State red-faced over $9M tax break for scam artist
OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK HERE IN MICHIGAN
This is really special. Michigan can’t balance it’s budget and keeps crying poor. Yet, Michigan Economic Development Corporation is giving $9.1 Million in tax breaks to a convicted embezzler and scam artist. This is a perfect example as to abolish the Michigan Economic Development Corporation as it is a waste of taxpayer money that could be spent elsewhere. Republicans called for investigations into how a felon duped a state agency. So I guess when the Republicans voted to approve these tax breaks they didn’t do their homework! Now that’s representation for the people!
State red-faced over $9M tax break for scam artist | freep.com | Detroit Free Press
Attorney General Mike Cox: Urban Legend or Urban Cover Up?
It’s one thing for an attorney general, who is supposed to be an “independent chief law enforcement” officer, to state he doesn’t believe he has enough information to continue an investigation. But it’s another thing entirely when he crafts a defense for the accused. Attorney General Mike Cox in the Manoogian Mansion party investigation went beyond getting out of the way. He threw Kwame Kilpatrick a lifeline in 2003 by starting the “Urban Legend” defense. Now, important new information may soon be coming to light regarding Cox’s handling of the investigation of the murder of Tamara “Strawberry” Greene. Greene is alleged to have attended a now-infamous party at Manoogian Mansion in 2003 thrown by then-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
Urban Legend or Urban Cover Up? «
Concerns Over Labels on Census Forms
GROSSE POINTE WOODS, Mich. (WXYZ) – People living in the Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods say they’re concerned that their census forms say they live in the wrong city. The forms, which arrived this week, say they live in Detroit. They say their concerns are heightened because the pre-census mailings they got last week were addressed correctly.
Concerns Over Labels on Census Forms || WXYZ.com | WXYZ-TV / Detroit | Detroit News, Weather, Sports and More
Cash for Clunkers Spent $3 Billion to Save $375 Million
The calculations that show the economic failure of the “Cash for Clunkers” government sponsored program was a waste of taxpayer money. So, the government paid $3 billion of our tax dollars to save $375 million. The government sponsored program, we the taxpayers spent $8.57 for every dollar saved. With that I’m pretty sure the government will do a great job with health care, though.
Cash for Clunkers, not just a Failure, but a Failure of Governmental Magnitude
How much welfare is enough?
The left plans to continue its assault on welfare reform by extending the welfare spending increases established in last year’s “stimulus” bill. Fortunately, The Heritage Foundation’s welfare expert, Robert Rector, continues to play an important role in the debate. Rector, who was chiefly responsible for the groundbreaking welfare reforms of 1996, testified that the U.S. is already expected to spend almost $1 trillion on means-tested (i.e. “welfare”) programs next year. This is roughly a 50 percent increase since fiscal year 2007.
MyHeritage.org: Email – MyHeritage.org: How much welfare is enough?
Census Bureau spends millions on pre-Census letter
This past week, you probably received a letter from the Census Bureau saying another letter would arrive next week with the Census form. But the Census, in a typical case of government math, says spending the $85 million is actually saving taxpayers money. The “pre-census” letter set’s off alarms of wasteful government spending.
‘Pre-Census’ Letter Called Wasteful By Some – News Story – WNEM Saginaw
Greece’s crisis could presage America’s
WASHINGTON — Greece is a financial basket case, begging for international help. Is America heading down that same road? Many of the same risky financial practices that now imperil the Greeks were at the center of the all-too-recent U.S. meltdown. Lying politicians, massive debt, corrupt banks…..I don’t want to be alarmist but the governmental corruption that set Argentina’s collapse in motion appears shockingly similar to what is going on here in the USA.
The Associated Press: Analysis: Greece’s crisis could presage America’s
Federal pay ahead of private industry
Federal employees earn higher average salaries than private-sector workers in more than eight out of 10 occupations, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data finds.
Federal pay ahead of private industry – USATODAY.com
Tea Party’s and 9/12 Project, What Are They Really About?
People all over the country are doing amazing things today. These are people who up to a year ago, thought that voting, paying taxes and taking care of family was enough. Today, we see people taking an interest in what their school boards are doing, attending city and county board meetings, reading the bills and instructing their legislators before they vote on them. Instead of just paying taxes, people are now looking at what the tax money is being spent on and then holding their politicians accountable.
Hello Michigan: Tea Party’s and 9/12 Project, What Are They Really About?
Gov’t May Seek More Authority on Vehicle Safety
Black boxes in vehicles? This will only increase the cost, more big government! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is seeking 66 new employees.
FOXNews.com – Gov’t May Seek More Authority on Vehicle Safety
Credit card interest rates jump, approach record highs
Interest rates on new credit card offers rebounded to near-record highs this week after U.S. Bank raised rates on several cards.
Credit card interest rates jump, approach record highs – FOXBusiness.com
Retail gas prices spike as price of crude oil continues to rise
Across the nation, consumers watched the price of retail gasoline increase upwards of 10 cents in some markets. This reports led investors to believe demand is on an upward trend, causing crude oil prices to be influenced more by basic fundamentals than by the strength of the U.S. dollar, which has been the primary driver of prices in 2010. However, the dollar weakened towards the end of last week against the euro and helped crude prices accelerate.
Retail gas prices spike as price of crude oil continues to rise | retail, crude, oil – News – Santa Rosa Press Gazette
GOP Leader Resigns After Hot Tub Confession
Don’t think for a minute this is an isolated incident and confined to outside Michigan! There have been unsubstantiated and substantiated reports of philandering by our own leaders right here in SE Michigan including Monroe! Michigan gubernatorial candidate Mike Cox for example, In 2005, Cox held a press conference to announce that he had taken part in an extramarital affair in 2003, while serving as the state’s Attorney General. Cox only went public with the affair after trial lawyer Geoffrey Fieger allegedly threatened to expose it if Cox did not drop an investigation into Fieger’s alleged campaign finance violations.
Utah GOP Kevin Garn Leader Resigns After Hot Tub Confession – AOL News
The Costs to Local Taxpayers for Illegal or “Guest” Workers
Numerous studies have documented the fact that illegal immigrants are a significant fiscal burden on local communities. Because the burden is related to the low wages earned by this population and that is unlikely to change as long as the earnings do not rise more than inflation, any Congressional amnesty-type action that incorporates these foreign workers and allows or admits additional ones will not only perpetuate the fiscal burden, it will increase it.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR): The Costs to Local Taxpayers for Illegal or “Guest” Workers
Page after Page of Reasons to Hate Obamacare
Here are just a few very good reasons to hate Obamacare:
Page after Page of Reasons to Hate Obamacare
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is a quasi-public agency of the state. For budgeting purposes, the MEDC is not officially recognized as a state agency. The MEDC is arguably the least necessary entity in state government. Its existence is based on several flawed premises and political considerations.
Michigan Economic Development Corporation [Mackinac Center]
Michigan’s Republican lead Legislature rated low by local officials
The people who run your cities, townships, counties and villages think Lansing is doing a pretty lousy job of running the state. The citizens think the same as well! Robert Cannon a Republican Clinton Township Supervisor said he blames the Legislature more than Granholm. The state reps and senators have let the state of Michigan down he said.
Michigan’s Republican lead Legislature rated low by local officials
Should we take partisanship out of all elections?
At least part of the problem in Lansing is that loyalty to political parties appears to trump service to constituents. Judges, school boards and some city councils are elected on non-partisan ballots. Taking the partisanship out of other elections in the state could be beneficial. It’s hard to imagine that it could be worse than what we now see — a bitter tug-of-war in which only those who buy into party dogma have a place at the table. We need elected officials who are more beholden to their constituents than to their state political party.
Should we take partisanship out of all elections? | livingstondaily.com | Livingston Daily
Deadline for election filing nears here in Michigan
The filing deadlines for the Aug. 3 primary and Nov. 2 general elections are coming up. Partisan and nonpartisan candidates for the August primary must file a petition by 4 p.m. May 11 as well as candidates for precinct delegate. Republican and Democratic candidates seeking office of state senator, state representative or county office may file a $100 filing fee in lieu of a petition. Candidates wishing to withdraw must submit a written notice by 4 p.m. May 14. Candidates without political party affiliation seeking a partisan office in the November general election must file a qualifying petition and an Affidavit of Identity by 4 p.m. July 15. Candidates wishing to withdraw must submit a written notice by 4 p.m. July 19.
Deadline for election filing nears – MonroeNews.com
Public Taxpayer’s to foot Monica Conyers’ Attorney tab
Use of appointed lawyer raises eyebrows
This much is known: Monica Conyers now has a court-appointed appellate lawyer, paid for by taxpayers’ dollars. The question remains: How could she be married to U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich. — one of the longest tenured members of Congress — and unable to afford counsel? Her husband John Conyers made $174,000 salary last year as a U.S. Rep. and is one of the longest tenured members of Congress.
Public to foot Conyers’ tab | freep.com | Detroit Free Press
“That, as a republic is the best of governments, so that particular arrangements of the powers of society, or, in other words, that form of government which is best contrived to secure an impartial and exact execution of the laws, is the best of republics.”–John Adams