experts: MI Hits 4M Voter Turnout In November

Former state Elections Director Chris THOMAS said he thinks more than 4 million people are going to show up to vote this November. That would be a first for a midterm general election, he said.

But Mark GREBNER, of Practical Political Consulting, heard that number and decided to call and raise - he's projecting 4.2 million come out to vote in November.

Thomas said the typical turnout in a midterm general election is in the neighborhood of 3.2 million. Grebner put the range between 2.8 million to 3.2 million.

But in 2006, in what Thomas said was a bit of a national wave for Democrats, voter turnout in Michigan rose to 3.8 million.

He based the 4 million voter prediction off what he saw in the August primary, which the Secretary of State (SOS) said set a new record with 2.2 million people voting (See “Absentees Tracking Toward Record Primary Turnout,” 8/1/18).

Thomas pointed to Oakland County, which he said usually has about 193,000 people show up for a primary. This year, it was around 320,000, something Thomas called “significant.”

If the state reaches 3.8 or 4 million voters, it'll reach presidential election turnout numbers from the 80s and 90s, Thomas said.

Grebner -- who predicted 1.85 million people would show up in this past August primary -- said if the same midterm election turnout from 2006 showed up again this year, it'd actually be 3.9 million, when adjusted for population and voter age.

“It wouldn't take much to get you to 4, 4.1, 4.2 even. OK, let's go crazy. Let's say 4.2. I'll top Chris Thomas,” Grebner said, citing in part increasing number of people registering to vote. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

3 months ago

3rd hour discussion today, Monday 9-10-18;

CALL TO ACTION - Call Chairman Ron Weiser and tell him to fund the campaign's of Attorney General - Tom Leonard and Secretary of State - Mary Treder Lang from the funds he has raised as Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party;

Phone; 517-487-5413
Email him at; rweiser@migop.org ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

3 months ago

2nd hour discussion today, Monday 9-10-18;
MIRS News Service

Republican Consultant Believes GOP Ticket 'In Trouble'

Republican political consultant John YOB of Strategic National said today the top of the Michigan Republican Party's ticket in 2018 is "in trouble" and its candidates are going to have a "very difficult" time winning "whether Donald TRUMP comes to Michigan or not."

He told the Off The Record panel that gubernatorial nominee Bill SCHUETTE will lose to Gretchen WHITMER. The only question is whether it will be by single or double digits. U.S. Senate candidate John JAMES will likely fall to U.S. Sen. Debbie STABENOW (D-Delta Twp.) by a larger margin.

Yob represented Sandy PENSLER, who lost to James, and Brian CALLEY, who lost to Schuette, in the primaries.

He didn't predict that Pensler would have won, but he would've matched up better with Stabenow because of his personal wealth. Calley, he said, likewise had a wider avenue to win against Whitmer, but that it still would have been difficult.

Two months before the actual vote, Yob concludes the national environment is not good for Republicans and Schuette would be better to center his message on state issues like roads and auto insurance rates, as opposed to nationalizing the campaign.

He sees James as having "star potential," but that it's being wasted in a run against the three-term incumbent.

The one-time consultant to presidential candidates John McCAIN, Rand PAUL and Rick SANTORUM sized up the race in Michigan coming down to one key voting block: "The swing votes are suburban females, or better known as soccer moms."

And with that group, he said he thinks Schuette is on the wrong message.

"I know what he is trying to do by running commercials on human sex trafficking," but he doesn't think those females will vote for Schuette just because of that. And on Schuette's attempt to link Whitmer to former Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM, "I don't think that helps. I'm not in love with that strategy," he said.

He revealed for the first time that early on, before he signed on with Calley's campaign for governor, he was approached by Schuette to be his chief campaign strategist. Yob said no because of his friendship with Calley and Gov. Rick [SNYDER] and he thought even then that Schuette would struggle during a Democratic year.

Yob did not apologize for advising Calley to hitch his election wagon to the part-time legislative proposal, which he felt has strong grassroots support but was strongly opposed "by the establishment."

He reported that as a last-ditch effort to save the PTL petition drive, the campaign sent out roughly 500,000 letters, not the 100,000 reported in the media, and got 40-50,000 signatures back.

He said the campaign neared the 315,000 signatures needed to make the ballot but didn't have the padding to withstand any legal challenges, so the signatures were not submitted to the Secretary of State.

Yob listed three general election clients — Attorney General nominee Tom LEONARD, 11th Congressional candidate Lena EPSTEIN and U.S. Rep. Jack BERGMAN (R-Watersmeet).

He predicted Leonard would "be the firewall" for Republicans to protect against Democrats winning more races.

"Dana NESSEL is the weakest, worst and most dangerous" liberal candidate for the Democrats to run for the AG's post, he said. He added that control of the state House by Republicans "is at risk," but the R's have an advantage in keeping control of the Senate.

During the Overtime segment, Yob said he sees Republican-nominated Justice Elizabeth CLEMENT as making it in November despite her giving some GOP activists heartburn for her votes on cases involving guns and redistricting.

For the other slot, he said he believes the attention being given to U.S. Supreme Court appointee Brett KAVANAUGH will carry over and help Democratic-nominated candidate Megan CAVANAGH. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

3 months ago

1st hour discussion today, Monday 9-10-18; MIRS News Service

No Panel Vote Taken On National Popular Vote Issue

Michigan would join a compact of states that would automatically give their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who receives the most votes nationally under legislation, discussed today but not voted on in Senate and House committees this morning.

Supporters of the bill dominated the testimony at the hearings. No one representing opposition to the bill testified.

Over in the Senate Elections and Government Reform Committee, after most of the testimony had concluded, Sen. Mike SHIRKEY (R-Clarklake) asked committee Chair Sen. David ROBERTSON (R-Grand Blanc) why he wasn't having the committee take a vote.

"I think it's beyond the capacity of human thought to accurately predict what the outcome of such a change would be, but I've heard very little argument against the fact that what's currently existing just doesn't seem correct," Shirkey said. "This provides a way for states to preserve their outcomes ultimately yet tests an idea that will allow maybe a different process to engage more voters.

"So, I'm revealing my prejudice on this particular issue and asking you, sir . . . I'm not quite sure why we would wait to vote," Shirkey concluded.

Robertson's response was short and straight forward.

"We're waiting to vote because it's my discretion to call for it," the Grand Blanc Republican said.

If Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1117 were enacted, Michigan would join the National Popular Vote Compact, which already includes 11 states and the District of Columbia. If the compact reached a point where the total Electoral votes of states that had joined it equaled 270 or more, the states in the compact would be committed to earmark all of their Electoral votes for whichever presidential candidate won the national popular vote (See "National Popular Vote Compact Trying To Win Over GOP Post Trump," 3/13/17).

Sen. David HILDENBRAND (R-Lowell), the sponsor of Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1117, told the committee that his legislation has nothing to do with changing the U.S. Constitution or getting rid of the Electoral College and that there was a lot of time and thought behind his support for the measure.

"I've spent the last eight-to-10 years delving into this issue," Hildenbrand said. "This would enter Michigan into the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Nothing would change until states equaling 270 or more Electoral votes enter the compact."

"I got tired of hearing about battleground states," Hildenbrand continued. "I just think it makes sense to say every vote counts."

Former California lawmaker Ray HAYNES told the committee that possibly the best speech he ever made in his career was against the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. However, he ultimately changed his mind partly due to his experience as a backer of George W. BUSH in 2000.

"Basically, Karl ROVE told us: 'Thanks for all the money guys (the approximately $70 million we had sent) but we're abandoning California and spending it in Florida," Haynes recalled. "In my opinion it was right for the campaign, but bad for California."

Haynes said that of the lawmakers who have sponsored legislation to join the National Popular Vote Compact in various states around the nation, 156 have been Republicans and 162 have been Democrats.

"Most people think the person who gets the most votes deserves to win the election," Haynes said. "The founders left it up to the states to decide how they determine their Electoral votes because they couldn't agree about how it should be done."

Haynes also argued that many voters, such as Republicans in California, don't bother to turn out on Election Day because they sense that their votes won't make any difference, but if every vote nationally counted equally, they'd be more likely to turn out.

"Voter turnout was 10 percent higher in battleground states," he said.

In addition, Haynes asserted that the compact ultimately keeps the states in control over their Electoral vote process and election laws.

In response to a question posed by Robertson, Vermont State Senator Chris PEARSON said his main problem with the current system is with the winner-takes-all provisions that the vast majority of states have. He also presented a brief history of the various ways states have determined how their Electoral votes were to be cast since the founding of the United States.

"Now we're in a situation where roughly 35 states are more or less taken for granted every presidential election," Pearson summed up. "Could we really imagine the founders being satisfied that 35 states have the power of awarding their own electors and they are continuing to basically make themselves irrelevant?"

Hillsdale College professor Gary WOLFRAM testified in favor of Click to add MIRS Bill Hound SB 1117, stating that he -- like Haynes -- had initially opposed joining the National Popular Vote Compact, but had since changed his mind.

"Of 399 general election presidential campaign events in the 2016 election, 94 percent of those were in 12 states," Wolfram pointed out.

As it turns out Congress pays more attention to these "fly-over" states when setting policy and budget allocations, testifiers told the House Elections and Ethics Committee today as it considered a bill to join the National Popular Vote (NPV) Interstate Compact.

Click to add MIRS Bill Hound HB 6322, sponsored by Rep. Tim KELLY (R-Saginaw), also would have Michigan join the compact. If enough states join, the state would award its electoral college votes to whomever wins the popular vote nationwide. Currently, those electoral college votes go to whomever wins the popular statewide. No Constitutional amendment is necessary and if the state later decides it doesn't like how the system works, it can withdraw from the compact.

"I feel as through from my chair's position that there is pretty good support in committee so I think our plan will be to eventually pass it out of committee," Elections and Ethics Committee Chair Aaron MILLER (R-Sturgis) said after the hearing. "There are not guarantees. All bets are off. There is not a master plan."

Miller anticipates a committee vote in the end of September or early October.

"A national popular vote has never been tried, so it is something that is completely unknown, completely theoretical. It is crystal ball stuff. So given that, I have a little bit of apprehension, given that it's new. But I have looked into the issue enough . . . (and it) became clear to me, I believe this will be a good option, even though it has never been tried. I think I will be a good option for Michigan."

Kelly said battleground states now tend to be favored by presidents and the candidates who curry their votes.

"Right now battleground states get the majority of federal funds and in lots of cases they drive federal policy, and that would change the dynamic of how we operate," Kelly contends, if enough states join the compact.

Rep. Adam ZEMKE (D-Ann Arbor) reports that he originally wanted to introduce this proposal because he feels it would give Michigan more relevance instead of often being relegated to a fly-over state.

"I would like to strengthen our influence," he said, noting that had this system been in place Hillary CLINTON would have the title of president in front of her name. "That's one thing, but the popular vote would be good so that all states would have influence," he said.

Miller disputed that last point in committee discussion. It's hard to predict the future and no one has a crystal ball, he said. But if the rules on how electoral votes are awarded are changed, it would change how presidential candidates play the game. They'll campaign differently.

He contended the national popular vote proposal would make all voters ballots count nationally. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

3 months ago

1st half hour discussion today, Friday 9-7-18; MIRS News Service

Straight-Ticket Voting Off November Ballot Following Appeals Court Ruling

The straight-ticket voting box won't be appearing on Michigan's Nov. 6 general election ballots, a federal court ruled late this evening.

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals granted Secretary of State Ruth JOHNSON's motion to stay a federal District Court judge's ruling that would have struck down Public Act (PA) 268 -- a Republican-led Legislature ban on straight-ticket voting (See "Straight Ticket Elimination Bill Signed Into Law," 1/5/16.)

Johnson applauded the sixth circuit for making its decision in time for clerks to prepare their ballots, while giving her office time to inform voters of the change.

"Michigan now joins more than 40 other states in which voters choose the person instead of the party. For too long, important ballot questions and nonpartisan offices, including judges of all types, were skipped over by people who marked a straight ticket thinking they had voted their full ballot."

"The district court's opinion is extensive, but its underpinnings are quite weak," Circuit Judge Danny BOGGS wrote in the majority's opinion. "… The district court's decision rests almost entirely on conclusions about the practical effect of require individual consideration of each office . . .

"The irreparable harm to voters in taking what would be at most very small additional time to register their choices, an additional time largely within the control of the voter, is very small," he added.

Circuit Judge Bernice Bouie DONALD dissented, saying the majority's "conclusion, no matter how finely parsed nor eloquently written, ignores the 150 years of shameful and painful history of disenfranchisement, suppression, and dilution of African-American voters and the overt and covert mechanisms used to achieve that object."

"It also ignores the fact that Michigan began efforts to dismantle this practice immediately after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, whose very purpose was to outlaw discrimination and to increase participation by African Americans in American history," she wrote. "Voter disenfranchisement, suppression, and oppression of African Americans is woven into the fabric of America."

District Court Judge Gershwin DRAIN found PA 268 unconstitutional because it would lengthen lines and increase wait times for all voters, as well as discriminate against African-American voters, as they vote a straight-ticket at higher rates than other demographics and frequently vote for Democratic candidates. (See "Federal Judge Stops Michigan From Eliminating Straight-Ticket Voting," 8/1/18.)

Drain ruled that voting individually for each of the estimated 18 partisan offices would take a voter three additional minutes, but Boggs said that 3-minute increase "is essentially pulled out of the air."

Drain denied the state's request for stay his ruling, prompting the appeal to the Sixth Circuit. (See "Judge Denies State's Request To Stay Injunction Over Straight-Ticket Voting," 8/24/18.)

The appeals court said that many states have banned straight-ticket voting in recent years and "the alleged evils of eliminating Michigan's straight-ticket voting system seem unlikely to outweigh the ability of a state to make public policy choice common among all 50 states."

Judge Raymond KETHLEDGE joined Boggs, writing separately that he shares the District Court's "desire to strike down every law" with the aim of reducing African-American turnout at the polls, but he disagrees that PA 268 "is one of them."

"That law, known as PA 268, simply requires voters to choose candidates for each office individually, rather than vote for a party slate en masse," he noted. ". . .Where the District Court was most clearly mistaken, I respectfully submit, was in equating partisan motives with racial ones . . .

"On this record, then, the remedy for anyone unhappy with PA 268 is not another constitutional ruling from the federal courts. The remedy instead is to wait the extra 20 minutes or so (according to the District Court's estimate) in line at the polls, and then vote to turn out the state legislators who supported the law," Kethledge wrote. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

3 months ago

Labor Day 2018 - 2nd hour discussion, Monday, 9-3-18;
MIRS News Service

BOE Recommends Certifying Promote The Vote Petitions

The Michigan Bureau of Elections (BOE) recommends the Board of State Canvassers (BSC) certify the Promote the Vote petitions, which included the names of six deceased individuals and a character from a television show.

In a report released today, the BOE says it estimates the petition contains 321,755 valid signatures.

The BSC will consider the petitions at its 10 a.m. Sept. 6 meeting at Delta Charter Township Hall,7710 W. Saginaw Highway in Lansing.

The Secretary of State (SOS) expanded its review of the voting rights ballot proposal after an initial review of 500 sample signatures indicated there wasn't enough signatures to either recommend approval or denial. (See “SOS Will Expand Scrutiny Of Voting Rights Amendment Petition,” 8/14/18.)

On its second review, the SOS randomly sampled an additional 3,299 signatures -- for a total of 3,799 -- and concluded that the random samples from both reviews correlates to a confidence level of 98.25 percent - an improvement of more than 18 percentage points compared to the first-stage sample result.

Of the combined signatures reviewed, the staff found some had jurisdiction and address errors as well as date errors and duplications. Among the 358 signatures found that were not registered to vote, six were from individuals who died between 2012 and 2017, and whose voter registrations were canceled before the petition was placed in circulation, according to the report.

One signature in the “not registered” category, included the “signature” of Dwight Schrute - a fictional character on the television show The Office. According to Michigan voter rolls, there is no such voter in Michigan. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

3 months ago

Labor Day 2018 - 1st Hour discussion, Monday 9-3-18;
MIRS News Service

Whitmer Heavy Favorite According To Lansing Insiders

In a flash survey conducted this week of MIRS subscribers, 63.9 percent of 413 survey respondents said they believe Democratic nominee former Senate Minority Leader Gretchen WHITMER will prevail in November and be elected the state's next governor but were split over who would serve as the next Attorney General.

The survey question only included the two major party candidates. In the head-to-head, Attorney General Bill SCHUETTE netted 18.8 percent of the vote. Some 17 percent were undecided.

Perhaps the most interesting result is MIRS readers' take on the race for Michigan Attorney General, where they split with 41.02 percent saying Speaker Tom LEONARD (R-DeWitt) would win and 41.02 percent saying Democratic nominee Dana NESSEL would prevail. A total of 17.9 percent said they were undecided.

Insiders also see Whitmer's key issue “just fix the damn roads” as a clear winner over Schuette's oft-repeated call to roll back the “Granholm tax hike.”

Participants were asked: If the gubernatorial campaign comes down to a referendum on the issues the candidates espouse most, will a rollback of the income tax rate or fix the roads prevail?

A total of 75.5 percent of those participating said the roads issue will prevail compared to 13.5 percent who said they felt the income tax rollback would prevail. A total of 11 percent were undecided.

MIRS also asked readers whether President Donald TRUMP's legal issues (conviction of Paul MANAFORT and guilty plea of Michael COHEN) would hurt Schuette since the Attorney General had tied himself so tightly to the president during primary. A majority of 51.9 percent said yes, it will cost the GOP nominee votes. 32.8 percent said no, and 15.2 percent were undecided.

Only 30.2 percent of readers felt Trump coming to Michigan would help Schuette, with 51.3 percent saying it wouldn't and 18.4 percent undecided. If former President Barack OBAMA were to come in and campaign for Whitmer, 64.7 percent said it would be a help, 23.6 percent said it would not help and 11.5 percent were undecided. ... See MoreSee Less

Your Defending Fathers

4 months ago

1st hour discussion today, Monday 8-27-18;
MIRS News Service

Leonard Wins AG Race As Fractured GOP Pushes Unity

House Speaker Tom LEONARD withstood a late charge from Sen. Tonya SCHUITMAKER to win the Republicans' Attorney General nomination at today's convention in Lansing.

Leonard, 37, and Schuitmaker, 50, both aggressively sought the support of party conservatives, but Leonard ended up with 56 percent of the convention vote before Schuitmaker took the stage to concede and moved that a unanimous ballot be cast for Leonard.

Leonard recruited right-wing rock star Ted NUGENT to campaign for him at his Friday pre-convention party and Schuitmaker supporters referenced independent rankings that showed she had a more conservative legislative voting record.

Leonard's early support within the party's grassroots proved too much for Schuitmaker, who benefited from a late push from those who saw Schuitmaker as having a better shot at beating Democrat Dana NESSEL.

"I want to congratulate Sen. Schuitmaker for a hard-fought race. She's been an incredible partner in the Legislature. Now is the time for every Republican to unite around our entire ticket," said Leonard during a convention themed "Results not resistance."

Eastern Michigan University Trustee Mary TREDER LANG easily won the Secretary of State nomination over Michigan State University Professor Joseph GUZMAN, 75 to 25 percent, a race all but decided after heavy favorite Stan GROT dropped out last week.

The only other contested race saw anti-Common Core candidate Tami CALONE and incumbent Dr. Richard ZEILE win the two nominating slots over incumbent Eileen WEISER-supported Ida BYRD HILL by a reported two votes.

The official convention results were suspended for nearly an hour while MRP officials triple checked to make sure Zeile did, indeed, edge Hill based on the party's proportional voting formula.

Mike MILLER and Dave DUTCH won the Michigan State University Board of Trustees nominations without opposition as did University of Michigan incumbents Andrew RICHNER and Andrea Fischer NEWMAN and Wayne State University Governors Diane DUNASKISS and David NICHOLSON.

The nominations highlighted a well-attended and efficiently run convention during which Lt. Gov. Brian CALLEY and Gov. Rick SNYDER Chief of Staff Dick POSTHUMUS urged delegates to unify behind 2018 gubernatorial nominee Bill SCHUETTE.

"I really need you to suck it up," a freshly bearded Calley told delegates during his quick four-minute speech.

But while Lieutenant Governor nominee Lisa Posthumus LYONS was warmly embraced, despite her critical comments of then-presidential nominee Donald TRUMP in 2016, Supreme Court Justice pick Beth CLEMENT was not.

Her nomination was noticeably booed from the floor and the vote for her nomination yielded clearly more "nays" than "yays," but new, constrictive convention rules prevented any real challenges from the floor.

The crowd stayed respectably quiet during Snyder's video address. The state's out-going chief executive did not make an appearance at the convention and has still not reached out to Schuette since his primary victory, the nominee confirmed to media today. Schuette tried to downplay that detail.

"I want to express, from the outset, our appreciation for the work he and Lt. Gov. Calley have done. We were on life support. We were on the mat. Now we have rebounded," Schuette told reporters.

Schuette added his appreciation to Snyder and First Lady Sue SNYDER for their work on behalf of sexual assault survivors.

Lyons was immediately asked her opinion on the criminal prosecution of Snyder's Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick LYON for decisions he made in the midst of the Flint water crisis - the crux of the public rift between Snyder and Schuette.

"I'm not commenting on the prosecution. I'm not go there. I'm not going to politicize the Flint water crisis the way Democrats have. I have no comment on that. I'm concerned about clean and healthy drinking water for everyone in Michigan," she said.

So did the Republicans walk away from today's convention unified?

After seeing 2,112 delegates and numerous alternates at today's convention, MRP Chair Ron WEISER said, "We're seeing enthusiasm level claimed by the Dems equaled by the Republicans. (People) like what's going on with the economy in Michigan. Certainly, they like what is going on with the economy nationally. Republicans are doing what they said they were going to do. Keeping their word."

- Schuette was optimistic: "We're going to have a united Republican Party. We're going to win this."

- Former National Committeeman Dave AGEMA grinned at the question before saying, "Somewhat."

- Former Rep. Amanda PRICE said, "I think we are unified. There are wounds, but we will get there. It's a process."

- Board of Education member Tom McMILLIN, who nominated both Leonard and Calone on the convention floor, said, "I think so. I think the Democrats are overplaying their hand by going too far left."

- MPR 13th Congressional District Chair, Dave DUDENHOEFER, wasn't buying it, saying the Republicans have 150,000 votes to make up from the August primary and the "homogenized" candidates that delegates are being presented with is the "same ol' same ol'."

"From the delegates I'm talking to, they're not inspired. We're being told, 'Vote for us because the other team sucks worse' and that message is getting old."

He wants to see candidates who will defend citizens' constitutional rights and individual liberties and he's not seeing it with this year's crew.

Delegates Back Wilder, Reluctantly Nominate Clement

The Michigan Republican Party (MRP) tried to keep the Supreme Court nominations of both Supreme Court Justice Beth CLEMENT and Kurtis WILDER as low-key as possible given Clement's recent rulings in which she formed a functionable majority on the high Court with Justice David VIVIANO and the court's two Democratic-nominated justices (See "Conservative Activists Fishing For Clement Alternatives," 8/1/18).

Boos overwhelmed the Lansing Center floor when Cass County Prosecutor Vic FITZ nominated Clement for the post. He attempted to settle the crowd by talking about her experience with former Senate Majority Leader Mike BISHOP and Republican Gov. Rick SNYDER.

But when the presiding officer Jase BOLGER took the voice vote on accepting Clement and Justice Kurtis WILDER's nomination an audibly louder number of "nays" came from the floor than "yeas." Bolger gaveled through the nomination anyway of the two Snyder appointees, who are were going to appear on the ballot anyway given their incumbency designation.

"It was clear that the overwhelming majority of delegates see right through her lip services to rule of law, conservative jurisprudence," said Tony DAUNT of the Michigan Freedom Fund. "In the split cases she participated in, she voted with (Justice Bridget) McCORMACK and (Justice Richard) BERNSTEIN 70 percent of the time. It should surprise nobody that the delegates would react negatively to the endorsement that was forced upon them."

An alternative choice could have been nominated from the floor with two-thirds support of delegates, but none was offered.

Unlike every other candidate seeking a convention nomination, neither Clement nor Wilder appeared on stage during the process and neither were seen working the convention.

Clement and Wilder did appear at the end of the convention when the entire Republican ticket was called to the stage amid the song, "Give me some lovin'." She and Wilder ducked into the post-convention press conference, but Clement quickly left before reporters could get to her and Wilder declined comment.

Clement was the target of a pamphlet handed out to delegates by the "Michigan Oak Initiative" that tied the Justice to the redistricting reform ballot proposal that likely will be Proposal 2 this fall. The "Voters Not Politicians" petition was legally challenged earlier this summer, but Clement ruled with the majority that it could appear on the ballot (See "Viviano, Clement Join Democrat Justices To OK Redistricting For Ballot," 7/31/18).

"Suggest abstain voting for Justice Clement at convention and only vote for Justice Wilder. This would show disapproval for her rulings and maybe cause her to think twice about violating our constitution," the pamphlet reads.

MRP Chair Ron WEISER conceded that there were attendees who didn't like "one of two" of Clement's decisions.

"There's always people like that in any group. Remember, there was not only 2,112 delegates, but alternates and guest on the floor so where that noise is coming from is something you seen in just about any circumstance." ... See MoreSee Less