Democrats Take Punch at DeVos at Mackinac Conference

In contrast to the beautiful and peaceful setting of Mackinac Island the state Democrats were taking the opportunity to get in a few punches against Dick DeVos the Republican challenger for this fall's gubernatorial election. Greeters met island visitors as they departed the ferries with fortune (or misfortune cookies as it were) cookies that they said outlined DeVos' economic plan. The message in the cookies? "The DeVos Economic Plan: Outsource Your Job to China" and "Unlucky Numbers 11, 7, 06" which is the date of the November election. This is in reference to DeVos expanding his company, Amway Corp., into China while at the same time it laid off Michigan workers.

Maybe the Republicans should hand out their own fortune cookies with Granholm's Economic Plan. The cookie message could be "Governor Granholm's Guide to Economic Success: Prop up the Auto Industry and Cut School Funding Statewide."

Dick DeVos Knows His Business

Dick DeVos spoke with the Detroit Economic Club on Tuesday and expounded on how his experience running a business translates into turning around Michigan's economy. The question remains if he becomes our next Governor is, will the Michigan House and Senate work with him and make the tough decisions (i.e. giving the power back to the people) that our state needs to make? For instance, one of the things DeVos would cut to save our state money is the position of Surgeon General which was created by our current Governor, Jennifer Granholm. Um, I didn't know our state had a surgeon general which leads me to ask, why do we have one? If the people of the state don't know about the position, cut it because it can't be all that important.

I will say that DeVos has been rather vague about a plan for our state. If he truly wants to jumpstart Michigan's economy he needs to start laying out his plan/vision. We already know what we have with Granholm. We need to see what her contendor has in store for Michigan.

Read all about it at The Detroit News

Granholm & DeVos to Appear at Town Hall Forum

This Friday, Governor Granholm and the Republican challenger for Governor, Dick DeVos, will both appear at a town hall meeting in Detroit. There will be an audience of approximately 500 people in addition to various media who will be posing questions to the two candidates for Governor. This meeting will not have the format of a debate. It is not even known if the two candidates will be on stage at the same time. However, that doesn't mean we won't be seeing campaign rhetoric and some shots fired across the bow of both candidates.

Since Governor Granholm and Dick DeVos are in a virtual dead-heat as far as the polls show we could see some interesting posturing on some important issues facing the state such as the economy and job creation.

Further information available from the Detroit Free Press.

Lobbyists and Legislators

Lobbyists have a $51 a month limit per legislator for gifts they can lavish (influence) upon lawmakers. Like all suspect individuals, Michigan's lobbyists and legislators have found a way around this. Lobbyists have been pooling their funds together to go above the $51 monthly limit. I will not point the blame at just the lobbyists. Our state lawmakers do not have to accept these "gifts." I also did not know that lobbyists in Michigan can spend up to $675 per month to pay for legislator's lodging and travel expenses.

I was further unaware that Michigan is one of three states to not require our lawmakers to produce their financial records. Don't you think our state government would be lest costly without all of these shell games and flim flams? In the end, who foots the bill for our elected officials to have this free ride?

Read all about it in the Detroit News.

Granholm and DeVos in Dead Heat

From the Lunchbucket Conservative comes the results of a poll by Rasmussen Reports that shows Governor Jennifer Granholm and her challenger, Dick DeVos, in a tie at 44% each. It is always tough for an incumbent to be re-elected when the economy is in shambles. No matter if Governor Granholm inherited the current mess that Michigan is in or not. She is the presiding Governor while our state economy is in the tank.

State Looks Set to Give Aid to Detroit Zoo

Our state House is ready to approve the $4 million in funding that the Detroit Zoo previously lost out on due to the Detroit City Council's bungling and ineptness. Although the City Council did purchase themselves redemption of a sort when they finally came to terms with having to let the Detroit Zoological Society take over daily operations of the zoo to save the city of Detroit some money. The Detroit Free Press has the full article.