Michigan Capitol Confidential

GOP's 'No' Votes On School Choice Defend Their Decisions

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

By Jack Spencer | 5/18/2012

Legislative candidates fill out a lot of questionnaires from interest groups in election years.

Some stick with their answers if they are elected; others flip flop when it comes time for an actual vote, which doesn't sit well with the groups that asked the questions, or with voters who want elected officials to stay true to their word. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16938

Michigan Senate Takes Up Bill to Ban Government Union Stewards Working on Taxpayers' Dime

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:29:00 -0500

By Jarrett Skorup | 5/18/2012

Chippewa Valley School District paid a combined $208,287 in compensation for two union personnel to deal 100 percent with union issues. One of those teachers sits on the Michigan Education Association’s board of directors. Chippewa Valley asked residents to approve a $27 million special education millage increase last November. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16936

Expensive Janitorial Contract Forces Cuts

Thu, 17 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

Ortonville-Brandon school board guaranteed 90 percent of $17K health insurance with union despite economic uncertainties

By Tom Gantert | 5/17/2012

While the state of Michigan was facing a $1.5 billion deficit in 2009, the Ortonville-Brandon Public School Board of Education signed a four-year deal with its custodians and maintenance people that would pay for 90 percent of their health care premiums.

The family plan for the luxurious MESSA health plan cost $17,171 in 2010 or about $2,000 less than what it could have cost the district to pay the salary of a new custodian. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16932

Commentary: Productivity Leads To Prosperity

Thu, 17 May 2012 06:29:00 -0500

Eliminating tax on business tools and equipment will benefit, not hinder, the economy

By Jarrett Skorup | 5/17/2012

Mlive columnist Rick Haglund is worried that a proposed cut in the property tax now imposed by the state and local governments on business tools and equipment "may be a job killer," because it would facilitate producing more goods and services per worker.

A simple case study, however, reveals why few serious economists actually take the notion of increased productivity killing jobs seriously. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16909

Union Money Helps 'Dues Skim' Stay Alive

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

Home health care workers still losing money to SEIU despite law to end the scam; dummy employer executive director working only 3 hours a month

By Jack Spencer | 5/16/2012

Based on emails obtained by Capitol Confidential, after the dummy employer in the “home health care dues skim,” was defunded, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) donated at least $12,000 to help keep it going. In addition, Susan Steinke, executive director of the dummy employer, moved its headquarters into her home.

Emails also show that Steinke could work no more than five (5) hours a week (later no more than 3 hours a month) for the dummy employer. Her hours were limited in this way in order to allow her to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16921

Union Friendly GOP Legislator Spurned by Big Labor

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:29:00 -0500

Rep. Zorn target of union attacks after voting for more charter schools

By Tom Gantert | 5/16/2012

State Representative Dale Zorn has often been a Republican ally to public sector unions by trying to thwart some of his own caucus' reform efforts. Yet, when Rep. Zorn cast the deciding vote in May in favor of Senate Bill 619, which lifted some restrictions on enrollment in cyber charter schools, it infuriated the teacher unions and their allies. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16920

Biased Message Pitched in Taxpayer Funded Textbook

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

Book claims Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick was bipartisan legislator

By Tom Gantert | 5/15/2012

Students in high schools around Michigan and the nation are being taught how former U.S. Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Detroit, was “more interested in finding solutions than focusing on politics,” according to a 2005 American Government textbook still in use. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16916

Alcohol Regulation Study: No Advantage To Tighter Restrictions

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:29:00 -0500

By Jack Spencer | 5/15/2012

Michigan’s alcohol regulatory system contributes to higher costs for the public without providing discernible public health and safety advantages, according to a new study. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16917

Energy Debates Heat Up As High Electric Rates Continue

Mon, 14 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

By Jack Spencer | 5/14/2012

Residents and businesses in Michigan are wrestling with the highest electric rates in the region — and with the best way to fix that situation.

As is often the case in Michigan, a more competitive market versus a monopoly market is central to the debate, as is mandating an increase in the amount of renewable energy the state uses. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16893

How CapCon Uses Transparency Laws to Hold Government Accountable

Mon, 14 May 2012 06:29:00 -0500

By Jarrett Skorup | 5/14/2012

These ideas frequently put us on the opposite side of some well-connected and politically powerful special interests, many of which directly or indirectly do receive government money, and have an interest in preserving government secrecy. As seen recently in the politically charged environment in Wisconsin, some of these entities will use extreme tactics against those who oppose their interests . http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16892

'Taxpayer Burnout' Likely At Play In Rejection Of Grand Rapids Community College Millage Request

Sat, 12 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

By Anne Schieber | 5/12/2012

After a stunning defeat at the polls Tuesday, the president of Grand Rapids Community College said it will be a long time, if at all, before the school goes back to the voters for more money.

Despite a $150,000 promotional campaign, a traditionally favorable time for millage approvals, and more than 100,000 faculty, students, administrators and alumni in the community, voters rejected the $98.6 million bond issue request by a 14 percent margin. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16895

Commentary: Politician 'Ambushes' Government Transparency Group, Gets 'Counter-Ambushed'

Sat, 12 May 2012 06:29:00 -0500

By Jack McHugh | 5/12/2012

Politicians using a public hearing to “ambush” a political foe is hardly rare, eyebrows were raised a couple weeks ago when Republican state representative Rep. Bradford Jacobsen from Oxford attacked an organization called Sunshine Review, whose “radical” mission is to increase government transparency. This week the reform group struck back. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16891