Thursday, March 25, 2010

Notes from the Underground 3/25/2010

Gongwer:

M.E.G.A. BILL ROLLS, BUT NO M.E.D.C. HEADS
The House moved several of bills designed to prevent the fraud that was allegedly perpetrated on the Michigan Economic Growth Authority Program earlier in the month, but it appeared Wednesday there would not be any disciplinary action within the Michigan Economic Development Corporation as a result of the con.

GRANHOLM ORDERS COX TO INTERVENE IN FAVOR OF HEALTH CARE BILL
Asserting her constitutional authority, and citing statutory authority that has the governor as the attorney general's client, Governor Jennifer Granholm has ordered Attorney General Mike Cox to intervene in the lawsuit he filed against the new federal health care law to defend that law. She did so in letter that blasts Mr. Cox for presuming to speak for the state in filing the action to try and overturn the law.

MAIN: FUNDING NEEDED NOW FOR 'PURE MICHIGAN' ADS
Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Greg Main does not care where the money comes from, but if it doesn't come by Friday, there will be no summer tourism advertising program.

SENATE MOVES MORE FROM TANK CLEANUP FUNDS
The Senate approved Wednesday the budget for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment after removing more dollars from the leaking underground storage tank cleanup fund.

R.T.L. DROPS ENDORSEMENT OF STUPAK
Right to Life of Michigan's political action committee said Wednesday it was dropping its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) for his Sunday vote in favor of the national health care bill.

HOUSE PANEL APPROVES HELMET LAW REPEAL
In a continuance of a battle more than three decades old, a House committee on Wednesday reported a bill to repeal the motorcycle helmet law, despite objections from the majority of people who testified.

Who can we pander to next? Anyone but the school kids, the poor, the elderly...

MIRS:

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"It doesn't matter, there isn't any money anyway."

- Rep. Fred MILLER (D-Mt. Clemens) when asked to comment on the fact that the House has yet to pass a departmental budget.

Tea Party Groups Launch Health Care Petition Drive
"Tea Party-type groups are launching a petition drive to put on the November ballot a Constitutional amendment designed to allow Michigan to opt out of the federal health care reform measure President Barack OBAMA signed into law Tuesday."

Senate GOP: We Have Votes On Retirement Bills
"Senate Republicans expressed confidence today that they can pass Thursday an early retirement package for state and public school employees. And that's even if some of its caucus members peel off."

The Senate pulled out the incentives to those who are considering retirement, but at this point, you might want to take any deal and run. Republicans are hell-bent on destroying the schools and the government, and it doesn't look like the House will stop them.