Friday, September 21, 2007

Chris Ward: Dumb...like a fox?

Many of the Republicans in the House caucus were unhappy with Minority Leader Ward for apparently cutting a deal with Speaker Andy Dillon, offering to get him three Republican votes for a tax increase in exchange for some real reforms and on the condition that the Dems put up 54 votes first.

Was Chris selling out? Was he sincerely trying to work in some good reforms? Perhaps, but I personally wonder if Chris wasn't just doing the GOP caucus a big favor. He either swerved into a great strategy, or it was all by design.

Last night, Speaker Dillon was in a jam. He had promised to produce 54 Dem votes out of 58 members. But, there are arguably seven vulnerables! The math just doesn't work folks. Dillon worked all night to get 54 Dems on the board. He seemed to be doing some serious arm-twisitng with his own members. A couple finally voted green but appeared VERY unhappy at being coerced (or threatened?) into voting for an 18% tax increase. After a long night of holding the board open, with only 51 votes on the board, it was obvious the Speaker did not have, and never did have the 54 votes. As a result, the three Republicans were off the hook and we learned something. There are not even close to 56 Democrats willing to vote for a tax increase.

Instead of being angry with Chris, maybe we owe him a big "thank you" .

2 comments:

wolflady48884 said...

Now they are going to start the wooooow is me what about the children crap. I really liked this from the Detroit Free press forum.


From detnews.com:
"Child protection workers: It's unclear, if they'd remain on the job, but children's advocates are worried. "We're mostly concerned, if there's a shutdown, that there won't be workers to check on the children," said Stacey Range, spokeswoman for Michigan's Children. "There's no oversight. We're not even sure what the state could do to watch over our children.

Remember Ricky Hollands?"

My answer to this one. Yes I remember Ricky Holland. The State was up and running watching over Ricky. If the state had left him with his impoverished mother who loved him, given her a hand up to find training in something she was capable of doing and help with child care he would poor but happy, alive and in a loving home. So your point would be?

Instead some unqualified under educated under trained with out a clue of what family love is chose to talk his mother into giving him up under false pretenses so they could "help" her get on her feet.

Do you know how to tell if a CPS worker is lying. Check and see if their lips are moving.

Anonymous said...

Jack -- Yours is the most refreshing look at government in action that I have ever seen or heard in all my 67 years of life. Thank you so much for the very revealing insight and rich perspective into our government. Your blog should be mandatory reading for every man, woman and child in our country, not just the state of Michigan. I can't begin to tell you what a valuable civics lesson and public service you are doing for Michigan citizens with your blog. Please, please, please do not let up. I am hooked on your blog for even more blow by blow descriptions of our government in action as never before seen by the general public. Nice going Jack!