By Brandon Hall (Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com) State Senator Patrick Colbeck has made it official: he will be a candidate for Governor in 2018. Colbeck, a Canton area Republican, is a Tea Party fave and popular in conservative circles. Colbeck currently faces Dr. Jim Hines in the primary, but Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and Attorney General Bill Schuette are expected to jump in the race as well. Colbeck is the only 2nd term Senator not allowed to Chair a committee after he upset Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof... View Colbeck's filing HERE Stay tuned! __________________________________________________________________ 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) Lt. Governor Brian Calley has announced a major ballot campaign that would amend Michigan's Constitution and enact a part time legislature. Calley made the announcement this afternoon on Mackinac Island. Calley's proposal cuts legislator pay in half, eliminates their pensions, and limits the legislative session to a maximum of 90 consecutive days a year. The proposal will also put more restrictions on lobbying. Calley says that legislators need to spend more time at home living under the laws they make.
"What you will see over this summer is the most high-tech, effective grassroots movement to amend Michigan’s constitution, ever," Calley said. "We will knock on hundreds of thousands of doors. Maybe even a million. So move over establishment… the people of Michigan are about to take the drivers seat."
"Michigan is one of only 9 states with a full time, year around legislature. And it really begs the question: Why? We sure don’t need any more laws or regulations than other states.
I am organizing and leading an initiative to amend the Michigan constitution, implementing a part-time legislature, that cuts pay and bans retiree healthcare and pensions for legislators permanently.
The status quo currently spreads about 90 days of session over the entire year – and then pays the 4th highest wages in the country. Our people deserve better. We need to clean that up.
My proposal limits the legislature to 90 consecutive days of session and cuts the pay by more than half – setting it equal to what our teachers are paid.
There’ll still be plenty of time to do the state’s business.
There will just be less time for procrastination.
Less time for politics and posturing.
Less time for proposing thousands of new laws each year.
Sometimes, less is more.
My “Clean Michigan Government” initiative is all about creating Michigan’s best future. We’ve come a long way in recent years. But now it’s time to take it to the next level. Now it's time to clean it up!
My initiative will save us millions of dollars – potentially, tens of millions.
My initiative will open up the potential for so many more people, from all walks of life, to serve because it does not require them to abandon their careers in the real world in order to participate.
My initiative will make the system more efficient. Get in, get the important work done and go back home.
My initiative will result in better laws because it ensures that legislators live most of their lives under the laws they make.
I could tell right away during my time in the Michigan Legislature that our system needed change. That’s why a handful of us conservatives introduced a part-time legislature proposal in House years ago. Not surprisingly, it didn’t go anywhere. The system will always protect itself from reform – so I am taking it directly to the boss – We the people, of Michigan. With their help, we will clean it up!
What you will see over this summer is the most high-tech, effective grassroots movement to amend Michigan’s constitution, ever. We will knock on hundreds of thousands of doors. Maybe even a million. So move over establishment… the people of Michigan are about to take the drivers seat."
__________________________________________________________________ Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
Pete Hoekstra (hat) talks to CJ Galdes and others at a Mike Pence event in Holland (Photo by DarKen Photography)
By Brandon Hall (Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com) WMP has learned that former Congressman and Trump Michigan Co-Chair Pete Hoekstra tops President Trump's shortlist to be the next Ambassador to the Netherlands. Hoekstra was extremely visible on the campaign trail for Trump, traveling across the state at dozens of events for the campaign. Hoekstra resigned from his Congressional seat in 2010 to run for Governor, falling short to Rick Snyder in the primary. He then took on Debbie Stabenow in the 2012 Senate race. Hoekstra's name has been in the mix for a number of positions such as National Security Adviser and FBI Director, but it looks like he will be tapped for the Ambassador role... Hoekstra was born in the Netherlands, making him a perfect fit for the position. Another Trump Michigan Co-Chair, John Akouri, is rumored to be a top contender for the next Ambassador to Lebanon... Stay tuned! __________________________________________________________________ Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
State Rep. Roger Victory (photo by DarKen Photography)
By Brandon Hall (Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com) WMP has learned that State Rep. Roger Victory will run for the Ottawa County State Senate seat currently held by Sen. Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof. Victory hasn't filed formal paperwork, but is expected to do so this summer or early in the fall.
Victory will face former State Rep. Joe Haveman, and is also likely to face State Rep. Daniela Garcia of Holland. Another rumored candidate is the CEO of Two Men And A Truck, Jon Sorber. Sorber, a Spring Lake resident, tells WMP he will not be a candidate. Sorber still wants to be involved in the race, though. "I want to support good conservatives in the background," Sorber said.
Jon Sorber, with wife Jennifer
__________________________________________________________________ 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) Lt. Col. Allen West is coming to Michigan to attend the Emmet County Republican Party's annual dinner. West will be the featured speaker at the ECRP's "Top Of The Knob" dinner in Harbor Springs, near Petoskey. The event starts at 5:30 on June 22nd and tickets are $75. A private reception with West goes from 3:30 to 5, and tickets for that are $150. The cost for students is $25. Also in attendance will be Speaker Tom Leonard, Speaker Pro Tem Lee Chatfield, and State Senator Wayne Schmidt. To purchase your tickets, go to the ECRP.GOP website. West is described in a promo for the event as follows: "Colonel West served in several combat zones: Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was a Battalion Commander in the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, and later in Afghanistan. He received many honors including a Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals and a Valorous Unit Award. In November of 2010 he was elected to the United States Congress, representing Florida’s 22nd District and was instrumental in passage of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act. Colonel West is currently the Executive Director and Chairman of the Board for National Center for Policy Analysis. He is also a Fox News Contributor, a Senior Fellow at the London Center for Policy Research, and regularly writes for numerous media outlets." __________________________________________________________________
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) It looks like Lt. Governor Brian Calley's big announcement on May 30th will be related to turning Michigan's legislative branch into a part time legislature. Rumors are swirling that Calley will play a significant role in a very well-funded ballot campaign that would put the issue to voters in the fall of 2018. Calley previously announced his support for a part time legislature in 2014, appearing with then RNC Committeeman Dave Agema at an event in Holland to support the measure. One of Michigan's top political pundits, Tim Skubick, says it's a brilliant move. "Very smart political move, it's a populist issue, and he's trying to tap into the very anti government sentiment that Donald Trump so successfully tapped into when he ran for President," Skubick said. "Mr Calley, by going to the people and saying 'lets create a Part Time Legislature,' is basically saying, 'I'm different than everybody else, let me lead the parade and we can get this done together.'"
Calley also has a 2nd announcement scheduled for June 1st... Petition language was recently submitted to the Board of Canvassers that would limit the legislature to 90 days each year, subsequently linking legislator's checks with teacher pay. According to Jonathan Oosting of The Detroit News:
"A group called the Clean MI Committee recently submitted, but withdrew because of an apparent technical issue, a draft petition to the Board of State Canvassers for a potential ballot proposal to amend the Michigan Constitution by limiting the Legislature to 90 concurrent session days each year.
The draft proposal also could halve legislator salaries by tying their pay and benefits to the average compensation for a Michigan teacher, pro-rated based on the limited number of session days each year."
Stay tuned!
Calley signs a PTL petition with then RNC Committeeman Dave Agema in Holland in 2014
__________________________________________________________________ Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
State Rep. Gary Howell, right, chatting with State Rep. Gary Glenn
By Brandon Hall (Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com) State Representatives Gary Howell and Gary Glenn have introduced legislation ending enrollment in the state's Medicaid Expansion program.
The bill would prevent new sign-ups after October 1st, subsequently placing conditions on those already on the rolls who would like to renew...
The legislators say the bill is well timed after the U.S. House recently replaced ObamaCare.
According to a press release: "Glenn and Howell said the legislation is particularly timely given that Congress voted Thursday to repeal ObamaCare and replace federal funding for the state Medicaid program with block grants that would not cover the program’s costs.
When the program began in 2014, the federal government agreed to pay for 100 percent of the additional cost of providing Medicaid benefits to able-bodied adults under the expanded criteria through 2016. But beginning in January, the state must pay for 5 percent of those increased costs, which will double to 10 percent by 2020.
Glenn’s and Howell’s bill would prohibit Michigan’s Health and Human Services department from accepting new enrollees under the expanded criteria into the medical welfare program as of October 1st. The department would be allowed to renew enrollment of current enrollees if they continue to meet eligibility requirements, even though the two GOP lawmakers said even that will likely become financially unsustainable in the state budget.
The legislation would also help redirect Medicaid dollars back to those the welfare program was originally intended to help, “disabled adults or children who are incapable of working to support and help themselves,” Glenn said.
“This is a measure of fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers of Michigan it’s our duty to represent,” Howell said. “I can’t imagine anything more fiscally irresponsible than allowing a welfare program for able-bodied adults -- that’s already financially unsustainable now -- to continue to grow even further.” __________________________________________________________________ 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 absolutely love the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling's books, the movies, the whole lot. One of Rowling's masterful feats was convincing readers Professor Snape was a friend of the dark side and in cahoots with he who shall not be named. "You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them, I'm the Half-Blood Prince!" That's what Professor Snape snarls to Harry at the end of the 6th film after just killing Dumbledore, a culmination of years of toying with readers. It appeared as though the conventional wisdom was confirmed.
But things were not as they seemed... In the ultimate switcheroo, Rowling subsequently reveals in the last book that Snape was a good guy the whole time, a double agent who was protecting Harry all along.
With that in mind-and my derping over... Back in the real world, let's take a look at 2018 Michigan politics.
Lt. Governor Brian Calley has a major announcement to make on May 30th, and everyone assumes he will run for Governor. It's been in the script for years. It HAS to happen. Or does it? What if the LG shocks the political world and announces he's running for US Senate against Debbie Stabenow instead? My friend Matt Maddock raised the issue recently, and it makes a lot of sense. First of all, it allows Calley to avoid a bloody knife fight with Attorney General Schuette, who has been prepping a run for Governor since Calley was a young teen. Second of all, it gives Republicans a top shelf candidate in the Senate race, something they desperately need. I also believe conservative voters upset with Calley over various positions would be far more willing to forgive Calley in a race against Do-Nothing Debbie than they would in a Governor's race. Not all, but many. Almost every vote Stabenow takes is horrendous, with Calley we'd have a strong conservative voice 60-80% of the time at the least. A 180% swing is pretty damn good. While Calley's record isn't perfect, too often his disappointing moments have completely overridden some great bright spots. 'Member when he broke with Gov. Snyder to back a Part Time Legislature? I 'member. Right To Work passed? Thousands of BS regulations given the #ByeFelicia treatment? We'll examine Calley's strengths and weaknesses more in the future for sure. We'll also take a look at other possible candidates, like former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bob Young. Young is a mixed bag who undoubtedly has talents, but his history of controversial court rulings is a Dem operative's wet dream. His slow-paced, academic style also doesn't lend well to retail politics, and Debbie would have a field day debating him, at least stylistically. What will happen on May 30th? Stay tuned, things could get pretty crazy, sometimes conventional wisdom isn't so wise... __________________________________________________________________ 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) In a shocking new poll released last week by Tom Shields of MRG, controversial Detroit attorney Geoffrey Fieger leads former Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer 26% to 24% in the race for Dem Gubernatorial nominee in 2018. The poll, commissioned by Bill Ballenger, is immensely interesting. Fieger, nicknamed "the million dollar mouth," previously ran against Gov. Engler in 1998, getting beat down by over 20 points. A lot has changed since then though, 2018 isn't 1998.
Why should Republicans worry about a Fieger campaign?
Michigan voters would never back a rich, controversial, populist outsider with a mouth as big as his checkbook, interesting hair, and a big league love of the spotlight... ;)
"The poll found Fieger holds a big lead in Detroit, with 53% support to El-Sayed’s 21% and Whitmer’s 9%. Fieger also leads in out-county Wayne, with 46% to Whitmer’s 15% and El-Sayed’s 11%.
Fieger swept the balance of the Tri-County SE Michigan area as well. The survey shows him leading Whitmer in Oakland County, 27%-21%,and Macomb County, 33%-23%, with no support whatsoever registering for El-Sayed in either county.
Whitmer scores best on her native mid-Michigan turf, with 46% to Fieger’s 20% and El-Sayed’s 3%. She also shows a substantial lead over Fieger in West Michigan, the Tri-Cities/Thumb; and Northern Lower Michigan. Whitmer and Fieger are tied in the Upper Peninsula. El-Sayed fails to register any higher than 8% in any of those geographical areas.
Fieger holds leads within the poll’s margin of error among both male and female voters. Fieger also leads Whitmer by a slim margin among younger voters (18-39) and older voters (65+), while the two are virtually tied among voters age 40-64."
By Brandon Hall (Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)
No boys? No pictures? No cellphones? What the hell is going on?!
Welcome to Hamtramck's girls only prom, an event designed to let Muslim girls celebrate the high school tradition without pissing off radicals in the region. The 6th annual "Princess Prom" was held last weekend, though I think "Sharia Prom" is far more fitting... According to Heat Street:
"With the goal of creating a “safe space” in mind, a Detroit school has set out to hold a girls-only prom to celebrate traditional Muslim customs. It’s being created for girls who would otherwise be prohibited by their ultraconservative Muslim families from going to regular proms, where attendees are allowed to have fun and dance with members of the opposite sex in good old American tradition.
Hamtramck High School’s girls-only “Princess Prom” was first organized in 2012 by a group of five Muslim girls to give them the opportunity to go to a “safe space” prom. In 2016, 230 girls showed up. This year, they’re expecting at least 250 attendees.
According toMichigan Live, the event is “intended to create a safe space for Muslim girls who normally cover up in hijab to let their hair down in an environment with no boys and no cellphones.”
In normal circumstances, Muslim girls and women from ultraconservative backgrounds are notallowed to expose their hair in public, among many other strictreligious prohibitions for women. With a cellphone ban in place, no one will be able to share photos of them with their hair displayed to social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook."
The event is a disturbing placation to extremists who think women aren't to be seen, nor heard.
I am fine with the girls figuring out a way to have some fun in a difficult situation, it just sucks they find themselves in this predicament in the first place...
__________________________________________________________________ Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
