Michigan Capitol Confidential

Tea Party Candidate Identity Statements Could Be Invalid

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:00:00 -0500

By Tom Gantert | 7/30/2010

The mysterious Tea Party candidates could face legal challenges because many of the candidates appear to have filled out their affidavits saying they accepted the party nomination before the convention was held, one election expert said.

Of the 20 affidavits reviewed by Michigan Capitol Confidential, all but one was signed before the reported July 24 date of the Tea Party Convention in Saginaw ... http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13278

Full Time Stimulus Spending - Part Time Work

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:00:00 -0500

By Tom Gantert | 7/29/2010

... [I]t took two people three days to do the job which paid $11,933. It got reported as one job "created," according to Recovery.org, the U.S. Government's reporting site for the stimulus act ... http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13268

Chris Christie: No Backing Off

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:00:00 -0500

NJ Gov. Chris Christie talks pensions and teacher unions with Neil Cavuto of Fox News. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSk8s_-dxYM&feature=related

Michigan Stimulus Recipients Failing to Report – Part 2

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:01:00 -0500

By Kathy Hoekstra | 7/28/2010

More than two dozen Michigan companies, colleges and agencies failed to tell the government how they used nearly $59 million in stimulus money over the past two reporting periods. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13250

Democratic Party Political Director Linked to Mysterious Tea Party Political Party

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:00:00 -0500

By Tom Gantert | 7/28/2010

A tea party organizer says he has found the smoking gun that links the Democratic Party to the controversial "Tea Party" that is running candidates and seeking official ballot status in Michigan.

http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13260

Paul Revere and Today’s America

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:00:00 -0500

ReasonTV sits down with the author of a new book about Paul Revere and his relevance to today’s America. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFw3IPrJDGo&feature=player_embedded#!

Fake Political Party Runs Mystery Candidates

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:15:00 -0500

By Tom Gantert | 7/28/2010

Tom Stillings said he learned the news late Monday afternoon - the Eastport man who belongs to four Michigan grassroots tea party groups is not the official Tea Party candidate vying to replace retiring Bart Stupak in the U.S. House of Representatives District 1. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13255

Outbound Michigan

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:00:00 -0500

By Tom Gantert | 7/28/2010

Michigan led the nation in percentage of interstate travelers headed outbound in the first half of 2010, according to United Van Lines statistics from January through June. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13254

Mike Bouchard’s #1 Bill

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:00:00 -0500

Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard says a new policy of personal and economic freedom would be his priority. The five GOP candidates for governor responded when Common Sense in Government and Smart Girl Politics asked all seven Democrats and Republicans to sit down for a job interview. See the full series and all of the interviews at: www.GovernorWanted.com. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spLqwy3Dbw0&feature=player_embedded

Three Unpaid Parking Tickets? No License!

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:50:00 -0500

By Ken Braun | 7/27/2010

Motorist with three or more unpaid parking tickets at one time should be looking warily over their shoulder at what state politicians are doing with legislation that has cleared the Michigan House but come to a stall in the Senate. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13237

Analysis: Our Era's Tom Paine?

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:00:00 -0500

By Jack McHugh | 7/27/2010

Here's how important I think this article is: It makes me think of Thomas Paine's Common Sense ... http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13242

Tom George’s #1 Bill

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:00:00 -0500

Michigan Senator Tom George said health care reform would be his #1 bill priority. The five GOP candidates for governor responded when Common Sense in Government and Smart Girl Politics asked all seven Democrats and Republicans to sit down for a job interview. See the full series and all of the interviews at: www.GovernorWanted.com. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUbu0cW_2Qc&feature=player_embedded

Snyder and Cox - Top Spenders on Facebook Fans

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:59:59 -0500

Social networking site becomes campaign battlefield in 2010 gov race

By Ken Braun | 7/26/2010

If money was the deciding factor and elections were fought on Facebook, then businessman Rick Snyder would decisively win ... http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13240

Mandatory Fire Sprinklers - Reigniting or Fizzling Out?

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:00:01 -0500

By Kathy Hoekstra | 7/26/2010

State agency looks into fire sprinkler mandate for new homes. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13241

Auditor General Sees Dead People ... Getting Paid

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:00:00 -0500

By Tom Gantert | 7/25/2010

There were Medicaid payments of perhaps up to $2 million paid to dead people. That was one of the more glaring findings in a recently released state audit ... http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13239

Pete Hoekstra’s #1 Bill

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:00:00 -0500

Congressman Pete Hoekstra says his tax cut, spending cut and tax reform plan would be his most important legislation. The five GOP candidates for governor responded when Common Sense in Government and Smart Girl Politics asked all seven Democrats and Republicans to sit down for a job interview. See the full series and all of the interviews at: www.GovernorWanted.com. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btzyVBz0wEE&feature=player_embedded

Green Jobs Training

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:00:00 -0500

By Tom Gantert | 7/24/2010

Governor Jennifer Granholm recently announced the state has been awarded a nearly $6 million federal grant to train more than 1,000 Michigan people for "green jobs" ... http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13238

Rick Snyder’s #1 Bill

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:00:00 -0500

Businessman Rick Snyder says his proposal to reform state budgeting would be his most important bill. The five GOP candidates for governor responded when Common Sense in Government and Smart Girl Politics asked all seven Democrats and Republicans to sit down for a job interview. See the full series and all of the interviews at: www.GovernorWanted.com. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY0wKnR2KJE&feature=player_embedded

This Week In Michigan - July 24th

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:00:00 -0500

By Jarrett Skorup | 7/24/2010

A weekly round-up of noteworthy news that you may have missed from this past week. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13231

2009 Senate Bill 382

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:00:00 -0500

Place state’s “check register” on-line

Introduced by Sen. Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland)

The bill would require the state to post on an internet website by Jan. 1, 2010 a free searchable database containing the details of every expenditure by each state department and agency, including the name of the recipient, amount, type of transaction, funding source, and a description of the purpose. http://michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=90589

Voter Scorecard Designed to 'Make Lansing Listen'

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 05:50:00 -0500

By Ken Braun | 7/23/2010

The state's lawmakers need to understand that they will be judged by actual deeds and votes, not just the mere words that they speak on the campaign trail in advance of the Aug. 3 primary election. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13224