“Don’t tell me what you value. Show me your budget and I’ll tell you what you value”

This week the Michigan House Democrats revealed their budget priorities for the year. In stark contrast to our far-right ideological Republicans and our corporatist Governor, the Democrats’ priorities reflect concern and care for middle class families, children and seniors. Their budget is a sincere reflection of their values. By the same token, Republicans show what they value as they work to eviscerate public education, demonize teachers and other public employees, raise taxes on the majority of middle class Michiganders and cut taxes for corporations by an astonishing $2 billion.

Get the details after the jump.

It’s much worse than you think

I was recently contacted by journalist Lee Fang and asked to review his new book The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right. I received the book yesterday and hope to have a full review out in the next couple of weeks.

As a lead-up to the April 24th release of his book, Fang has published a stunning piece at The Nation titled “The Right Leans In”. I call it stunning because it shows just how much power the corporate-funded right has amassed in shaping public policy in America, operating primarily at the state level. If you thought our biggest problem was the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), you are quite wrong. ALEC is simply one piece of an intricate network formed to push the conservative agenda and turn it into laws and public policy across the country. Fang’s piece is essential reading for every progressive in the country.

Click through for much more.

Attention, mid-Michigan Democrats! Just a quick note to let you know that I’ll be speaking to the Eaton County Democratic Party at their general membership meeting this Thursday at the Log Jam Restaurant, 110 West Jefferson Street in Grand Ledge. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. I’ll be showing a slideshow of some of Anne’s amazing photographs, talking about the […]

This is NOT what Jesus was talking about, folks

The more I talk to people about Michigan SB 136, the “Religious Liberty & Conscience Protection Act,” the more I see that I’m not alone in my serious concerns about this bill. Not even close.

As I wrote in my guest post here last week, the bill would give everyone involved in healthcare broad rights to make care decisions based on religious or moral views — everyone, that is, except for patients.

Much more after the jump.

Here we are, hat in hand…

Hello, Eclectablog fans. It is that time of year again where we come to you, our loyal readers, and ask you to support what we do here at Eclectablog. In the past quarter, we were proud to be selected as “Best state-based progressive political blog” by the Washington Post. The reason is clear: at Eclectablog, you can get the important news and analysis you need to stay informed about what’s happening in Michigan and across the country.

Your donations help to pay for our server costs and make possible the trips we take to cover events across the state and across the country.

Please contribute whatever you can to help us continue to bring you the top-notch reporting and writing that you’ve come to expect. You can use the handy Paypal link below and you can change the amount to whatever level you’d like to contribute. If you’d rather send a check, use the contact button at the top left of every page and I’ll send you my address.

Details are after the jump.

Sometimes not “everything” should be on the table

In a recent interview prior to assuming his new position as the Emergency Manager of Detroit, Kevyn Orr said that “everything is on the table” with regard to solving Detroit’s financial problem. Not only that, he specifically said that “everything is on the table” with regard to the future of the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department. This could include, according to Orr, sale or privatization of the department.

This would be a HUGE mistake. Click through for why sale or privatization of the department should be taken OFF the table before any further discussions take place.

Somehow after Right to Work, they found yet another way to weaken unions: pitting them against each other

Back in the 1930s, our country was wrestling with the idea of labor unions and what rights they should be given. One way corporations, primarily the large automakers, used to keep unions week was implement “proportional representation”. In other words, workers would vote on which union would represent them and then they would be represented by that specific union. In other words, several unions could be bargaining on behalf of different employees at the same shop.

Through proportional representation, the automobile manufacturers were able to keep union members squabbling amongst themselves and forced the unions to fight for a smaller number of workers rather than cooperating for the good of all workers. It’s easy to see why “collective bargaining pluralism” was so attractive to the car makers. Fortunately, with the passage of the Wagner Act in 1935, it was sent to the rubbish bin in favor of exclusivity.

Until now. Click through for more.

Hey! There are crazier Republicans than Michigan Republicans!

This is absolutely incredible. Republicans in North Carolina have introduced legislation that will allow them to set up their own state religion and ignore all federal laws.

If you think I’m joking, read on.

Michigan citizens: 1, Attorney General Bill Schuette: 0

Back in January, I wrote about a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, the MEA, the AFL-CIO and others that challenged Michigan’s Right to Work law since it was passed in violation of the Michigan Open Meetings Act. Because Republicans locked citizens (and Democratic lawmakers) out of the building during the vote, the plaintiffs say the law should be invalidated.

This could be a HUGE deal because Republicans passed the legislation by a margin that was larger than than the margin they hold in the House after last November’s election. They would be forced to bring more of their GOP caucus over to vote yes on this legislation which may be difficult do, politically speaking.

Yesterday, Ingham County Circuit Judge William Collette overruled a request by Attorney General Bill Schuette to throw the case out of court.

Details after the jump.

To err is human, to forgive is divine, to trust a lying, cheating politician is idiotic

Yesterday, it occurred to me that the very first time I made it to the “Recommended List” at Daily Kos it was with an essay I wrote about Mark Sanford and his hideous betrayal of his wife, family and constituents. I went back and read it and it reminded me that his was not just a brief dalliance. His wife knew about it and he continued the intercontinental affair after she told him in no uncertain terms to cut that shit out.

I’m reprising the post here today but it’s crucial that we remember just what this asshole did to his wife Jenny and their kids. Recall that his “Appalachian Intercontinental Booty Call” happened on Father’s Day weekend.

Sanford says he’s a solid Christian and is calling on voters to show Christian forgiveness. Fine. We forgive your sorry ass. I’ll try to disregard it when I buy a used car or some life insurance from you or whatever your new career is now that you have proven that you’re not fit to be a leader or a lawmaker. It’s one thing to forgive. It’s another thing to trust and trust is one thing Mark Sanford has decidedly NOT earned.

It’s all there after the jump.

I’m verklempt

Last Saturday, the band Garbage had a concert in Detroit. Two of the concert goers were Scott Sauter and Domenick Viviano. The two had flown to California in the past to a benefit show for a friend of the band named Wally who was very sick, something that clearly impressed lead singer Shirley Mason. How impressed?

Click through to find out. (Do it. You won’t be sorry.)