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Thursday, April 30, 2015

Chatfield Bill Targeting BILLIONS In SECRET Corporate Welfare Sails Through Committee, Likely To Pass House

State Rep. Lee Chatfield, center, talks to Paul Mitchell, left, and MLive's Jonathon Oosting at an Anti Prop 1 event in Lansing (Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson)
  
By Brandon Hall
 

(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

(Update: This bill passed the full House today!)

A few weeks ago, WMP wrote about a bill recently introduced by State Rep. Lee Chatfield. The legislation would prevent the Michigan Economic Development Corporation from signing into any more agreements that distribute taxpayer dollars through checks to corporations called "MEGA Credits."

Michigan families are already on the hook for billions in corporate handouts while roads crumble, and Chatfield wants to stop future liabilities for Michiganders.

The bill received a vote in committee this week, and passed unanimously. Given that these "MEGA" credits are largely responsible for the recent budget shortfall after a company randomly cashed in on $300 million worth of them, and that the bill was approved 12-0 in committee, expect the bill to pass when it reaches the full House. Where it goes in Meekhof's Senate remains to be seen...(The bill did indeed pass today, May 7th)

Oh yeah: the billions of taxpayer dollars being handed out? Chad Livengood of the Detroit News has revealed the state is keeping them SECRET, refusing to release them!

Check out the article below from 4/16, which includes comments from Chatfield, as well as the actual bill itself and analysis from the House Fiscal Agency. It also has part of Livengood's article.
 
State Rep. Lee Chatfield testifies in Lansing April 15th.

INSANITY: Chatfield Legislation Would End Billions In SECRET Corporate Welfare

State Rep. Lee Chatfield thinks it's time to end billions in corporate welfare in Michigan-what we can of it, anyway.

The cash, dispersed via the Michigan Economic Development Corporation through checks to corporations called "MEGA" tax credits, costs Michiganders almost $10 billion. Remember Michigan's random budget shortfall this year? A company cashing in approx. $300 million of "MEGA" credits is to blame.

While Michiganders are evidently already on the hook for billions, Chatfield's legislation, House Bill 4333, seeks to stop the bleeding, preventing the program from any more growth in the future by ending the MEDC's ability to enter into any more agreements with companies seeking state cash.

Chatfield touted the bill in testimony today, quite fitting for April 15th. In a  Facebook statement, Chatfield said:

"On this 'TAX DAY' I testified on HB 4333, my legislation to protect hardworking taxpayers from additional liability due to budget-busting Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) corporate tax credits. My bill prohibits the state from extending the costly credits. A $9.38 billion estimated liability is projected to be incurred over the next 17 years. 

This year alone, the credits created a $325 million state budget shortfall. Now it’s up to us to ensure that the mess created during the previous administration is cleaned up not only for current Michigan taxpayers, but for our future generations."

Chatfield's legislation says:

 "BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2015, THE AUTHORITY OR ITS SUCCESSOR SHALL NOT ENTER INTO A NEW WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH AN ELIGIBLE BUSINESS OR MODIFY OR AMEND AN EXISTING WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH AN AUTHORIZED BUSINESS, FOR A CERTIFIED CREDIT UNLESS THE MODIFICATION OR AMENDMENT REDUCES THE NET AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT TO THE AUTHORIZED BUSINESS.

HOWEVER, THE AUTHORITY OR ITS SUCCESSOR MAY MODIFY OR AMEND AN EXISTING AGREEMENT WITH AN AUTHORIZED BUSINESS FOR TECHNICAL CHANGES AS LONG AS THE MODIFICATION OR AMENDMENT DOES NOT INCREASE THE NET AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT TO THE AUTHORIZED BUSINESS.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL THE AUTHORITY OR ITS SUCCESSOR MODIFY OR AMEND AN EXISTING AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE THE AUTHORIZED BUSINESS WITH A LONGER TERM TO CLAIM THAT CREDIT."

According to the House Fiscal Agency, the bill could be positive for taxpayers.

" House  Bills  4333  and  4334  would  have  an  indeterminate,  but  potentially positive, fiscal impact on state revenues.  Any fiscal impact would be directly correlated to the number of amendments foregone due to the provisions of the bill.To the extent that the bills reduce the value of outstanding credits by limiting the ability to amend existing agreements, any savings would accrue to the General Fund."

In an article today, Detroit News reporter Chad Livengood revealed that the state REFUSES to name the beneficiaries of the tax credits, keeping secret almost $10 billion in taxpayer handouts to companies.

Livengood writes:

"Michigan taxpayers are on the hook for giving 96 percent of nearly $9.4 billion in tax credits to companies in the vaguely named "transportation" sector, but a state agency that doles out the job-retaining incentives refuses to disclose the revised amounts owed to individual companies.

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. recently denied a Detroit News public records request seeking the names and amounts of unclaimed tax credits owed to the 10 Michigan businesses with the most credits, citing laws that shield information about individual taxpayers from public disclosure. The credits can be claimed during the next 16 years...

"Michigan is swimming against the tide of history here and claiming a tax secrecy rule that many, if not most, states have long since abandoned," said Greg LeRoy, executive director of Good Jobs First, a Washington, D.C.-based government subsidy watchdog group.

The MEDC previously disclosed records showing nearly $4.5 billion in tax credits were owed to Detroit's automakers, but it was before the agency revised its estimated total liability."

What an outrage-this is NUTS. Kudos to Chatfield for taking on this issue, and for Livengood's reporting. Stay tuned...

>>>hb4333 HERE.

>>>Rep. Chatfield Joins Choir Of Opposition Against May 5th Road Package Vote

_______________________________________________________________________


Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com
Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson



Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Safe Roads? Yes! Follow Michigan Campaign Law? "Or Naw?"

Photo by David Yardley After He Finds An Illegal Sign From "Safe Roads YES!"




By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
 


Follow Michigan Campaign Finance Law? Ain't nobody got time for that.

The group responsible for pushing Proposal 1, "Safe Roads Yes," is going onto property without the permission of the owner, subsequently placing signs that are illegal, as they do not display the proper disclosure identifying who paid for them.

David Yardley of Berrien County posted about the signs yesterday in a Facebook statement, asking people to report them if seen. Yardley also points out the portion of Michigan law the sign violates:

"The Safe Roads YES campaign is up to more tricks and deceit with their campaign. Now they are placing ILLEGAL signs in random locations without the owners permission. What makes them illegal? They lack a disclaimer statement, so you have no clue who paid for them.

If you see these signs call your local clerk, road commission or police department and use the language below to explain these signs lack a disclaimer and tell them these signs need to be removed immediately!

Appendix J of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act clearly states the IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS of all signs and other campaign materials. The Act requires all paid advertisements having reference to an election, a candidate or a ballot question to contain an identification statement and, if applicable, a disclaimer statement. 


The identification must be clear to the reader or listener and worded as follows: 

All printed matter having reference to a candidate, election or a ballot question, including yard signs, brochures, billboards, poll cards, fund raiser tickets, stationery, etc., must contain: “Paid for by” followed by the full name of the person or committee paying for the material and the person’s or committee’s street number or post office box, city or town, state and zip code."

Perhaps they don't want Michiganders to look up the big money that funds the group pushing Prop 1?

Stay tuned...

See also:

>>>School Children Make Nice Targets: DISGUSTING "Safe Roads YES!" Propaganda TERRORIZES Michiganders
__________________________________________________________


Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com 

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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson



School Children Make Nice Targets: DISGUSTING "Safe Roads YES!" Propaganda TERRORIZES Michiganders




By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
 


>>>With "Safe Roads YES!" losing by 30% in most polls less than a week before the election, they are beyond desperate.

Now, they are utilizing a playbook that would make San Francisco's infamous "Zodiac Killer" proud.

The group, promoting a $2 billion tax increase, the largest in fifty years,only roughly half of which goes to roads, has rigged up a school bus as if an f-ing bridge has fallen on top of it! They are currently taking the bus to towns all across the state in an attempt to scare the living hell out of Michiganders. 

It's terrorism dressed in a suit, and legally funded. It's obviously not as violent as what we typically associate with terror-it's a sinister, more subliminal/psychological type... Jeez! #FirstWorldProblems

(Of note: Terrorism: the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes)

A drawing of a bomb placed to blow up a school bus sent to local media by the "Zodiac Killer"

Using kids to generate fear and headlines is nothing new. 

The Bay Area's "Zodiac Killer," a serial killer who terrorized the San Francisco region in the late 60's and 70's, killed at least 7 people and wrote letters to local media about those murders. (Check out the movie Zodiac, fascinating case) 

Kids who see that bus be like...


One of his favorite things to do in those communications? Threaten school kids by shooting at them, and/or bombing their bus. He brought the issue up many times in letters to the media because it generated so much press attention and fear throughout the area.

"School children make nice targets I think I shall wipe out a school bus some morning just shoot out the front tire + pick off the kiddies as they come bouncing out," he wrote in one letter.

Safe Roads YES! is trying to shift the conversation as voters prepare to head to the polls. They also want to energize their base.That's why they dragged the circus to towns across Michigan this week with these horrendous scare tactics they think will fool Michiganders and change the trajectory of the entire debate.

Don't let them-don't be fooled.

Prop 1 supporters laugh as their bus of terror sits at a campaign stop

Opponents blasted the outrageous move. According to MLIve:

"Paul Mitchell, a Saginaw-area businessman and chairman of the prominent opposition group, Coalition Against Higher Taxes and Special Interest Deals, said he doesn't understand why advocates for the proposal aren't explaining where all the money is going.

"I believe it's time for the 'Yes' campaign to move beyond scare tactics and misinformation," he said, adding that funds from Proposal 1 will also be spent on items beyond road repair.""

Paul Mitchell, left, with fellow Prop 1 opponent State Rep. Lee Chatfield, center, as they talk to MLive's Jonathon Oosting (Photo by Darlene Dowling Thompson)


Just remember 10 things about Prop 1:

1. Largest tax increase in 50 years...

2. Will be a defacto doubling of the gas tax from 19 cents to 41 cents...

3. Will also be an increase in the sales tax, from 6% to 7%...

4. Passed at 5:30 in the morning the week before Christmas, the last vote of "lame duck"...

5. Only 60% goes to roads, and of that, 10% is actually for mass transit and other related things...

6. Multiple alternatives have been discussed and even introduced in the legislature by Representatives Courser and Gamrat, as well as State Sen. Patrick Colbeck...

 7. Safe Roads YES! entirely funded by people who will benefit off this, or something else going on in Lansing...

8. Safe Roads Yes will outspend all 4 "no" groups combined 40:1, over $11 million at the end of the day to around $300,000...

9. Schools and local governments are worthwhile, but to latch them on to a road package is irresponsible and not at all being brought up by Prop 1 proponents. And we have money in the budget for a new Senate building for Meekhof-$134 million, the Hollywood tax credits Bill Huizenga was instrumental in starting-$50 million/ year, and billions in corporate welfare-$12 billion total liability for MEGA credits alone, yet none for roads? Shady. Not to mention tons of counties across Michigan have recently passed road taxes at the County level!

10. The disgusting fear tactics of Safe Roads YES! are beyond the pale. They are also going onto property without permission and posting signs that violate Michigan law because they do not disclose the group as the entity who paid for the sign...

It's time to make Lansing listen. It's time to send Arlan Meekhof and the people who claimed, pre-election, that they were against tax increases and big government, to do the job they were elected to do and PROMISED to do. Prop 1 simply does not fulfill that obligation, to be charitable.

On May 5th, you can be heard loud and clear from every corner of Pure Michigan: Lansing, we've had ENOUGH. I mean, this bus stunt?! Like, for real, how stupid do they think we are?
__________________________________________________________


Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com 

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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Source LIES To MIRS, Falsely Claims Cindy Gamrat Invited WMP To Private Caucus

 
State Rep. Cindy Gamrat with son Joey



By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)


For those who have not seen it, here is the MIRS piece RECEBTLY  in which they discuss State Rep. Cindy Gamrat's outrageous removal from the caucus. 

Notice the allegation regarding Gamrat and WMP?  Straight from State Rep. Daniela Garcia I have no doubt.

"Another source said that conservative blogger Brandon HALL had accompanied Gamrat to the closed-door caucus meeting on Wednesday.

But Hall, who runs the blog West MI Politics and broke the news this afternoon that Gamrat had been kicked out of the caucus, said he had simply followed some House members he saw into the building.

Hall, who was downtown for a rally against Proposal 1, said he thought the building was part of the House Office Building, which is next door.

Eventually, Hall said, Rep. Daniela GARCIA (R-Holland) noticed him at the meeting, and after he was flagged and realized it was a private event, he left. Hall said he went to the meeting on his own initiative."
 Check out the article below, shared with permission from MIRS:

State Rep. Cindy Gamrat Kicked Out Of House GOP Caucus Sessions

While House Republicans wouldn't provide official reasons why the move was made, a Republican source said it came after a "long line" of events and complaints from other members about, among other things, publicly revealing information discussed in GOP caucus meetings.

Gamrat herself said her expulsion came because of a Facebook post she made during one of the closed-door sessions on Wednesday.

"Listening to subcommittees reviewing their budgets," Gamrat wrote in her post Wednesday. "How do we get to free market solutions when our starting point is Medicaid and more and more government programs being funded, from daycares to dental programs to Planned Parenthood."

According to multiple sources, the House Republicans held an off-site caucus meeting at the Christman Building in downtown Lansing on Wednesday to go over the budget proposal.

Gamrat's post came as lawmakers were presenting their subcommittee proposals for their colleagues in what was supposed to be a private setting.

But a handful of GOP sources told MIRS today that Gamrat's expulsion was not about a single Facebook post. Other said complaints that she was letting secret information out had been floating as well.

"There's been a whole series of issues with Rep. Gamrat that have got Republican members complaining to leadership and others for a while," once source said. "This last event is just one more in a long line."

One example given came in November, when Gamrat wrote a legislative update in which she wrote about caucus procedures.

"The rules of the caucus are that of confidentiality and what happens in caucus stays in caucus," she wrote. "We are even asked to put our phones away and to not text or make calls from the caucus room."

Another source said that conservative blogger Brandon HALL had accompanied Gamrat to the closed-door caucus meeting on Wednesday.

But Hall, who runs the blog West MI Politics and broke the news this afternoon that Gamrat had been kicked out of the caucus, said he had simply followed some House members he saw into the building.

Hall, who was downtown for a rally against Proposal 1, said he thought the building was part of the House Office Building, which is next door.

Eventually, Hall said, Rep. Daniela GARCIA (R-Holland) noticed him at the meeting, and after he was flagged and realized it was a private event, he left. Hall said he went to the meeting on his own initiative.

House Republican leadership isn't commenting on why Gamrat was kicked out of the caucus by Speaker Kevin COTTER (R-Mt. Pleasant).

"…We've got a long-standing rule: what happens in caucus stays in caucus," Gideon D'ASSANDRO, Cotter's spokesperson, said.

Gamrat herself confirmed the news that she was booted from caucus meetings this afternoon.

House GOP leadership kicked conservative Rep. Cindy GAMRAT (R-Plainwell) out of future closed-door caucus meetings today.

"Today I was informed that the Facebook post, attached below, was a violation of the sanctity of the caucus, and was told by the Speaker of the House that I was no longer welcome as a participant in the weekly Republican caucus meeting," Gamrat posted.

"In no way did I reveal anything confidential from the meeting, and I have never violated the integrity of our caucus," she continued. "I may disagree on issues with my colleagues, but I respect the trust between us."

Gamrat, a first-term House member, is a former Tea Party organizer and a vocal conservative, who has often disagreed publicly with her Republican colleagues.

She is also candidate for Michigan's open Republican national committeewoman position, and she's an opponent of Proposal 1, which would increase the sales tax to improve roads.

In fact, Keith ALLARD, a staffer for Gamrat, leads one of the ballot committees that are opposing the proposal.

Some conservatives voiced frustration about Gamrat's dismissal from the caucus today.

"They say they want unity then they purge Cindy Gamrat from the caucus," Hall said, for instance. He continued, "They want to sweep it under the rug and act like nothing happened."

Even U.S. Rep. Justin AMASH (R-Cascade Twp.), a former state legislator, got in on the action.

"It appears a rep can be booted from the Michigan House GOP Caucus for expressing the opinion government is too big," Amash tweeted.

Read more about the situation below:

Fightin' Words: Courser Sick Of Waiting For "Bully" Cotter, Says Gamrat Removal Process "UnAmerican," Wasn't Biblical

The PURGE: Daniela Garcia Pushed Cotter For Gamrat Caucus Removal

>>>State Rep. Cindy Gamrat Talks About Caucus Controversy And More In WMP Interview


Cindy Gamrat "Shocked" By "False" Cotter Confidentiality Claims, Expects To Rejoin Caucus


#StandWithCindy: Justin Amash Defends Cindy Gamrat On Twitter

Source: Planned Parenthood Reference Prompted Gamrat Purge, Cotter Will Invite Her Back 

TARGETED? Email Shows Cindy Gamrat's Facebook Post Was At Worst An Honest Mistake


Gamrat Booted Over Facebook Post

Breaking: Cindy Gamrat Kicked Out Of GOP Caucus

Candidate for RNC expelled from caucus

Tea party state Rep. Cindy Gamrat kicked from House Republican caucus 


__________________________________________________________

Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com 

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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Monday, April 27, 2015

Fightin' Words: Courser Sick Of Waiting For "Bully" Cotter, Says Gamrat Removal Process "UnAmerican," Wasn't Biblical

State Rep. Cindy Gamrat, left, with Rep. Todd Courser, right (photo by Dale Young, The Detroit News)

By Brandon Hall
Email him at westmipolitics@gmail.com
 



State Rep. Todd Courser may be the next one kicked out of the MI House GOP Caucus...

The freshman legislator went OFF recently, breaking his silence on the removal of State Rep. Cindy Gamrat from the House GOP caucus in a fierce email Monday, blasting House Speaker Kevin Cotter and questioning the real reasons for Gamrat's removal.

Courser asks people to call Cotter and demand he show the evidence of Gamrat breaching caucus confidentiality, as well as contact their local State Rep. to demand they support Gamrat-and vote against what he calls "Welfare/Ed Increases Over Road" budgets.

Here are the top 10 parts of the email, and below, the full email itself.

" It is now well past time for me to explain the situation that led to Rep Gamrat’s removal and to do my best to set the record straight. I have known Rep Gamrat for several years and have witnessed her in very difficult political circumstances and she has always acted with the utmost integrity, respect, and honor in all of her dealings even with those who are dead set against her efforts to advance liberty and freedom. Even in these current moments, as she is being maligned and abused by the leadership, she has acted with complete respect and decorum in her defense of herself. I have absolutely no doubt that the charges, put forward by the Speaker, against her are false and that she has in no way breached the "confidentiality of the caucus."


"The Speaker acted without doing any of the proper steps required by his position of leadership…and his timing and actions since should cause all to be concerned about what motivated his actions in the first place..."

"(T)he Speaker of the State House has removed Rep. Gamrat from caucus, claiming wrongdoing and yet offering no evidence as such; instead he has stated that he there have been multiple incidents, but offered no evidence and has simply engaged assassination of her reputation and character. All on the eve of the lead up to the  “Welfare Increases Over Road Funding” budget hitting the floor for debate; essentially silencing a huge fiscally conservative voice from the caucus where the debates on the budget would occur. The timing on the eve of the budget debates in the caucus and on the floor of the House is more than a little suspect…the forces of tyranny are attempting to silence a huge voice for liberty on the eve of the budget increases, just as amendments were being prepared to expose the "Welfare/Ed Increases Over Roads Funding" and as we were preparing to push for a total Defunding of Planned Parenthood and any organization that performs abortions!"

"The Speaker will probably remain in his official position, but due to his initial actions, and his treatment since, against Rep Gamrat, he is right now at risk of losing the trust and confidence of many members of the caucus and of course the public at large."

"I have waited for the Speaker to step up and do the right thing in providing a process to resolve the situation for everyone involved...His actions in this situation seem to be off beat and without any warning and are certainly not the actions of a servant leader; they are the shameless actions of a bully bent on abusing his power to silence in the caucus a voice of liberty; my hope and prayer is that the Speaker will change course and make some good steps this week to bring resolution to this situation for all involved."

"Those who remain silent share in the actions of the leadership and I am just not at all equipped to stand by while someone is stripped of their membership without cause. I realize he and she are both now acting and reacting to each other in their attempts to defend themselves and this has led to the whole mess being played out publicly. Unfortunately the Speaker has taken no lead up process steps; his removal of her, was at best, a knee jerk unfounded unilateral action, and were not the proper steps of a true servant leader"

"There is a proper biblical way to handle such disputes; that process doesn't include destroying a member of your group publicly and without providing any evidence of such wrongdoing. The proper way to handle such an incident is to first, if he had issue with Rep. Gamrat's actions, he should have given her a warning on his specific charges, which would be followed by an opportunity to correct the situation, then if the situation was not corrected then further actions would be taken in private before he threw her out publicly, without warning, and without evidence being offered to back up his decision. "

"The caucus is supposed to be held in secret and everyone in attendance has no doubt that it is indeed a private secret meeting and that nothing is to be shared about what has or has not transpired. In this particular case, we as reps received notices of what was called a "budget workshop" to be held off site at a lobbyist facility and the notice in no way described this event as a caucus.  As a matter of fact, it was held in the offices of a lobbyist firm with the doors open to the lobbyists and support staff of the lobbying firm just outside the open doors; many of us didn't fit into the room, myself included.  Also, it has been said that a reporter was even present in the room listening to part of the presentation, before he was removed. I didn't know it was a caucus and there were several others who did not know as well."

 "The Speaker at that moment stated she was being removed for the post, but then a couple of days later, said to the media that it was for multiple breaches of the confidentiality of the caucus; not for the Facebook post at all.  If so, then why no warnings? And why the sudden urge to remove her at that moment?  He of course had never brought these multiple breaches to her, nor to the caucus, nor had he ever given her a warning, nor has he since met with Rep. Gamrat to inform her of the evidence against her.  He has simply used his position to attempt to malign and destroy her reputation and her credibility in the media."

"If there is a meeting to resolve this and the issues surrounding it, then Rep Gamrat should be afforded the opportunity to have those she trusts hear the charges and evidence being brought by the Speaker or the Speaker needs to just bring the evidence out so the public can see his reasoning on the "confidentiality issue" and make the determination for themselves. There just isn't anything American about this sort of leadership action taking place without evidence being offered to support it."

Here is the email in full:

header
She has my 100% support! I Stand W/ Rep Gamrat!  

I appreciate all of your prayers on this, for Rep Gamrat, for Speaker Cotter, for myself, and for "The Caucus;” just prayer for the hearts and minds of all involved; that there would be a spirit of restoration would take hold; at this point that does not look likely. People have a right to know what is happening in their State House; there should be transparency; good or bad, right or wrong, caucus or not, the people have a right to know what the power of their State House is being used for and who it is being used against. Yes there should be a place for strategy/tactics to be discussed privately, but when that same power is used to malign/destroy a duly elected public official of the State House, without a showing of cause, there is nothing honorable in it and such an abuse of power and process is shameful.

I have felt my leadership role requires me to bring these sorts of abuses to you, and to be unhindered by the political consequences to myself as I do, even when it is hard and regardless of what the costs might be; it is my responsibility to bring it and to explain it to you. And as always, it is your responsibility what you do with this information, insight, and understanding. It is now well past time for me to explain the situation that led to Rep Gamrat’s removal and to do my best to set the record straight. I have known Rep Gamrat for several years and have witnessed her in very difficult political circumstances and she has always acted with the utmost integrity, respect, and honor in all of her dealings even with those who are dead set against her efforts to advance liberty and freedom. Even in these current moments, as she is being maligned and abused by the leadership, she has acted with complete respect and decorum in her defense of herself. I have absolutely no doubt that the charges, put forward by the Speaker, against her are false and that she has in no way breached the "confidentiality of the caucus."

Please call her office and tell her you support her efforts to restore some sanity to Lansing; she needs your prayers and your support! Her phone number is 269-605-0517 and her email is cindy@cindygamrat.com

Also please call the Speaker; His phone contact is 517-373-1789 (the rest of the House Caucus members contact info is at the bottom) – let them know how you feel about:

1. Rep Gamrat being thrown out of caucus
2. A budget that increases but prioritizes “Welfare/Ed Increases Over Road Funding”...
3. A budget increasing overall again...more for Welfare/Ed but less for roads…
4. And of course funding for abortions…

The Speaker acted without doing any of the proper steps required by his position of leadership…and his timing and actions since should cause all to be concerned about what motivated his actions in the first place...

 "To not speak is to speak and to not act is to act..."
This is a long email, but I believe it is a critical email for those who want to understand what the conservative cause is up against; it is not the people or the institutions as much as it is this spirit of “expanding the centralization of governmental power” over any adherence to the Constitution, sound governance, lower spending and less taxes. Unfortunately in some important parts of the party we have a spirit of “progressive top down central planning” wrapped in claims of a conservative mantle; all the while spending more, taxing more, and stripping away more of our civil liberties.

 Many of you are already aware, though some are not, that the Speaker of the State House has removed Rep. Gamrat from caucus, claiming wrongdoing and yet offering no evidence as such; instead he has stated that he there have been multiple incidents, but offered no evidence and has simply engaged assassination of her reputation and character. All on the eve of the lead up to the  “Welfare Increases Over Road Funding” budget hitting the floor for debate; essentially silencing a huge fiscally conservative voice from the caucus where the debates on the budget would occur. The timing on the eve of the budget debates in the caucus and on the floor of the House is more than a little suspect…

I rarely ask you to make calls into the State House, but today I am asking; the forces of tyranny are attempting to silence a huge voice for liberty on the eve of the budget increases, just as amendments were being prepared to expose the "Welfare/Ed Increases Over Roads Funding" and as we were preparing to push for a total Defunding of Planned Parenthood and any organization that performs abortions!
The Speaker will probably remain in his official position, but due to his initial actions, and his treatment since, against Rep Gamrat, he is right now at risk of losing the trust and confidence of many members of the caucus and of course the public at large.

I have waited for the Speaker to step up and do the right thing in providing a process to resolve the situation for everyone involved. I have attempted to bring some good movement in the background to clear Rep Gamrat's reputation and to allow Speaker the opportunity to change course by allowing her to return to the caucus, but it is now nearly two weeks later and the Speaker and the members of the caucus now appear to be content to move along and forget that he has acted to destroy her and her reputation without providing any evidence of wrongdoing.  His actions in this situation seem to be off beat and without any warning and are certainly not the actions of a servant leader; they are the shameless actions of a bully bent on abusing his power to silence in the caucus a voice of liberty; my hope and prayer is that the Speaker will change course and make some good steps this week to bring resolution to this situation for all involved.

Those who remain silent share in the actions of the leadership and I am just not at all equipped to stand by while someone is stripped of their membership without cause. I realize he and she are both now acting and reacting to each other in their attempts to defend themselves and this has led to the whole mess being played out publicly. Unfortunately the Speaker has taken no lead up process steps; his removal of her, was at best, a knee jerk unfounded unilateral action, and were not the proper steps of a true servant leader.

There is a proper biblical way to handle such disputes; that process doesn't include destroying a member of your group publicly and without providing any evidence of such wrongdoing. The proper way to handle such an incident is to first, if he had issue with Rep. Gamrat's actions, he should have given her a warning on his specific charges, which would be followed by an opportunity to correct the situation, then if the situation was not corrected then further actions would be taken in private before he threw her out publicly, without warning, and without evidence being offered to back up his decision.

The media theater has swirled around all of this with lots of speciation - Is this a targeted elimination of one of the most conservative leaders? Or simply a misunderstanding gone bad? Or has she actually broken the rules of the confidentiality of caucus? As time has gone on it is looking less and less like a simple misunderstanding and more and more targeted and timed.

Background…
Speaker Cotter removed Rep Gamrat and stated originally that she had made a Facebook post against caucus rules, and then changed his story to state it was due to multiple breaches of confidentiality. If his action of personally throwing her out of the "budget workshop" was not due to the Facebook post then why did he throw her out personally from the event?

Here is her Facebook post...
"Listening to subcommittees reviewing their budgets. How do we get to free market solutions when our starting point is Medicaid and more and more government programs being funded, from daycares to dental programs to planned parenthood."
So why is the Speaker choosing to do this to Rep. Gamrat at this particular time?  Is it about...

1. Her Facebook post?
2. A series of multiple offenses of breaches of confidentiality as claimed, but with no evidence presented?
3. Her stand against an out of control and growing budget?
4. Her stand against Planned Parenthood funding in this budget?
5. Her efforts to put forward amendments to this budget to move spending from more for "Welfare/Ed spending less to roads."
5. Her current party campaign to become the National Committeewoman?
6. Her efforts to stop "Proposal 1," the increase in sales tax scheduled for May 5th?
7. His first steps, performed badly, just didn't allow him to back up and save his own reputation and so it forced both to then fight it out defending themselves publicly.

Or is it all of the above?

Background on "The Caucus" - Most do not know what a caucus is nor why it matters, so a little background is required here.  The Republicans in the State House are all members of what is called "The Caucus," it is a club of sorts, where the bills of the day are discussed in an open and frank way. The Democrats have a similar arrangement.  It is a group that meets in private in a back room of the State House. I will say personally aside from this incident the caucus has been an enjoyable way to discuss the business of the day; unfortunately in this situation it has turned into something less worthy. The Caucus operates with rules, with the underlying rule that "what happens in caucus stays in caucus."  Essentially in this environment the bills are discussed and the leadership of the party can give "suggestions" and "requests" to the members of the caucus; and even marching orders on certain topics.  The caucus is supposed to be held in secret and everyone in attendance has no doubt that it is indeed a private secret meeting and that nothing is to be shared about what has or has not transpired.

In this particular case, we as reps received notices of what was called a "budget workshop" to be held off site at a lobbyist facility and the notice in no way described this event as a caucus.  As a matter of fact, it was held in the offices of a lobbyist firm with the doors open to the lobbyists and support staff of the lobbying firm just outside the open doors; many of us didn't fit into the room, myself included.  Also, it has been said that a reporter was even present in the room listening to part of the presentation, before he was removed. I didn't know it was a caucus and there were several others who did not know as well. Even so, Rep. Gamrat in her Facebook post from the event in no way revealed neither anything of substance nor anything confidential pertaining to the caucus or the budget workshop.

The Speaker at that moment stated she was being removed for the post, but then a couple of days later, said to the media that it was for multiple breaches of the confidentiality of the caucus; not for the Facebook post at all.  If so, then why no warnings? And why the sudden urge to remove her at that moment?  He of course had never brought these multiple breaches to her, nor to the caucus, nor had he ever given her a warning, nor has he since met with Rep. Gamrat to inform her of the evidence against her.  He has simply used his position to attempt to malign and destroy her reputation and her credibility in the media.

I have enjoyed caucus and understand the need to have a spot where Representatives can have open and frank discussions on legislation, but the idea of a group that would remain silent as the Speaker destroys a person without offering any intermediate steps or evidence is disturbing.  There is nothing honorable about remaining silent when a person is being spitefully used and abused and their reputation is being destroyed by one in power.

Servant Leadership must be above reproach, honest and forthright in it's dealings with it's members and also be totally aware and sensitive in how its words and actions affect its members and the public at large. Our Speaker is at this moment very close to losing his mantle of leadership and the respect of the members. Once honor and respect are replaced by withholding info, denying the free speech of the members to come out and support a member, and finally the possibility of outright lying about the member and the charges against the member, then the Speaker’s credibility is on very shaky ground. If there is a issue with a member then there should have been a quiet process to review the issue and come to a determination.

That did not happen in any way. Leadership must also be self-controlled; leadership must be ever vigilant to not overstep in accusing a member without offering proof of such breach, in this case "of confidentiality.” Finally, Leadership cannot, if it is to remain with the goodwill of its members and those who support the members, throw out a member without some amount of intermediate steps to show it's self-restraint on charges without evidence and a thoughtful process for doing so, or it risks greatly losing its credibility to all. Regardless of how this is spun, and I hope this isn't the case, but it is looking more and more like a witch hunt and an clear abuse of power.

The Speaker is at this moment on very shaky ground; officially, he will probably retain his position, but he will very likely lose, and has lost, at least some of the confidence of the members in the way he has brought this punishment forward without providing any evidence, or a way for Representative Gamrat to review or see the evidence he says he has before he has taken these very public steps to politically destroy her. I hate to say this, but this is beginning to look very self-serving, done at a critical moment in the budget process, and will be interpreted by a great many as if he is simply lying and has no evidence.

I am honestly not sure how the caucus will or should handle this, but I am hopeful that cooler heads will look at this and figure out a way to:

1.     Redeem Representative Gamrat from her Speaker-imposed exile (she has been maligned and smeared publicly by "our" elected leadership - that means we in the caucus share in the stain on this if it has been done poorly and with ill intent),
2.     then hopefully there is some way salvage the Speaker's credibility from the situation he has gotten himself into,
3.     and finally also salvage the original spirit of the caucus.

Publicly and privately there are only a few options here for how this will all end up looking.

1.     First, he has possibly "just failed to do a proper process, had overstepped, had become a bit overzealous in his actions and has now corrected it."
2.     Second, "he is doing this with political or official motivations to remove her."
3.      Third, regretfully "He is telling the truth" (if so he should bring his evidence to justify his actions and put this to rest).
4.     Finally, even more regretfully, "he is lying and now attempting to cover it up." Unfortunately, if he doesn't bring out his case, regardless if he is telling the truth or lying, he will be viewed as lying and will have lost the respect and admiration of the public and a great many members of the caucus, on who's trust and confidence his leadership rests.
5.     None of this looks good internally or publicly; I do absolutely hope this can all find a good result for all involved and I am praying to that end.

"To not speak is to speak and to not act is to act..." At this point, whether we like it or not, all who are in the caucus have responsibility for this due simply to our silence. The members of the caucus who have not spoken up about this do not stand absolved of their responsibility; nor do I; it looks as if we all are agreeing with the Speaker and supporting his position; I do not. I would like this resolved well for all involved. I am again writing this to hopefully move this to a good result this week.  I have received no less than two dozen requests for interviews on this topic and to this point I have been very careful to not accelerate and inflame the situation further; but I felt it was time for the public to know and they have a right to know what is being done in their State House; I have felt that my entry into this right after it happened would not give this situation it's best chance at being resolved well for all involved, but it is now time to no longer sit silently while no evidence is offered, and while evil is afoot. None of this sits well with me, nor should it sit well with anyone to see someone destroyed without evidence, so if there is evidence of her wrong doing it needs to come out so this can be put to bed, or if no evidence is offered then to me this should all be put to bed and she should be allowed back into the caucus immediately. If there is a meeting to resolve this and the issues surrounding it, then Rep Gamrat should be afforded the opportunity to have those she trusts hear the charges and evidence being brought by the Speaker or the Speaker needs to just bring the evidence out so the public can see his reasoning on the "confidentiality issue" and make the determination for themselves. There just isn't anything American about this sort of leadership action taking place without evidence being offered to support it.

Many of you know Rep. Gamrat and understand what a huge warrior she has been in the cause of liberty; it has been no secret that she has stood firm and strong against the onslaught of the progressive march.  In all of this, and in every battle where she has been placed, she has always shown herself to be completely respectful and honorable in her dealings, even with those who are set on advancing the progressive march; and when they have not acted in the same manor. Many have tried to speculate if there was a political motivation to her being personally removed by the speaker.

The liberal progressive establishment has so many things happening, especially the increasing of the budget to fund more entitlements at the expense of the roads, maybe it was all done to sideline and distract the cause of liberty while they moved their plans down the tracks to passage; if so I would hope the Speaker will now take a step back and correct the steps and re-admit her to the caucus. Many times those in power will simply attack at a moment of critical importance so that the opposition is distracted and has to then spend its time defending itself rather than attacking the plans to steal away more of our lives through more spending, more taxing, and more destruction of our civil liberties.  Please join me in supporting Rep. Gamrat and resisting the tyranny of those who would further erode our precious liberty!

In Christ Alone...
todd


Cox, Laura  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Livonia / 19 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-3920
Room: N 698 HOB
Heise, Kurt  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Plymouth / 20 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-3816
Room: N 699 HOB
Somerville, Pat  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: New Boston / 23 / 3rd*
Phone: (517) 373-0855
Room: S 787
Forlini, Anthony  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Harrison Twp. / 24 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0113
Room: S 0788 HOB
Farrington, Jeff  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Utica / 30 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-7768
Room: N 794 HOB


LaFontaine, Andrea  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Richmond / 32 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-8931
Room: N 0796 HOB
Goike, Ken  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Ray Township / 33 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0820
Room: N 0797 HOB


Lucido, Peter J.  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Shelby Township / 36 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-0843
Room: S 885 HOB

Crawford, Kathy  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Novi / 38 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-0827
Room: S 887 HOB
Kesto, Klint  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Commerce Twp. / 39 / 2nd
Phone: (517) 373-1799
Room: S 888 HOB
McCready, Mike  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Birmingham / 40 / 2nd
Phone: (517) 373-8670
Room: S 889 HOB
Howrylak, Martin  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Troy / 41 / 2nd
Phone: (517) 373-1783
Room: N 890 HOB
Theis, Lana  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Brighton Twp. / 42 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-1784
Room: N 891 HOB
Tedder, Jim  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Clarkston / 43 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-0615
Room: N 892 HOB
Runestad, Jim  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: White Lake / 44 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-2616
Room: N 893 HOB
Webber, Michael  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Rochester Hills / 45 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-1773
Room: N 894 HOB
Jacobsen, Bradford  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Oxford / 46 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-1798
Room: N 895 HOB
Vaupel, Hank  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Fowlerville / 47 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-8835
Room: N 896 HOB

Graves, Joseph  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Argentine Township / 51 / 3rd *
Phone: (517) 373-1780
Room: S 985 HOB

Sheppard, Jason M.  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Temperance / 56 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-2617
Room: N 990 HOB
Jenkins, Nancy  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Clayton / 57 / 2nd
Phone: (517) 373-1706
Room: N 0991
Leutheuser, Eric  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Hillsdale / 58 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-1794
Room: N 992 HOB
Miller, Aaron  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Sturgis / 59 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-0832
Room: N 993 HOB

Iden, Brandt  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Kalamazoo / 61 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-1774
Room: N 995 HOB
Bizon, John  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Battle Creek / 62 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-0555
Room: N 996 HOB
Maturen, David C.  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Brady Township / 63 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-1787
Room: N 997 HOB
Poleski, Earl  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Jackson / 64 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-1795
Room: N 998 HOB
Roberts, Brett  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Charlotte / 65 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-1775
Room: N 999 HOB
Nesbitt, Aric  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Lawton / 66 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0839
Room: 153 CB

Outman, Rick  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Six Lakes / 70 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0834
Room: S 1089 HOB
Barrett, Tom  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Potterville / 71 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-0853
Room: N 1090 HOB
Yonker, Ken  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Caledonia / 72 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0840
Room: N 1091 HOB
Afendoulis, Chris  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Grand Rapids Twp. / 73 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-0218
Room: N 1092 HOB
VerHeulen, Rob  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Walker / 74 / 2nd
Phone: (517) 373-8900
Room: H374 CB

Hooker, Tom  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Byron Center / 77 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-2277
Room: N 1096 HOB
Pagel, Dave  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Berrien Springs / 78 / 2nd
Phone: (517) 373-1796
Room: N1097 HOB
Pscholka, Al  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Stevensville / 79 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-1403
Room: 351 CB
Gamrat, Cindy  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Plainwell / 80 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-0836
Room: N 1099 HOB
Lauwers, Dan  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Brockway / 81 / 2nd
Phone: (517) 373-1790
Room: S 1185 HOB
Courser, Todd  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Lapeer / 82 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-1800
Room: S1186 HOB
Muxlow, Paul  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Brown City / 83 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0835
Room: S 1187 HOB
Canfield, Edward  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Sebewaing / 84 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-0476
Room: S 1188 HOB
Glardon, Ben  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Owosso / 85 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0841
Room: S 1189 HOB
Lyons, Lisa Posthumus  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Alto / 86 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0846
Room: N 1190 HOB
Callton, Mike  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Nashville / 87 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0842
Room: N 1191 HOB
Victory, Roger  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Hudsonville / 88 / 2nd
Phone: (517) 373-1830
Room: N 1192 HOB
Price, Amanda  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Holland / 89 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0838
Room: N 1193 HOB
Garcia, Daniela  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Holland / 90 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-0830
Room: N 1194 HOB
Hughes, Holly  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Montague / 91 / 2nd
Phone: (517) 373-3437
Room: N 1195 HOB
Hovey-Wright, Marcia  (D)
HomeTown/District/Term: Muskegon / 92 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-2646
Room: N 1196 HOB
Leonard, Tom  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: DeWitt Twp. / 93 / 2nd
Phone: (517) 373-1778
Room: 251 CB
Kelly, Tim  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Saginaw / 94 / 2nd
Phone: (517) 373-0837
Room: N1198 HOB

Johnson, Joel  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Clare / 97 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-8962
Room: S 1286 HOB
Glenn, Gary  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Larkin Twp. / 98 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-1791
Room: S 1287 HOB
Cotter, Kevin  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Mt. Pleasant / 99 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-1789
Room: 164 CB
Bumstead, Jon  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Newaygo / 100 / Final Term
Phone: (517) 373-7317
Room: 1289 HOB
Franz, Ray  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Onekama / 101 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0825
Room: S 1385 HOB
Potvin, Phil  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Cadillac / 102 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-1747
Room: S 1386 HOB
Rendon, Bruce  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Lake City / 103 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-3817
Room: S 1387 HOB
Inman, Larry C.  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Williamsburg / 104 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-1766
Room: S 1388 HOB
Cole, Triston  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Mancelona / 105 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-0829
Room: S 1389 HOB
Pettalia, Peter  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Presque Isle / 106 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0833
Room: S 1485 HOB
Chatfield, Lee  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Levering / 107 / 1st
Phone: (517) 373-2629
Room: S 1486 HOB
McBroom, Ed  (R)
HomeTown/District/Term: Vulcan / 108 / 3rd
Phone: (517) 373-0156
Room: S 1487 HOB

Read more about the situation below:

Source LIES To MIRS, Falsely Claims Cindy Gamrat Invited WMP To Private Caucus

The PURGE: Daniela Garcia Pushed Cotter For Gamrat Caucus Removal

>>>State Rep. Cindy Gamrat Talks About Caucus Controversy And More In WMP Interview


Cindy Gamrat "Shocked" By "False" Cotter Confidentiality Claims, Expects To Rejoin Caucus


#StandWithCindy: Justin Amash Defends Cindy Gamrat On Twitter

Source: Planned Parenthood Reference Prompted Gamrat Purge, Cotter Will Invite Her Back 

TARGETED? Email Shows Cindy Gamrat's Facebook Post Was At Worst An Honest Mistake


Gamrat Booted Over Facebook Post

Breaking: Cindy Gamrat Kicked Out Of GOP Caucus

Candidate for RNC expelled from caucus

Tea party state Rep. Cindy Gamrat kicked from House Republican caucus  

____________________________________________________________
Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics

Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com
Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson