Blog

And to preserve their (people’s) independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude.“
Thomas Jefferson ~ July 12, 1816

“I favor the policy of economy, not because I wish to save money, but because I wish to save people. The men and women of this country who toil are the ones who bear the cost of the Government. Every dollar that we carelessly waste means that their life will be so much the more meager. Every dollar that we save means that their life will be so much the more abundant. Economy is idealism in its most practical form.“

In this Issue

5 minutes or less Action Items

Information about final push to “git er done” before legislature adjourns for break

1. Trying to fund building the NITC/DRIC Bridge

2. ObamaCare Navigators

The final push to “git er done” is on this (Thursday) before our legislature adjourns for summer. Then we can ALL take a much needed break! However, we still need to have our voices heard!

And YOUR voices have been heard! We have successfully staved off ObamaCare in Michigan and as recently reported the Medicaid Expansion will not be in the Omnibus Appropriations budget bill!

“Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville told reporters on Tuesday that the spending targets for the budget that takes effect Oct. 1 could be finalized soon.

The Monroe Republican said they are rejecting federal dollars for the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Health Care Act “at this time.”

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO STOP BUT CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR LIBERTY!

One of those items we need to address is the NITC/DRIC Bridge.

If you recall Gov. Snyder’s “back doored” the progress and used an “inter-local agreement” to advance the new bridge after the Michigan Legislature (our voice)  refused to authorize a new bridge and entered into a “letter of intent” with Canada. THIS process is inherently undemocratic and lacking in both government transparency and accountability and the agreement with Canada infringes on Michigan sovereignty. YOU said NO to the new bridge.

Apparently we need to say NO again!

There are two processes at work to try and get the bridge built:

1. Pressuring the House and Senate to revoke the Appropriations bill language

Sec. 384. New International Trade Crossing (NITC)–

REVISED  House provides for reporting requirement and FUND the Bridge

2. HB 4482 greatly expands the powers of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) (itself a creation of a Inter-local agreement) as a potential vehicle to finance the Bridge.

The Michigan Economic Development Corp.(MEDC)  is a quasi-public department of state government. It spends 100 million of taxpayer money but it NOT subject to the Open meetings Act. Basically, the MEDC is a slush fund the governor uses to funnel tax dollars to pick business winners and losers. MORE about the MEDC below

Second Item is, trying to speed up the implementation of ObamaCare by enacting the regulation of ObamaCare Navigators  Sec. 1311    PPACA (Consolidated)(i) NAVIGATORS.

From our Friends at RetakeOurGov

SB 324 – The answer is still NO! formerly

This bill SB 324 sets up policy for hiring and the regulation of ObamaCare Navigators for the state of Michigan.

“Our position is that SB 324 is not needed as ObamaCare regulations are still being rolled out by the feds.  It makes little sense to enact regulations given that we having a “moving target.”  Further, enacting such regulations now hastens the ability of the feds to take away our health care rights by speeding up the implementation of ObamaCare.”

We Agree.

Total Action Items

Email/Call/Fax your House Rep and Senator 

On the Omnibus Appropriations bill:

“I do not want ANY appropriations to build the NITC/DRIC Bridge”

Email/Call/Fax your House Rep and Senator  On HB 4482

“I do not want the power of the *MEDC expanded and I do not want any monies directed to the MEDC to be used for the NITC/DRIC bridge”

HB 4482 is in the House Commerce Committee

Please include them if emailing your Rep and Senator on HB 4482:

House Commerce Committee (Copy & Paste)

Chair FrankFoster@house.mi.gov

DaleWZorn@house.mi.gov,GailHaines@house.mi.gov,WayneSchmidt@house.mi.gov,
JeffFarrington@house.mi.gov,BenGlardon@house.mi.gov,JoelJohnson@house.mi.gov,
AricNesbitt@house.mi.gov,PatSomerville@house.mi.gov,RickOutman@house.mi.gov,
TimKelly@house.mi.gov,TomLeonard@house.mi.gov,JonSwitalski@house.mi.gov,
VickiBarnett@house.mi.gov,JimTownsend@house.mi.gov,HarveySantana@house.mi.gov,
StacyErwinOakes@house.mi.gov,GretchenDriskell@house.mi.gov,HenryYanez@house.mi.gov

*About the MEDC

The Mackinac Policy Center has done a series of excellent articles about the problems of the MEDC HERE

Particularly since the MEDC is a tax payer funded corporation,but it NOT subject to the Open Meetings Act, has an appointed board,and lacks transparency. Furthermore, according to a 2013 audit by Michigan’s Auditor General the MEDC WITHHELD information required by statue from legislators (The Commerce Committee members especially should receive this information in your e-mails or calls) that proves it’s program are UNSUCCESSFUL in the very area the MEDC was created to accomplish, give tax incentives to provide employment and economic impact to the State. Additionally, the MEDC does NOT effectively monitor program compliance of those who are in the program.

According to Michigan Auditor General report:

Audit Objectives

Our performance audit* of the Renaissance Zone Program, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), had the following objectives:

1.To assess the effectiveness of MEDC’s efforts to evaluate the Renaissance Zone Program’s impact on creating new jobs, retaining jobs, and stimulating capital investment within the State.

2.To assess the effectiveness of MEDC’s efforts to monitor Renaissance Zones for compliance with development agreement requirements.

MEDC did not ensure that all information required by statute in relation to the Renaissance Zone Program was completely and accurately reported to the Legislature. As a result, users of the annual report did not have complete and accurate information regarding the Program.

MEDC did not properly report all information required by Section 125.2695 of the Michigan Compiled Laws in the calendar year 2008, calendar year 2009,and calendar year 2010 annual reports to the Legislature.

MEDC did not adequately monitor Renaissance Zones’ compliance with the requirements of their development agreements. As a result, MEDC lacks assurance that the zones are actually meeting the terms of their development agreements.

Also, Renaissance Zones that were out of compliance with the requirements of their development agreements continued to take advantage of the tax incentives provided by the Program while providing little or no employment and economic impact to the State.

Based primarily on information provided by the Department of Treasury, we estimate that approximately $820 million in State and local tax revenue (aka OUR MONEY) was abated in relation to the Program from its inception in fiscal year 1996-97 through fiscal year 2009

10. Therefore, it is imperative that MEDC be able to determine the true value of the Program.

It’s past time that we demand an actual accounting of the MEDC to determine if this is an organization that should continue to even operate!