tag:profile.mlive.com,2013:sjdemas/8000348 2013-05-24T20:31:35Z Movable Type Enterprise 4.29-advance tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10261382 2013-03-28T12:00:47Z 2013-03-28T12:00:47Z

I believe it's my job as columnist to inform and thoughtfully opine on the issues of the day, and maybe make you laugh a little along the way.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html I believe it's my job as columnist to inform and thoughtfully opine on the issues of the day, and maybe make you laugh a little along the way. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/media_susan_demas_columnist_op.html tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10219691 2013-03-21T12:30:48Z 2013-03-21T12:30:48Z

One-third of Americans receive government assistance in one form or another, and that doesn't even include Medicare or Social Security. If you want to write off these struggling folks as freeloaders, that's 148 million people to try and ignore.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html One-third of Americans receive government assistance in one form or another, and that doesn't even include Medicare or Social Security. If you want to write off these struggling folks as freeloaders, that's 148 million people to try and ignore. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/poor_michigan_republicans_pope.html tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10176396 2013-03-14T12:00:47Z 2013-03-14T12:00:47Z

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (R-Cascade Twp.) last week was derided as a "wacko bird" by none other than 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain. But the truth is, Amash would be crazy not to run for U.S. Senate next year.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (R-Cascade Twp.) last week was derided as a "wacko bird" by none other than 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain. But the truth is, Amash would be crazy not to run for U.S. Senate next year. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/amash_senate_tea_party_republi.html tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10132737 2013-03-07T13:10:54Z 2013-03-07T13:10:54Z

In his more than two years in office, Snyder has shown what his priorities are: cutting business taxes $1.8 billion, enacting Right to Work, slashing business regulations, cutting unemployment benefits, raising income taxes on individuals and even curtailing abortion rights.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html In his more than two years in office, Snyder has shown what his priorities are: cutting business taxes $1.8 billion, enacting Right to Work, slashing business regulations, cutting unemployment benefits, raising income taxes on individuals and even curtailing abortion rights. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/rick_snyder_education_tax_cuts.html tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10086788 2013-02-28T13:30:20Z 2013-02-28T13:30:20Z

Raising the minimum wage is overwhelmingly popular, with 71 percent supporting a hike to $9 an hour in a new Pew Research/USA Today poll.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html Raising the minimum wage is overwhelmingly popular, with 71 percent supporting a hike to $9 an hour in a new Pew Research/USA Today poll. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/02/minimum_wage_rick_snyder.html tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.10037324 2013-02-21T13:10:07Z 2013-02-21T13:10:07Z

No one likes the cruddy roads in Michigan. But no one wants to pay to fix them.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html No one likes the cruddy roads in Michigan. But no one wants to pay to fix them. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/02/snyder_tax_increase_roads.html tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9991070 2013-02-14T13:05:25Z 2013-02-14T13:05:25Z

There's no question that Gov. Rick Snyder is very vulnerable in 2014, all conservative chest-beating to the contrary.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html There's no question that Gov. Rick Snyder is very vulnerable in 2014, all conservative chest-beating to the contrary. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/02/snyder_polling_2014_republican.html tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9943478 2013-02-07T13:05:08Z 2013-02-07T13:05:08Z

The only thing standing in between 450,000 low-income Michiganders and health insurance is Republicans' deep-seated hatred of Obamacare.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html The only thing standing in between 450,000 low-income Michiganders and health insurance is Republicans' deep-seated hatred of Obamacare. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/02/obamacare_snyder_medicaid.html tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9893319 2013-01-31T12:40:40Z 2013-01-31T12:40:40Z

Republicans and cynical Capitol types insist that she's running scared, spooked by Gov. Rick Snyder's impressive electoral prowess.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html Republicans and cynical Capitol types insist that she's running scared, spooked by Gov. Rick Snyder's impressive electoral prowess. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/01/whitmer_snyder_governor_1.html tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9847143 2013-01-24T13:00:26Z 2013-01-24T13:00:26Z

There was only one reasonable response to Adam Lanza, who police say burst into the peaceful Connecticut school armed to the teeth with a Bushmaster .223 caliber model XM15-E2S rifle with high capacity 30 round clips, a Glock 10-mm handgun and a Sig-Sauer P226 9mm -- and had a Izhmash Canta-12 12-gauge shotgun waiting in the car for good measure.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html There was only one reasonable response to Adam Lanza, who police say burst into the peaceful Connecticut school armed to the teeth with a Bushmaster .223 caliber model XM15-E2S rifle with high capacity 30 round clips, a Glock 10-mm handgun and a Sig-Sauer P226 9mm -- and had a Izhmash Canta-12 12-gauge shotgun waiting in the car for good measure. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/01/guns_sandy_hook_freedom.html tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9803244 2013-01-17T14:20:30Z 2013-01-17T14:20:30Z

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder last night laid out a bold vision of higher taxes and bigger government in his third State of the State address.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html Republican Gov. Rick Snyder last night laid out a bold vision of higher taxes and bigger government in his third State of the State address. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/01/snyder_roads_taxes_democrats.html tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9759942 2013-01-10T13:00:28Z 2013-01-10T13:00:28Z

As we approach the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, abortion rates in America have actually plummeted to an all-time low.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html As we approach the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, abortion rates in America have actually plummeted to an all-time low. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/01/abortion_roe_v_wade_michigan.html tag:www.mlive.com,2013:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9724695 2013-01-04T13:00:52Z 2013-01-04T13:00:52Z

In the end, we did briefly hurtle over the cliff, in antics reminiscent of the 2007 Michigan budget battle which led to a short government shutdown.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html In the end, we did briefly hurtle over the cliff, in antics reminiscent of the 2007 Michigan budget battle which led to a short government shutdown. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/01/susan_j_demas_why_republicans.html tag:www.mlive.com,2012:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9682423 2012-12-27T13:00:22Z 2012-12-27T13:00:22Z

If you ever wanted to know what Gretchen Whitmer would look like as governor, you got a small taste on Dec. 17.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html If you ever wanted to know what Gretchen Whitmer would look like as governor, you got a small taste on Dec. 17. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/12/whitmer_snyder_governor.html tag:www.mlive.com,2012:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9649693 2012-12-20T15:05:14Z 2012-12-20T15:05:14Z

No, Virginia. Santa Claus doesn't exist. And neither does moderate Gov. Rick Snyder.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html No, Virginia. Santa Claus doesn't exist. And neither does moderate Gov. Rick Snyder. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/12/snyder_taxes_moderate_michigan.html tag:www.mlive.com,2012:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9580740 2012-12-09T15:00:31Z 2012-12-09T15:00:31Z

Gov. Rick Snyder should be ashamed of himself.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html Gov. Rick Snyder should be ashamed of himself. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/12/snyder_right_to_work_flip_flop.html tag:www.mlive.com,2012:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9561847 2012-12-06T13:20:33Z 2012-12-06T13:20:33Z

You would imagine that Republicans, business owners and quite a few lobbyists would be up in arms at this end-run around democracy. Fox News would probably sweep into town and Rush Limbaugh would devote hours blasting the socialist power grab in Michigan.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html You would imagine that Republicans, business owners and quite a few lobbyists would be up in arms at this end-run around democracy. Fox News would probably sweep into town and Rush Limbaugh would devote hours blasting the socialist power grab in Michigan. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/12/romney_tax_increases_unions_ri.html tag:www.mlive.com,2012:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9520335 2012-11-29T13:20:14Z 2012-11-29T13:20:14Z

t's time for Snyder to be a leader. In Wisconsin, GOP Gov. Scott Walker took the bull by the horns and drove through legislation killing collective bargaining for public employees -- and became a folk hero for doing so at this year's Republican National Convention.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html t's time for Snyder to be a leader. In Wisconsin, GOP Gov. Scott Walker took the bull by the horns and drove through legislation killing collective bargaining for public employees -- and became a folk hero for doing so at this year's Republican National Convention. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/11/rick_snyder_right_to_work.html tag:www.mlive.com,2012:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9418085 2012-11-22T15:30:35Z 2012-11-22T15:30:35Z

The Republican Party doesn't need to moderate. It needs to modernize. That seems to be the lesson most GOPers have learned after their thrashing in the Nov. 6 election.

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html The Republican Party doesn't need to moderate. It needs to modernize. That seems to be the lesson most GOPers have learned after their thrashing in the Nov. 6 election. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/11/romney_republicans_moderate_co.html tag:www.mlive.com,2012:/politics/index.ssf//3203.9442264 2012-11-15T15:10:52Z 2012-11-15T15:10:52Z

You could just hear the scorn oozing through Mitt Romney's voice as he told disappointed big-money donors on Wednesday that President Obama won by giving blacks, Hispanics, women and young people "gifts."

sjdemas http://connect.mlive.com/user/sjdemas/index.html You could just hear the scorn oozing through Mitt Romney's voice as he told disappointed big-money donors on Wednesday that President Obama won by giving blacks, Hispanics, women and young people "gifts." http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/11/romney_gifts_lost_republicans.html