Bishop punishes Michigan voters for his ignorance

LANSING -- Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, punished the Democrats and a member of his own caucus who briefly took control of the Senate to move three important bills out of committee on June 19 by further disenfranchising voters.

Subscription only MIRS reported last week that Bishop took away the vice chairmanship of the Senate Health policy Committee from Sen. Bruce Patterson, R-Canton, who joined the Democrats in discharging an annexation bill – House Bill 5779 - he wanted and the so-called Kreiner fix bill Democrats wanted. He was also booted off the Senate Government Operations Committee. Of course, that committee is chaired by Bishop and rarely, if ever meets. It’s where Bishop sends bills he wants to block from ever being voted on.

Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, was kicked off the useless Government Ops Committee and the important Senate Campaign and Election Oversight Committee, for a second time. The person who came up with the rules to take advantage of the Republican ignorance and move the bills, Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, was kicked off the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will go from seven to six members.

House Bill 4301 is designed to address the recent interpretation by the Michigan Supreme Court in the case Kreiner v. Fischer. This bill was passed by the Michigan House of Representatives on March 14, 2007 and was referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary where it remains, and it would go a long way to helping people injured in automobile accidents recover damages.

The bipartisan HB 5779, the annexation reform bill, was introduced by Rep. Mark Corriveau, D-Northville, and it has overwhelming support. Last week 1,300 letters against the proposed annexation of part of Northville Township to Livonia were hand delivered to Michigan Senators.

All three bills were sent back to committee to die.

Republicans use public political debate as fundraiser

The Livingston County Republican Party wants citizens to be informed voters and know the issues the candidates they are voting for in the primary election in August support. That’s a great and admirable goal, but the disgusting part is they want to charge you to do so.

The Livingston County Teen Age Republicans (TAR) is sponsoring a candidate forum next month for the two open Michigan House seats, but they are charging you 5 bucks to attend the forum and hear from the candidates. I have been around politics for a few years, but I can’t recall being charged for a political debate so the party can raise money.

Republicans Jason Corosanite and Bill Rogers are facing off to run against Democrats Donna Anderson of Brighton and Milford resident Tom Crawford for the open 66th District seat that includes the city of Brighton and the townships of Marion, Oceola, Brighton, Genoa, Green Oak and Milford.

Republicans Charlie Aberasturi, Cindy Denby and Frank Portelli are facing off against Democrat and Hamburg Township resident Scott Lucas for the open 47th District seat that includes the City of Howell and the townships of Cohoctah, Conway, Deerfield, Hamburg, Handy, Hartland, Howell, Iosco, Marion, Putnam, Tyrone and Unadilla.

In a primarily Republican county like Livingston County, the primary winner will more than likely be the winner of the General Election in November – although that may be in doubt this year with the long coat tails of the next President, Barrack Obama – and if you have an uncontested race in the Democratic primary you may want to vote for the best Republican candidate.

The good news is the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus sponsors a debate for both the primary and the General Election that costs nothing, and it is truly a public service and not a GOP fundraiser.

GOP launches racist attack on Katrina victims

The Livingston County Republican Party is taking up the racists remarks of its hero Rush Limbaugh and launching a thinly-veiled racist attack on the Hurricane Katrina victims with a letter writing campaign.

The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus published a letter to the editor from Howell Republican Tom Worley that basically accused the victims of Hurricane Katrina of being looters, thieves and whiners, as compared to the victims of the current flooding in the Midwest, specifically Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who are non-complaining, salt-of-the-earth people. The not-so-subtle point the Livingston County GOP and Limbaugh are trying to make is people in the Midwest are white and the backbone of America versus the people in New Orleans who are black and criminals. The political debate in Livingston County has taken a decidedly ugly turn since Allan Filip took over as chair of the party almost two years ago, and this is just one more example.

While the floods in the Midwest are devastating and the courage of the people affected is inspiring, the damage pales in comparison to Katrina. Hurricane Katrina was one of the five deadliest hurricanes and the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, displacing more than half a million people, killing over 1,700, and causing $81.2 billion in direct damage. One magazine even named it one of the top 10 worst natural disasters in U.S. history.

The loss of live can be contributed to both the ferocity of the storm and the short time people had to prepare. The people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama did not have nearly the amount of time the people of the Midwest had to react to the category 5 hurricane.

When you talk about New Orleans, many did not have the means to evacuate. Many urban dwellers do not own a car because they simply do not need one. It is estimated up to 100,000 New Orleans families did not own a car.

I would imagine it takes at least a few days of rain to raise flood waters like it did in the Midwest. Even Worley said in his letter that, “When this happened in 1993, I had the privilege of visiting the flooded area.” Flooding for those who live in a flood plain is not something new to them. But the biggest difference in the reaction of FEMA.

Their actions in New Orleans served as a perfect example of what not to do in a disaster, and the lessons leaned from their disgraceful performance in New Orleans will help everyone else. Even the official news source from the Republican Party, Fox News agrees.

“Nearly three years after Hurricane Katrina turned FEMA into a punchline, many homeowners, politicians and community leaders in the flood-stricken Midwest say that so far, the agency is doing a heckuva job — and they mean it.”

Next Michigan governor speaks in Livingston County

HOWELL – A packed house at the historic Livingston County Courthouse listened in rapt attention to the next governor of Michigan Tuesday evening, at least that’s what many in the crowd were hoping for when former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer spoke in the historic courtroom where he felt right at home.

Archer was a guest of the Livingston County Democratic Party to talk about the relationship between Michigan’s largest city and the suburbs, but one of the first questions during the Q & A period was will the Detroit Democrat run for Governor.

“I am looking at the governor’s office out of respect for the people who asked me to do so,” he said.

A poll taken by Raleigh, N.C.-based Public Policy Polling (PPP) on June 21-22 showed Archer ahead of some of Republicans who have been mentioned as possible candidates for the 2010 gubernatorial race. The poll has Archer besting U.S. Rep. Candice Miller by a wide margin of 41 to 29 percent and Attorney General Mike Cox 40 to 33 percent.

Archer has a varied and impressive resume that includes a stint as a public school teacher, a succesful law practice, a law professor, a Michigan Supreme Court Justice and the mayor of Detroit. He also has a solid business background and connections Democrats do not normally have, serving as the chair of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, serving on major boards like Compuware and serving as the chair of a major law firm that represents many large corporations. Many seem him as a force that can unite the bickering political forces that have helped stall progress in Michigan.

Although Archer is proud of his accomplishments that saw him rise out of poverty in rural west Michigan, he wants to ensure the next governor, who ever they may be, raises the bar and addresses the current problems Michigan faces.

“This state cannot afford to have somebody in office who is completing on-the-the-job-training.," he said. “They need to understand the needs of Michigan, and how to meet those challenges.”

Archer said the governor has to ensure the environment is conclusive for business to grow jobs as much as a governor can control certain factors, and he said the governor has done that.

“Business is in business not to lose money; business is in business to make money,” he said. “Jobs don’t create jobs, businesses create jobs. We have to create a climate in the state and in our communities that grows jobs.”

Archer cited the recent tax breaks for the film industry as a perfect example of creating that climate; and going after an industry that would not otherwise come to the state. He said he realized the importance of incentives for the film industry when the bio movie on the Temptations was not filmed in Detroit where the members grew up and thrived.

“It’s so rewarding to see Gov. Schwarzenegger in California try to figure out how to catch Michigan,” he said. “Don’t be surprised if you see them (filmmakers) come to Livingston County.”

Archer, a former public school teacher for five years, said education is going to both turn Michigan around and ensure the U.S. competes and wins in a global economy. He said the era when a high school diploma was all you needed to find a good-paying manufacturing job are long gone, and he said it will take a bare minimum of two years of education after high school to find a decent job.

“For America to be strong, we need to find a way to educate all of our children,” he said.

Archer, who grew up in poverty in rural Cassopolis, said it was the community as well as his parents that helped him get an education and rise out of poverty, and he said we need to get back to that because educating young people is everybody’s concern.

“I couldn’t go home from school in Cassopolis without someone saying, ‘come here boy and let we see that report card’ because they all knew when they came out,” he said. “Somewhere we lost our way.”

Archer said his father only had a third grade education and his mother a high school education, but he said from the day he was born his parents drilled into him he would be going to college.

“My parents made it clear to me my entire life I was going to go to college,” he said. “They didn’t know what I was going to study because they had never set foot on a college campus.”

One of the reasons Archer spoke in Livingston County was to speak on the relationship between Detroit and the suburbs. He said the health of Detroit will have a major effect on the state, and Detroit is a name that’s recognized all over the world. He said for business to decide to move to Michigan, the city and Detroit have to have a solid image, an educated workforce, solid infrastructure and incentives. Archer also said the entire metro region has to work together to be successful.

“It’s not about Detroit versus Livonia, Flint or Howell; Detroit is recognized worldwide,” he said. “It’s not just the Detroit region against the Chicago region, Baltimore region or the Los Angles region, it’s competing against the Tokyo region, the Bonn region or the Melbourne region.”

Archer said one of his proudest accomplishments was helping turn Detroit around. He said in this two terms as mayor, there was $22.2 billon worth of investment in Detroit, decreased crime and he helped turn devil’s night into angel’s night.

“Detroit did not have a good image,” Archer said. “There was not a lot of pride in Detroit.

“I found there was a reservoir of good will about Detroit because so many people had good memories of living here once,” he said.

Senate calls special session

LANSING – The Michigan Senate will meet in a rare Friday session at 10 a.m. before it breaks for the summer.

Speculation is that the budget conference committees will be able to present conference reports after a budget agreement was reached Wednesday by administration and legislative officials. There is also speculation the Senate will take up the energy bills, House Bills 5524-5525 and 5548-5549. The complex package of bills were passed by the House with bipartisan support on April 17, and the Senate Committee on Energy Policy and Public Utilities passed all but HB 5525 by a vote of 5-3 on June 12.

The full legilsture will not return from summer beak until Sept. 9. The Senate, however, has set tentative session dates for July 15-17, July 22-24 and Aug. 13, 27 and Sept. 2. No word on the House, where all the seats are up for election. The Senate seats will not have to stand for election until 2010.

Update: The House will also be in session at noon on Friday 6/27.

Schauer endorsed by major state law enforcement organization

State Sen. Mark Schauer continues to rack up endorsements in his quest to knock off ultra-conservative Tim Walberg in the race for the 7th Congressional District seat.

The Michigan Association of Police Organizations (MAPO) announced their endorsement today in a press release. The MAPO’s eight member organizations – such as The Michigan State Police Troopers Association and the Michigan Association of Police - represent three-fourths of the state's 19,500 certified police officers.

“MAPO is proud to endorse Mark Schauer for Congress," said Richard Weiler, President of the Michigan Association of Police Organizations, in the press release announcing the endorsement. “The law enforcement community is excited about the possibility of Mark bringing to Congress the same commitment to public safety that he exhibited in the Michigan Legislature. We look forward to calling him Congressman Schauer.”

Gang of Four slams the door of justice in the face of citizens

BRIGHTON – If you’re an individual suing an insurance company or a corporation in Michigan you will lose. It’s as simple as that.

Since the Republican majority, known as the “Gang of Four,” took over the majority of the Michigan Supreme Court, an insurance company has not lost a case in a decade. The four activist judges – Cliff Taylor, Robert Young, Stephen Markman and Maura Corrigan - have gutted consumer protection laws, watered down environmental protection laws and weakened individual rights. The doors of justice have been slammed shut in the face of ordinary citizens and swung wide open for insurance companies and corporations.

“They have radically changed Michigan law,” said Ypsilanti attorney Doug Shapiro, at a recent forum on the Supreme Court sponsored by the Livingston County Democratic Party. “In 10 years, no one has won a case against an insurance company; if you are the plaintiff, you lose.”

The court’s decision has empowered insurance companies and made them less responsive to consumers.

“Insurance companies once had to act in the best fiduciary duty to the insurance, not just make money,” Shapiro said. “Not any more.”

As for a perfect example of that, Shapiro said in the past, people had a year to sue their insurance company after a claim was denied; ironically, to keep litigation down. Now, the clock starts ticking as soon as the incident occurs. The insurance company can put off the insured for a year, lose paperwork and simply delay a decision until the clock runs out. It also applies to someone who is mentally incapacitated because of the incident, overturning a 50 year precedent.

The gang of four has also expanded government immunity so much that government can only be sued if a pot hole is so large you have to climb out of it. Governments do not have to plow snow, maintain proper lighting and other basic safety issues. For example, the gang of four recently ruled the City of Lansing cannot be held liable in the 2005 death of 7-year-old Chantell Buckner, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver while walking along a curb because a city plow had covered the sidewalk with snow.

“There is no incentive for the government to address those safety things,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro also said the gang of four’s arrogant actions have destroyed product liability in the state.

“If you read the opinions, they mock the sense of justice,” Shapiro said. “Like the Bush Administration, justice is like the Geneva Convention, quaint.
“They have said it’s not the court’s duty to provide justice,” he said.

The gang of four were never elected, and were initially appointed. But, they are acting as a partisan, unelected four person legislature. Only Taylor is up for election, and there is a grassroots effort to defeat him and bring some fairness back to the court.

They know they have an uphill battle because incumbency for the Supreme Court is worth up to 30 percent of the vote. Plus, there is considerable ballot drop off, and most people don’t get that far down on the ballot.

The Justice Caucus has formed the “Supreme Challenge” to target Taylor. The Michigan Democratic Party has not named a nominee, but Orion attorney Marietta S. Robinson and 3rd Circuit Court Judge Deborah A. Thomas have been mentioned as candidates. Michigan Lawyers Weekly conducted an online poll, and both Robinson and Thomas trounced Taylor with more than 75 percent of the vote.

Dennis Archer to speak at Historic Livingston County Courthouse

The Livingston County Democratic Party is hosting former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the historic Livingston County Courthouse in downtown Howell.

Archer will speak on the interrelations between Michigan's urban, suburban and rural areas, and it will include coffee and dessert. Archer has had a storied and varied career that has touched every aspect of public life, as well as a successful career in the private sector. It is that background and success that has many people mentioning his name as the next Democratic Governor of Michigan.

Archer was born in Detroit but raised in poverty in rural Cassopolis. He taught learning-disabled children in Detroit Public Schools for fives years until he earned his law degree from the Detroit College of Law, attending classes at night.

He was a partner in a Detroit law firm, and he was also active in Democratic politics, directing successful campaigns from Detroit City Clerk to U.S. Congress. In addition to practicing law, Archer was also an associate professor at Detroit College of Law and an adjunct professor at Wayne State University Law School.

Archer was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court in 1985, serving until 1993, and he was named the "most respected judge in Michigan" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. He stepped down to run for the Mayor of Detroit to succeed legendary Mayor Coleman Young, and in 1993 he won with 57 percent of the vote in a bitter campaign. He served two terms until 2001. Archer helped improve the city and its image, and he helped cut down the crime rate and improved city services. He also helped bring the Lions and Tigers back downtown with Ford Field and Comerica Park.

Archer then returned to the private sector, becoming the first African-American president of the American Bar Association. He is currently the chairman of the respected law firm Dickinson and Wright.

The public is invited to attend, and a $10 donation is requested. The courthouse is located at 200 E. Grand River Ave. For more information, call (810) 229-4212 or email livcodems@sbcuc.net.