WEST MICHIGAN POLITICS

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Leonard Hosts Grassroots Appreciation Lunch As Attorney General Speculation Heats Up

Dennis Marburger, left with Tom and Jenell Leonard, and Paul Taros, right

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

It's one of Lansing's worst kept secrets: Speaker Tom Leonard is widely expected to seek the Republican nomination for Attorney General in 2018.

Leonard is in an excellent position to win the nomination, arguably the most conservative Speaker of the House in modern Michigan political history, a feat that makes him very popular with the Precinct Delegates who will decide the race.

His rumored competition? State Senator Tanya Schuitmaker... (Look for a lot more on this race in the coming months.)

Leonard is keeping a busy schedule, and is regularly seen at GOP events across the state.His wife Jenell and daughter Hannah are often by his side, and they are quite a hit with people in attendance.

The Leonard family didn't have to go far on Saturday though, hosting a grassroots appreciation lunch at their home in DeWitt Township. The Speaker's mother in law even did the cooking.

>>>Check out some photos (by Mike Farage unless noted) from the event below:

Leonard, right, with Jeff and Brenda Jones

MIGOP Coalitions Chair Kevin Tatulyan with CJ Galdes

Jennifer Oram with Tom and Jenell Leonard, and Dan Pero

Leonard with RNC Committeewoman Kathy Berden

From left: Kevin Tatulyan, Kathy Berden, Robert Donovic, Matthew Hauser, State Rep. Gary Glenn

Photo by Kaylee Mead

Amanda Bernes with State Rep. Lee Chatfield

Thayronne X, with Jeff Jones (Photo by Brenda Jones)

Mike Farage, with Hannah Leonard

__________________________________________________________________
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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Governor Snyder Will Sign Teacher Pension Reform If Speaker Leonard Passes Controversial "Good Jobs" Bill, Sources Say

Leonard, left, Snyder, right

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Governer Rick Snyder will sign a bill reforming the Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System, but only if House Speaker Tom Leonard allows a controversial proposal many call corporate welfare to come up for a vote.

That's what the Michigan Association of School Boards claims in a recent video, they say the Governor is playing hardball with Leonard in order to pass the "Good Jobs" bill, legislation giving tax breaks to companies who create jobs supporters argue wouldn't exist otherwise.

Its estimated price tag? $250 million.

Sources tell WMP One Tough Nerd has snagged the support of at least 12 Democrats in order to pass the bill, which already went through the Senate. Snyder hit a roadblock when Leonard decided to keep the legislation from coming up for a vote.

Snyder defended the proposal in a recent Detroit News op/ed.

"The package of bills provides meaningful incentives to employers who create over 250 new jobs and are paying 125 percent or more of the regional average wage, as well as to employers who create over 500 jobs and are paying 100 percent or more of average regional wages," Snyder said.

Snyder also says he understands why critics are skeptical.

"I understand some skepticism toward incentives; prior incentive tools did not have enough accountability measures and the costs ballooned," Snyder said. "But the overall positive impact of bringing in large-scale projects cannot be understated: more supplier jobs, more spinoff jobs, more tax dollars, more tourism, more kids in schools, more families living in our great state. The package of bills has received bipartisan support in the Michigan Senate, bipartisan support in the Michigan House Tax Policy committee, and huge statewide support from businesses, unions and economic developers who are out trying to bring jobs here every day."

Jarret Skorup of the Mackinac Center is one of those critics. He blasted the proposal in recent testimony during a committee hearing:

"Transparent? As we sit here, the MEDC is paying out more than $600 million for past tax credits and will not say who the money is going to or what the money is being used for. The agency is not compliant with reporting requirements on its current programs, but lawmakers are being asked to provide blanket authority to spend $250 million for bureaucrats to select winners and losers. Help small business? These bills are for large firms. Not picking winners and losers? Some companies get breaks, others are on the hook for the cost.

Testifying here today, I feel like I’m in the movie “Groundhog Day.” Michigan has gone the tax credit and subsidy route – in the 1990s under Gov. Engler and in the 2000s under Gov. Granholm. Bill packages promising “good jobs” were passed with wide, bipartisan support. But reviews of those programs showed negative economic results, particularly for the Michigan Economic Growth Authority package, in which fewer than 3 percent of projects met their projections and fewer than 20 percent of promised jobs were created...

For a decade, Michigan was a national leader in what we consider bad economic policy – raising taxes broadly while giving breaks to specific companies or industries. When Republicans took over the House and governorship, it wisely moved away from that. While we still offer subsidy programs, the amount of corporate welfare and tax credits has greatly declined. In those years, Michigan has been a national leader in jobs and income. Let’s not go back to repeating the mistakes of the past."

Reforming MPSERS, which carries $29 billion in unfunded liability, is a priority for Leonard.

According to the Detroit Free Press, changes would include:

"All new teachers and school employees hired after Feb. 1, 2018, would be placed into a defined-contribution retirement plan. The plan would have the school district pay 4% of the employee’s salary into a 401(k) plan. The employee could also contribute, and the state would match up to 3% of the employee’s contribution. The current 401(k) plan that about 20% of new school employees are enrolled in has a 3% employer match. The employees in the current 401(k) plan would begin getting the better benefits on Oct. 1."

It's a difficult test for the Speaker, who must balance reforming the nearly $30 billion retirement system with the optics of passing a $250 million handout to corporations.

Whatever he decides can be spun, but regardless, he will piss some people off.

Stay tuned!
__________________________________________________________________
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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Lansing Establishment NIGHTMARE: "Trump Republican" Matt Maddock Announces State Representative Campaign

Maddock, left, with President Trump

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

It's a thought that leaves the Lansing establishment trembling: State Representative Matt Maddock.

After the 2018 primary, Oakland County voters in the 44th State House District could make Lansing's nightmare a reality.

Maddock announced Friday he will seek the State House seat currently occupied by State Rep. Jim Runestead.

Runestead, by far one of the best legislators in either chamber, is running for the State Senate seat currently occupied by Mike Kowall. Kowall is term limited and running for his next government paycheck, Secretary of State. Maddock challenged Kowall in the 2014 primary and nearly beat him, an impressive feat for anyone, especially a political newcomer.

Maddock's running as a "Trump Republican," a good tagline considering the President did very well in that area, crushing Hillary by a double digit margin.

Through the Michigan Conservative Coalition, of which Maddock is a prominent leader, as well as the Donald Trump Presidential campaign, Maddock has beefed up his understanding of the political process a lot in recent years, and with lessons learned, he's ready to crash the Lansing swamp's party, living large off the backs of taxpayers at every turn.

Maddock is immensely popular with the grassroots and is seeing support flow in from conservatives all across the state.

A fervent door knocker armed with statewide supporters, as well as a big league volunteer army in the 44th, Maddock will be hard to beat, despite the Lansing establishment's best efforts to smear him and lie about him repeatedly, which assuredly, they will do.

According to a press release:

"Maddock credits much of his conservative principles to being a small business owner and seeing first hand many unnecessary barriers to job creation. He and (wife) Meshawn have owned A-1 Bail Bonds of Michigan for decades and it is the largest such business in Michigan. Maddock’s campaign will center on the Michigan economy, education, corporate “welfare”, roads, and the cost of government. He supports a part time legislature in Michigan and endorses the Republican National Platform."

Maddock says he's sick of Republicans acting like liberals.

"Over the last few years, I've knocked on over 10,000 doors and personally spoke with thousands and thousands of voters,” Maddock said. “By far, their biggest complaint was that elected Republicans often behave and vote just like Democrats!”

Maddock says he is running to "Make Michigan Great Again."

“I am committed to our great Republican values and will work to create a clear contrast between any Democrat nominee for this seat," Maddock said. "I will do everything that I can to create that contrast. When elected I will work to pass policies to make Michigan irresistible to manufacturing and all industries again. We want to Make Michigan Great Again so we can watch our children and grandchildren prosper right here in Michigan."

Look for a lot more on this race throughout the campaign, including Maddock's controversial opponent.

>>>View Matt's website HERE

Monday, July 3, 2017

Ruth Johnson's Chief Of Staff Michael Senyko May Seek Secretary Of State Nomination

Senyko, left, with Speaker Leonard (DarKen Photography)

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

WMP has learned Michael Senyko, Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, may be in the running to replace his boss.

Senyko is reportedly serious about running for the Republican nomination for Secretary of State at the convention in August.

Senyko would face State Senator Mike Kowall.

Kowall's candidacy faces a number of issues because of his poor voting record, as well as controversies involving conflicts of interest with his wife, who is a lobbyist.

Kowall has pushed bills his wife's lobbying firm was behind. The Kowalls also faced criticism after accepting money related to a medical marijuana deal, which they later returned.

Also a likely contender: Shelby Township Clerk and 10th Republican Congressional District Chair Stan Grot,

Grot has been very busy at events across the state in recent months. Grot also hosted a successful fundraising dinner featuring RNC Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel in May.

__________________________________________________________________
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 State Park Evacuated+Closed After Massive Beach Brawl Involving Up To 300 People

Becky Vargo/Grand Haven Tribune

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Grand Haven State Park was evacuated and closed Monday evening after a massive brawl involving as many as 300 people rocked the beach. Some referred to the fight as a "riot."

Police from multiple agencies responded to the disturbance a little after 8 p.m., including off-duty officers. Nearly 40 law enforcement officials were on scene.

Witness reports say at least 100-and possibly up to 300 people-were involved.

Police were seen brandishing rifles to break up the crowd.

The troublemakers are believed to be mostly from the Muskegon, Holland, and South Haven areas.

Social media posts indicate security measures implemented in South Haven after last year's fights on the beach there that injured police officers caused people to head north to Grand Haven.

No injuries have been reported, and alcohol is believed to be a factor in the incident.

The park was evacuated except for those staying at the campground. It was cleared out in less than an hour.

According to Becky Vargo of the Grand Haven Tribune:

"Police officers from several departments rushed to the crowded beach when officers using pepper spray couldn’t stop the fray from spreading.

“There was probably 300 people in the area and at least 10 different fights,” said Lt. Joe Boyle of the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety.

Boyle said they decided to evacuate the entire park for everyone’s safety.

Officers also stepped up patrols around the city until they were sure the offenders had left town.

Bailey said there were fights on and off all day. There were also several medical situations involving drugs or alcohol.

Alcohol is not allowed in the state park.

At least five people were transported from the park by ambulance on Monday, Bailey said.

The incident that forced the park closure happened shortly after officials called for help on an unconscious 16-year-old female – alcohol related.

Bailey said DNR officers already had a perimeter on the area when the fights broke out.

At one point he was laying on top of the unconscious teen to protect her from the fray.

Grand Haven public safety officers quickly responded to the park, but didn’t have enough officers to bring the crowd under control.

Ottawa County Sheriff’s deputies responded, as well as Michigan State Police and Norton Shores Police.

Workers barricaded entrances to the park and turned away people showing up to watch the sunset."

Check Out Photos Below:

WOOD TV

Twitter/@ryle_igh

Becky Vargo/Grand Haven Tribune

Revised Calley Part Time Legislature Proposal Ends "Lame Duck"

Calley (Photo by DarKen Photography)

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Lt. Governor Brian Calley has resubmitted his proposal to change Michigan's legislature to a part time system.

Calley's new language states that the legislative session must end before April 15th, thus eliminating the horrendous lame duck period that allows lawmakers who were just replaced after November elections to continue passing legislation.

Lame duck is often used to pass controversial, bad legislation without much public input.

The proposal also links legislator pay with what a teacher would make for the same amount of work, subsequently cutting lawmaker salaries in half.

The Michigan State Board Of Canvassers will now review the petition.

Calley's revision means previous signatures are no longer valid.

The proposal would be on the November 2018 ballot is enough signatures are collected.

In a press release announcing the change, John Pirich, the lawyer for Calley's "Clean Michigan Government" committee, says the change makes clarifications that will prevent opponents from prevailing in a court fight.

"Given the intense scrutiny that this petition has garnered, we decided to further protect against legal challenges,” Pirich said. “While we stand by the petition as drafted from a legal perspective, we wish to ensure that to the extent any legal challenge is filed, it will lack any merit whatsoever. The substance of the petition is unchanged, the revisions are clarifying and technical in nature."

Calley says the group will prevail over the Lansing establishment.

“The Lansing establishment has gone to great lengths to try to stall this effort, but we are standing with the people,” Calley said. “We have learned a lot about the legal strategy that opponents plan to use in court to try and defeat this effort and have decided to take every step to ensure voters have their say on this important reform."

The new language says:

"The legislature shall meet at the seat of government on the second Wednesday in January of each year at twelve o’clock noon. Each regular session shall adjourn without day, on a day determined by concurrent resolution, at twelve o’clock noon, BUT BEGINNING IN 2019, AND CONTINUING EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, EACH REGULAR SESSION SHALL ADJOURN WITHOUT DAY NO LATER THAN APRIL 15, ON A DAY DETERMINED BY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, AT TWELVE O’CLOCK NOON. Any business, bill or joint resolution pending at the final adjournment of a regular session held in an odd numbered year shall carry over with the same status to the next regular session."

Stabenow Partially Blocks Access To Grand Haven Beach While Protesting President Trump

Stabenow, with protesters (WZZM)

By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Senator Debbie Stabenow partially blocked access to Lake Michigan at Grand Haven State Park during a protest Monday morning.

The event was hosted by "All Hands On Deck," a group dedicated to raising awareness about protecting the Great Lakes.

Stabenow, along with dozens of other protesters, held hands and blocked access to a portion of the lake as another protester sang tribal music while beating a drum.

The area of the protest was near where Grand Haven City Beach and the State Park converge...

In comments after the event, Stabenow said she felt it was important to attend because of what was happening with President Trump in Washington DC.

One of the group's top issues is President Trump's proposed cuts to the Great Lakes Restoration Fund.

>>>Watch video of the protest below:

__________________________________________________________________
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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