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Monday, May 23, 2016

WOW: Daniela Garcia Holds Lansing Fundraiser DURING Consideration Of Controversial DPS Legislation




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


A few weeks ago, as the House considered a controversial proposal for Detroit Public Schools, State Rep. Daniela Garcia held a high-priced fundraiser in Lansing.

Garcia allegedly did not attend...

According to Craig Mauger of the MCFN:

"For another, a Lansing fund-raiser was at least scheduled to take place for Rep. Daniela Garcia, R-Holland, the House Education Committee vice chair and the primary sponsor of two bills in the House DPS package, on the evening of May 4 — what turned out to be the night the House considered the bills — at the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association in downtown Lansing. Garcia’s campaign later confirmed that the fund-raiser took place but Garcia didn’t attend."

No surprise here...

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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

State Senators Seeking Higher Office Must Answer For #MeekhofSenateBuilding Scandal



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


It couldn't be any more simple: State Senators seeking to advance to Congress in the 1st and 10th Districts MUST answer for why they have stood by and refused to do a single thing to combat the #MeekhofSenateBuilding's advancement, a $140 million heist robbing taxpayers in favor of a well-connected  donor...

Phil Pavlov and Tom Casperson must answer, on the record, as to why they have remained silent on this critical issue. If they can't be trusted to speak up in Lansing, why would DC be any different?

WMP will continue to seek answers on this scandal as reports say Senate staff is already preparing to move in to the building, some may already be in...

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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

Judge Orders Cotter To Publicly Testify In Courser/Gamrat Case

Cotter

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


Michigan House Speaker Kevin Cotter has been ordered to take the stand and testify in the Courser/Gamrat criminal case.

His office is appealing the ruling, hoping to avoid public questions in the controversy that continues to cause drama...

According to MLive:
"Michigan Speaker of the House Kevin Cotter has been ordered to testify in court in the case of two former lawmakers charged related to an affair and the cover-up that followed.

54-A District Court Judge Hugh Clarke issued a written order Thursday, May 19, denying a motion to quash a subpoena for Cotter to testify about the aftermath of Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat's in-office affair.

"Kevin Cotter is all over this case," Mike Nichols, attorney for Cindy Gamrat, said following Thursday's ruling.

Nichols argues that hearing Cotter's testimony is an important part of the rights of the accused to defend themselves in court.

Gideon D'Assandro, spokesman for Cotter's office said the office is looking forward "to asserting our rights on appeal."

"We disagree strongly with Judge Clarke's ruling. We believe the Constitution is clear, and he has seriously misread it," he said.

The order asks Cotter's counsel for a two-hour block of time when Cotter could testify, and otherwise, orders him to testify on May 25 or May 26, the dates of a preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to take the case of former legislators Courser and Gamrat, who face a total of six felonies related to an admitted affair and cover-up."

_____________________________________________________________________
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

Abortion Extortion Backfires As Chatfield Turns Tables On Blackmailers: Who Is Targeting Him?



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

A scheme designed to threaten State Rep. Lee Chatfield has completely backfired after the freshman legislator turned his blackmailer's dirt into a powerful reminder that God uses imperfect messengers to reach people, and sometimes those messages can be quite the surprise...

It is still unclear who was targeting Chatfield and his family, stay tuned...

According to a statement from Lee and Stephanie Chatfield:

"Please see the statement below made by my wife regarding her unplanned pregnancy in high school. I'm extremely proud of my wife for her courage!

Be Pro-Life – But offer help to women in need

There are women all around us in our communities that need help with pregnancies. There are young girls that have unplanned pregnancies and feel that there’s nowhere to turn and no one to confide in. These girls are afraid. And these young girls - feeling alone, helpless or ashamed - unfortunately turn to the only solution that they believe can solve their supposed crisis: abortion. I know this personally, because as a teenager in high school, I had an abortion.

To tell you the truth, I desperately wish that I had the courage as a teenage girl to accept and welcome my child into this world. I wish that I had the same amount of courage that it’s taking me to share my story now. But I didn’t, and I made a decision that I’ve thought about and regretted nearly every day since. It’s haunted me. It’s made me weep. It’s made it difficult to look in the mirror at times. I knew that what I did was wrong at the time, but I never imagined the weight and guilt that I would carry as a consequence. But now, it’s time for me to tell my story, and if this testimony helps other young girls, then to God be the glory.

First, I would sincerely like to thank the person who recently contacted my husband. You informed my husband that you had heard a rumor, and that you would keep digging. You promised that you would ensure that this story went public. In fact, your desire to see this story go public emboldened me to do something that I should have done years ago. After speaking it over with my husband, I felt that telling my story was best. And no matter the intentions of anybody wishing to see this story go public, this I am certain of: God meant it for good and will glorify Himself through this.

In high school, I made a poor decision to attend a party one night. I have no memory of the majority of that night, but judging by my appearance and physical condition the next morning, I knew I had been taken advantage of. Three weeks later, I found out I was pregnant. I didn’t tell my friends. I didn’t tell my parents. Truthfully, I didn’t tell anybody. I was ashamed and I was scared.

The decision that I made one week later to abort my child was the worst of my life. Rather than find comfort in the ones around me that loved me the most, I sought to take care of the situation the only way that I knew how. I should not have done it. It was my easy way out, but little did I know that I would be stricken with an unbearable guilt for the months and even years to follow.

It wasn’t until after I spoke with my parents and my then ex-boyfriend (now my husband, Lee), that I realized the full forgiveness and grace that God freely offers through His Son Jesus Christ. You see, Christ took my place on the cross and bore the weight of my sin so that I could have eternal life. And though my sins are forgiven, I never want to minimize the mistake that I made that day, because it now magnifies the love and grace of my Savior through the telling of this story.

To girls everywhere, if you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy, whatever the circumstances, know that those around you love you and want to help you. There are crisis pregnancy centers in our area that exist for the sole purpose of helping girls like you. The support is there. You will not be judged, but rather you will be loved and forgiven. Be courageous. Reach out and look for support!

To those who’ve had abortions and might be battling with guilt, there’s forgiveness in Christ. There’s a life to be lived! God has so graciously blessed me with four beautiful children and a wonderful, loving husband who takes care of us and adores me for who I am, mistakes and all. God has forgiven me, and He’ll forgive you too.

To all Pro-Life advocates, be against abortion – yes, but let's continue being proactive and looking for young girls and women who are hurting, suffering and confused so we can offer them assistance. Let’s be about solutions and showing the true love of Christ to each and every woman in our communities and families.

And to everybody reading this, remember what I had forgotten – that God is greater than our sin. I am confident that God can continue to use an imperfect person like me to bring Himself glory. And while the life vs. choice debate will continue to wage on, this I know for certain: I made the wrong choice. Yet, I plan to use my story to help girls, love others and serve as a living testimony of God’s grace and forgiveness.

-Stephanie Chatfield"
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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

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Trump Names Joan Larsen As Possible SCOTUS Pick




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


Donald Trump says Michigan Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen may be one of his picks for the United States Supreme Court.

According to reports:
"Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has released a list of 11 potential Supreme Court justices he plans to vet to fill the seat of late Justice Antonin Scalia if he's elected to the White House.

Trump's picks include Steven Colloton of Iowa, Allison Eid of Colorado and Raymond Gruender of Missouri.

Also on the list are: Thomas Hardiman of Pennsylvania, Raymond Kethledge of Michigan, Joan Larsen of Michigan, Thomas Lee of Utah, William Pryor of Alabama, David Stras of Minnesota, Diane Sykes of Wisconsin and Don Willett of Texas. Trump had previously named Pryor and Sykes as examples of kind of justices he would choose.

The news comes as Trump is working to bring together a fractured Republican Party and earn the trust of skill-skeptical establishment Republicans who question his electability in the general election and conservatives in his party still weary of his commitment to their cause."

_____________________________________________________________________
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

Facebook

Twitter

Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson