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Hector Solon posted this on February 8th, 2012. 
On the eve of Michigan Republican Governor Rick Snyder’s second year 2012 Michigan State Budget announcements, this ANALYSIS, in simple pictures, looks back at what historical data says. Facts found in this fountain of tables, graphs and charts reveals much, and in many cases, might surprise many Michiganders. It gives a unique view not only into where we are, and where Snyder Policy is trying to take us, but also where we have been and how we got there.
Facing Wisconsin style protests across the state through most of his first year 2011, some of the largest marches in Michigan’s history continuing into early 2012, Snyder’s consultants published several reports and benchmarking metrics early in 2011 that include over 200 measurements of Michigan Government performance metrics and trends.
Missing in this pile of PowerPoints is any trace of the Republican Holy Grail, proof that massive business tax break ($1.6 billion) and education budget cuts (nearly $1 billion from public education) and policies focused on plans prefabricated in 2009 and released in 2010 and updated in January of 2012 by business leaders in Michigan that will, as their stacks of slides state, create “500,000” new Michigan jobs.
The Nerd and his small army of outside consultants did us all a great favor in the early months of his tenure by publishing Michigan’s data, learn to embrace it.
But, before going into what Snyder’s Data tells us about 2011, his turbulent first year as “CEO”, let’s take a look back and see what historical truths are included in those facts and figures going back to 1998-2008.
This first installment will focus on data from the terms of former Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) and Republican Governor John Engler (R).
Much more after the jump.
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Hector Solon posted this on January 26th, 2012. In one of the boldest, brashest moves seen in Michigan in quite some time, Ken Braun the recently ‘former’ Managing Director of CapCon at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, has threaten Republican Governor Rick Snyder to either join the “Right to Work” (for a lot less) forces, or be circumvented by ‘citizen’ introduced legislation that will completely bypass the Nerd using the Tea Party Republican majorities in the Michigan State House and Senate and a loop-hole in the Michigan Constitution.
Just out from Ken Braun of the Mackinac Center:
Michigan’s tea party activists are suffering right to work envy while watching the Indiana governor march his Legislature relentlessly to the finish line on that issue. Our Republican governor recently said right to work is too divisive and he doesn’t want the Legislature to send a bill to his desk.
(Break)
Article 2, section 9 (of the Michigan Constitution), provides citizens (like the Tea Party) with the power to initiate laws and send them to the Legislature for approval. If both chambers vote by simple majority to approve the bill within 40 days, then it becomes law.
The governor has no role in the process and can neither sign nor veto the measure.
What? Read Braun’s FULL POSTING HERE.
Within the posting(s) are links to articles on Rick Snyder’s statements on his reluctance address any “Right to Work” (for Less) legislation, saying he doesn’t want it ‘on his desk’ and that the issue is ‘too divisive‘.
Also mentioned in the piece are references to the efforts of the Michigan “Tea Party” to recall Michigan Republican Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville for his statements on the controversial legislation also being pushed through in Indiana by Republican Governor Mitch Daniels.
Richardville is characterized by Braun as being too ‘skeptical’ and ‘outright hostile’ on the issue, which if brought up this year would certainly put just about everything on anyone’s agenda but the already troublesome, dictatorial “Emergency Manager” Law out of sight and mind completely.
The ties between the Mackinac Center, American for Prosperity (AFP), both with shared funders, supporters and participants, and their ties to [...]
WeAreThePeopleMichigan posted this on July 19th, 2011.
Here are today's top stories –
Detroit News: Final chapter for Borders; 10,700 workers to lose jobs – Borders Group Inc., the Ann Arbor-based bookselling chain whose success helped shut the doors of many independent bookstores, said it will soon go out of business, deciding Monday to ask a bankruptcy court to approve its sale to a group of liquidators. The liquidation could begin at some of the company's 399 stores as early as Friday, with a phased rollout to conclude by the end of September, Borders said.
Detroit Free Press: Online commentary: Emergency managers undermine principles of democracy – Around the world, people are demanding democratic accountability from their governments. Many of those crying out the loudest are people with very few resources, whose countries are facing deep and painful economic woes. No one who values democracy would suggest that just because they are poor, these heroes have no right to self-rule. Yet here at home, some in our state have given up on democracy — despite being elected officials themselves. And evidently they believe that those with the fewest resources need democracy the least.
Michigan Messenger: Poll: Voters would reject Emergency Manager law – A strong majority of Michigan voters would vote to repeal the state’s Emergency Manager law if given the opportunity, according to a Gongwer News Service poll. Public Act 4 — the Emergency Manager law — allows political appointees to take over financially troubled local governments, fire elected officials and break contracts. The poll, conducted by EPIC/MRA surveyed 600 likely voters between July 9-11 and found that a 53-34 percent majority would reject the law, that independent voters would reject it by 58-29 percent, and that 60 percent of Northern Michigan voters would overturn it.
AP: 2 committee hearings set for Michigan lawmakers – There are no full sessions of the House or Senate planned for this week in the Michigan Legislature as lawmakers continue a relatively light summer meeting schedule. Only two committees are scheduled to meet at the Capitol.
Detroit Free Press: Guest commentary: Put an end to the stalling tactics for unionizing [...]
WeAreThePeopleMichigan posted this on July 6th, 2011.
Last week Republicans around the state introduced efforts to kick-off so-called Right to Work measures here in the Great Lakes State. We know that these efforts are anything but good for workers or our state, and you can learn here more.
Tonight in Traverse City, Grand Traverse County Commission and Tea Party activist Jason Gillman will introduce Right-to-Work measures at 7pm (400 Boardman Ave). If you live in the area, we're asking that you attend and stand against these harmful efforts. (More on this below)
On with the rest of the news -
TC RECORD-EAGLE: Gillman brings ‘right-to-work’ to board
A Grand Traverse County commissioner plans to launch his own brand of fireworks at tonight’s county board meeting when he seeks support for a contentious, union-related issue that other commissioners consider a waste of time. Commissioner Jason Gillman will ask the board to adopt a resolution to encourage Gov. Rick Snyder, state Rep. Wayne Schmidt and state Sen. Howard Walker to support legislation to make Michigan a so-called “right-to-work” state.
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Getting started in political blogging
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