Meekhof To Flint: You Are Getting Enough Bottled Water+Don't Need Anymore Money!

Meekhof

By Brandon Hall

(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof says the state doesn't need to send much water to Flint despite private water donations still not meeting the full need of Flint's people.

Meekhof also says the city shouldn't expect any more money to help on the ground at this time, therefore the $28 million supplemental will not increase...

According to Gongwer:

"Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof on Tuesday said his caucus has received some better information about where the $28 million supplemental slated for discussion on Wednesday can be directed to best meet needs in the city of Flint, and he expects to make changes accordingly.

"I believe if we don't have purchase as much water because people have given a lot of water maybe we can direct those funds to something that also has good effect," he said of potential changes to HB 5220, which has a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

"Maybe it's on the medical side, maybe it's on the testing side. I don't expect the dollar amount to increase but maybe where it's directed."

Stay tuned...

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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

7th Congressional District GOP Passes Agema Backed Obama Impeachment Resolution

By Brandon Hall

(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

The 7th Congressional District Republican Party has passed an impeachment resolution against President Obama. RNC Committeeman Dave Agema backs the move and tried to get the Republican National Committee to pass a similar resolution, but the RNC refused...

"Tonight, Michigan's 7th Congressional District voted to adopt impeachment resolution," wrote conservative activist Matthew Shepard in a Facebook statement. "If our Congress will not initiate Impeachment of Barrack Obama, the precedent will be set for anyone that violates the Constitution to get away with crimes against the People."

The 7th District includes Branch, Eaton, Hillsdale, Lenawee, Jackson, Monroe and Washtenaw(part) Counties in southern Michigan. The 7th Congressional District is represented by Congressman Tim Walberg.

>>>Agema Submits "Articles Of Impeachment" Against Obama For Discussion At Upcoming RNC Meeting 

>>>Report: RNC Will Consider Obama Impeachment Proceedings

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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

Dwyer: Let Kathy Berden Attend "Battle Cry"

RNC Committeewoman Kathy Berden, center, with Hank Fuhs, left, and RNC Committeeman Dave Agema, right (DarKen Photography)

By Brandon Hall

(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

The controversy over RNC Committeewoman Kathy Berden's "Battle Cry" ban has been interesting to say the least.

Here is what Ron Dwyer of Setting The Record Straight had to say in a Facebook statement:

"I think that it would show a lot of goodwill and maturity, if those running Battle Cry Michigan We're Taking Our Party Back! would allow Kathleen Offner Berden the opportunity to attend and speak at the event. When you start excluding people does that not make you the same as the "establishment" you speak so ill of? I have found Kathleen Offner Berden to be pretty conservative. Has she and I agreed on everything? No. But who agrees with each other 100% of the time? If you want to build a coalition at the Republican National Committee, it doesn't help when you exclude one of your National Committee members, especially one from the same state. Dave Agema can't fix the problems himself, he needs a team.

I have found Kathleen to be an extremely hard worker and wants to meet with as many Republicans, Conservatives and delegates as possible. Just in her first year she has traveled more than I think I have seen any Committee Person has done. She has gone to events big and small all over the state and on her own dime and time. She has gone to both Republican and Tea Party events and doesn't wait for people to come to her, she walks up to people to introduce herself and to listen to attendees concerns. If those conservatives who are running BattleCry want to be different than the "establishment" you must act different and be inclusive. There is a saying don't throw the baby out with the bathwater and inadvertently that is what Battlecry is doing by being exclusive.

There are good people working and have been working for years to make a difference for conservatism in the party. I understand there is a committee of 20 people that make this decision but I also know who the true leaders are and that their pull outweighs others. I am therefore kindly asking those leaders to come to reason and allow National Committeewoman Kathleen Offner Berden an opportunity to be at the event. I am also asking speakers to also ask the leaders of the event to allow Kathleen Offner Berden the opportunity to attend the event. Thank you."

Dwyer

>>>Controversy Ensues As "Battle Cry" Denies RNC Committeewoman Kathy Berden Entry  

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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

Breaking: Trouble For Dems As Kwame Says Granholm Knew About Flint Water Issues And Did NOTHING

By Brandon Hall

(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

Controversial former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is disrupting the Dem narrative on the Flint Water scandal.

In a letter from federal prison, Kilpatrick says that Governor Jennifer Granholm knew of significant problems with water issues in Flint and did absolutely nothing about it.

According to WXYZ:

"From behind bars, former disgraced Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is taking to social media with comments on the Flint water crisis.

Kilpatrick is expressing outrage from inside a federal prison. It came in a lengthy Facebook message from family members on his behalf.

According to the letter, Kilpatrick said he knew about the issues with the Flint water system back in 2004, despite the city being with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department until 2014.

He also said he wasn't the only one with knowledge of the issues in Flint.

"Former Michigan Governor, Jennifer Granholm, was well aware of the issues with the Flint Water Department, and their inability to produce contaminant free water moving forward, nor afford the equipment & technology to do so," he wrote."

>>>Bill Ballenger Says Mainstream Media's Flint Coverage Is A Hoax: Did A University President Just Back Him?

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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.comFacebook
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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Flint, Is It Too Late Now To Say Sorry? Snyder/Calley 2018 Rumors Will Intensify After Water Scandal

By Brandon Hall

(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

A few months ago, before the Flint situation escalated, Tim Skubick wrote about buzz around Lansing regarding Gov. Snyder possibly resigning to pave the way for Lt. Gov. Calley to take over the Governor's office before 2018 and be better positioned to win it for a full term as an incumbent.

Here's part of Skubick's column:

"So let's play: How do you like the name Gov. Brian Calley?

If Mr. Calley is running for governor — and he most surely is, even though he won't tell you that just yet — running as an incumbent supposedly gives you a leg, an arm, and a hand up on any would-be challengers.

Only problem is his title is lieutenant governor, not governor, and as long as the current governor hangs around, it shall remain so.

But what if a certain Gov. Rick Snyder decided to retire before the end of his term?
Far-fetched?

Perhaps, but remember this is speculation and for the sake of same, you could make the case for an early exit stage right before the 2018 race for governor."

Interesting piece from Tim. This talk will only grow louder in the coming months as the Flint water scandal has no plans of going away anytime soon, and will especially ramp up if a Republican wins the White House this November and Snyder can possibly join the administration.

The opposite may also be true though: the Flint issue may cause Snyder to fight and work hard all the way until the end as planned, completing his 10 year promise to Michigan in 2009-2 years of campaigning, 8 years as Governor.

I well know that all levels of government failed Flint and that is not being covered enough, but Snyder admits part of the blame is his and he has been the scapegoat so far in the media coverage, it's just a reality.

Stay tuned...

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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

Bill Ballenger Says Mainstream Media's Flint Coverage Is A Hoax: Did A University President Just Back Him?

By Brandon Hall

(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

Renowned political commentator Bill Ballenger was booted from Inside Michigan Politics this week after calling water issues in Flint overblown following Gov. Snyder's State Of The State speech.

Susan Demas, who has purchased IMP from Ballenger, has come under fire for firing him without even talking to him first. (More on that next week.)

Ballenger recently said on Facebook that the mainstream media coverage of Flint issues is a "hoax."

"The proposition that there is some contamination in Flint drinking water, including lead, is not a hoax, but the contention that this is the greatest man-made Michigan catastrophe of recent times, as portrayed in the MSM, IS a hoax," Ballenger said. "Read the report of highly-regarded Kettering University, alma mater of GM CEO Mary Barra."

A recent letter from Kettering University President Robert McMahan may back Ballenger's contention.

Citing the scientific data, McMahan notes much of Flint has not had any problems with lead in the water: the amount hit by the scandal is around 2.5% at this time.

Ron Dwyer at Setting The Record Straight writes:

"Make no mistake, some have been poisoned by lead and we find any lead poisoning of innocent children and their families deplorable, but it is time to look at the real facts.

In a letter to Kettering Families the President of Kettering University, Robert K McMahan wrote the following excerpts:

"Roughly 2% of all individuals tested in Flint have shown elevated blood lead levels.(1)

• Twenty-three {23} children younger than age six tested in Flint show elevated blood levels of lead.(2)

o Children under the age of 5-6 are the most vulnerable population with respect to the long-term health effects of lead; in the U.S., 535,000 children under the age of 5 have elevated blood lead levels high enough to damage their health.(3)

• A total of 43 of 2182 of people tested in Flint show elevated blood levels of lead.(4)"

>>>Read the full letter from McMahan HERE

Ballenger: The situation in Flint
What did Bill Ballenger say? This morning Inside Michigan Politics severed any connection to the long-time political analyst following comments he made about the Flint water crisis during Off the Record analysis of the Michigan State of the State address. #MISOTS16 #OTRwkar
Posted by WKAR - Public Media from Michigan State University on Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Bill Ballenger Discusses Flint Water Firing

Bill Ballenger joined Brian Sommerfield and Trucker Randy to talk about his "firing" from Inside Michigan Politics, which he sold to Susan Demas in 2013 on the "Your Defending Father's " radio show

Posted by Setting The Record Straight Michigan on Thursday, January 21, 2016

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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

Watch The Courser/Gamrat 20/20 Episode Online Here: What Did You Think?

By Brandon Hall

(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

People had a lot of things to say about the Courser/Gamrat 20/20 episode, neither the most strident defenders nor the most ferocious haters seemed to be satisfied-that's a good sign.

I found it funny a few were expecting some bombshell new information or something, don't quite get that one... I thought they did a great job with an immensely difficult issue.

I do wish they talked about some other facets of the story, but isn't that always the case?  I can't complain, they featured me multiple times and were diplomatic in calling WMP "controversial." :)

Also, they do follow-ups all the time-I wouldn't be surprised if we see another 15 minute update about all this at some point that includes more on the lawsuit against the House and some other things. We'll see...

And I will note that pretty much only WMP and MIRS reported the false implications against Chad Livengood and both were absolutely BLASTED for it. That facet of the story surprised those not militantly watching *every* development of the case, but they were put in context and part of the scandal-they were fair game.

@ZachGorchow You care to elaborate on what you mean by this? 517-285-3344?

— MIRSnews.com (@MIRSnews) August 27, 2015

It's not exactly "20/20," but a comprehensive WMP piece on this scandal is in the works and should be quite interesting. It may be the first WMP podcast, something that is long overdue!

What did you think of the episode if you watched it?

>>>Watch the Courser/Gamrat 20/20 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

Facebook
Twitter

Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson