One insidious practice which sugar-coats the dose of Federal intrusion is the division of expense for public improvements or services between state and national treasuries…. The average American, believing in our dual-sovereignty system, must feel that the policy of national-doles to the states is bad and may become disastrous. We may go on yet for a time with the easy assumption that ‘if the states will not, the nation must.’
But that way lies trouble…” ~ President Calvin Coolidge Address at Arlington National Cemetery, May 30, 1925
Medicaid Expansion Update
First there will be a Meeting on the HB 4714, Medicaid Expansion bill, this coming Wed, July 3rd.
formerly/http://www.senate.michigan.gov/committee/govtops.shtm
I do not know the time as yet. There is a 24 hour notice requirement but when I know, you will.
We need to have as many people there as possible to testify and fill out testimony cards and if you can’t be there in person, please e-mail the Committee members, and ask the Committee clerk enter your email into public testimony.
Committee Members:
Randy Richardville (R) Committee Chair, 17th District
Toll-Free:(866) 556-7917 Main Line:(517) 373-3543 Fax:(517) 373-0927E-Mail:senrichardville@senate.michigan.gov
Dave Hildenbrand (R) Majority Vice Chair, 29th District
Main Line:(517) 373-1801 E-Mail: sendhildenbrand@senate.michigan.gov
Arlan B Meekhof formerly/http://www.misenategop.com/senators/Meekhof.asp?District=30 (R) 30th District
By Phone: (517) 373-6920 Toll Free: (866) 305-2130 By Fax: (517) 373-2751 By Email: SenAMeekhof@senate.michigan.gov
Why Not Category? Make their day 
Gretchen Whitmer (D) Minority Vice Chair, 23rd District
E-Mail:sengwhitmer@senate.michigan.gov Main Line:(517) 373-1734 Fax:(517) 373-5397
Tupac A Hunter (D) 5th District
Toll-Free:(866) 262-7305 Main Line:(517) 373-0994Fax:(517) 373-5981 E-Mail: sentahunter@senate.michigan.gov
Committee Clerk, tambs@senate.michigan.gov (517) 373-3543
Governor Snyder Continues his Expansion Push “Tour”
Apparently it’s a no holds barred campaign the Governor has embarked upon. Robo calls are going out. And my neighbor informed me today that she got a call from a staffer inviting her to attend a meeting with the Governor this coming Monday evening at the Romney Bldg on the Medicaid Expansion. My neighbor asked how the staffer got her name and phone number and the reply was, “From a list” A list? Which list inquiring minds want to know.
Oh by the way, The caller ID showed the call was from the State of Michigan DMB IT. the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget
What is next billboards, T-shirts and an photo op with the Governor complete with a autographed picture? How about bringing in a elephant to complete this taxpayer paid for circus?
So the Governor is using taxpayer resources and state employees to push his agenda. Then why shouldn’t we, that oppose Medicaid Expansion have made available to us, the same (taxpayer) resources?
Additionally a source tells me that a presentation was made to about fifty lobbyists by Governor Snyder’s top aid his “transformation manager” Rich Baird, who works in the governor’s office but is paid by the Governor’s non- profit NERD fund (archived link) which has become a target for a lack of transparency
Mr. Baird was quoted as saying, “The Senate will do what the governor wants” (Really, do the Senators know this?) He also publicly called out Senator Alan Meekhoff saying” That Senator Meehoff was “putting his personal career goals over what is best for Michigan!”
As Senate floor leader Senator Meekoff has the authority to authorize (or not) the vote on the Medicaid Expansion bill. He did the right thing despite tremendous pressure and did not take a vote when there was not a majority of the majority on a bill he considered bad policy. And now Snyder’s hit man has attempted to publicly humiliate him?” Senator Meekoff is an unsung hero here.
Please take a moment to thank Senator Meekhoff for taking a principled stand.
By Phone: (517) 373-6920
Toll Free: (866) 305-2130
By Fax: (517) 373-2751
By Email: SenAMeekhof@senate.michigan.gov
(Staff are in offices while most legislators are in their district)
Supreme Court Ruling- How does that affect Michigan?
As you already know the Supreme Court just ruled on two cases related to homosexual marriage, DOMA a Federal law and and PROP 8 a California ballot proposition and a state constitutional amendment.
In 2004, voters approved a constitutional amendment, Michigan Proposal 04-2, that banned same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state. It passed with 58.6% of the vote. The Michigan Supreme Court later ruled that public employers in Michigan would not be legally allowed to grant domestic partnership benefits based on the recently passed measure.
State Attorney General Bill Schuette issued this statement:
“The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states, not the federal government, retain the constitutional authority to define marriage,” he said in a statement. “Michigan’s Constitution stands and the will of the people to define marriage as between one man and one woman endures in the Great Lakes State.”
However homosexual activists have been stepping up efforts as Michigan Democrats/Liberals introduced bills and “Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) introduced Senate Joint Resolution W, a measure that would give Michigan voters the opportunity to repeal a 2004 state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.” Huffington Post
And just today a Clinton appointed Federal judge, U.S. District Court Judge David M. Lawson granted a preliminary injunction, temporarily prevented a state law from taking effect that would have barred many public entities from providing health insurance to the domestic partners of their employees, finding it to be unconstitutional.
There will be other legal battles to come and one question that is germaine to this newsletter is Medicaid.
There is also the issue of joint federal-state programs like Medicaid. Should the federal government require that states recognize gay marriages for the purposes of these programs? Forbes
Will that be the next push by Liberals and accepted by states who have become addicted to the Federal money and rush through an Expansion bill like our Governor for some short term gain? THAT could add many more to Medicaid roles for Michigan taxpayers.
However, the defense of traditional marriage is much more than money:
“For many centuries marriage was regulated by the church, not by government. For a thousand years in mediaeval Europe marriage disputes were settled in church courts under church rules. Reasoning along such lines, some —notably Ron Paul—are now calling on government to take itself completely out of marriage.
This reasoning is not entirely wrong, but it leaves out something essential. Marriage is a contract. No doubt it is much more than a contract. In the Christian view it is also a *sacrament: a visible sign of an invisible grace. But whatever else it may be, it is at least a contract. It is a solemn public agreement.
When we get married, we pledge to share our life with another person. As in any contract, we lead the other person to rely on us to carry out our promise. In any contract, if we break our promise, we cause harm to the other person because we cause them to lose everything they have invested in it. This is why government is involved in all contracts, and rightly so. Marriage creates rights. Should government be involved in marriage?
* And I would add as an unapologetic born again Christian, a Biblically ordained covenant between a man, a woman and God. A bedrock institution in our society that is now being systemic destroyed by a small minority. There will more battles ahead, and the choice is yours to decide which side you will serve.
“[O]nly a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” Benjamin Franklin ~ Signer of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence
(Source: Benjamin Franklin, The Writings of Benjamin Franklin, Jared Sparks, editor (Boston: Tappan, Whittemore and Mason, 1840), Vol. X, p. 297, April 17, 1787. )
“No free government now exists in the world, unless where Christianity is acknowledged, and is the religion of the country.”` Pennsylvania Supreme Court
(Source: Pennsylvania Supreme Court, 1824. Updegraph v. Commonwealth; 11 Serg. & R. 393, 406 (Sup.Ct. Penn. 1824).)
“Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled either by a power within them or by a power without them; either by the Word of God or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or by the bayonet.” Robert Winthrop Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives
(Source: Robert Winthrop, Addresses and Speeches on Various Occasions (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1852), p. 172 from his “Either by the Bible or the Bayonet.”)
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