Democrats are working together. Don’t wake me up.

Yesterday education leader John Austin, the President of the Michigan Board of Education and potential candidate for Lt. Governor in 2014, stepped back to clear the way for a gubernatorial bid by Mark Schauer.

Today, another potential Democratic contender did the same. Bart Stupak, former Congressman from Michigan’s enormous 1st Congressional District threw his support behind an as-yet unannounced Schauer candidacy.

His statement after the jump.

One more step toward a Schauer gubernatorial candidacy

This morning John Austin, President of the Michigan State Board of Education, announced that he will not run for Governor of Michigan, something he has openly shown interest in over the past six months. Instead, he released a statement throwing his support behind yet-to-announce candidate Mark Schauer.

Click through for President Austin’s statement.

THIS is leadership

State Representative Sam Singh from East Lansing gave a terrific speech on the House floor last week, asking Republicans to “open their hearts” and do the right thing with regard to the expansion of Medicaid. “I’m not asking you to listen to me,” he said. “I’m asking you to listen to your Governor, to small business owners who will be penalized if their employees can’t find affordable health insurance and to the hospitals that are often the economic engines of your districts.”

Watch after the jump.

Because the poor simply haven’t been screwed over enough already, right?

Two bills passed by the Michigan House of Representatives this week have the effect of punishing one group and one group only: the poor. One bill, House Bill 4118 would force Michiganders applying for a renewal of their welfare benefits to undergo drug testing if they are “suspected” of being on drugs. The other, House Bill 4388, would kick families off from welfare if they have a child who skips school.

As egregious as this legislation is, what’s worse is that Democrats aided and abetted the Republicans in the passage of both bills.

Details await you after the jump.

Run, Gary, run!

Moments ago, Gary Peters announced that he will run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Carl Levin in 2014.

Click through for details. Liveblogging begins at 2:00 p.m.

Time to go now, Ms. Platko

Last night, the Buena Vista Township Board passed a resolution calling for the resignation of Gloria Platko for calling Township Supervisor Dwayne Parker an “arrogant nigger” on a phone call with Interim Township Manager Dexter Mitchell.

Details after the jump.

Intentionally furthering the divide

Last week, Republican members of the House Insurance Committee walked out of a hearing on No Fault insurance reform to avoid having to hear testimony from victims of catastrophic accidents and their families. The disrespect shown to these citizens who had traveled to Lansing to participate in our democratic process prompted Democratic House Leader Tim Greimel to call for their replacement.

In response, House Speaker Jase Bolger, in what can only be described as a petulant and childish act, removed eight Democrats from their committee assignments for missing meetings in the past. He took no action whatsoever against Republicans, of course.

Click through for more.

Please, just pack up your stuff and leave

Buena Vista Township Clerk Gloria Platko, a Democrat, revealed her inner racist when during a phone call with Interim Township Manager Dexter Mitchell, calling the Township Supervisor Dwayne Parker an “arrogant nigger”. Referring to Parker, she said, “He is just doing whatever he can. You know what I think of Mr. Parker right now, and I know you’re not even going to like this. But he’s just an arrogant nigger. And I’m sorry to say it that way, but that’s the way I feel.” Not so sorry that she couldn’t just keep her racist sputum to herself, it seems.

Much more including audio and video after the jump.

You heard it there first Gary Peters with Lizz Winstead at kick-off of Winstead’s WTF Tour to support Planned Parenthood, photo by Anne C. Savage, special to Eclectablog. The National Journal is reporting that Congressman Gary Peters will announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Carl Levin sometime this week. That and a Mark Schauer gubernatorial […]

This is not good government

I’ve been writing a lot about how both Republicans and Democrats submit identical legislation, sometimes in the same legislative session, in order to get credit for passing bills and joint resolutions that enjoy widespread bipartisan support (HERE, HERE, and HERE.)

After writing about this, I heard from folks across the country that told me that (a) this isn’t something that’s by any means unique to Michigan, (b) both Democrats and Republicans do it, and (c) “it happens all the time”. From the outside looking in, this looks like nothing more than plagiarism and credit stealing. In some cases, it certainly is, particularly in terms of getting credit for passing good legislation. However, there’s a bit more to the story that’s worth getting out there so that we can discuss the issue with as many of the facts in hand as possible.

It’s all there waiting for you after the jump.

Reclaiming Abraham Lincoln’s progressive legacy from today’s Republican Party

Next Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., the Lapeer County Democratic Party will have their annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser. Anne and I have been invited to speak to the attendees and we’re both really looking forward to it. In addition, Anne has assembled a 30-minute slideshow of some of her best photos, a “greatest hits” album, if you will, that we’ll be showing for at least part of the time.

Details and printable flyer after the jump.