You can’t have it both ways, Congressman. UPDATED: Based on the tweet below from Matthew Chisholm, I have made updates to this post, including the headline, in an effort to be as fair as possible. However, questions remain unanswered by the Congressman’s office. If those are answered, I’ll update further. At a Republican club meeting in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District […]

Volunteers gather to protest Tea Party Republicans’ opposition to healthy legislation. Protesters rallied in support of Medicaid expansion in Michigan on Monday. They met at the GOP Victory Center in Livonia — which, not surprisingly, was closed. But they were undaunted, with three speakers making their voices heard on the importance of Medicaid expansion as a crowd, including two local […]

During August recess, the answer seems to be ‘not much.’ While the U.S. Congress is on recess in August, most Representatives hold town halls and other public events where constituents can meet with them in their home districts. That doesn’t seem to be the case with Representative Kerry Bentivolio — unless you can afford to buy a ticket to a […]

How much more time can they possibly need? Oh, and didn’t they claim they were working on this while they’re on vacation this month? This is getting ridiculous. After gaveling in and out of session in just 10 seconds earlier this week, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville said Senate Republicans are going on a retreat “in a week or […]

Go away, Janice. Just. Go. Away. Former Troy, Michigan mayor Janice Daniels was recalled from office last year. Her public homophobic statements, incomprehensible tea party rants at public meetings, and damage to the local economy by impeding a major public transportation hub from being built in Troy all led the citizens there to unceremoniously toss her out of office. You […]

Wait. What??? As I wrote about a month ago, Republican House Representative Bob Genetski has a solution to Michigan’s budget problems: blow an $8.3 billion hole in it by repealing the state income tax. Well, the bill has been introduced: House Bill 4898. Here is the part that eliminates the tax: HOUSE BILL No. 4898 July 18, 2013, Introduced by […]

Constituents send a message to the Tea Party loyalist: You’re in Washington to represent all of us. While U.S. Congressman Kerry Bentivolio and Speaker John Boehner hobnobbed with supporters at an undoubtedly pricey fundraiser at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham on Friday, constituents from across Rep. Bentivolio’s district banded together outside. And they had plenty to say to their Congressman, […]

Accept no substitutes. Only the real thing will help uninsured Michiganders and benefit the state. Sure, the Michigan Senate is in recess. But now that Medicaid expansion — and two “alternative” bills — are headed to the Senate floor later this month, now is the time to tell your Senator you want the real thing. This is simple: House Bill […]

This is hilarious Once the hero of the tea party by bringing a solid conservative and nearly libertarian slant to Michigan government, Lt. Governor Brian Calley is no longer feeling the love from from his off-the-charts-conservative tea party supporters. They appear to be on their way to get him replaced on the ticket in 2014. Some tea party members in […]

Two days of hearings yield a disappointing lack of action. The Senate Government Operations Committee spent two days hearing testimony on Medicaid expansion and debating three possible paths forward. It voted for all three — which means there will be yet more debate and delay on legislation that could make a life-or-death difference for nearly 500,000 Michiganders. The committee did […]

Government Operations Committee to discuss Medicaid expansion on Tues. and Wed. Speak out in support. There are at least half a million reasons to support Medicaid expansion in Michigan: providing healthcare coverage to nearly 500,000 uninsured Michiganders, largely the working poor, plus bringing more jobs and revenue into the state. The only reason to oppose Medicaid expansion? Trying to sabotage […]