CORE PRINCIPLES

As '11 Ends, 11 Charts Of 11 Disturbing 11 Year Trends

2011-12-31T19:27:00.000-05:00

This is just one of eleven charts that show rather disturbing trends in America. See the other ten here.

Federal Jobs: A Real Gravy Train

2011-12-29T11:49:00.003-05:00

Interesting tidbits from USA Today:

The portion of federal workers making at least $100,000 per year grew from 12% in 2006 to 22% in 2011, not including benefits
A "cook" in a federal prison makes an average salary of $66,225 per year
Since Obama took office, layoffs are down by two-thirds to an average of 300 per year, out of a workforce of 2.1 million
Federal workers averaged $75,296 salary plus $28,323 in benefits (medical and pension). This is about 60% more than comparable jobs in the private sector

UAW Gets Government Bailout, Going Broke Anyway

2011-12-21T19:21:00.002-05:00

In 2009, when General Motors went bust, it was Uncle Sam (the taxpayers) who came to the rescue. But who was the biggest beneficiary of the taxpayer funded bailout? It was the United Auto Workers Union. As was said by Mark Hirschey in the LJWorld.com back in June of 2009,

"This Treasury-imposed restructuring is not a GM bailout; it is a UAW bailout with far-reaching ramifications. GM’s common stockholders are getting wiped out and public bondholders are getting hammered. Taxpayers and consumers get to pay billions of dollars for GM products that they never received or even wanted in the first place. All of this is to reward the UAW for bringing to its knees what was once an American icon."

Yet, in spite of all the help and money we, the taxpayers unwillingly shoveled into the coffers of the big union, it looks like they are about to go broke, anyway. As reported in Reuters.com,

"Two years after the wrenching restructuring of the U.S. auto industry and the bankruptcies that remade General Motors and Chrysler, the UAW is facing its own financial reckoning. America's richest union has been living beyond its means and running down its savings, an analysis of its financial records shows. Unless King and other officials succeed with a turnaround plan still taking shape, the next financial crisis in Detroit may not be at one of the automakers but at the UAW itself."

This is a story about the collision of greed and good intentions. The union leveraged their power and greed against a President who owed his election to Big Labor and the good intentions of a Congress that was hornswoggled into believing they had to act to save hundreds of thousands of jobs by bailing out the largest industrial corporation in history.

They could have allowed the car companies to use the process that was put in place in American law many years ago. It's called bankruptcy protection. The bills would have been paid, the company would have had ample time and opportunity to restructure itself and GM could well have come out in as good or better shape than it has so far without billions of taxpayer dollars being spent - dollars that will never be returned.

In October of 2008, as a candidate for the US Senate, I was asked about the bailouts that were being considered at that time. My response was recorded in the Detroit News:

"Hoogendyk stated that there has been many other American carmakers that began, tried, and failed in the auto industry and America still survived. This was part of his opposition to the $25 billion federal loan package for auto companies that Congress recently passed, Hoogendyk said he believes it's not government's business to make loans to individual companies."

I was roundly criticized for saying that back in 2008. Ironically, the "$25 billion federal loan package" has turned into a nearly $25 billion loss for taxpayers as reported in the Detroit News last month. Hmmm...

As bad as the free market may seem, it is still the best way for individuals and corporations to sink or swim.

Electric Car: $250,000? But it gets 39 miles per charge!

2011-12-21T09:06:00.000-05:00

According to research done by Mackinac Center for Public Policy, the electric-powered Chevy Volt may have as much as $250,000 in federal and state tax incentives per car. In other words, taxpayers are covering the risk in this venture by General Motors into electric powered automobiles. Read the full article in Capitol Confidential here.

Back in the "old days" entrepreneurs invested their own money or found venture capitalists to take the risk on a new idea. Or maybe they would go public, pitch an idea and see if anyone wanted to buy stock in the company. The downside for the investor? He lost it all, but the upside was that he could become a millionaire. This scenario has occurred thousands of times.

Today, we have members of Congress and state legislators who vote either for direct aid (bailouts) or huge tax incentives and subsidies to pick up the risk in place of the private investor.

What do you think are the chances of success when the manufacturers are using somebody else's money instead of their own?

I suppose you could argue that the Volt will ultimately be a huge success and that GM will sell millions of units at a tidy profit. But, if they do, will the taxpayer benefit the way the private investor would have? No, they will not. And if they don't, who will pick up the tab? I think you know the answer to that one.

Democrats=Big Labor. Republicans=Big Business...Really?

2011-12-20T15:06:00.000-05:00

The conventional wisdom is that the Democrat Party is the party of "Big Labor" and the union bosses. The Republicans are the party of "Big Business" and the corporate fat-cat CEO's, right? Well, what is one way to uncover the truth on that assertion?
"Follow the money."

Do the unions spend their PAC money supporting Democrat candidates who will protect their interests? Do the corporate PAC's give their dollars to the Republicans so they will continue to get big tax breaks and "corporate welfare?"

I did a little research using OpenSecrets.org, the web site that tracks campaign contributions. Here is what I found. No matter how far down the list you look, union PAC's all give donations to Democrats at about a 24 to 1 rate. 96% of all union PAC dollars go to the Democrats. But what about "business" PAC's? This is where it gets interesting.

Of the top 8 business PAC's, 52% of the dollars go to Republicans, 48% goes to Democrats. The union bosses are putting all their eggs in the Democrats' basket. The business groups like to play both sides of the fence. They want everybody in office beholding to them. See the chart below or go to the opensecrets.org web site for more details.

The top 8 union PAC's are American Federation of Teachers, AFSCME, Teamsters, Electrical Workers, Laborers, National Education Association, Carpenters, and Engineers.

The top 8 business PAC's are Bankers, Home Builders, AT&T, Auto Dealers, Beer Wholesalers, Boeing, Honeywell and the Realtors.

The top eight unions gave $19 million and the top eight business PAC's gave $24 million to candidates. Combined, almost 70% of these dollars went to Democrats.

How will politicians vote when bills come before them affecting unions, or the auto business, or the banks, etc? It's easy to become cynical of our elected officials when you see these kinds of dollars circulating. And it's also a little easier to see why the banks, the UAW and the auto companies got bailed out by us, the taxpayers. Oh, and by the way, the UAW gave 100% of its PAC money to Democrats.

Ronald Reagan Wishes Us All a Merry Christmas

2011-12-17T17:24:00.000-05:00

If you are over 40, you remember Ronald Reagan. If you are under 20, you have no idea what it was like to live in an America with a President like Ronald Reagan.

Congress Fails on Spending, Yet Again

2011-12-16T11:36:00.000-05:00

While this chart is labelled "Obama Budget", in reality, it is Congress that holds the purse strings. Appropriations of taxpayer funds are in the control of the House and the Senate. They have not been effective in reigning in spending.

from Heritage.org
It has been some 1,000 days since the Senate passed a budget. It is clear that fiscal discipline is not emerging from that chamber anytime soon. And the House, which in April passed a budget resolution that would have set America on a stronger fiscal path, began the year with such great promise. The new leadership in Washington, ushered in by the Tea Party wave of 2010, pledged to be serious stewards of the people’s pocketbook. With December 15th's mega-omnibus bill, those who were eager to right the fiscal ship have been silenced by leadership that prefers bigger government, higher spending, and slinking out of the Capitol with an appropriations package that comes up short by spending too much. Get the details here.

Congress Delays Incandescent Light Bulb Ban

2011-12-16T10:09:00.000-05:00

from the Washington Post
Congressional negotiators struck a deal Thursday that overturns the new rules that were to have banned sales of traditional incandescent light bulbs beginning next year. Read more.

Save Our Light Bulb!

2011-12-13T16:05:00.000-05:00

Save the Bulb. Repeal the Ban. E-mail Congress. Sign The Petition to Overturn the Light Bulb Ban.

freeourlight.org
Get daily updates on the effort to repeal the ban here.

Time For Public Pension Reform

2011-12-09T16:37:00.001-05:00

When you hear a public employee, whether it be a teacher or a county employee complain that they don't make the kind of income they could in the private sector, just ask them about their pension benefits.

The Taxpayers United of America just released data on pension payouts in Michigan. Remember, pensions to retired public employees are paid for by YOU, the taxpayer.

Here are a few examples from the Taxpayers United of America web site:

The top 100 retired teachers are collecting at least $90,000 per year in pension benefits
The top 25 Ingham County retirees are collecting between $55,000 and $64,000. (This is based on average annual salaries of $49,000 and retirment at age 55)
The top 25 Kent County retirees are collecting between $67,000 and $96,000, annually.

Assuming retirement at age 55 and 30 years to collect, total payouts can range from $1.6 to $6 million! And every dime of it has to come from your state and local tax bill. How many "working stiffs" in the private sector are seeing that kind of benefit? Well, if you wanted to set up a pension for yourself by saving every year out of your paycheck, it would go something like this:

Assume you want to receive $100,000 per year, like over 50 retired teachers in Michigan. How much would you need to save every year? You can use a payroll deduction into a 401k type savings plan. This way, you can use pre-tax dollars. Now, let's assume you can earn an average of 5% interest every year on the money you save. Let's also assume that you want to retire at age 55 and have a perpetual fund of cash to pay you $100,000 per year.

Using those assumptions, you would need to start working at age 20, work and save for 35 years, and put away $22,143.42 each year (1845.25 per month) for your retirement. When you reach age 55, you will have $2,000,000 in the bank, from which you can draw $100,000 per year. If the principle continues to earn 5% per year, you should still have a bundle left over at age 85 to leave to your children or to charity.

Yeah, I guess it's time for pension reform. The simple solution would be to convert all public employees to defined contribution retirement plans from the defined benefit plans they now currently enjoy. Most state employees are on defined contribution, they were converted from defined benefit over ten years ago. But education and municipal employees are still on the defined benefit pension system. Pension benefits are putting an undue strain on the budgets of cities, counties and school districts around the state.

Is the Government Invading Your Fundamental Rights to Parent?

2011-12-06T16:42:00.001-05:00

A 13-yr. old boy has serious health problems. The doctor suggests specific tests. The parents give the OK and then are told they may not see the results without the child's consent.

A five-yr. old boy comes home from Kindergarten with the book "My Two Dads," a book about "diversity." The parents are shocked and go to the school to protest. They simply ask that their son be allowed to opt-out of the class. Result: father is arrested.

A 14-yr. old boy decides he does not want to go to church three times a week. The courts remove him from his home, put him in foster care and hold a hearing. Result: the judge says he only needs to go to church once a week.

Are these stories fantasy? Are they accounts from Communist China? No, they are true, and they happened here, in the good ol' USA. The truth is, your rights as a parent are under serious threat. Watch this short documentary film and find out what can be done to protect your rights as a parent.

You are welcome to attend the Center Right meeting Thursday, December 15, in Lansing to learn what is being done in the legislature to preserve fundamental parental rights through a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The meeting will be held Thursday, December 15, 9:00 a.m. at 116 West Ottawa, Lansing, MI. Admission is free. Coffee and cookies will be served. Please RSVP here.

Hypocritical? Ultra-High Paid Superintendents Criticize "For-profit Schools"

2011-12-06T08:56:00.001-05:00

From the Michigan Capitol Confidential...
As superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Schools, Michael Rice had a total compensation of $321,252 in 2010. Yet Rice was one of a dozen public school superintendents who signed a letter criticizing charter public schools and raising the “for-profit” status of some of the charter school’s contracted management companies.

The nonprofit Ann Arbor Public Schools just agreed to pay its new superintendent $1.22 million over five years (base salary of $245,000). In fact, the nonprofit Ann Arbor school district has seen its total revenues jump from $195 million in 2005 to $207 million in 2010, despite having about 400 fewer students, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Taylor Public Schools pays all of its kindergarten teachers and nine elementary school gym teachers more than the city’s median income for an entire household. The city of Taylor’s median income for a household is $42,944. Taylor Public Schools had nine elementary school phys-ed teachers and all 23 of its kindergarten teachers make more than $43,000 in 2010. The average teacher salary in 2010 in the district was $65,477, about $23,000 more than the median household income.

Why would these high-paid "non-profit" public school employees complain about other public schools which are under the same rules as their school, just because they are operated by for-profit companies? Read the whole story here.

See You at Noon Today, Town Hall Meeting, Kalamazoo

2011-12-06T07:46:00.001-05:00

If you are a home owner, you know that your annual property taxes are calculated based on the assessed value of your home. If you own a home in Kalamazoo County, you may be paying as much as $1,000 per year too much! Why?

When values go up, the assessment goes up and your taxes increase. When values go down, as they have over the last four years or so, assessments should follow. But they haven't. Find out why at our special Center Right Town Hall Meeting.

And, what about that bridge to Canada? Is the County Commission poised to pass a resolution of support? Get some answers on the bridge controversy Tuesday.

Center Right - Town Hall Meeting

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Noon - 1:15 p.m.

Kalamazoo Public Library, Downtown 315 S. Rose St.

map and parking

Tentative Agenda

Mark Avery - Overtaxedproperty.com. Mark will explain why your home may be severely overtaxed based on hours of research he has done on properties in the city of Kalamazoo.

Jim Lefler - Three Myths About the Government Bridge to Canada.

Deficits Result of Runaway Spending, Not Reduced Revenue

2011-12-05T08:46:00.001-05:00

This chart from the Heritage Foundation shows that during the Bush era, while spending accelerated as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product, it actually stabilized in the last years of his presidency. Meanwhile, revenues were growing much faster than spending. During the Obama era, spending exploded, as tax revenues declined. At the current rate of spending and revenue, the gap between the two will only widen, even though projections suggest a huge increase in revenue to the government. The problem will not be lack of income, it will be lack of spending restraint. Read the full story here.

Automatic Dues Deduction, Should This Practice be Stopped?

2011-12-03T08:52:00.001-05:00

In Michigan, public school employees who are members of the union, i.e. the Michigan Education Association, have their dues automatically deducted from their paychecks. A significant portion of those dues find their way to Political Action Committees (PACs). The PACs give donations of up to $5,000 to candidates for office who support the union's goals. In 2010 alone, the MEA-PAC made over $513,000 in contributions.

As reported in Michigan's Capitol Confidential, In June of 2010, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision, that deductions for union PACs are a violation of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. The court’s majority concluded that administrating a payroll deduction that sends contributions to a PAC constitutes a “contribution,” under the state's campaign laws.

Explaining, in part, the court said such deductions are illegal: “because public resources are being used to advance the political objectives of the committee” and are to be considered an expenditure “because public services and facilities in assistance of these same political objectives are being provided.”

Legislation to prohibit public school districts from deducting contributions to PACs from employee paychecks appears to be on a fast track in the Michigan House.

House Bills 5085 and 5086, sponsored by Reps. Mike Shirkey and Paul Opsommer, are scheduled to be taken up by the House Redistricting and Elections Committee on Dec. 6. It seems likely the measures will receive committee approval that day and be sent to the House floor. The apparent goal is to have the legislation passed by the House and sent to the Senate before the upcoming end-of-the-year holiday break.

“We think this is good policy,” said House Redistricting and Elections Committee Chair Pete Lund, R-Shelby Township, “The state should not be doing the collecting when people want to pay into PACs.” Read more.

How to Resart Congress: Term Limits

2011-11-30T18:01:00.001-05:00

Senator Jim DeMint

South Carolina Republican Jim DeMint has introduced an amendment to the Constitution that would apply term limits to members of Congress.

Ten Republican Senators joined DeMint in his call to limit U.S. Representatives to three terms and U.S. Senators to two terms in office.

“If we’re ever going to permanently change Washington, we must change the process that encourages career politicians to amass personal power instead of making the hard decisions for the nation,” said Senator DeMint. “We need true citizen legislators who spend their time defending the constitution, not currying favor with lobbyists. We need new leaders continually coming to Congress to ensure every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely, not wasted on Washington special interests. We must end the era of permanent politicians that has led us to a $14 trillion debt and a pending fiscal crisis.” Read more.

Senator Joe Hune Works to Save the Family Farm

2011-11-30T17:35:00.001-05:00

Senator Hune

From Joe's Newsletter:
Generations of children have learned the value of honest work and gained valuable life skills on family farms across our great state.

Yet proposed revisions to federal child labor regulations could put that way of life at risk. I co-sponsored a resolution calling on the U.S. Department of Labor to stop a proposal to prohibit youth under age 16 from performing any agricultural work with animals and all work if the farm is owned by a family member other than the child's parents - even grandparents or siblings.

Certainly, we want to protect our young people in the workplace, but the proposed federal rules show an amazing lack of knowledge of how family farms operate.

The revisions would not only impact family operations, but could eliminate all 4-H, FFA and Extension training programs and prohibit kids under age 16 from raising animals and showing them at county fairs.

I urge the federal government to look at ways to promote our agricultural heritage, not undermine it.

Senator Emmons

Read the text of Senate Resolution 94, sponsored by Senator Judy Emmons here.

Obama About to Kill the Family Farm?

2011-11-30T08:12:00.001-05:00

From RedState.com. For centuries, even before there was Willie Nelson and FarmAid, farming throughout the world (including here in the United States) has largely been a family affair. That is, parents and their children (when not in school) work from dawn until dusk to put food on the family table, and the tables of others.

Recognizing this, when child labor laws were developed in the last century, there was an exemption built in for family farms. Now, however, the concept of the family farm may be getting gutted if the Obama Labor Department has its way. Read more.

Automobile Prices Going Up...Way UP?

2011-11-29T17:41:00.001-05:00

Is this the Luxury car of the Future?

Brace yourself. The cost of a new car in America is set to explode, skyrocketing by thousands of dollars, all thanks to a new regulation proposed by President Barack Obama's Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Under a new 893-page proposal unveiled last week, automakers must hit a fleet-wide fuel economy average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025--double today's 27.3 standard. The government says it would cost automakers $8.5 billion per year to comply, which means a spike in sticker prices of at least $2,000 to $2,800, according to official projections. Other estimates peg the added costs at $3,100, and that could go even higher. As The Wall Street Journal writes, "Vehicles that currently cost $15,000 or less will effectively be regulated out of existence." Read more.

Thanksgiving: The Result of Free Enterprise and Prayer

2011-11-22T10:02:00.001-05:00

Here is a lesson in free-market capitalism and dependence on God, learned almost 400 years ago, on our very shores. from the book: “The Landing of the Pilgrims” by James Daugherty, published by Landmark Press, 1950.

“1623 – Spring had come. It was March and the frost had come out of the hard ground, leaving soft and wet mud. The last handfuls of corm were being given out in equal rations from the common store. Only the precious seed corn for planting was left. On it depended the settlers’ survival from starvation. The time for third planting was at hand. Each year the Governor divided the common land equally among the families. The sounder church members usually got the best lots.

Last year this had caused discontent and there had been some grumbling. Some were workers and some were shirkers, but all received equal amounts of food from the common supply. This was taken up at the town meeting. It was decided that each family should keep the crop it raised on its allotted land. Each little farm would be a free enterprise. There would be no common store. Each would work for himself.

The result was wonderful. Each family, even the women and the children, worked in the fields daily from dawn until dark. Every inch of each field was planted and tended. There never had been such a planting. They had no plows, horses, or oxen. With spades and mattocks they loosened the earth, planted two fish in each hill, and dropped in the hard kernels. At night they took turns watching to keep the wolves from digging up the fish. The lean and ragged colonists tended their greening fields with a new pride and energy. The laziness and indifference of “communitie” had vanished like the sea mist before the sun.”

The story goes on to describe how spring turned to summer. Six weeks went by with no rain. Finally, the pilgrims gathered at the meeting house and prayed for eight hours, non-stop as the sun shone brightly in the “brassy July sky.” That night the rain came “without either wind, or thunder, or any violence, and by degreese in that abundance, as that ye earth was thorowly wete and soaked therwith…the Lord sent them such seasonable showers, with interchange of faire warm weather, as through His blessing caused a fruitful and liberall harvest, to their no small comfort and rejoyceing. For which mercie (in time conveniente) they also sett aparte a day of thanksgiving.”

Can you believe that this book was common reading material in the public schools?

Union Charges Dues to Parents Caring for Their Own Disabled Children

2011-11-18T11:54:00.001-05:00

Robert Haynes feeds his son who has cerebral palsy

How insidious is it that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) charges a family union dues for providing care to their own children who are afflicted with cerebral palsy? Under a scheme originally cooked up during the Granholm administration, home health-care "workers" have been placed in a union, in many cases without their knowledge or consent. The stipend they get from the state has monthly dues deducted, which go to the SEIU. Read more here.

Chinese Have Control of Our Satellites, Says Federal Government

2011-11-17T09:41:00.001-05:00

Recently, I wrote a blog about concerns expressed by former Professor of aerospace engineering, William Kauffman. He has asserted, and has been saying for several years now, that the University of Michigan, and other universities in the United States are transferring sensitive military technologies to Chinese Nationals who are enrolled as students. Nobody seems to be listening.

Yesterday, ABC News reported, "US Satellites Compromised by Malicious Cyber Activity."

According to a report just issued by the U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION, “Chinese military writings advocate attacks on space-to ground communications links and ground-based satellite control facilities in the event of a conflict. The report noted that in [two] instances, “The responsible party achieved all steps required to command the satellite but did not issue commands.” The report mentions the serious implications the intrusions could have on the satellite systems, particularly if they were directed against more sensitive systems such as military or communications satellites.

“If executed successfully, such interference has the potential to pose numerous threats, particularly if achieved against satellites with more sensitive functions. For example, access to a satellite’s controls could allow an attacker to damage or destroy the satellite,” the report read.

So, if I have this right, the Chinese Nationals have figured out how to control and command our satellites, but they have chosen not to implement the commands...yet. And, apparently, the ChiComs are getting the education from us on our American university campuses, AND, the taxpayers are subsidizing their education.

Meanwhile, China has increased its military budget by double-digits every year for the last ten years.

Let me know if I am missing something.

Auto and TARP Bailout Cost to Taxpayers: $81 Billion

2011-11-16T23:38:00.001-05:00

The Detroit News has reported that the Auto Bailout cost to taxpayers has been boosted to $23.6 billion, and the cost for the Troubled Asset Relief Program has been increased to $57.33 billion.

Once again, government has demonstrated to us that, no matter how bad something may be, and no matter how expensive it might be to "fix" in the private sector, it will ALWAYS be worse if the government gets their hands into it. It is a simple problem, really. Either you (the business) fix your own problem with your own company's money, which encourages a certain level of personal responsibility because its your money. Or, you fix your problem with OPM (other people's money), which requires very little personal responsibility because, after all, "it ain't MY money!"

Read the story here.

School Millage Fails by 55% - 45% Why?

2011-11-15T11:41:00.001-05:00

from mlive.com

MATTAWAN — An organization headed by former state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk sponsored robocalls last week warning Mattawan school district residents about the cost of a $59.9 million bond issue on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The Citizens’ Alliance for Life & Liberty paid for a round of calls on Nov. 7, the day before the election, and then another round Thursday, said Hoogendyk, the organization’s executive director.

Hoogendyk taped both messages, including Thursday’s call thanking residents for voting. About 55 percent of Mattawan Consolidated School voters rejected the request, which would have financed construction of two new elementary schools and upgraded technology for secondary students.

In the Nov. 7 call, Hoogendyk said the Mattawan bond proposal was “about four times higher than any previous bonding proposal in the school district’s history. .... If you are over 40, you will most likely be paying this tax increase as long as you own property in the school district.”

Hoogendyk, a Mattawan schools resident, said the point of the call was to provide information on an important local issue.

“I don’t want to hide the fact that I was personally opposed to the bond and I wanted it defeated,” said Hoogendyk, who is well-known for his strong anti-tax stance.

The Nov. 7 call did not say the call was from the Citizens’ Alliance for Life & Liberty, which was an oversight, Hoogendyk said.

Although state election law does not require identification for robocalls, Hoogendyk said his group paid for the second round of calls on Thursday to make it clear it sponsored the calls earlier in the week.

“I wanted people to know it was us,” Hoogendyk said. “We weren’t trying to run and hide.”

Hoogendyk said the group paid for 5,000 calls to Mattawan school district households. That’s a little more than the number of votes cast Nov. 8.

The Citizens’ Alliance was founded a few years ago as a nonprofit and registered as a political action committee with the mission of “protecting the right to life, liberty and property,” said Hoogendyk, who became the alliance’s executive director in February.

He said CALL is not “a Tea Party group per se, but its philosophy aligns with the Tea Party.”

The organization is based in Kalamazoo and does not have any paid staff or an office. Hoogendyk, who works as a political consultant, said he receives some consulting fees from the group.

This was the first time the alliance has targeted a local ballot issue, he said. It had focused on state issues, including right-to-work and immigration legislation and education spending.

Is Obamacare Being 'Locked In' to Michigan?

2011-11-15T11:29:00.001-05:00

2011 Senate Bill 693: Create state "Obamacare exchange"

Introduced by Sen. Jim Marleau (R) on September 22, 2011, to create a government health insurance “exchange" (the “MiHealth marketplace”), which would be the state entity through which the federal “Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act” would distribute its subsidies and impose its various restrictions and mandates.
- Referred to the Senate Health Policy Committee on September 22, 2011.
  - Reported in the Senate on November 10, 2011, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
- Substitute offered in the Senate on November 10, 2011, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance as previously described. In general, the bill's provisions take advantage of narrow opportunitities within the federal health care law to make it less rather than more restrictive on the state insurance market, although it must "perform all duties and obligations of an exchange required by" the federal law. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on November 10, 2011.
Passed 25 to 12 in the Senate on November 10, 2011. For details, click here.

HOW THEY VOTED