It looks like the leaders of the Michigan House may regret not settling a lawsuit brought in federal court recently by former Gamrat/Courser staffers Ben Graham and Keith Allard...
In an appearance on last week's "Off The Record," Sarah Howard, attorney for Graham and Allard, put Speaker Cotter on notice, saying she will not only call Cotter to the stand, she will also use the discovery process to uncover important, secret communications between Cotter and his Chief of Staff, Norm Saari, along with anyone else who may have been part of behind the scenes discussions.
The state will attempt to have the lawsuit dismissed, though that is unlikely to be granted. Speaker Cotter is expected to invoke legislative privilege if asked to testify, but the Speaker would have an immensely difficult time keeping Allard and Graham for procuring documents many believed would never see the public eye.
Howard noted on OTR, as she does in the lawsuit, that Cotter knew as early as February that drama was running rampant in the Gamrat/Courser office. Cotter apparently walked in on a meeting between Allard, Graham, and Sarai...
Howard made it clear that her clients adamantly opposed going to court if a settlement could be reached, but the Speaker's office had no interest in taking that route.
Now, as accusations of a twisted cover up grow louder, this controversy takes center stage heading into 2016 with huge potential implications for not only the Speaker and his team, but the Michigan Republican Party all across Pure Michigan.
Stay tuned...
___________________________________________________________________ Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
Did Rep. Ed McBroom Just Call Speaker Cotter A Liar?
From the MIRS quote of the day:
"It's interesting to see liars to come out with more lies about other liars."
- Rep. Ed McBROOM (R-Vulcan), the former chair of the committee that recommended expulsion for ex-Reps. Todd COURSER and Cindy GAMRAT, on the lawsuit filed by their former staffers.
Let's break this down for a minute.
"It's interesting to see liars to come out" would be Allard and Graham suing the House in their newly announced lawsuit. "(W)ith more lies about other liars," what does that mean?
Given the lawsuit targets House leadership, did McBroom just call Kevin Cotter and Norm Sarri liars?!
"A federal lawsuit recently filed by former Gamrat/Courser staffers Ben Graham and Keith Allard claims they were fired by the House Business Office for being whistleblowers.
The lawsuit reveals a series of new twists in the scandal that has rocked Michigan and made headlines worldwide, sparking a round of heated attacks against Graham and Allard from Speaker Of The House Kevin Cotter...
Among other things, the lawsuit reveals a meeting between the staffers with Cotter in February where they say he was informed of issues in the office, and the suit also accuses Gamrat/Courser Select Committee Chairman Ed McBroom of lying.
"In the lawsuit, Allard and Graham said they informed Cotter and his then-chief of staff, Norm Saari, in mid-February that Courser and Gamrat were carrying an extramarital affair and forcing them to perform political work on state time. Another former aide, Josh Cline, was present at the brief meeting with Cotter and Saari.
“Speaker Cotter appeared genuinely concerned and asked Messrs. Allard, Graham and Cline to continue to keep Mr. Saari abreast of any additional issues,” according to the suit.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the western district of Michigan.
The lawsuit lays out multiple instances in which Allard, Graham and the third aide relayed their concerns that Courser and Gamrat’s affair was an abuse of taxpayer resources in the combined office they were operating.
Allard and Graham argue they were unlawfully fired in July by the House Business Office at Courser and Gamrat’s request. Cotter’s office later used Allard and Graham’s misconduct allegations and evidence to oust Gamrat and Courser from office."
The lawsuit also claims that Gamrat/Courser Committee Chair Ed McBroom lied when he said Allard and Graham would only plead the fifth if called to testify.
"The lawsuit also charges, for the first time, that Republican House attorneys did not want Allard and Graham to testify under oath before the House committee investigating Courser and Gamrat.
Allard and Graham said they would testify if subpoenaed by the committee. But on the final day of testimony over Courser and Gamrat’s misconduct, committee Chairman Ed McBroom said Allard and Graham would “plead the fifth” and exercise their constitutional right against self-incrimination, according to the lawsuit.
“Neither Plaintiffs nor their legal counsel ever said that or anything remotely like that,” according to the lawsuit."
Cotter said if Allard and Graham don't drop the lawsuit, they could suffer consequences.
"Cotter called on the former House aides to drop their lawsuit “before their lives and careers also became nationwide cautionary tales in how not to conduct oneself on the job.”
“Rather than put this sordid matter behind them, Mr. Allard and Mr. Graham have chosen instead to drag this institution back into their mud pit and waste even more of the people’s resources on this ridiculous issue,” he said."
Cotter also called Allard and Graham rude, bad employees, and liars...
Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, said Monday the lawsuit is “wholly without merit” and that Allard and Graham’s firings were justified because they “were substandard staffers, violated House rules, and sent rude and disparaging emails about their coworkers, colleagues, and supervisors.”
“In fact, during the criminal investigation by the Michigan State Police, it became clear that Mr. Allard and Mr. Graham repeatedly lied to House Business Office investigators and lawyers about their knowledge and involvement in a convoluted, months-long extortion plot against their own supervisors,” the speaker said in a statement."
___________________________________________________________________ Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
By Brandon Hall (Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
I find it immensely hilarious to see the political establishment freak out about 2016 GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump, especially Republicans.
It was many of the very same establishment Republicans who are now blasting Trump who created the environment for "The Donald" to rise in the first place.
Puzzled by Trump's success? People are pissed at status quo politicians. Pissed at liars like Arlan Meekhof who tell voters how against taxes they are in an election year, then raise taxes on those same families AGAIN and AGAIN just months later.
Despite ads claiming he'd fight government growth and tax increases, Meekhof raised the gas tax AND vehicle registration fees in Michigan.
People like Arlan Meekhof, Michigan's dark money king, a tool of special interests and a puppet and prostitute for whomever comes calling with a check, have the American people sick of the BS and the lies. I hate the word "RINO," but if Arlan Meekhof isn't one, who is?
Trump speaks often of how people like Meekhof are controlled by elites, happy to do their bidding when the moneymen call, happy to say "how high?" when the donors say "jump!"
Because of that willingness to work on behalf of special interests, despite Secretary of State Ruth Johnson's best efforts fighting him, Meekhof was the central figure in giving Michigan an "F" ranking in a major study assessing government openness and accountability after he orchestrated a dark money takeover of Michigan politics, preventing the public from knowing who is paying for the ads that elect their government.
He also supported the biggest tax increase in 50 years via Prop 1, changed Senate rules to prevent media and public access to documents, and wasted $140 million on a new Senate building that is nothing but a taxpayer handout to one of his big donors.
He also hasn't held a local townhall or coffee in YEARS, never available to those he is supposed to serve! And this is supposed to be a "Conservative leader?!" And people wonder why Trump is doing well?
One can't forget the liberals who are the first to make fun of Christian Americans for praying- prayer shaming them because of their faith- are the first ones to defend American Muslims from the "evil" Donald Trump.
These same type of liberals are also usually the first to smear and slander millions of law abiding gun owners before the blood has even dried during the latest tragedy. It might be funny if the hypocrisy weren't so palpable.
Take a lot at Terre Haute, Indiana and you'll see why Trump won't be going anywhere anytime soon. His supporters are far from simply racist nuts. They're a diverse coalition who are so sick of the games being played with the American people.
"In America’s most prophetic county seat, Trump enjoys a diverse coalition of support, from the 17-year-old punk high school student on the eve of his first election to the 81-year-old Kennedy voter to the kind of folks who will reshuffle their Thursday night plans to attend a county GOP “Politics and Pies” event. Coastal pundits might lament Trump’s appeal to the “low information voter”—but I can tell you one thing: Terre Haute citizens are anything but poorly informed.
And, in nearly every presidential election since 1888, voters here in this blue-collar county have selected the winning candidate, missing only twice: Once, in 1908, when they opted for Williams Jennings Bryan instead of William Howard Taft, and again in 1952, when they chose Adlai Stevenson rather than Dwight D. Eisenhower.
And if Trump can make it here—in this hollowed-out county of swing voters, union halls, three universities and a knot of CSX railroad lines, where voters seem to have a knack for predicting unpredictable elections—he can make it anywhere."
The lies and BS games the political establishment in D.C. (as well as in Lansing and state capitols nationwide) have continued to play with the American people for decades has made Trump's candidacy possible. Trump didn't start the fire, establishment politicians like Arlan Meekhof did...now watch them SQUIRM! Make no mistake, you reap what ya sow!
Here are Meekhof's false promises to Ottawa County voters last year:
By Brandon Hall (Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
A federal lawsuit recently filed by former Gamrat/Courser staffers Ben Graham and Keith Allard claims they were fired by the House Business Office for being whistleblowers.
The lawsuit reveals a series of new twists in the scandal that has rocked Michigan and made headlines worldwide, sparking a round of heated attacks against Graham and Allard from Speaker Of The House Kevin Cotter...
Among other things, the lawsuit reveals a meeting between the staffers with Cotter in February where they say he was informed of issues in the office, and the suit also accuses Gamrat/Courser Select Committee Chairman Ed McBroom of lying.
"In the lawsuit, Allard and Graham said they informed Cotter and his then-chief of staff, Norm Saari, in mid-February that Courser and Gamrat were carrying an extramarital affair and forcing them to perform political work on state time. Another former aide, Josh Cline, was present at the brief meeting with Cotter and Saari.
“Speaker Cotter appeared genuinely concerned and asked Messrs. Allard, Graham and Cline to continue to keep Mr. Saari abreast of any additional issues,” according to the suit.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the western district of Michigan.
The lawsuit lays out multiple instances in which Allard, Graham and the third aide relayed their concerns that Courser and Gamrat’s affair was an abuse of taxpayer resources in the combined office they were operating.
Allard and Graham argue they were unlawfully fired in July by the House Business Office at Courser and Gamrat’s request. Cotter’s office later used Allard and Graham’s misconduct allegations and evidence to oust Gamrat and Courser from office."
The lawsuit also claims that Gamrat/Courser Committee Chair Ed McBroom lied when he said Allard and Graham would only plead the fifth if called to testify.
"The lawsuit also charges, for the first time, that Republican House attorneys did not want Allard and Graham to testify under oath before the House committee investigating Courser and Gamrat.
Allard and Graham said they would testify if subpoenaed by the committee. But on the final day of testimony over Courser and Gamrat’s misconduct, committee Chairman Ed McBroom said Allard and Graham would “plead the fifth” and exercise their constitutional right against self-incrimination, according to the lawsuit.
“Neither Plaintiffs nor their legal counsel ever said that or anything remotely like that,” according to the lawsuit."
Cotter said if Allard and Graham don't drop the lawsuit, they could suffer consequences.
"Cotter called on the former House aides to drop their lawsuit “before their lives and careers also became nationwide cautionary tales in how not to conduct oneself on the job.”
“Rather than put this sordid matter behind them, Mr. Allard and Mr. Graham have chosen instead to drag this institution back into their mud pit and waste even more of the people’s resources on this ridiculous issue,” he said."
Cotter also called Allard and Graham rude, bad employees, and liars...
Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, said Monday the lawsuit is “wholly without merit” and that Allard and Graham’s firings were justified because they “were substandard staffers, violated House rules, and sent rude and disparaging emails about their coworkers, colleagues, and supervisors.”
“In fact, during the criminal investigation by the Michigan State Police, it became clear that Mr. Allard and Mr. Graham repeatedly lied to House Business Office investigators and lawyers about their knowledge and involvement in a convoluted, months-long extortion plot against their own supervisors,” the speaker said in a statement."
By Brandon Hall (Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
Here is the memo from the head of the Michigan Chamber, Rich Studley, to lawmakers, opposing new healthcare tax legislation by State Rep. Al Pscholka:
Studley, Richard<RStudley@michamber.com>
12:09 PM (1 hour ago)
to Richard
MEMORANDUM
To: Members of the State House
From: Rich Studley, President & CEO, Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Date:December 7, 2015
Subject: STOP $2.3 BILLION TAX INCREASE! VOTE NO ON HOUSE BILL 5105
The Michigan Chamber is strongly opposed to House Bill 5105 (Pscholka). This $2.3 billion tax increase on individuals and business purchasing health insurance is unwise and unfair. No other state in the country imposes such a penalty tax. We urge the State House to reject this untimely money grab! The sole purpose of this bill is to create a new pot of money for further expansion of social welfare spending.
Since 2011, Michigan’s Health Insurance Claims Assessment (HICA) tax has added nearly $1 billion to the already high cost of purchasing health insurance in Michigan. Passage of House Bill 5105 would discourage employers from purchasing health insurance for their employees.
In addition, House Bill 5105 would drastically alter current law by extending the sunset of the HICA tax by seven years and nine months – from December 31, 2017 to September 30, 2025. This amounts to a $1.98 billion tax increase on businesses and individuals purchasing health insurance. Radically changing current law to breath life into a bad tax scheduled to die is both reckless and irresponsible.
Worse still, passage of HB 5105 would renege on promised tax refunds put into law just one year ago, meaning job providers and other health insurance purchasers would be stripped of $47 million in promised rebates in 2016 and 2017. This change alone creates a $280-$320 million windfall for state government through 2025, directly on the backs of health insurance purchasers.
This $2.3 billion tax increase on Michigan job providers and individuals who purchase health insurance is a bad idea. HB 5105 is anti-taxpayer and anti-business and should be rejected.
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is extremely disappointed with the effort to rush this very costly and economically damaging legislation through the House. We strongly urge you to Vote NO on HB 5105!"
By Brandon Hall (Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
>>>UPDATE: The Daily Beast has amended their story and have now retracted their previous identification. Evidently, the man they identified, subsequently used by WMP for this article, is the suspect's BROTHER with the same name. WMP regrets the confusion. He has now deleted his Facebook...
"Law enforcement officials have identified Syed Farook as one of the suspected shooters who attacked a center for the disabled in San Bernardino, California, according to NBC News. The Daily Beast has learned that the police have just executed a search warrant at a Redlands, California address—an address that belongs to Farook’s family.
Police pursued a car leaving from the Redlands address, Chief Jarrod Baraugan said at a Wednesday evening press conference. A male and female suspect were inside the car, and both of them have been killed. Both of the suspects were armed with assault rifles and handguns, Baraugan said. Police have apprehended a third man, but have not identified his relation to the attacks yet.
An eyewitness at the Inland Regional Center, where gunmen killed 14 and wounded at least 18 more, told police he saw a man leaving a meeting of county employees this morning, looking nervous. Poice officers named Syed Farook as that man in their radio communications. At approximately 11 a.m., at least two people entered the center and opened fire."
Also:
"Farook, who also went by his middle name, Raheel, was a business taxes representative for the California State Board of Equalization, according to his LinkedIn profile. He is a 2003 graduate La Sierra High School, and most recently studied finance at California State University Fullerton until 2013.
Records show Farook bought a two bedroom Corona home in March 2014. Farouk’s social media profile shows he is married and has at least one young child. His wife did not return messages left on Wednesday."
WMP has identified his Facebook profile. Here are some pictures:
