Great Lakes Politics

It's all but official.  U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D, IL) will run for the Presidency of the United States as a Democrat in 2008.

The Senator himself has not said those exact words.  However, he has started sending out unsolicited Christmas cards to likely primary voters in Michigan - especially in key Democratic areas such as Detroit.

And the only reason a U.S. Senator from Illinois would even think about doing that is if he had already decided to run for the White House.

Posted by fnemecek at 05:39 PM | Permalink

Senate Democratic Leader-elect Mark Schauer (D-19, Battle Creek) unveiled today the staff for both his leadership office and the caucus. The assignments include a number of returning staff, as well as new positions and increased responsibilities.

Leader’s office appointments include:

• Ken Brock as Schauer’s Chief-of-Staff. Brock has served in this capacity for both Schauer and former Senator Burton Leland (D-Detroit);
• Lisa Dedden-Cooper as Schauer’s Legislative Director. Dedden joined the Schauer office last year as Deputy Chief-of-Staff after serving in a similar role for the House Democratic Floor Leader;
• Lisa Metcalf as Schauer’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration. Metcalf has worked with Schauer since 2002 and previously worked on House Democratic Central Staff.
• Margaret Schulte as Director of Member Services. Schulte joins the leader’s office after working with Senator Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor) and former Senator Ken DeBeaussaert (D-Chesterfield); and
  
• B.J. Neidhardt as Director of External Affairs. Neidhardt is the former Campaign Director for the Senate Democratic Caucus, and has also worked on the gubernatorial campaign of former Virginia Governor Mark Warner and U.S. Representative Dick Gephardt’s 2004 Presidential run.
  

Caucus office appointments include:

• David Randels as Caucus Staff Director. Mr. Randels has previously served as the Caucus Deputy Director of Constituent Services and Schauer’s Constituent Services Director;
• Nancy Green to remain Policy Director;
• Tom Lenard to remain Communications Director.  Mr. Lenard will also serve as Schauer’s spokesperson;
• Liz Kerr as Deputy Communications Director;
• Mike Vatter to remain as Director of Information Systems;
• John Mulcrone to remain as Democratic Legal Counsel.

Posted by fnemecek at 02:42 PM | Permalink

U.S. Representative Bart Stupak (D-1, Menominee) announced this morning that northern Michigan would receive two important federal grants.  The first one was an award of $322,600 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to first responder organizations and fire departments in northern Michigan.  The second grant a $493,000 grant from the Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) Program.

Under the first grant, the Oscoda Area First Responders (Oscoda County) received a grant of $12,241.  The organization plans to put the funding towards a $7,125 outlay for Emergency Medical Service Equipment, and a $5,760 investment is being made for personal protective equipment.  

Bootjack Fire and Rescue in Lake Linden (Houghton County) will also received $56,916.  This grant will help cover a $27,497 cost for general equipment and a $5,760 investment for personal protective equipment.

The Tri-Town Fire Department in Mio (Oscoda County) received $237,500, which will be put towards acquisition of a new vehicle.

Finally, the Germfask Volunteer Fire Department (Schoolcraft County) received $16,003, which it will use for equipment purchases.

Under the second grant, twenty five counties in northern Michigan will be awarded $493,000 by the EFS Program. In each funded county, a local board advertises the availability of the funds, establishes local priorities, selects local non-profit and government agencies to receive supplemental funding, and monitors program compliance.
 
The following northern Michigan counties will receive funds under the most recent allocation: Alcona; Alger; Alpena; Antrim; Arenac; Baraga; Bay; Charlevoix; Cheboygan; Chippewa; Crawford; Delta; Emmet; Gladwin; Gogebic; Houghton; Iosco; Iron; Mackinac; Menominee; Montmorency; Oscoda; Otsego; Presque Isle and Schoolcraft.
 
Additional counties in his district may be selected at a later date by the EFS State Set-Aside Committee.  The EFS National Board, chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and composed of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; United Jewish Communities; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; The Salvation Army; and United Way of America, provide supplemental funding to shelters, soup kitchens, and food banks
 
The EFS Program has been in existence since 1983 and was authorized under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987.  The EFS Program has distributed more than $2.952 billion to communities nationwide, and has accounted for millions of additional meals and nights of shelter to the hungry and homeless most in need across the nation.  The EFSP is a Federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.  The program supplements and expands ongoing efforts to provide shelter, food and supportive services.

Posted by fnemecek at 12:53 PM | Permalink

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm (D, MI) met yesterday with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael O. Leavitt to discuss her plan to make health care affordable and accessible in the Great Lakes State.  Michigan has been working with the federal government for the past year to develop a federal Medicaid waiver that will allow the state to channel state and federal dollars in a way that will provide the uninsured with access to affordable health care coverage.

Ms. Granholm called the meeting "productive" and said she looks forward to continuing to work with the secretary to get federal approval.
 
"We want to be partners with the federal government to give our citizens access to affordable health insurance," the Governor explained.  "Our Michigan First Healthcare Plan will provide a quality product at an affordable cost, create incentives for business, and help bring down health care costs for everyone."  
 
Earlier this year, Ms. Granholm proposed the Michigan First Health Care Plan. This plan will extend affordable health care to Michigan citizens by:

• Creating an affordable private market health care product for individuals and businesses;
• Subsidizing care for those who can least afford it;
• Creating incentives for businesses to offer coverage to their employees; and,
• Reducing the overall cost of health care delivery by expanding technology and promoting healthy lifestyles.
  

Since unveiling the plan in March of this year, Granholm administration staff has been meeting with HHS officials to iron out details of the waiver request, which state officials hope to submit soon.
 
Under the plan, uninsured individuals will have access to private sector insurance plans offered by a newly created "Exchange," which will administer the plan. Premium assistance will be provided on a sliding scale based on income up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level (approximately $40,000 for a family of four). Health insurance products offered by the Exchange will rely on private sector approaches, including managed care with defined networks, benefits that are more comparable to employer sponsored insurance, and small group market plans, cost sharing, and the pre-tax treatment of contributions to reduce cost.
 
The Michigan First Health Care Plan will also provide a platform to extend access to affordable insurance products to small businesses with uninsured employees. Under the plan, small businesses without health care coverage will be able to purchase insurance products from the Exchange. These businesses will save money due to the significant reduction in the number of uninsured residents in Michigan, and because the Exchange will bear some administrative burdens.
 
This was the second meeting this year between Ms. Granholm and Mr. Leavitt to discuss partnering with the federal government to help control the costs of the health care by expanding access to affordable, private health insurance coverage.

"We are pleased to learn more about Governor Granholm's ideas for expanding access to affordable health insurance to the citizens of Michigan," Mr. Leavitt said. "While financing is always a challenge, I commend the Governor for looking to market-based solutions and look forward to working with her on the details of the state's proposal."

Posted by fnemecek at 11:55 AM | Permalink

Wayne County Clerk Cathy M. Garrett (D) announced yesterday afternoon that she would file a lawsuit in the Third Circuit Court, challenging a recent ordinance that strips her of responsiblity for the county's records and transfers it to Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano (D).  The new ordinance comes after Mr. Ficano's long-standing desire to move most of the county's records from Detroit to Southgate and Ms. Garrett's resistance to it.  The general displeasure that members of the Wayne County Commission felt after she levied fines against many of them for failing to file their campaign finance reports on time was also a likely motivation behind the move.

Ms. Garrett argues that such a transfer violates Michigan's Constitution.  She isn't totally wrong in her assertion.  Article VI, Section 14 of the State Constitution mandates that the county clerk, and only the county clerk, is responsible for any records relating to the circuit court.

As for county records that aren't related to the court, that isn't as clear.  It looks like this will be one of those cases that will likely drag out for months. 

Posted by fnemecek at 12:41 AM | Permalink

The Michigan Inaugural Committee has announced the schedule of events the inauguration of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm (D, MI) and Lt. Governor John D. Cherry, Jr. (D, MI).  Everything will begin with an interfaith prayer service at People's Church of East Lansing at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 31.  They will take their oath of office on Monday, January 1 at 11:30 a.m. on the Steps of the State Capitol.  After that, there will be a series of speeches and a program at the Lansing Center beginning at 12:30 p.m.

There will also be a series of open house events as well as fundraisers for their designated charity, Mentor Michigan.  The events that have been announced so far are:

WESTERN MICHIGAN OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, January 2, 2007, 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Texas Township Campus
6767 West 0 Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49003

MID- MICHIGAN OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday, January 3, 2007, 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Flint Institute of Arts
1120 East Kearsley St.
Flint, MI 48503

METRO DETROIT OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, January 4, 2007, 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Lawrence Technological University
Buell Management Building Atrium
21000 West Ten Mile Rd.
Southfield, MI 48075

NORTHERN MICHIGAN OPEN HOUSE
Friday, January 5, 2007, 1:00 - 4:00 P.M.
Treetops Resort Convention Center
3962 Wilkenson Rd.
Gaylord, MI 49735

WESTERN MICHIGAN INAUGURAL EVENING
Saturday, January 6, 2007, 8:00 P.M.
$100/Ticket -- All proceeds go to Mentor Michigan
Noto's Old World Italian Dining
6600 28th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

INTERDENOMINATIONAL PRAYER SERVICE
Sunday, January 7, 2007, 5:00 P.M
Renaissance Church of God in Christ
1001 33rd Street
Grand Rapids, MI 49508

DETROIT OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, January 13, 2007, 1:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
315 East Warren Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201

SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN INAUGURAL EVENING
Saturday, January 13, 2007, 8:00 P.M.
$150/Ticket -- All proceeds go to Mentor Michigan
Marriott Hotel at the Renaissance Center
Detroit, MI 48423

UPPER PENINSULA INAUGURAL EVENING
Saturday, January 20, 2007, 6:00 P.M.
$25/Ticket -- All proceeds go to Mentor Michigan
Great Lakes Rooms of Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI

INTERDENOMINATIONAL PRAYER SERVICE
Sunday, January 21, 2007, 5:00 P.M.
Fellowship Chapel
7707 West Outer Dr.
Detroit, MI 48235

Interested individuals can reserve a spot at any of these events by calling (877) 830-0608 during normal business hours or by logging on to http://www.granholmcherry.com/.

Posted by fnemecek at 05:06 PM | Permalink

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Carl Levin (D-MI) today announced that the Bay Mills Indian Community and Community College will receive $906,000 to construct a plastics technology research, testing, manufacturing and training center. The funds were awarded through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“This investment is great news for the economy of Northern Michigan,” insists Ms. Stabenow. “These funds will create good paying jobs in Chippewa County and help bolster economic development throughout the community.”

“This is great news for the eastern Upper Peninsula,” insists Mr. Levin. “This federal funding will bring jobs and investment dollars to the U.P. and help make Michigan a leader in plastics technology.”

This funding will create fifty five new jobs and generate over $2.8 million in private investments, according to the EDA. It is the goal of the EDA to enhance regional competitiveness and promote long-term development in regions experiencing economic hardship.

Posted by fnemecek at 02:31 PM | Permalink

The U.S. Coast Guard announced recently that they would not move forward with a proposal to designate 34 areas in the Great Lakes for target practive with live ammunition.  This proposal drew outrage from:

• Environmentalists who worried about the impact that a large amount of lead bullets would have on marine life;
• Operators of ferry lines who were upset about impact of said target practice on their businesses;
• Fishermen who were upset a) about those areas of the Great Lakes being cordoned off and b) concerns that it might not be safe to eat fish caught near those areas;
• Other businesses near those areas who were upset over the potential impact of said target practice on tourism.

In fact, there were very few individuals in the area who weren't upset about the Coast Guard's plan for one reason or another.  It, therefore, didn't come as a huge suprise to me that the Coast Guard eventually dropped this plan.

Posted by fnemecek at 01:50 PM | Permalink

It's looking more and more like Net Neutrality will become at least somewhat of an issue in the Michigan Legislature next year.  The Detroit Free Press gave it a ringing endorsement.

A proposed amendment to the Cable Franchise Bil that would have guaranteed Net Neutrality was pulled at the last minute out of concerns that it would have jeopardised the underlying bill.  Several backers of the concept, however, are quietly promissing to revisit the issue when the new Legislature is gavelled to session.

Look for it to be revisited in the New Year.  I won't make any predictions on the outcome of this fight, except to say that it'll be an interesting one. 

 

Posted by fnemecek at 05:07 PM | Permalink

State Representative-elect Mike Simpson (D, Liberty Township) announced his intention last week to introduce a bill that would repeal Michigan's near-total immunity for drug manufacturers against any lawsuits.  The bill will be introduced sometime next year, after Mr. Simpson takes office.

Michigan is the only state in the union that grants such immunity to drug manufacturers or to any industry.  The immunity for drug companies became highly controversial after it was shown that Merck & Company had engaged in deceptive marketing practices for its drug, Vioxx, and the discovery that long-term use of it could lead to heart-attacks and strokes.

Defenders of the immunity argue that allowing people to sue drug manufacturers who make dangerous drugs is bad for Michigan's economy.  To refute that, I would simply point out where Michigan's economy was before the ban in 1996 and where it is today in 2006.

I'm not arguing that this immunity for the manufacturers of dangerous drugs is the cause of Michigan's sagging economy, but it clearly hasn't helped us.

In spite of that, my prediction is that a) Mr. Simpson's bill will make it passed the Michigan House of Representatives but b) meet its eventual demise in the Senate, which remains under the control of Republicans who love ranting about trial lawyers are ruining the world. 

Posted by fnemecek at 04:22 PM | Permalink

Last month, GreatLakesPolitics.com underwent an extensive overhaul - adding new features to the site and making it easier for users to find exactly what they're looking for.

Last week, U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D, MI) launched a new version of his campaign website:  CarlLevin.com.

We at GLP are so proud to be trendsetters.  

Posted by fnemecek at 07:34 PM | Permalink

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, began testing the sediment in Detroit River for toxic pollutants this morning.  They will look for things such as mercury and other metals as well as PCBs that could harm aquatic life.

They will begin their work in the upper mile of the Trenton Channel, which is south of Detroit and upstream from the Black Lagoon.  A boat and crew will sample all next week, weather permitting. The Wyandotte Municipal Boat Ramp will serve as their staging area.

Polluted sediment is a major reason why many fish from the Great Lakes are not safe to eat in unlimited quantities. Sediment contamination also harms aquatic life and habitat and pollutes sources of drinking water.

Posted by fnemecek at 07:15 PM | Permalink

According to an article from Crain's Detroit Business, the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau intends to launch a new office that market Detroit to filmmakers.  Interviews for the person who will eventually head this office are set to begin in January.

This, of course, is an effort to capitalize on tax incentives that the Michigan Legislature finally past this week after a mere three years of deliberations.

I have to say, though, that housing a regional office to promote metro Detroit to filmmakers inside of the convention bureau is a stroke of genius.  I heard a rumor that someone had circulated a proposal to do so in the spring of 2005.

I wonder who that someone could have been.

Posted by fnemecek at 04:38 PM | Permalink

The Michigan Legislature continued to atone for its "do-nothing" track record this week by passing House Bill 4647, which creates a tax credit for the production of wind power.  This tax incentive is intended to serve as a supplement to the Production Tax Credit for Renewable Energy that already exists at the federal level.

Wind power is important to Michigan because wind picks up a lot power over the Great Lakes, making it a very viable source of energy along our shoreline.  Wind energy is also relatively cheap, clean and renewable.

The Energy Office of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth has produced a series of resource maps.  Those maps show the precise areas where wind driven turbines would be most beneficial.

This bill was introduced by State Representative John Moolenaar (R-98, Midand) in April of 2005.  It was approved by the House Government Operations Committee the following October; only to sit idle for more than a year.

Once the gubernatorial election was over, however, bill moved to a vote by the full House and through the entire Senate process in a mere two weeks.  This, of course, proves that the Legislature is capable of acting.  They simply preferred to do little more than token efforts at working and then blaming everything on Governor Jennifer M. Granholm (D, MI) in apparent belief that their inaction would somehow make her look bad.

That strategy obviously did not work.  Ms. Granholm was not only returned to office, but the Democrats captured control of the House and picked up a seat in the Senate.

All told, the phrase "Better late than never" may well turn out to be the un-official motto of the 98th Legislature. 

Posted by fnemecek at 12:17 PM | Permalink

The Michigan Senate is working overtime at the moment, accomplishing more than they have all year.  This afternoon, they passed the Michigan Motion Picture Incentive Plan by a unanimous vote.

Michigan is currently one of the only states in the union that offer Hollywood absolutely no incentives to shoot in the Great Lakes State.  We have been losing almost $1 billion in investment as movies that are set in Michigan are filmed in Toronto or elsewhere.  This, of course, is on top of the music videos and automotive commericials that were also shipped to production companies outside of Michigan.

The incentive package was put together by State Representative Bill Huizenga (R-90, Zeeland), but has been bottled up in the Senate Finance Committe by its chair, State Senator Nancy Cassis (R-15, Novi).  Huizenga's proposal was modelled after a similar package in Louisiana, which has brought almost $800 million each year to the Pelican State.

The legislation now goes to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm (D, MI) who has indicated that she will sign it. 

Posted by fnemecek at 05:26 PM | Permalink

The Michigan Senate voted 26 to 12 yesterday to approve House Bill 6456, which was sponsored by State Representative Mike Nofs (R-62, Battle Creek) and has sat quietly in the Legislature since September.  Governor Jennifer M. Granholm (D, MI) is expected to sign it into law, in large part because of the 2,000 jobs that AT&T is expected to create in Michigan because of it.

The somewhat quick passage of this bill took some folks by suprise.  The bill has been sharply criticised by some for the fact it allows telecommunications companies to compete for internet and cable services, but doesn't do anything guarantee network neutrality or accessibilty to the internet in rural and low-income areas.

My counterparts over at Absolute Michigan managed to put their take on this issue up before I got a chance.  (Dangit!  Beaten to the punch!)  Suffice it to say, I agree with their take on it.

Posted by fnemecek at 11:55 AM | Permalink

Efforts by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm (D, MI) to find a replacement for Michigan's Single Business Tax officially died in the Legislature last week.  While her proposal wasn't the best one for Michigan, in my opinion, I think Ms. Granholm deserves a considerable amount of respect for simply putting forward a specific proposal.

The fact of the matter is that there is very, very long list of people who have complained about the SBT over the past several years.  However, she is the only person who has put forth a specific proposal to replace it.

For that reason alone, I think she deserves a considerable amount of respect.

Now it's on to find a better proposal to either a) replace the SBT or b) cut enough spending to balance the State's budget without it. 

Posted by fnemecek at 05:23 PM | Permalink

U.S. Senator Carl Levin announced the other day that he would seek a sixth term of office in 2008.

This prompts two questions to go racing through my mind:

First, who will the Republicans run against him?

Second, how will this effect other races?

As far as Republicans who are likely to challenge Levin go, my money is on Michigan's Attorney General Mike Cox.  He's smart, well-connected and, quite frankly, has the best chance of beating Mr. Levin.

 Plus, even if he doesn't win, the race will put him in a better position to run for governor in 2010.

As for the impact on other races, the fact that a popular incumbent is running for re-election means that the Democrats won't have to put a lot of resources into this race; thereby making it easier for them to put more of their money into the Presidential race as well as picking up other Congressional seats.

Posted by fnemecek at 09:59 PM | Permalink