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Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Orlando Estrada Challenges Daniela Garcia In 90th State House Primary



By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
90th District State Rep. Daniela Garcia has a primary challenger.

Orlando Estrada, an educational entertainer and entrepreneur from the Holland area, announced his candidacy last week. Garcia beat Zeeland lawyer Geoff Haveman in a heated and controversial race to win the seat in 2014.

Since coming to Lansing, Garcia has repeatedly chose to vote with House leadership and big donors over the people of the 90th, backing Prop 1, multiple tax increases, and focusing her efforts on helping places like Detroit.

"The People of Michigan overwhelmingly voted "No" on Proposal 1 last year to raise the gas tax and car registration fees," Estrada said while announcing his campaign.  "Despite the historic defeat, our current State Representative Garcia ignored the will of the people and passed a series of new taxes such as House Bill 4738 to increase the Fuel tax / Secretary of State resignation fees anyway which have placed additional financial pressures on Michigan families and will barely make a dent in the road issue. Rewarding her special interests donors along the way and not the the voice of the constituents in the 90th District. So if Daniela gets a second term, what more damage could take place next?"




Estrada continues:

"As Michiganders, we are weighed down with one of the MOST EXPENSIVE car insurance payments in the nation! We need someone who will pursue No-Fault car insurance reform to lessen the burden on Michigan residents NOW, something I intend to do when elected...

I'm a life long resident of Holland here in Ottawa County and love this region-it's beautiful, the people are great, and I hate to see this area become so unaffordable to live in. I'm asking to have the opportunity to undo this damage in Lansing and believe together we will "MAKE MICHIGAN AFFORDABLE AGAIN" and send politicians like Daniela Garcia who ignore "we the people" back home and out of Lansing."


_____________________________________________________________________
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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Marino BLASTS Controversial Pay Raise For Macomb County Elected Officials

Macomb County Commissioner Steve Marino


By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
Macomb County Commissioner Steve Marino blasted a costly and controversial pay raise for Macomb County elected officials in a recent interview with WMP.

Marino, a State House candidate known for working hard and great constituent relations, was one of only 4 Commissioners to vote "no." He was the only Republican member to vote against it.

"I have always maintained I would never support any pay increases for elected officials," Marino tells WMP. "I kept my word. As a public servant, I know who I work for and voted against the increases accordingly," Marino said.

So what's going on?

According to Macomb Daily:

"In a move some predict may stir up voter resentment this election year, Macomb County’s county-wide elected officials are in line for a pay raise -- their first adjustment in more than a decade.

The Macomb County Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved the raises -- ranging from 2 to 35 percent -- to bring the officials up to surrounding communities. The raises include the county executive, commissioners, and sheriff, prosecutor, clerk, treasurer and public works commissioner.

“The big picture is these people haven’t received a raise in 10-12 years,” said Commissioner Andrey Duzyj on Warren. “When times were tough, commissioners in Macomb took two 5-percent pay cuts. Everyone took a cut. Now it’s time to step up to the plate and do something positive.”

The salary adjustments, which take effect in 2017 with periodic raises to 2020, include:


• Commissioners will receive $35,000 compared to the current $30,800


• Board chairman will earn $90,000, up from the existing $66,600


• Clerk’s pay goes from $106,800 to $108,900 ($115,500 in 2020)


• Prosecutor from $115,500 to $148,600 ($157,700 in 2020)"



_____________________________________________________________________
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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Breaking: Grand Haven Cross Returns (But With A Twist)

Coming soon to Dewey Hill in GH, minus the mini flags on the side! :)


By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
I wonder what Mitch Kahle will say about this?! I am ELATED to see the Grand Haven City Council take another step toward returning the Cross and Nativity to Dewey Hill!

This vote, which passed 3-2, wouldn't have been possible without the removal of one of the City Councilman who first voted to take down the Cross during last November's election.

Despite some controversy, I am immensely proud my PAC helped lead the fight to boot him from office, the first sitting GH councilman to lose in decades...

>>>Breaking: Grand Haven Cross Critic Has A Disturbing History Of Bullying Christians-And Profiting From It


According to Alex Doty of the Grand Haven Tribune:

"City Council voted 3-2 Monday night to add a yardarm to the flag pole atop the dune.

Councilmen Bob Monetza and Mike Fritz voted against the resolution.

Common in waterfront communities, the yardarm flagpole has a horizontal bar situated in the top one-third to one-quarter of the mast.

"Councilman (Josh) Brugger asked if we've ever thought about having a yardarm on the flag pole,"
City Manager Pat McGinnis said. "I asked the (Department of Public Works) to look into it and discovered there was a yardarm in the shed building (atop the hill)."

According to McGinnis, since the arm was stored in the utility shed at the top of Dewey Hill, he believes it was at one time attached to the pole. McGinnis noted, however, that he found no vintage photographs of the arm on the flag pole and found no reports from anyone who remembers seeing the feature installed on the pole.

The yardarm will display additional flags, such as those flown at the U.S. Coast Guard facilities in Grand Haven and at the Escanaba Park memorial. The only time these flags may be flown from the yardarm would be Flag Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and during the Coast Guard Festival.

Brugger said the yardarm allows a way to recognize the Coast Guard and the area's maritime heritage.

"Just having it up there and being able to fly signal flags solidifies (the city’s) ties to the Coast Guard,“ he said.

Brugger also thought that by having the yardarm flags flown at certain times of the year would minimize the impact any foot traffic might have on Dewey Hill.

But the initiative wasn't without opposition from some council members. In addition to voting against the yardarm, Fritz and Monetza also voted unsuccessfully to remove the proposal from Monday night’s agenda.

Monetza said the plan isn’t for the best, long-term benefit of the city.

“It’s a thinly veiled effort to add a city-owned cross on city-owned property,” he said.
However, Monetza said the yardarm would likely survive any legal challenges since it is a flag pole."

>>>WMP Confronts Mitch Kahle After Court Hearing (Video Via Fox 17)

>>>Flashback: Breaking: Anti-Cross Councilman Becomes First Grand Haven Incumbent To Lose In Decades!

The Save The Grand Haven Cross And Nativity PAC issued a statement Tuesday night regarding the historic election results just in from Grand Haven.Incumbent John Hierholzer, one of the 3 council members who voted to take down the Grand Haven Cross and Nativity in January, became the first Grand Haven City Council incumbent to lose in decades.

That vote spawned recalls, lawsuits, and continued unrest in the popular tourist town.

The PAC targeted Hierholzer through canvassing groups going door-to-door across Grand Haven, web ads, robocalls, mailers, and other strategic activities.

The mailers and robocalls proved controversial, hitting Hierholzer for his voting history and advocating for the election of Josh Brugger. (The "Ashley Madison" account of another opponent was also exposed.)

Brugger, a local businessman, won.

"Tonight, the people of Grand Haven sent a crystal clear message to City Hall: Atheist extremist Mitch Kahle doesn't run this town, we do," said Save The Grand Haven Cross And Nativity PAC Executive Director Brandon Hall. 

"John Hierholzer turned his back on Grand Haven when he voted to remove our Cross and Nativity, and tonight, the people of Grand Haven said it's time for Hierholzer to go," Hall said.

"We look forward to working with the new Council in an effort to make sure the voice of the people is heard and that the Cross and Nativity return to Dewey Hill."




________________________________________________________________________

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

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Re: The 89th District State House Primary

With Major Garrett in Birch Run waiting for Donald J. Trump's press conference




































There will be *much* more information released over the coming days and weeks, but I wanted to take a moment to say I am excited to announce my candidacy for State House in the 89th District to replace the Hon. State Representative Amanda Price.

Thanks to MLive.com, MIRS, Gongwer News Service, Grand Haven Tribune, WHTC, the Holland Sentinel, and others for covering my candidacy, as well as all those who have passed on words of support! ‪#‎LetsCleanUpLansing

>>>CLICK HERE For Facebook Updates

Below is my statement on the race:

"Lansing politicians have failed Michigan families. Again and again, they have shown they don't serve the people who elect them, they do the bidding of lobbyists, donors, and special interests.

Despite a Republican majority, Michiganders have seen gas taxes go up, vehicle registration taxes go up, government grow by billions annually, and shady deals like the Senate Building scandal that takes millions from taxpayers and hands them out to a well connected GOP donor-it's disgusting.

Unfortunately, neither of my opponents has shown any willingness to stand up and fight Lansing on behalf of Michiganders, that's why I decided to run.

It's time to take back our state-it's time to clean up Lansing. "

>>>Here is an excerpt from Tuesday's MIRS report regarding my candidacy for the 89th State House seat:

"Former Rep. Todd COURSER today filed to run for Lapeer County Prosecutor against the Republican incumbent who declined to push charges against Joe GAMRAT or David HORR for working together to send him threatening text messages last year.

Tim TURKELSON had reviewed the information collected by the Michigan State Police, but said since the text messages were designed to get Courser to end his affair with Gamrat's wife, then-Rep. Cindy GAMRAT, it didn't raise to the level of criminal extortion (See "Police: Gamrat Husband Worked With Security Guard To Text Wife, Courser," 11/16/15).

Courser wrote in a statement that it is important to make sure the position "is not used for personal benefit or political advantage...

Meanwhile, Brandon HALL, the West Michigan Politics editor who posted pictures of Courser and Gamrat appearing to give each other foot rubs in a parking lot during the nationwide melodrama, is also giving public office another go.

He has filed to run for the 89th House District seat being vacated by term-limited Amanda PRICE. Two other Republicans have filed to run in this seat -- Jim LILLY and Tracy STILLE-MULLIGAN, the daughter of former Sen. Leon STILLE. He has run for the state House before and has served on the local school board.

"Lansing politicians have failed Michigan families," Hall wrote in a statement. "Again and again, they have shown they don't serve the people who elect them, they do the bidding of lobbyists, donors and special interests."

-Brandon

________________________________________________________________________

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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Opposition Against Shady Meekhof Senate Building Grows As Calls For Schuette To Investigate Continue

Meekhof, right, Schuette, left


By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
WMP has helped lead the fight over the "Meekhof Senate Building" scandal for over a year, first working with State Rep. Todd Courser to get an official opinion from AG Schuette last spring.

Courser was evidently 'busy" and couldn't get the job done, but a few weeks ago, a Dem State Rep. did, asking for Schuette's opinion in a letter sent to the AG. It's about time people are waking up!

Recently, the 12th and 13th GOP Congressional District Committees also passed resolutions in support of a full investigation by Schuette. (I hope to see other districts doing the same soon, let me know if you need any help!)

13th GOP Congressional District Chair David Dudenhoefer tells WMP he's outraged by the shady deal.

"Fraudulent backroom deals are inexcusable," Dudenhoefer said. "With each new abusive tax-hike to pay for more wasteful spending, the people of Michigan continue to lose confidence in their state government, which they elected to conserve resources. It is crucial that our Michigan Attorney General fulfill his obligation to the people by uncovering into the details of the Senate building purchase, and to hold those accountable for any wrong doing"

***SIGN THE PETITION!***

We Want The $130 Million #MeekhofSenateBuilding Investigated! Michigan Deserves Better

>>>Below is the full resolution:

"12th Congressional District statement

“Wasteful spending of taxpayer money, and investigation by our Michigan
Attorney General on the acquisition of the Capitol View building.”

During the 2014 legislative season, the Michigan State Senate, led by Majority Leader Randy
Richardville, approved the acquisition of new office space known as “The Capitol View”
building in downtown Lansing.

During the process of the building acquisition, the State Senate failed to have an appraisal, or to
perform an investigation into the building’s tax history.  Only after the purchase did the public
discover, through an independent investigation, that the new building was saddled with tax liens,
and valued far below what was offered by the State Senate in payment.

The State Senate unilaterally chose to move its offices from The Farnum Building which was
paid for, to a building in which the taxpayer will now pay rent.

Furthermore, the new State Senate building will be shared with registered lobbyist groups. This
in itself is appalling.

In the past few years alone, Michigan taxpayers have been repeatedly reminded by the very state
government entrusted with the public purse, that funding for basic necessities such as Michigan
roads have been insufficient.  And yet, the Michigan State Senate will force taxpayers to cough
up an additional $134 million for its new offices.

The State Senate cited inadequacies of the existing building, such as security, old roof, and
cosmetic changes could have all been upgraded in the existing building for a fraction of the cost
Michigan taxpayers will now pay for their ludicrous move.

Therefore, the Republican Delegates of Michigan’s 13th Congressional District stand in outrage
by the utter lack of fiduciary responsibility towards Michigan taxpayers who are overburdened
with increased taxation and plagued by irresponsible spending of its State Government. 

Furthermore, we call on Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette to investigate the purchase of
the Capitol View Building as requested by State Representative Scott Dianda of Calumet, and to
hold those accountable for their utter failure in basic due diligence.

A copy of this statement will be made available to State Party leadership, the Michigan Attorney
General, and any interested parties.

Passed on April 8, 2016 during the 12th Congressional District caucus of the Michigan
Republican Party State Convention.

Mover, Tony DeMottt
12th District Convention Chairman"

>>>Breaking: Courser Blasts Senate Building, Considers Asking Schuette To Investigate

>>>Scandal: State Overpaid MILLIONS For New #MeekhofSenateBuilding

>>>BLACKLIST: Michigan Media Leaves Michiganders In The Dark On State Senate Scandals

________________________________________________________________________

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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TRASHED: Police Called After Heise Busted Throwing Away Rival's Campaign Lit



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

State Rep. Kurt Heise was accused of entering private property and throwing away advertisements of a political foe in the fall of 2014 during his re-election campaign, police records show.

Heise, a former member of the Courser/Gamrat Expulsion Committee, has been in the spotlight before with police after an altercation with his daughter.

>>>Below are the police records:



________________________________________________________________________

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

HUGE Ruling Could Force Speaker Cotter To Publicly Answer Lingering Questions In Courser/Gamrat Scandal




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

Former State Rep. Cindy Gamrat celebrated a major decision Friday from a Judge in the criminal case against her and fellow ex-legislator Todd Courser.

According to The Detroit News:

"Ingham County District Court Judge Hugh B. Clarke Jr. ruled Friday it would be “patently unfair” for Gamrat and Courser’s attorneys to not have an opportunity to question Cotter in their clients’ defense.

“Fundamental fairness would seem to require this,” Clarke wrote in a six-page opinion released Friday.

Clarke said he will hold a closed-door hearing in his chambers with Cotter to let Courser and Gamrat’s attorneys ask the speaker up to 15 written questions submitted in advance.
From there, the judge will determine whether Cotter should have to testify under oath during a preliminary examination hearing next month in Courser and Gamrat’s criminal case.

“This procedure would allow the court to properly balance the interests of the defendants against the privilege sought to be accorded Speaker Cotter,” Clarke wrote."

>>>The ruling from Judge Hugh Clarke could force Speaker Kevin Cotter to finally publicly address a series of controversial questions that have long remain unanswered.

WMP has spotlighted these issues with Cotter from the beginning because there can be no doubt: Speaker Cotter MUST be subjected to the same level of scrutiny Courser and Gamrat were. Period. That simply hasn't materialized...

However, the tide may be turning.

Friday, Gamrat took to Facebook, writing "Celebrating a victory from yesterday's ruling!" She then quoted key parts of the judge's ruling, along with the entire ruling. You can check that out below.

The most important part, to me, is clearly: "The Court noted during oral argument that there is at least one legislator that has a felony conviction and other members of the legislature who have pled guilty to a drinking and driving offense. There have been no hearings or investigations to determine their “qualification” to serve in the legislature."

Saari, Bro: Speaker Cotter Knew Since May 22nd That Courser Sent False Flag Gay Prostitute Email

Breaking: Drunk Dem State Rep. Used Legislator Status To Evade DUI Driving To Work, Didn't Know Where He Was

Speaker Cotter Spends Nearly $100k To Stop State Employee's Gay Rape Lawsuit Against Dem State Rep.

Must Read: Top 10 Blockbuster Scandal Cover Up Allegations Against Speaker Cotter By Keith Allard And Ben Graham

Cline: Cotter's Office Didn't Care About Hellish House Working Conditions

Gamrat also quotes:

"This Court opines that the investigation of a member’s qualifications is limited to what the State Constitution lists as above. To rule otherwise would allow members of the legislature to be subject to the whim of the majority party to challenge a member of the minority party for any arbitrary reason they may choose, and leave others not subject to a similar inquiry for any arbitrary reason. This court does not believe the drafters of the Constitution had this in mind."

"Finally, the Speaker is alleged to have made statements or have been interviewed by law enforcement during the course of the investigation. It would appear patently unfair to the defendants to allow the Speaker to invoke the Statute and not be subject to some reasonable limited inquiry by counsel for the defense in this matter. Fundamental fairness would seem to require this. While the Legislature may determine qualifications for its members, they certainly cannot do so in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner. No State Constitution would condone that type of application of its provisions."

"The testimony sought here relates to personnel decisions, and frankly what one could consider to be statements, that may exonerate the Defendants as to one or more of the misconduct in office charges. They may very well be more administrative in nature. It must be remembered, House Resolution 145 was adopted by the House of Representatives September 1, 2015 which directed an investigation by the Michigan Attorney General and the Michigan State Police into the behavior and conduct of the Defendants. Speaker Cotter is alleged to have made statements to the Attorney General and the Michigan State Police after this date."

You can read the full decision below:

STATE OF MICHIGAN
IN THE 54-A JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT _____________________________________________________
STATE OF MICHIGAN, Plaintiff,
v
TODD COURSER,
Defendant.
File No. 16-00873-FY Hon. Hugh B. Clarke, Jr.
_____________________________________________________
STATE OF MICHIGAN, Plaintiff,
v
CINDY GAMRAT,
File No. 16-00874-FY
Hon. Hugh B. Clarke, Jr.
___
OPINION AND ORDER


The Defendants have served a subpoena on the Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin Cotter. Counsel for Mr. Cotter by Special Assistant Attorney General Gary Gordon has filed a motion to quash the subpoena. The parties have briefed the issue and oral arguments were held on April 19, 2016.

The first argument advanced by counsel for Speaker Cotter is that he is immune from process pursuant to the Michigan Constitution of 1963, Article IV §11. This provision provides:
§ 11 Legislators privileged from civil arrest and civil process; limitation; questioning for speech in either house prohibited.


Sec. 11. - "Except as provided by law, senators and representatives shall be privileged from civil arrest and civil process during sessions of the legislature and for five days next before the commencement and after the termination thereof. They shall not be questioned in any other place for any speech in either house."

The language of this constitutional provision is clear and unequivocal. This provision applies to civil actions. The nature of the instant proceedings is clear and unequivocal--it is a criminal proceeding. The court in In Re Wilkowski, 270 Mich 687; 259 NW 658 (1935), which interpreted an earlier version of this provision under the Michigan Constitution of 1908, clearly stated that the immunity granted under the State Constitution did not apply to criminal proceedings. Similarly, this Court does not find that Article IV Section 11 grants immunity to Speaker Cotter in this matter.
Next, counsel for Speaker Cotter argues that MCL 4.553 exempts the Speaker from testifying in this matter. The statute provides:


4.553 Subpoena as to statements made by legislator.
Sec. 3.
"A member of the legislature shall not be subject to a subpoena for any matter involving statements made by the legislator pursuant to his or her duty as a legislator."



The Court has been presented with various arguments by counsel as to why this statutory provision may or may not apply. Counsel for the Speaker avers the Speaker was making statements as they relate to the defendants’ ‘qualifications’ to serve in the legislature, specifically the Michigan House of Representatives. At issue here is whether the conduct by the defendants, Gamrat and Courser, ‘affect’ their qualifications to serve as legislators. Specifically, whether a violation of Rule 41 as it relates to signing the ‘blue back’ copy of a house bill; asking a staffer of one of the representatives to send an email that was false in an attempt to cover up an extramarital affair; and alleged false statements to a House Business employee.

The Court noted during oral argument that there is at least one legislator that has a felony conviction and other members of the legislature who have pled guilty to a drinking and driving offense1. There have been no hearings or investigations to determine their “qualification” to serve in the legislature. Counsel suggests it is within the sole discretion of the legislative body to investigate a member’s qualification.

The Michigan Constitution of 1963, Article IV §7 provides:
§ 7 Legislators; qualifications, removal from district.
Sec. 7.


"Each senator and representative must be a citizen of the United States, at least 21 years of age, and an elector of the district he represents. The removal of his domicile from the district shall be deemed a vacation of the office. No person who has been convicted of subversion or who has within the preceding 20 years been convicted of a felony involving a breach of public trust shall be eligible for either house of the legislature."

This Court opines that the investigation of a member’s qualifications is limited to what the State Constitution lists as above. To rule otherwise would allow members of the legislature to be subject to the whim of the majority party to challenge a member of the minority party for any arbitrary reason they may choose, and leave others not subject to a similar inquiry for any arbitrary reason. This court does not believe the drafters of the Constitution had this in mind.
Finally, the Speaker is alleged to have made statements or have been interviewed by law enforcement during the course of the investigation. It would appear patently unfair to the defendants to allow the Speaker to invoke the Statute and not be subject to some reasonable limited inquiry by counsel for the defense in this matter. Fundamental fairness would seem to require this. While the Legislature may determine qualifications for its members, they certainly cannot do so in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner. No State Constitution would condone that type of application of its provisions.

The Defendants argue that the testimony of Speaker Cotter is necessary to guarantee their rights under the Michigan Constitution of 1963, Article 1 §11 and MCR 6.110. The problem with this argument is that with respect to the allegations of a violation of Rule 41, counsel for the Defendants cannot agree as to what the Speaker said during his interview with the Michigan State Police.
Secondly, the Court is not clear how or what the balance of the Speaker’s testimony will be to assist the Court in determining whether or not probable cause to believe the offenses as charged exists and whether or not the Defendants committed the charged offenses. Also, there is the issue of whether or not the testimony sought is not available from other non–privileged witnesses. Without answers to these questions, the Court cannot adequately balance the rights of the Defendants against the right of the Speaker to be free from being compelled to testify.

The testimony sought here relates to personnel decisions, and frankly what one could consider to be statements, that may exonerate the Defendants as to one or more of the misconduct in office charges. They may very well be more administrative in nature. It must be remembered, House Resolution 145 was adopted by the House of Representatives September 1, 2015 which directed an investigation by the Michigan Attorney General and the Michigan State Police into the behavior and conduct of the Defendants. Speaker Cotter is alleged to have made statements to the Attorney General and the Michigan State Police after this date.

To make this decision, the Court believes an in camera hearing with counsel for the Defendants, Speaker Cotter and his attorney is warranted. This procedure would allow the court to properly balance the interests of the Defendants against the privilege sought to be accorded Speaker Cotter. In U.S. v Nixon, 418 U.S. 683 (1974), the U.S. Supreme Court was faced with a Presidential privilege claim from the Petitioner. The court felt an in camera review was appropriate with the protections the district court could provide. There is no specialized claim here that an in camera review or questioning of Speaker Cotter would create a hardship or prevent him from otherwise carrying out his legislative duties.


Counsel for the Defendants shall discuss and prepare a list of fifteen (15) questions that they would like to ask Speaker Cotter and submit them in a sealed envelope to the Court within seven days from the date of this Opinion and Order. Counsel for Speaker Cotter shall contact the Court and propose three (3) dates and times over the next three (3) weeks so the Court can schedule the in camera hearing. Following the hearing, the Court will issue a written opinion and order on whether or not the Court will quash the subpoena based upon these or other arguments advanced by Speaker Cotter.

IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: 4/22/2016

HUGH B. CLARKE, JR. (P30156) District Court Judge

________________________________________________________________________

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 12, 2016

Ronna's Rules: Dudenhoefer Says MIGOP Chair Didn't Handle Vote To Certify Convention Results Properly

Dudenhoefer  (DarKen Photography)


By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
13th GOP Congressional District Chair David Dudenhoefer is concerned with the way MIGOP Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel ran the State Committee meeting after this weekend's convention.

Dudenhoefer says Romney didn't even ask for "no" votes when the question of whether or not to certify the convention results was originally presented.

Only after being pressed did she ask for the "no" votes, and conservative activist Marian Sheridan contends their may have been more "no" votes than "yes"  votes...

"The Party Chair, Ronna McDaniel, asked for a motion to accept the results of the Convention," Dudenhoefer tells WMP. "(I)t was seconded, however she did not allow for discussion and simply went right to accepting "YAY" votes, during which time, "point of order" was called out and ignored. What Disturbed me, was she chose not to ask for "NO" votes. When I inquired about the "NO" votes, she said, "Fine, let the record show Dave Dudenhoefer votes NO".

I insisted that she must ask for any "NO" votes, when she did a nearly equal amount of "NO" votes could be heard to the earlier "YAY" votes, "Division" was ignored and the certification was approved in "her opinion."

>>>Dudenhoefer issued the following statement to WMP:

"Process should never take a back seat for results.

As one of the District Chairs of our Party, I was frustrated by the lack of clarity on how and when voting would take place for the coveted "At-Large" Delegate slate to the RNC National Convention this summer in Cleveland.

Upon a further inquire, voting apparently took place somewhat quietly, while I, along with other Chairs, were still seating alternates. Few in my District as well as other Districts were aware the vote had already occurred.

Many Delegates who took time out from their daily family and work life, were essentially made to feel like window dressing for a desired result by a select few on a committee.

It was apparent a voice vote was taken with little regard to making certain everyone in the convention hall knew what was taking place.

I spoke with at least five other District Chairs that day who also expressed similar concerns over process, and being unaware of what had taken place.

During the process of certification of convention by Sate Committee members, I rallied as many as I cold to make a statement and to vote "NO" if they felt similar angst about the process.

The Party Chair, Ronna McDaniel, asked for a motion to accept the results of the Convention, and it was seconded, however she did not allow for discussion and simply went right to accepting "YAY" votes, during which time, "point of order" was called out and ignored. What Disturbed me, was she chose not to ask for "NO" votes. When I inquired about the "NO" votes, she said, "Fine, let the record show Dave Dudenhoefer votes NO".

I insisted that she must ask for any "NO" votes, when she did a nearly equal amount of "NO" votes could be heard to the earlier "YAY" votes, "Division" was ignored and the certification was approved in "her opinion.".

No matter how a participant felt about the results of the Convention, process seemed to matter less over results, when that occurs the voices of the backbone of our party also ceases to matter. We mast never let that happen.

Our party can only grow, when we follow the rules and are inclusive. Our leaders need be held accountable when that does not occur, and if necessary we must be wiling to replace them."

________________________________________________________________________

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