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Prisons funded better than schools in Michigan

By on May 27, 2011 in Michigan Republicans, Recall Rick Snyder

EclectaReader Anthony sent me this link.

The Superintendent of Ithaca Public Schools in Michigan sent a letter to Republican Governor Rick Snyder in which he suggests that his students would be better off if they were treated as prisoners. That way, there would be more per-pupil-funding than there is now.

Here’s his letter:

In these tough economic times, schools are hurting. And yes, everyone in Michigan is hurting right now financially, but why aren’t we protecting schools? Schools are the one place on Earth that people look to “fix” what is wrong with society by educating our youth and preparing them to take on the issues that society has created.…

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Apparently it’s not raining inside the Michigan Governor’s mansion

By on May 19, 2011 in Education, Recall Rick Snyder

Michigan got some good news this week.

LANSING — A healthier Michigan economy is churning more tax revenue than was expected and will produce a $429-million windfall for the state this fiscal year, economists agreed Monday.

Another $234 million in extra revenue was predicted for 2012…

That’s terrific, eh? I mean, honestly, fewer states could use it more than Michigan with our huge unemployment rate and draconian cuts to education on the very near horizon?

Turns out Governor Rick Snyder isn’t so sure he want to actually USE this unexpected windfall to help soften the blow to education or other areas.…


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If you don’t support the recall of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, then what is your plan?

By on May 18, 2011 in Michigan, Recall Rick Snyder

I’ve gotten a fair amount of pushback on my support of the effort to recall Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. My blog pointing out how the Michigan Democratic Party isn’t supporting the effort prompted a front page response from Eric B. at Michigan Liberal titled “Circular Firing Squad: “Ready! Aim! …”

We have met the enemy and he is us. Or, if you prefer, the real villain in the new budget and EFM law is Mark Brewer and the Democratic Party infrastructure.

Joe D., I think, offered on Tony Trupiano’s show last Friday, a fairly logical answer to the cage rattling question of why Mark Brewer and the Michigan Democratic Party shouldn’t get involved in this, which is that the involvement of Mark Brewer or the MDP takes away any ability of organizers of benevolent overlord Rick Michigan’s recall and the recall of any of his allies in the Legislature to claim it a grassroots effort.

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Why I am supporting the recall of Rick Snyder (& other Michigan Republicans)

By on May 16, 2011 in Michigan, Michigan Democratic Party, Recall Rick Snyder, Rick Snyder

I have been giving the issue of recalling Rick Snyder quite a bit of thought lately, which is probably obvious to regular readers. I have been quite ambivalent about the recall effort for a number of reasons. First, having Brian Calley as Michigan’s governor, even for a short time, gives me pause. Also, the task of collecting a million signatures in just 90 days is daunting. Finally, if the effort doesn’t go well, it may be one more demoralizing action that could depress Democratic turnout and Democratic GOTV efforts in the future.

Some have made the case against the recall pretty effectively.…


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Michigan news round-up

By on May 16, 2011 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Recall Rick Snyder, Rick Snyder, unions

In case you missed it, last week the Republicans passed a tax reform bill that is a key component Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s budget plan that cuts business taxes by over 85% and does so on the backs of retired folks, kids and the working poor. The bill now heads to the Governor for his signature.

Gov. Rick Snyder’s massive tax reform package has passed in the Legislature, giving him a key victory in his first state budget.

“Today is marking the death of the Michigan business tax,” Snyder said. “It’s about more and better jobs and an opportunity to keep young people in Michigan.”

The bill passed 20-19 in the Senate, with Lt.

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UPDATED: The Michigan Democratic Party has little tolerance for dissent

By on May 13, 2011 in Emergency Financial Managers, Michigan, Michigan Democratic Party, Recall Rick Snyder

UPDATE: I am tempering the tone of the title of this blog entry after realizing that the MDP hasn’t completely removed all posts from their Facebook page. They’ve only changed the landing page so that only their own posts show up unless you click the “Most Recent” tab. Thanks to Sagebrush Bob in the Comments at Daily Kos for this clarification. Their ignoring of the recall and EFM law repeal efforts is still an issue, of course, and a large number of unfriendly posts were deleted yesterday.
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Well, this is interesting. In the past couple of days, I have posted two blogs.…


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The difference between Wisconsin and Michigan

By on May 11, 2011 in Emergency Financial Managers, Michigan, Michigan Democratic Party, Recall Rick Snyder

Many parallels have been drawn between what is transpiring in Wisconsin and Michigan in terms of Republicans Gone Wild and the trampling of the rights of voters, union members and any other group Republicans have in their crosshairs. And there are parallels. Certainly the law that Republicans were able to get signed into law stripping away the rights of public employee unions is echoed by the Emergency Financial Manager (EFM) law in Michigan which gives the EFMs immense powers with regard to modifying or canceling contracts, including those with unions. And many of the bills up for a vote in Michigan are focused on diminishing the rights and abilities of public employee unions such as teachers.…


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Jean Klock Park and Harbor Shores Golf Course (VIDEO)

By on April 27, 2011 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Recall Rick Snyder, Rick Snyder

Video I shot today from one of the holes on the Harbor Shores golf course that were built on public land donated to the City of Benton Harbor for use as the Jean Klock Park.

I should note that I made an error in the commentary I was giving while I shot this video. The City of Benton Harbor did not give the land to Harbor Shores for three holes of their golf course. They lease it to them. So, theoretically, they could revoke the lease and then Harbor Shores would be the only 15-hole luxury golf course in Michigan. Correction: the only 15-hole golf course of ANY kind in Michigan.…


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Gov. Snyder won’t commit to using higher-than-expected tax revenues for kids

By on April 27, 2011 in Recall Rick Snyder, Rick Snyder

The good news is that Michigan’s tax revenues this year may actually be a half billion dollars higher than was previously predicted.

The bad news is, rather than offsetting some of the $470-per-pupil funding cut Governor Snyder proposes in his budget with the windfall, he wants to save it.

“I don’t want to speculate on us having more dollars,” Snyder said. “Are they one-time funds, are they sustainable dollars? We shouldn’t just be going to spend that money today…We also need to make sure we’re being prudent on the savings side.”

You never know when you might need it to give yet another corporation a tax break, eh, Governor?…


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Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to be Grand Marshal at Benton Harbor festival

By on April 22, 2011 in Benton Harbor, Recall Rick Snyder, Rick Snyder

I’ll give Rick Snyder credit. The dude displays a whole lotta chutzpah. He’s going to be the Grand Marshal at the Benton Harbor Grand Floral Festival next month

Gov. Rick Snyder plans to take part in the 2011 Grand Floral Parade on May 7 as its grand marshal.

Blossomtime Executive Director Sabrina LaSota said the governor’s office has confirmed his plans to appear.

The governor is always invited to be the parade’s grand marshal, though it has been years since a governor has taken part in Southwest Michigan’s annual salute to the fruit industry.

Lt. Gov. Jim Cherry served as grand marshal in 2004, and Gov.

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