Tony Trupiano’s “Night Shift with Tony Trupiano” radio show has been off the air for the past couple weeks as he recovers from some major surgery. He’s not fully back on his feet yet but is recording podcasts as he finishes healing up. It’s a delightful alternative to the constraints of a 30-minute segment which compresses our conversations into two […]

Methinks thou dost protest too much A couple of days ago I reported on a bill Republicans have introduced that requires health insurance providers to tell you what part of your health insurance premium is the result of the Affordable Care Act. As wrote in the piece, this bill requires boilerplate language that the insurance companies must use that says […]

GOPocrisy, pure and simple Michigan Republicans are still working to demonize the Affordable Care Act in any way they can. The most recent example is a bill reported out of the House Subcommittee on Insurance last week, H.B. 4816, which was introduced by Rep. Mike Shirkey. The bill, which you can read HERE (pdf), requires health insurers to report to […]

They know what democracy looks like. If Gov. Snyder signs this bill into law, it will prove once again that he doesn’t. [Caricature by DonkeyHotey from photos by Anne C. Savage for Eclectablog] The speed at which Republicans rammed through Senate Bill 652 is enough to give anyone legislative whiplash. And when bills are rushed through that quickly for no […]

What’s good for the goose… I love this. Democrats Jon Switalski and Henry Yanez have introduced legislation, House Bill 4114, that would discontinue health insurance coverage for Michigan senators and represenatives until Medicaid expansion goes into effect on April 1st, 2014. Here’s the bill, in full: A bill to amend 2011 PA 152, entitled “Publicly funded health insurance contribution act,” […]

I take the job of being a Representative very seriously and the only way you can be a good one is by being out in the community…and doing more listening than talking All photos by Anne C. Savage, special to Eclectablog On May 1st, Congressman Gary Peters from Michigan’s 14th Congressional District announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate to […]

Initiative highlights the need for policy solutions, citizen engagement and more women in leadership. You’d think we’d be done fighting for women’s rights, but there’s still work to do. And Organizing for Action (OFA) is standing with women and helping them be heard. On Thursday, Mootown Ice Cream & Dessert Shoppe in Detroit hosted the first local launch of a […]

It’s all so much easier to govern when you stack the deck [Caricature by DonkeyHotey from photos by Anne C. Savage for Eclectablog] This whole Republican shutdown thing is just so frustrating to Michigan governor Rick Snyder. Thing is, he has the solution. What’s amazing is how simple it is: Elect huge Republican majorities in both houses of Congress and […]

This is the kind of leadership Michigan — and America — needs more of. Let’s have a round of applause for State Representative Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), who was selected as one of twelve rising leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL. This national network is committed to highlighting innovative ideas from state and local elected leaders who […]

Photo by Anne C. Savage, special to Eclectablog Here’s a rundown on how our Michigan Representatives and Senators voted last night on reopening the government and lifting the debt ceiling: SENATE Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin both voted “YES” HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Democrats voting YES John Conyers John Dingell Dan Kildee Sander Levin Gary Peters Republicans voting YES Dan Benishek […]

A hearty welcome to all of you joining us from GOP.com! I want to clear up a little misinformation you received from your Republican friends regarding rate increases in Michigan. Despite what they told you, the actual average increase in rates being asked for by health insurance companies is a scant 2.2%. Yes, some were higher but there were also […]