Thursday, December 17, 2009

Congressional Junket Watch

The cost of taxpayer-funded overseas travel is growing exponentially. The Wall Street Journal has an excellent story on it. Bad enough members of Congress are spending your money to go to places like Scotland. Even worse, they don't always stay for or attend the conferences they are travelling to.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

JONES: CLOSE TAXPAYER-FUNDED OFFICE OF GOVERNOR'S SPOUSE

December 8, 2009


State Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, today introduced legislation to close the taxpayer-funded office of the governor's spouse.

"At a time when our school districts are facing severe budget cuts, it's frankly unconscionable that the state is still funding an office and staff for the governor's spouse," said Jones, R-Grand Ledge. "When the budget is in shambles, pencils and paper always trumps pomp and circumstance."

Jones' office attempted to find out how many state employees are assigned to The Office of the First Gentleman, but the office was not forthcoming with the information. It is also difficult to measure how many taxpayer dollars are used for the office because it is housed under the governor's office.

"My constituents are angry," Jones said. "Many tough cuts are being made in the state and yet the spouse of the governor has staff funded by their tax dollars. Whether we have a first gentleman or first lady this type of waste must stop. We don't need a ceremonial office; we need more money for our schools. Daniel Mulhern should set an example and end this practice."

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

CORRECTION! Jelinek SUPPORTED SB 638. It was KAHN who voted NO along with Nofs and all the Dems.

My sincere apologies to Senator Jelinek for erroneously stating that he had voted NO on SB 638 to revise teacher tenure. In the final vote on the Senate floor, the bill passed with 20 Republican votes and no Democrat votes. The other two Republicans in the Senate, Nofs and Kahn, voted NO. You can read about SB 638 here.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

An Explanation of the Triumph of Capitalism Over Socialism in 2 Minutes








Watch Milton Friedman answer Phil Donahue's questions about "greed" and leave him with nothing to say. This clip says more in 2 minutes and 22 seconds than any college professor could say in an entire semester.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Why Did Nofs and Kahn Vote Wrong on Education Reform Bill?

On December 3, the Senate moved a much needed common-sense education improvement bill, SB 638. Only two of the 22 GOP Senators, Mike Nofs and Roger Kahn, voted NO, along with ALL of the Democrats. I invite either of these Senators to submit an explanation for their votes to this blog site.

GOP Chairman Calls on Democrats to Lead on Education Reform


Following is partial text of a recent e-mail blast from Republican Pary Chairman Ron Weiser

Dear Friends,

"We are about to see where the Democrat priorities really lie when it comes to providing our children with a quality education. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains provisions that could provide up to $400 million for our struggling school districts through the Race to the Top program. All Michigan has to do to apply for the relief is pass reforms that are already long overdue.

For years, Democrat-union politicization of the school system...[has] repeatedly put the interests of union members above those of our kids...After floating proposals for harmful tax increases to alleviate strained school budgets, the Democrat leadership should be jumping at this easy opportunity. We will see whether they were ever really in it for the kids, or if it was all about the control. Supporting these common-sense reforms is the easy choice, as long as the Michigan Education Association (MEA) isn't calling the shots.

If $400 million is not enough incentive for the Democrats to finally do the right thing, then they may never see the light. Either way, Republican legislators are beginning the fight for our children's success and the future of this state.

This week, the Republicans took the lead to improve our education system from the ground up. The Republican-controlled Senate approved legislation that provides needed education reform and puts Michigan at the ready to apply for the Race to the Top funds. House Republicans stand at the ready to approve this legislation. The only question that remains: What will the Democrats do?"