http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/Political news and notes from Lansing, MichiganenFri, 10 Jul 2009 03:38:50 PDTMovable Type Enterprise 1.52 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/michigan,lansing,politics,mbt,electionsNews & PoliticsBusiness/Business NewsSusan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comnomichigan,lansing,politics,mbt,electionsSusan Demas discusses Michigan political issues, state policy and state leaders.Susan Demas discusses Michigan political issues, state policy and state leaders.CapitolChronicleshttp://feedburner.google.comhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/njN4rBWVWBo/if_jennifer_granholm_had_resig.htmlColumn476517457754765191478584658476521523184591881814295134727937490137476523476525744992980Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comFri, 10 Jul 2009 03:38:50 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.3203982 ]]>Associated PressJennifer Granholm In a breathless, rambling press conference outside Lake Lansing today, Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced she wouldn't be "taking the quitter's way out" and that's why she was quittin.' "Only dead fish go with the flow," the gov....http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/07/if_jennifer_granholm_had_resig.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/s2l5ujLJTIk/oh_noes_my_newspapers_editoria.html4754084754061846246547198640282384135130162935Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comThu, 09 Jul 2009 11:57:12 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.3196107 ]]>My newspaper gave me a sad. A good 50 percent of my hate mail comes from folks accusing me of bias -- liberal, conservative, anti-warlock, you name it. Although the right-wing whack-jobs lately have been the most persistent (and potty-mouthed)....http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/07/oh_noes_my_newspapers_editoria.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/mmTuiiQ35n8/heres_a_statistic_you_probably.html475175785947517921738475177475173Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comWed, 08 Jul 2009 20:25:26 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.3193716 ]]>Women's Caring ProgramJennifer Granholm at the 2003 Twilight Gathering Here's a statistic you probably haven't heard: The average Michigan family in poverty spends about 30 percent of its income not on rent, utlilities or food. That amount goes to child...http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/07/heres_a_statistic_you_probably.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/B_fC-dTliPs/how_did_michael_jackson_become.html16997571495264801224246430023269474397474395474393Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comWed, 08 Jul 2009 09:17:23 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.3188027 ]]>Associated PressSheila Jackson Lee speaks during the memorial service for Michael Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Tuesday, July 7, 2009, holding said earth-shattering resolution. How did Michael Jackson become a political issue? Seriously, isn't it bad enough...http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/07/how_did_michael_jackson_become.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/O8A4UpLCdoA/the_michigan_budget_its_all_ab.htmlColumn232225701756123977935557212914591845839316587469853Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comFri, 03 Jul 2009 01:45:19 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.3149206 ]]>Occasionally, I hear from an irate reader who informs me that balancing the state budget is as easy as balancing his checkbook. First, I congratulate him for having $43 billion to play around with, especially in this economy. That's impressive....http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/07/the_michigan_budget_its_all_ab.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/XcMNJxIboBc/want_real_reform_in_michigan_s.html2761634789513746858946858746858346858583011Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comWed, 01 Jul 2009 07:16:57 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.3139186 ]]>The Renaissance Center in Detroit, still home to GM. When GM was about to go belly-up last month, Warren Mayor Jim Fouts had a brilliant idea to feast on its rotting carcass: Move the headquarters from Detroit to Warren! That...http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/07/want_real_reform_in_michigan_s.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/4VYgXzKttqk/government_shutdowns_in_other.html315461221034676622687753046766445918347247997331399272Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comTue, 30 Jun 2009 08:41:46 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.3131598 ]]>Time for another all-nighter? It looks like California, Arizona, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Mississippi could be headed down the same road as Michigan in 2007 -- government shutdown. The states have until this week to pass their budgets and National Conference...http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/06/government_shutdowns_in_other.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/nxeYYiMkAt0/somewhere_rep_marty_griffin_wa.htmlMichigan Politics4665221583091833034573915831146652646652435107731520Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comMon, 29 Jun 2009 10:16:55 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.3121603 ]]>mlive.comMove over, President Obama. The Tea Partiers have a new target. Somewhere, Rep. Marty Griffin (D-Jackson) was smiling Saturday. The New Patriot Revolution Political Action Committee -- the folks who brought you the Tax Day Tea Party -- was busy...http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/06/somewhere_rep_marty_griffin_wa.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/fT2xACwl_Fo/the_north_american_internation.htmlMichigan PoliticsNews - Detroit659755351327616153423676976282660757Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comMon, 29 Jun 2009 04:55:57 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.3116314 ]]>Mike Bishop The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) is all but assured to stay in Detroit and you can thank Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop for that. The Cobo deal was dead this winter after the circus act known...http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/06/the_north_american_internation.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/4_gA04uekD8/the_bumpy_road_to_republican_r.htmlColumn301331114231576014050741159734170237405137117881647092860934591868393119949818112740114554458393250315509214185144715711411446451028669516837464508664661411Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comFri, 26 Jun 2009 04:37:34 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.3104278 ]]>John Cherry The Republican comeback starts in Michigan. Everyone knows it's coming next year. Two of the domestic automakers synonymous with the state have filed bankruptcy on President Obama's watch. Unemployment has hit 14.1 percent. The state budget has sunk...http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/06/the_bumpy_road_to_republican_r.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/b1WuXBtqTvo/how_will_michigan_raise_taxes.htmlColumn4583944583931099901658719298466466458396471351077143611411Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comFri, 19 Jun 2009 11:38:45 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.3048128 ]]> With Michigan staring at another gaping budget hole next year, there's only one question: Will we raise taxes again? You betcha. As of May 15, state economists pegged the total gap at $1.7 billion, about $1 billion general fund....http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/06/how_will_michigan_raise_taxes.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/kVWu4Lr03OM/can_you_be_a_republican_and_su.htmlMichigan Politics4584063670641159762324746884583931929844737284938Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comFri, 19 Jun 2009 11:13:43 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.3048253 ]]> Why, yes. And the idea that Republicans must be anti-tax at every turn is rather silly and an historical anomaly. It got started by folks like Grover Norquist and the shadowy Club for Growth. The mantra is now repeated...http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/06/can_you_be_a_republican_and_su.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/xvFynr8nNs8/state_budgets_times_are_tough.htmlPolitics283703105145215952153488433471331399452155707205072381199Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comMon, 15 Jun 2009 07:59:38 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.2992887 ]]> You know the economy's in the gutter when Nevada's looking to tax brothels. California could legalize pot and tax it and New York might tax soft drinks and candy. These are just some of the more creative ideas states...http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/06/state_budgets_times_are_tough.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/PSfb35q8Hkc/democrats_republicans_out_of_t.htmlMichigan Politics4521301255841159720894945213120515845213345213443995043995262757334134521364521384521421602212559452140Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comThu, 11 Jun 2009 20:40:51 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.2967491 ]]> Yowza. In just five years, support for both gay marriage and civil unions in Michigan has jumped by more than 20 points apiece. Now 64 percent of voters favor civil unions and 47 percent back gay marriage, according to...http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/06/democrats_republicans_out_of_t.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/-ERgg5I0K_w/lengthen_michigans_school_year.html132131348812845044955410392656626Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comTue, 09 Jun 2009 17:26:24 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.2972102 ]]>Mackinac CenterMichigan's school districts. Last week, the prayers of thousands of children across Michigan were answered as the school year came to a close. At the risk of getting hate mail from irate 8-year-olds, that's a problem. A full 98...http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/06/lengthen_michigans_school_year.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CapitolChronicles/~3/-QCQoGKOlHo/commerce_secretary_locke_rail.htmlBusiness127622985191431010606892447153480302271744715534170234789438716513634205545918645238181596444715619104447157286695454Susan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comSat, 06 Jun 2009 19:20:08 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/capitolchronicles//3851.2949818 ]]>Gary Locke On Wednesday, U.S. Commerce Gary Locke was at a town hall in Holt, Michigan. That day, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Vice President Joe Biden were busy meeting with Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm in Washington about a Detroit-Pontiac-Chicago...http://blog.mlive.com/capitolchronicles/2009/06/commerce_secretary_locke_rail.htmlSusan Demas - Capitol Chronicles - MLive.comnonadult