Michigan
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5:20 p.m.
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HOWELL - A local video production company plans to air a live discussion and roundtable on the firing of Howell Public Schools Superintendent Theodore Gardella, who was fired last Friday after just a year on the job. HUB TV will air the discussion at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Uptown Coffee House in downtown Howell, at the corner of Grand River and Michigan Avenue. It will be aired live on local...
The Conservative Media - 1:49 p.m.
Tomorrow is Fourth of July. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry reminds us about the importance of the day’s celebrations... Hear Audio Story The Fourth of July is tomorrow, which means we will sacrifice plenty of hot dogs, apple pie,......
Jack Lessenberry - 10:55 a.m.
This Jack Lessenberry column is something you should have already read. If you haven't, please go read it before going on. You will take a short quiz at the end of this post. I’m not sure what the weather is where you are. But it is a bleak day for thousands of Michigan adults who have been managing their vision, hearing and dental problems with the help of Medicaid. ...
Michiganliberal - 7:47 a.m. - 2 clicks 
This was in yesterday's News , but it's just as fresh and bright and lively today. The debate is supposed to be about combating climate change. But when the Senate takes up energy and climate legislation this summer, another word will be in the forefront: jobs. Nationwide, and particularly for Michigan, the issue of economic impact is likely to determine support for legislation to li...
Michiganliberal - 7:19 a.m. - 2 clicks
Good morning Michigan. Today is Friday, July 3, 2009. Got any plans for the 4th? Since it's a big weekend, there are too many things going on for me to list. If you're looking for fireworks, check out Michigan Fireworks . You can search for fireworks by location and date, and it's not just limited to the 4th. You can also find other events on the Michigan Festivals si...
Blogging For Michigan - 4:20 a.m.
State Representative Dan Scripps (D-Leland) and Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell will both be featured this weekend at the Rothbury Music Festival . Both West Michigan Democrats will be participating in the " Think Tank ": On our country's birthday weekend, ROTHBURY brings together the innovators, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, celebs, and rabble rousers who - in this time of economic, ene...
West Michigan Rising - 4:02 a.m. - 2 clicks
LANSING - The almost complete Michigan State Police headquarters in downtown Lansing has officially become a campaign issue, at least for one Secretary of State candidate, but it is certainly a dead issue. Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge and Oakland Sheriff Mike Bouchard - a Republican candidate for governor- have made the most hay with their opposition to the HQ, but Sen. Cameron Brown, R-Stu...
The Conservative Media - Thu 5:39 p.m. - 5 clicks
From the Freep: LANSING - Gov. Jennifer Granholm has signed legislation aimed at keeping the North American International Auto Show in Michigan beyond 2010, preferably at its current home in Detroit's Cobo Center. The new laws signed today call for a nearly $300-million expansion of Cobo and the creation of a regional authority to run and renovate the aging building. As a backup, a facility ...
Blogging For Michigan - Thu 2:39 p.m.
After Tuesday’s shooting in Detroit, Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks its time to discuss gun control... Hear Audio Story What was perhaps most shocking about what happened in Detroit Tuesday is how little shocked we were by it......
Jack Lessenberry - Thu 10:31 a.m. - 5 clicks
LANSING – In a victory for struggling families throughout Michigan, a plan originally proposed by State Representative Andy Coulouris (D-Saginaw) will go into effect on Sunday, providing a 90-day lifeline for homeowners at risk of losing their home to foreclosure. "Thousands of struggling families will now have the time and assistance they need to find a way to keep their homes," Coulou...
Michigan House Democrats - Thu 7:49 a.m. - 5 clicks
This week’s radio address highlights the importance of volunteering to serve our communities and our country. Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm. Saturday is the Fourth of July, the day we celebrate our nation’s independence. It’s a day for fireworks and barbeques and parades – a day when our chests swell with patriotic pride. Now there’s a [...]...
Governor Jennifer Granholm: The Conversation - Thu 7:48 a.m. - 11 clicks
Mike Rogers is a Serious Guy when it comes to health care. He warned us about those liberals who wanted to take Grandma's oxygen tank -- and her "choice" in health care coverage while they're at it. Well, Mr. Rogers is back with a regurgitated plan for health care reform . He gets points for alliteration ("Costs," "Control," "Choices" and "Cures"), but other than that it's a tired retread ...
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood (MI-08) - Thu 6:26 a.m. - 6 clicks
Good morning Michigan. Today is Thursday, July 2, 2009, and there's a new Senator in DC! Finally. Answer to yesterday's Michigan trivia : Michmark! The name "Petoskey" is said to mean "where the light shines through the clouds" in the language of the Odawa Indians (Little Traverse Bay Band), who are the original inhabitants. The Petoskey stone and the city were...
Blogging For Michigan - Thu 5:04 a.m.
Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry has been thinking what the state cuts to Medicaid are going to mean for Michiganders… Hear Audio Story I’m not sure what the weather is where you are. But it is a bleak day......
Jack Lessenberry - Wed 10:38 a.m. - 2 clicks
Well, it's only a matter of time before the Alan Carlin controversy shows up someplace in the pages of the Detroit News, or one of the intellectual dishrags in the state's conservative blogging community starts waving his or her arms around and a-hootin' and a-hollerin' about the EPA crushing conservative viewpoints. Considering that Debbie Stabenow and/or Carl Levin could b...
Michiganliberal - Wed 10:23 a.m. - 3 clicks
This weekend brings the classic American holiday, the Fourth of July. It's the time of year when we head Up North, to the lake, to the family cottage, the friend's house, and ready the boat, the camper, the jello salad decorated like the American flag, buy the fireworks, arm ourselves with bug spray and sunscreen and we celebrate what we do best - being Americans. Here in Michigan, no matter ho...
The Upper Hand - Wed 7:14 a.m. - 5 clicks
At least he's not calling Obama an economic fascist : "If we start talking about freedom and personal control and personal opportunities to express opinions and choices, Republicans can be on the pathway to the same kind of success in 2010 that we enjoyed in 1994," Hoekstra said Tuesday. I, for one, think it's going to be awfully difficult for Republicans to come across as credible p...
Michiganliberal - Wed 7:14 a.m. - 6 clicks
Good morning Michigan. Today is Workplace Wednesday, July 1, 2009, and since my workplace is kicking my butt, all I can give you this morning is a Lake Michigan sunrise: But isn't it gorgeous? Answer to yesterday's Michigan trivia : Michmark! Detroit native Peter Pultorak rode the Michigan rails for 8 years during the great depression. Today's Michigan trivia : This...
Blogging For Michigan - Wed 4:08 a.m. - 2 clicks
From a DEQ Press Release : Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester recently welcomed Bazzani Associates of Grand Rapids as the newest member of the Clean Corporate Citizen (C3) Program. Bazzani Associates is the first design and architectural building firm to become a member of the C3 Program, and helps to transform Michigan's building trade by constructing Leadership in...
West Michigan Rising - Tue 10:51 p.m. - 2 clicks
Walmart, in one of their worst ways of prioritizing prices above qualities to date, turns to a foreign drug supplier, Ranbaxy Laboratories, LTD, who has repeatedly been investigated by the FDA and the DoJ for "inadequate" safeguards against contamination, falsification of records and submitting false information to the FDA. On top of that, just eight months before the FDA inspected Ranbax...
Blogging For Michigan - Tue 2:24 p.m. - 4 clicks
Lt. Governor John Cherry announced today that the wetland and wildlife restoration project at Muskegon Lake will receive a $10m grant from NOAA and the Recovery Act. The Recovery Act grant will improve aquatic habitat for fish and other species by removing over 180,000 tons of degraded lake bottom sediment and restoring 10,000 feet of Lake Muskegon shoreline now hardened by materials including ...
West Michigan Rising - Tue 12:16 p.m.
After disgraced financier Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison and Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers resigned… Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders: has justice been served? Hear Audio Story When I got to my office yesterday,......
Jack Lessenberry - Tue 12:16 p.m. - 2 clicks
Who is Kenneth W. Chilton? Some guy from Missouri. So, why did the Detroit News give him space on its Op-Ed page ? I think we have the answer here. For the past two years, Congress has been considering legislation to address global warming. The latest version, the Waxman-Markey climate bill, has been approved by the House and seems dangerously close to being enacted into law. For America...
Michiganliberal - Tue 11:04 a.m.
Hello, it's the 21st century . If you do your job well, you shouldn't be fired just because the boss is a homophobe. Just like you shouldn't be able to fire someone because they're Black, or a woman, or from England, or was a veteran. Nice to see a brave city commission. Depressing to believe there are still people who think otherwise. UPDATE by memiller: I had talked with Don C...
West Michigan Rising - Tue 10:03 a.m.
Put her in our camp for wanting a Medicare-like public option: Thank you . . . . . for contacting me regarding problems with our health care system. Without a doubt, this is one of the most difficult and heartbreaking issues that I hear about from families, and I am grateful for your willingness to share your thoughts and experiences with me. When it comes to health care, our families and busi...
Blogging For Michigan - Tue 8:58 a.m.
In an e-mail subjected " SPAM", Paul Welday shouts the following: “The Cap and Trade bill just passed in the House will have as significant a negative impact on Oakland County as anything Washington has ever forced down our throats,” said Welday. “In a time when Michigan ’s unemployment rate is over 14 percent and climbing, Gary Peters just voted to wipe out hundreds o...
Michiganliberal - Tue 7:57 a.m. - 2 clicks
From the Detroit News : Gladwin, Mich. -- The military says a 28-year-old soldier from Michigan has died in Iraq. The Department of Defense said Tuesday that Sgt. Timothy A. David of Gladwin died Sunday in Baghdad of wounds suffered earlier in Sadr City, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. David is the 170th serviceman with known Michigan ties to ha...
Michiganliberal - Tue 7:27 a.m. - 3 clicks
LANSING – With the Legislature on a two-week summer break, it seems fitting to look at what did not get done during the marathon session last Thursday that ran to 1 a.m. Friday morning in the Senate. Although there was a solution out there, 100 Michigan State Troopers will still lose their jobs this week. The House passed a supplemental bill using some restricted funds to save the jobs, but t...
The Conservative Media - Tue 5:42 a.m. - 3 clicks
In the post on the “hydrogen superhighway,” Joel Batterman notes that the State of Michigan may cut funding to the Pere Marquette and Blue Water trains. The Pere Marquette has service between Grand Rapids and Chicago; the Blue Water, between Port Huron and Chicago. Here’s a PDF with information on the planned shutdown and what you can do about it. The Michigan Association...
Arbor Update - Tue 4:24 a.m. - 6 clicks
Good morning Michigan. Today is Tuesday 2.0, June 30, 2009. Before I get started, I just want to remind you that the Democrats are about to capitulate on the public option on health care. The 40 GOPNo Senators are saying NO to the 72+% of the American people who want health care. I believe Lindsay Graham's exact words were "No." And Barack Obama's words were "[crickets chi...
Blogging For Michigan - Tue 2:19 a.m. - 2 clicks
EVERYBODY TAKE COVER! WARN YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND FAMILIES! CRANK UP THIS VIDEO TO FULL BLAST! THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE IS UNDER ATTACK!!! The Kalamazoo City Commission has unanimously passed a nondiscrimination ordinance for sexual orientation: It will prohibit discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people when it comes to hiring, housing and o...
Michiganliberal - Mon 10:40 p.m. - 3 clicks
Applications Now Open for Innovative Political Leadership Training Program The White House Project is seeking applications for its award-winning Go Run political training program for women. This year's participants will join a robust group of over 6,000 alumnae throughout Michigan and the U.S. who have utilized the training as a launching pad to run for office, manage campaigns, and becom...
West Michigan Rising - Mon 8:50 p.m. - 2 clicks
We've heard a lot of whining over the last few months that the "cost" of coming climate change legislation will kill jobs, destroy industry, kick puppy dogs, sicken orphans ... basically the same old barge filled with scary warnings that have been used since time immemorial about every major piece of environmental legislation (if history is any judge of the efficacy of these warnings, we coul...
Michiganliberal - Mon 12:06 p.m. - 2 clicks
LANSING – House Democrats today unveiled legislation to combat the reprehensible practice of elder abuse in Michigan by strengthening consumer protections for seniors and increasing penalties for those who financially exploit them. The legislation is part of House Democrats' ongoing effort to strengthen Michigan's faltering consumer protection laws. "Our seniors are our parents, grandparents...
Michigan House Democrats - Mon 12:06 p.m. - 4 clicks
Two “generals” announced they’ll be setting up shop in the state. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry gives us the low-down on the good news… Hear Audio Story There’s an old Paul Simon song, part of which goes like this:......
Jack Lessenberry - Mon 11:22 a.m. - 3 clicks
Sometimes you need a reminder of why you fight. Especially when it seems that the Democrats elected to office haven't been doing the best job of representing their party or their constituents. The debate on healthcare being a big example. But then Republicans go and do something stupid and you have a good reminder: The senate has voted to cut the Michigan Promise Scholarship, but ...
Blogging For Michigan - Mon 11:22 a.m. - 3 clicks
In the least shocking news of the day, Monica Conyers has resigned as Detroit City Council President Pro Tem effective July 6, 2009. In an interesting note, her resignation letter indicates that her staff will continue to be employed through December 31, 2009. From the Freep : Convicted Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers has resigned. The Detroit City Clerk&...
Michiganliberal - Mon 10:26 a.m. - 6 clicks
Artes, Scientia, Veritas, Money Earlier this month the University of Michigan Board of Regents voted to raise our tuition 5.6%, which amounts to over $600 additional dollars in cost for in-state students. At a time when the State of Michigan has been gutted by the current economic crisis our University has decided to dig deeper into [...]...
University of Michigan College Democrats - Mon 9:41 a.m. - 4 clicks
Michigan’s unemployment insurance system is outdated and unable to adequately meet the needs of unemployed working families, and it is discriminatory against women and low wage workers, according to a recent report by the Michigan League for Human Services (MLHS) . The MLHS released the report, “Michigan Needs to Modernize its Unemployment Insurance System,” on June 11 as other states were...
The Conservative Media - Mon 8:37 a.m. - 2 clicks
From the Freep: A month ago, U.S. Rep Thaddeus McCotter, R-Livonia, was chastising Texas Rep. Pete Sessions and others for what he called their "selective sympathy" toward General Motors' bondholders - instead of line workers - as the White House steered GM toward bankruptcy. On Thursday,Sessions was hosting a health care industry lunch - a fund-raiser - for McCotter, who the Democratic Con...
Blogging For Michigan - Mon 8:16 a.m. - 2 clicks
A few weeks ago, Mike Rogers was making the right-wing news rounds with dire predictions about the dangers of Mirandizing Afghan detainees. More recently, Mr. Rogers has been spreading the "news" in the local media, like WHMI and the Press & Argus . "As an American citizen, it chills my blood to think that these foreign fighters from other nations who enter Afghanistan to kill our s...
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood (MI-08) - Mon 6:47 a.m. - 4 clicks
Good morning Michigan. Today is Money Saving Monday, June 29, 2009. I was looking around for some inexpensive alternative energy stuff, and I came across Colorado Solar Systems . These guys sell portable solar space heaters. The space heater is hand crafted, and I believe it is built when ordered. It sits in a south facing window, and works like this - ... when the s...
Blogging For Michigan - Mon 5:05 a.m. - 4 clicks
(Cross-posted at West Michigan Rising, Daily Kos, and Michigan Liberal-PB) Introduction In recent months astute political analysts have noted that the real prize in the 2010 election is control of the redistricting process that will follow in the year to come. While redistricting occurs on every level of government throughout the 50 states, many observers note the importance of redistr...
West Michigan Rising - Mon 2:09 a.m. - 4 clicks
Today was the day Organizing for America, the ongoing presence of the Obama campaign, picked as a national day of service around the health care issue. ObamaZoo, our Kalamazoo expression of OfA, organized our events, one in Bronson Park to collect supplies for Ministry with Community and Loaves and Fishes; one in MLK Park to spread out and educate the community about eligibility for S-CHIP; and on...
West Michigan Rising - Mon 2:09 a.m. - 3 clicks
While a study by the conservative Brooking Institution found that restoration of the Great Lakes would be an economic boon, estimating: that spending $26 billion to clean the lakes would bring benefits of at least $80 billion. Twitter Pete Hoekstra and Fred Upton voted against brining Michigan taxpayer money back to our state by refusing to support appropriations for Great Lakes restoration. ...
West Michigan Rising - Mon 2:09 a.m. - 4 clicks
Mark Brewer is the featured guest on WOOD-TV's "To The Point" with Rick Albin on Sunday morning at 10:00 in Grand Rapids. Be sure to watch. From an MDP Twitter ....
West Michigan Rising - Mon 2:09 a.m. - 3 clicks
MediaMouse -- "a left and progressive group blog providing independent news, media, analysis, and commentary covering Grand Rapids, Michigan and beyond" announced last week it's closing up shop. While I can't say I agreed with what they wrote a lot of the time -- I'm a Democrat, not an anarchist -- they did provide a valuable resource and will be missed. I'm not sure what this means for T...
West Michigan Rising - Mon 2:09 a.m. - 4 clicks
One thing I hope to do with this blog is post information about public meetings. Anyway, from the Enquirer.. MONDAY • Battle Creek Public Schools Board of Education, 5:30 p.m., administrative offices, third floor of Willard Library. OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1'); • Marshall City Council, 6 p.m., City Hall. • Springfield City Council, 7:30 p.m., City Hall. TUESDAY • Maren...
In The Middle of it All - Mon 2:08 a.m. - 4 clicks
(Cross-posted at West Michigan Rising, Daily Kos, and Michigan Liberal-PB) Introduction In recent months astute political analysts have noted that the real prize in the 2010 election is control of the redistricting process that will follow in the year to come. While redistricting occurs on every level of government throughout the 50 states, many observers note the importance of re...
DailyKos (Michigan) - Mon 2:07 a.m.
GOOD MORNING FLINT! 6/28/09 I attended the Flint Sloan Museum Car Show Saturday with my sister. We enjoyed the show and did a little concert promotion. It appears 50% of the Flint boomers I talked with had a personal experience with Mark Farmer. The man must have gotten around Flint. Photos and video follown with a little PR. Thumbnail http://www.flickr.com/photos/3... Slide show ht...
Blogging For Michigan - Mon 2:07 a.m.
Due to a 55 year law in our State's books, the Treasurers of Oakland and Wayne counties can't take office under July 1st, more than half a year after they get elected. Still, Andy Meisner, Oakland's new Treasurer, is worth the wait. Meisner wants the treasurer's office to play an expanded role in helping combat the foreclosure crisis. He wants a county-run land bank that uses federal money to...
Blogging For Michigan - Mon 2:07 a.m. - 3 clicks
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today released a comprehensive report entitled "Reclaiming Michigan’s Throwaway Kids: Students Trapped in the School-to-Prison Pipeline," which documents a trend amongst school districts to enforce severe disciplinary policies and practices that push children permanently out of the classroom without regard for the long-term impact. The school...
DailyKos (Michigan) - Fri 6:47 p.m. - 3 clicks
(Cross-posted to Michigan Liberal) Meet Ismael Ahmed , Michigan's Department of Human Services chief. His official bio is here. Ismael Ahmed now has a blog on Wordpress. Ismael Ahmed also has a blog at a blogspot address. And, you can read more about Ismael Ahmed in a short feature written a few years back by Jack Lessenberry called, "Meet a real American." Here are the tw...
DailyKos (Michigan) - Fri 6:47 p.m. - 7 clicks
The reason I ask is because of these two articles... First... A new, conservative grassroots organization that considers itself part of the tea party movement will be in town next week to warn people about the voting record of former state Rep. Mike Nofs, R-Battle Creek. '); } --> Nofs is running in the Republican primary for the ...
In The Middle of it All - Fri 5:24 p.m. - 6 clicks
Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land has announced that she will not run for Governor in 20-10. The Republican has, instead, endorsed Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard for the job. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry doesn’t think we’ve......
Jack Lessenberry - Fri 5:24 p.m. - 5 clicks
Today’s radio address applauds GE’s decision to locate their new research and development center in Michigan. Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm. “Imagination at Work” is the slogan of the General Electric Company. When GE was imagining where to locate its new advanced technology and training center, it came up with a wonderful idea: Michigan. Friday [...]...
Governor Jennifer Granholm: The Conversation - Jun 26 - 4 clicks
Major announcement from Governor Granhom, MEDC and General Electric this morning: Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) has chosen Michigan for a new advanced technology and training center to be located at Visteon Village in Van Buren Twp. (Wayne County). The company plans to make a significant financial investment [...]...
Governor Jennifer Granholm: The Conversation - Jun 26 - 5 clicks
LANSING – Less tan 24 hours after voting against Michigan’s unemployed workers and leaving $140 million in federal funds that would have gone directly to Michigan workers who cannot feed their families on the table, Senate Republicans again voted against Michigan workers on Thursday by addressing a problem that doesn’t exist. Senate Bills 612-615 were approved along primarily party lines t...
The Conservative Media - Jun 26 - 2 clicks
Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry is declaring the unofficial start to the media’s “silly-season”… Hear Audio Story Here’s an indication of how serious our problems in Michigan are. Yesterday, I had a hard time finding anyone who seemed the least bit......
Jack Lessenberry - Jun 26 - 4 clicks
The Press : Mayor George Heartwell said he expects the commission to make a hiring decision in early August after getting the list of finalists in July. Besides any external candidates the firm finds, there are three internal candidates besides DeLong. They include: Acting Deputy City Manager Greg Sundstrom, Human Resources Director Mari Beth Jelks and Assistant to the City Manager and Purchas...
West Michigan Rising - Jun 26 - 2 clicks
LANSING – House Democrats today passed legislation sponsored by State Representatives Tim Melton (D-Pontiac) and Bert Johnson (D-Detroit) that will help turn around Michigan schools that are failing. The plan creates new standards and restructuring options to ensure Michigan students are prepared for the 21st century global economy. "We cannot tolerate schools that fail our children year aft...
Michigan House Democrats - Jun 26
Rumor makes The Press that the new GM plant is indeed coming back to Michigan -- Oakland County! Congrats to everyone who wanted it MadeInMichigan . Now, let's keep the parts plants in Michigan too. By the way, if you see my wife, lobby with me for a new Ford Focus Hybrid. ...
West Michigan Rising - Jun 25 - 6 clicks
LANSING – Senate Republicans again voted against workers Wednesday, and left $140 million in federal funds that would have gone directly to Michigan workers who cannot feed their families on the table. Senate Democrats tried to discharge House Bills 4785 and 4786 from the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee to the floor on Wednesday, but it was blocked along party lines. The bills, approved...
The Conservative Media - Jun 25 - 5 clicks
LANSING – Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, sent a clear message to Sen. Valde Garica, R-Howell, for daring to display some independence, but he will have to wait until next week when Garcia comes back from a two-week stint serving in the Michigan National Guard. Garcia, the chair of the State Police and Military Affairs Appropriations Sub-Committee, criticized Senate leadersh...
The Conservative Media - Jun 24 - 2 clicks
LANSING – Scoring a major victory for children with autism and families across the state, the Michigan House of Representatives today passed a bill introduced by House Majority Floor Leader Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee) that requires health insurance companies to cover treatments for autism. "This is a great day for the nearly 14,000 children with autism in Michigan and their families," Angerer s...
Michigan House Democrats - Jun 24 - 2 clicks
LANSING – The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the Anderson House Office Building, which houses the offices of the 110 members of the Michigan House of Representatives, with its third consecutive Energy Star award for superior energy efficiency. Improvements made to the building have saved taxpayers about $1.2 million, according to figures provided by the House Business Office...
Michigan House Democrats - Jun 24 - 2 clicks
LANSING – Senate Republican’s lock-step discipline faltered a little on Tuesday with the passage of House Bill 4438 that sets the budget for higher education, and two members actually showed a brief flash of independence. The budget basically guts financial aid for students and eliminates the $4.000 Promise Scholarship. The program promises up to $4,000 to high school graduates for successful...
The Conservative Media - Jun 24 - 2 clicks
LANSING - The attempt to silence Sen. Irma Clark-Coleman, D-Detroit, on Tuesday on last week’s incident where Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw, the chair of the Senate Department of Human Services Appropriations Subcommitttee, allegedly assaulted her in a Capitol elevator . At the end of each Senate session, usually, each Senator is allowed to make a five-minute statement on any subject, but last...
The Conservative Media - Jun 23
Almost ten years ago, a group of people fed up with the way things were going in the world and in Grand Rapids, Michigan started meeting. Inspired by the excitement surrounding the World Trade Organization (WTO) summit in Seattle, Media Mouse formed as a group that sought to distribute information about under reported issues--globalization, corporate control, Latin America, and U.S. imperialism--...
Media Mouse Features - Jun 23 - 2 clicks
US Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu visited Battle Creek today to announce that Michigan will receive and additional $32.8 million in federal grants to help our state reduce energy usage and create new markets for renewable energy products. Secretary Chu was visiting to promote the United We Serve campaign, the Obama administration’s initiative to [...]...
Governor Jennifer Granholm: The Conversation - Jun 22
I am very pleased and relieved to announce that Ferndale detectives have interviewed a person of interest in the April 17th 2009 home invasion of my house, when my car, jewelry, tv, and cell phone were stolen. According to information received from the Ferndale Chief of Police by me earlier this month, fingerprints from my jewelry box drawer were matched by Michigan State Police to Damion Butl...
Covey's Corner - Jun 22
This Saturday, you have the opportunity to participate in the Photo Walk, sponsored by the Ann Arbor District Library. Here is what those nice folks have to say about it: Bring your camera and explore Ann Arbor! Participate in our first Photowalk, which will begin in the Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room on Saturday, June 27 from 10:00 to 11:30 am. This event is held in conjunction with...
Arbor Update - Jun 22
The Michigan State House just yesterday took the next step to ensuring that when our tax dollars are used for construction projects, Michigan workers are first in line for Michigan jobs. The bills now move back to the State Senate.
The latest version of the "Hire Michigan First" package, (SB 290 , 293 , 295 , 296 and HB 4083 , 4089 , 4092 , 4093 , 4094 ) will keep more o...
Michigan Coalition for Progress - Jun 21 - 3 clicks
Former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice will be speaking in Grand Rapids on Monday at the Economic Club of Grand Rapids' annual dinner. As is always the case with these events, they are limited to members of the Economic Club and their guests, with makes it so that ordinary folks generally can't see what these former government officials say. Moreover, wh...
Media Mouse Features - Jun 21 - 3 clicks
Considering Pete Hoekstra (R-Holland, MI) feels so down trodden, I thought that it would be interesting to see how his life compares to the Iranians. ...
DailyKos (Michigan) - Jun 20
The Associated Press reported Thursday that Benton Harbor community activist will remain under house arrest while he is waiting the outcome of his appeal. You can read more about Pinkney's case online. For more on the ruling, see the AP article below: (AP) -- LANSING, Mich. - A Benton Harbor minister will remain on house arrest while he appeals a prison sentence for writing that God could...
Media Mouse Features - Jun 20 - 3 clicks
Making the "Daily Show" with Jon Stewart -- what better publicity could a politician ask for? Here's Stewart's take on Pete's lame attempt to compare his plight as a House Republican to that of Iranian protesters. ...
Livingston County Democrats - Jun 20
Mike "I'm Fighting for Jobs" Rogers finally is getting on the band wagon to urge General Motors to builde its new small car in Michigan instead of Wisconsin or Tennessee. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, started a Facebook campaign days ago to get people to tell GM the advantages of building the small car here, in the state where the company was born a century ago. But it took until Friday (June 19...
Livingston County Democrats - Jun 19
A journalist writing in The Atlantic argues that the relative chump change being thrown at high speed rail (AIG and Citibank got 55 times as much, roughly $460 billion vs $8 billion) could become diluted across so many states that no one "will end up with a top-of-the-line system that could provide thousands of new jobs and an envy-inducing model for America." He offers a better alternative th...
Stone Soup Musings - Jun 19 - 2 clicks
In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of attention placed on global warming. From the focus on "green jobs," to "sustainability," and "clean energy" there has been a lot of talk about what to do to address the problem. Much of this talk has centered around finding ways to "address" the problem while maintaining the current levels of production and industrialization, somethin...
Media Mouse Features - Jun 19 - 2 clicks
A new coalition called the Alliance for Healthy Air is calling for the Michigan legislature to pass legislation that would crack down on diesel pollution. The coalition says that diesel pollution from vehicles can be easily reduced by as much as 90% by retrofitting existing vehicles with pollution control technology. In order to advocate this goal, the coalition is asking that Michigan ...
Media Mouse Features - Jun 19
This week, the United States Senate passed a resolution that apologizes for slavery. It's pretty sad that it took well over one-hundred years to get to this point, but at least it's something. It should be noted that Michigan Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow both co-sponsored the resolution . To be sure, a Senate resolution can't under the reality of dehumanization and oppressi...
Media Mouse Features - Jun 19 - 4 clicks
Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District and Holland, MI (aka my home town) has been in and out of hot water for various public gaffes in the last couple of months. This is highly unusual for the former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who is best known for being pro-torture and riding [...]...
University of Michigan College Democrats - Jun 19
In honor of Father’s Day, First Gentleman Dan Mulhern delivers this week’s radio address to ask that people consider serving as mentors to Michigan youth. Hello, this is First Gentleman Dan Mulhern. This Sunday is Father’s Day, a day to honor fatherhood and male parenting. The irony of Father’s Day is that it was conceived by [...]...
Governor Jennifer Granholm: The Conversation - Jun 19
Here are some interesting stories published elsewhere on the web in the past twenty-four hours. Feel free to discuss them in the comments or let us know if we missed anything: Capitol news coverage dying - This column from the Lansing City Pulse by MIRS editor Kyle Melinn looks at the dramatic decline in news coverage at the capitol. Over the past several years, media outlets across Michi...
Media Mouse Features - Jun 19 - 3 clicks
Dear Friends, This is an early notice to mark your calendar for the evening of Thursday August 20, 2009. We will be having a fundraiser for the Friends of Brian Elder at Bay Valley. You will be receiving more information in the weeks to come. We are facing difficult times both in Bay County and the State of Michigan as a whole. In times like these, leadership, plan...
Bay County Dems - Jun 19
On June 18, 2009, a day that will live in infamy, Rush Limbaugh, the self-appointed King of the Republican Party, suddenly and deliberately attacked the peaceful city of Flint, MI . To be clear, Rush Limbaugh slamming Flint doesn't really surprise me considering his absolute disdain for average Americans who make less than several million dollars a year. Needless to say, his comments ...
Genesee County Young Democrats - Jun 19
Rep. Pete Hoekstra, the Michigan Republican who wants to be governor, is getting hammered all over the inter-tube-thingy for twittering that the Iranian protesters are just like the House Republicans. Talking Points Memo reproduced some of the comments that Hoekstra received in response. You can read them here. Hard to pick out a favorite, but this one was pretty good: "Had to move all my stu...
Livingston County Democrats - Jun 19 - 2 clicks
Rep. Pete Hoekstra's staff was trying to make their boss look a little less dumb on Thursday (June 18, 2009), one day after he twittered that the Iranian protests were like what happened to the poor minority Republicans in the U.S. House. The spokesman for the Michigan Republican tried to explain that Hoekstra wasn't comparing Republicans to Iranian protesters, who have had their cell phone, in...
Livingston County Democrats - Jun 19
My favorite episode of the twilight zone is called A Stop at Willoughby . Those who know me know that I love horror movies, mysteries, and Twilight Zone-y type stuff in general. It should therefore come as a slight surprise that my favorite episode is about an ad man who is over-worked and over-stressed and dreams about a perfect little town called Willoughby while riding the commuter train. ...
Arbor Update - Jun 19
Dear Senator Coburn: I read your report on stimulus waste with great interest. One of the projects that you have wrongfully deemed wasteful sits less than a block from my house, down at the end of my street here in Ypsilanti, MI. The Ypsilanti Freighthouse is a historic building that until just a few years ago operated as a community meeting place and center. For many years, our annual lo...
Trusty Getto - Jun 19
LANSING - No one is buying the lame excuse that Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop is using to delay taking up the popular workplace smoking ban that he wants to concentrate on the budget , and that tale was further exposed by action on the Senate floor on Wednesday. The Senate Committee of the Whole took up Senate Bill 470 for a third reading and passed it favorably. It was introduced by ...
The Conservative Media - Jun 19 - 2 clicks
LANSING -- We already know Senate Republicans will verbally attack even one of their own when they step out of line like they did last week with Sen. Valde Garcia , R-Howell, but they are even worse on Democrats, resorting to physical violence. Subscription only Gongwer is reporting that Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw, the chair of the Senate Department of Human Services Appropriations Subcommit...
The Conservative Media - Jun 19 - 2 clicks
LANSING – The Michigan House of Representatives today passed a plan developed by State Representative Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) to save and create jobs by exempting certain taxes for companies such as Battle Creek's Duncan Aviation that do custom work on high-end aircraft. Having passed both the House and Senate, the plan will now be signed int...
Michigan House Democrats - Jun 19
LANSING – House Democrats today sent the "Hire Michigan First" package back to the State Senate after adding key provisions that were stripped by the Senate back into the plan. The plan, which ensures that companies receiving economic incentives hire Michigan workers, was first proposed in the Michigan House two years ago and has awaited Senate action ever since. "The Senate needs to put the...
Michigan House Democrats - Jun 19 - 2 clicks
This week, activists from across the country gathered in Detroit for the People's Summit and Tent City to counter the National Business Summit in Detroit. The People's Summit was organized to promote "active resistance, political discussion and strategizing" with the end goal of developing "people's stimulus plans" and an "economic bill of rights." In announcing the event, the organizers wro...
Media Mouse Features - Jun 19 - 2 clicks
Here's some interesting stories published elsewhere in the past twenty-four hours. As always, if we missed anything, leave a comment below: Michigan Supreme Court gives judges control over courtroom dress - The Michigan Supreme Court decided that judges should be allowed to force witnesses to remove head scarfs and other face coverings while in the courtroom. This decision has ramificatio...
Media Mouse Features - Jun 19 - 3 clicks
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is seeking clarification on a new administrative rule adopted by Michigan's Supreme Court that could allow judges to demand that witnesses remove religious head coverings while testifying. The Washington-based group says that the removal of religiously-mandated attire such as a hijab would violate the constitutional right to religious freedom....
Media Mouse Features - Jun 19
