Michigan RLC Convention Will Feature Congressman Amash!
The Republican Liberty Caucus of Michigan is honored to host two distinguished guests at its 2011 State RLC Convention:
1) Congressman Justin Amash
2) State Representative Bob Genetski
This event will occur on Saturday, May 14 at Tommy Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille (4157 Division Avenue South) in Wyoming, Michigan. Festivities will kick off at 12noon and will culminate at 3pm. Please RSVP to our Facebook event invite.
The atmosphere will be a working lunch and registration is FREE, but you will be responsible for your own meal. And, we all know that liberty isn’t free — so please bring some cash because the Michigan RLC will be passing the Liberty Bucket to help defray costs and promote liberty in Michigan in 2011 and 2012.
Congressman Amash spoke at the 2011 RLC National Convention and had this to say about the RLC: “In 2005, I wasn’t involved in politics in any substantive way. I had never really thought about running for office. I began looking for organizations that shared the beliefs I had — and that’s when I came across the Republican Liberty Caucus. And, really, it’s what’s started my move toward running for office.”
He is now recognized as one of the most principled members of Congress, passionately defending the principles he and his constituents share while working to reduce the burdens that decades of Big Government has had on us all.
State Representative Bob Genetski represents District 88 in the State House. While Congressman Amash served in the House, Rep. Genetski, Congressman Amash, and a small group of other principled Representatives often voted together to reduce the influence of the special interests and restore liberty to Michigan.
We hope you can join the Republican Liberty Caucus of Michigan, Congressman Amash, and Representative Geneteski for the 2011 Michigan RLC Convention on May 14.
REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 2011 RLC NATIONAL CONVENTION
Michigan Republican Liberty Caucus Endorses Anne Norlander for Secretary of State
After hosting its Republican Secretary of State debate last week, the Michigan chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus has endorsed Anne Norlander for Secretary of State.
Norlander is the County Clerk and Register of Deeds for Calhoun County, Michigan. While the actual vote to endorse was extremely close, the consensus was that, although not every board member may have agreed with her answers, they were clearly the most thoughtful of all the candidates running. Which brought a majority of the board to conclude that Norlander simply has the best understanding of what the job of Secretary of State entails. “I think Norlander won the support of our Board because of her understanding and willingness to manage fair elections and she seems to best articulate a limited government message in her debate answers,” said Michigan RLC Chairman Mike Hewitt.
Delegates to the Michigan GOP Convention will select the nominee on August 28.
Regular Meeting of the Executive Board at State GOP Convention
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August 28 · 3:30pm - 5:00pm
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| Location | Buddies Pub & Grill
3048 East Lake Lansing Rd
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Carriage Hills Plaza
Corner of Lake Lansing & Hagadorn 517.333.9212 … RLC Members and Executive Board Members are encouraged to attend and people interested in learning more about RLC-Michigan are invited to join us! See you there!! Mike Hewitt, Chairperson |
RLCMI Endorses Dan Osterman for State Senate
This week, the Republican Liberty Caucus endorsed Dan Osterman for State Senate. Osterman is the first candidate the Michigan Chapter has endorsed this election year. More endorsements are soon to come. National Endorsements Director Dan Sheill said, “Mr. Osterman’s answers to our predominantly ideologically-based survey were the best we’ve seen out of roughly two dozen responses so far. We wish Dan all the luck in his quest to represent the people of the 7th State Senate District.” Please visit his website to learn more about volunteering or donating to this great liberty candidate. For more RLCMI endorsed candidates, please go here.
Michigan RLC Convention with Gary Johnson Feb. 27th
The Michigan chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus will hold its annual convention at Andiamo Italian Restaurant in Novi on February 27 from 4:30 to 6:00pm.
The Convention will feature former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson and State Representative Justin Amash.
The RLC will also hold its annual business meeting to elect officers for 2010-2011. Hors d’oeuvres will be served.
We are asking for a small $10 entry fee for non-RLC members. In order to vote or run for an officer position, you must be a dues-paying member of the RLC ($30 annually; $20 for students). Learn more or join at http://www.RLC.org/.
See you there!
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RLC Info. & Membership: http://www.RLC.org/
RSVP for the event: http://garyjohnsonmichigan.eventbrite.com/
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Andiamo Italia:
http://www.andiamoitalia.com/novi/index.html
Map: http://www.andiamoitalia.com/novi/map.html
Governor Johnson Bio:
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Gary Johnson is a Republican and serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Our America Initiative. He has been an outspoken advocate for efficient government, lower taxes, winning the war on drug abuse, protection of civil liberties, revitalization of the economy and promoting entrepreneurship and privatization.
In 1994, Johnson was elected Governor of New Mexico despite having little experience in politics. He defeated the incumbent Democratic Governor Bruce King in the general election as well as a former Republican Governor in the primary election.
In 1998, Johnson was re-elected as governor, defeating Democratic Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez by a 55% to 45% margin.
As Governor of New Mexico, Johnson was known for his common-sense business approach to governing. He eliminated New Mexico’s budget deficit, cut the rate of growth in state government in half and privatized half of the state prisons.
Johnson also shifted state Medicaid to managed care (which led to better healthcare by creating a statewide healthcare network that previously did not exist and which saved money) and reduced state employees by over 1000, with no firings. During his term, New Mexico experienced the longest period without a tax increase in the state’s history.
While in office, Governor Johnson vetoed 750 bills (which was more than all the combined vetoes of the other 49 Governors in the country at the time ) and thousands of line item vetoed bills.
Gary Johnson was term limited and could not run for a third consecutive term as Governor in 2002. He currently lives in New Mexico and has remained very active, competing in numerous athletic competitions. He is an avid skier, adventurer, and bicyclist who abstains from alcohol. In 2003, he climbed Mount Everest.
Why The Michigan Republican Party Still Doesn’t Get It
Mike Nofs is the Republican nominee for the special election this Tuesday in State Senate District 19. By all accounts Mike Nofs is a nice guy. And according to an article written last May, “Nofs said he believes he should be the Republican candidate because he listens to everyone’s ideas and works across party lines.” That sounds reasonable. And while trying to compromise and work with others is something to be proud of, there are still a few fundamental issues out there where compromising means simply enabling the same bad parties who are holding behind progress.
For example, take Mr. Nofs’ endorsements by both the Michigan Educational Association (MEA) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Too many times, Republican voters are swayed by a candidate’s endorsements from Right to Life and Citizens for Traditional Values, while ignoring the “economic” allies that the politician has. And when we talk about “traditional values,” shouldn’t we also consider a government that lives within its means, and allows individuals to make an honest living without being overburdened by unnecessary taxes, regulations, and forced unionism?
As MakeLansingListen.com mentions: “So while the Republican Party is looking for this to be their big comeback win, we are convinced that their support of Mike proves they weren’t listening on April 15th as 20,000 people attended Tea Parties around the State to say they were Taxed Enough Already. Let’s tell Mike and all the rest of the big spenders in Lansing that we are mad as heck and we’re not going to take it anymore!”
Among the “Big Spender Top 10 Votes” made by Mike Nofs include both being “1 of 3 House GOP [members] to vote to keep the special benefit loophole for teacher retirement system,” and “1 of 4 House GOP to vote to protect public school employee union’s costly health benefit plan from competition.” These “protections” are better known to the MEA as the sacred cow called MESSA.
Nofs was also “1 of just 6 House GOP [members] to vote AGAINST competitive contracting for public school services like busing, food, and custodial.” For this “brave” vote, Nofs earned the endorsement of the SEIU, who states that Mike “Nofs opposes privatizing state services because he understands that there are ultimately no cost savings.” Tell this to Oakland County Sherriff, and current gubernatorial candidate, Mike Bouchard who has privatized county services in his department, resulting in savings of $15 million since he assumed office roughly ten years ago.
The Republicans may very well win this election in the short run. But this short-term victory will do nothing to restore the long-term lack of credibility that the Republican Party continues to suffer from. Republican victories at the ballot box will do little to improve the state’s current malaise when many of these same Republicans, such as Mr. Nofs, are susceptible to the political pressure inflicted by organized labor.
Which makes it an even greater irony that Democratic Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is arguably more conservative than most of the elected Republican officials in Michigan when it comes to demanding concessions from government employee unions. Mr. Bing has a big election coming up this Tuesday as well. Yet he refuses to succumb to the usual political pressure presented by organized labor. Bing recognizes that such pressure ultimately defeats the whole purpose for which he got involved in politics in the first place. He should be commended for his profile in courage, regardless of partisan affiliation or lack thereof.
Some have said that “if you wanted a ‘true conservative’ to be our nominee next week, you SHOULD HAVE FOUND ONE AND BUILT AN ORGANIZATION AND RAN AND WON THE PRIMARY.” Well, that’s easier said than done when the state Republican Party puts all of their muscle behind one favored guy. And this type of disingenuous statement is entitled to a simple response. And that’s “true conservatives” do have the choice on Tuesday to vote for Libertarian Greg Merle. “The former Republican said he became despondent with the GOP after the party made John McCain its 2008 presidential nominee…”
The RLC as a matter of policy will not endorse a Libertarian candidate running against a Republican. But frankly, considering the fact that Nofs is endorsed by both the MEA and SEIU, we can’t say that we blame conservatives in the 19th Senate District if they choose to vote for Merle. And we also appreciate the challenge to “build an organization” of our own to win primaries because that is precisely what the Republican Liberty Caucus sets out to do.
The Guv in her own words
From Time’s “10 Questions,” we get some idea of how our Governor thinks. Is there a theme running through these responses, perhaps?
We won’t pay for you to get a degree in French or political science…but we will pay for you to get a degree in something that is of need, like nursing….
The same people who bend steel to make cars can bend steel to make wind turbines. The same people who program machines to build car parts can program machines to build parts for solar panels….
You can’t give tax credits to everybody, because somebody’s gotta pay for them. We have targeted six sectors….
As a politician, of course she knows what skills workers today need. That’s her particular area of expertise, somehow.
Then there are the statements that leave you scratching your head (even after you see the questions that prompted them):
But I can tell you I will have had a lot of experience in leading during a time of sustained crisis….
Leading? Surely she jests.
Better leadership decisions than in Michigan
Recently the Dallas Morning News ran a very interesting article regarding the 160-year-old Michigan State Fair. Prior to being cancelled this Labor Day, the Michigan State Fair was the oldest, and many said, the most critically acclaimed state fair in all the land. But because of recent budget cuts, the fair was permanently put out of business. Compare this with what Texas has done, which now has “the country’s longest and largest fair…at least $5 million in profits each year based on about $70 million in revenues.”
As the author says, in these recessionary times, “other fairs are seeing their budgets dry up as governments spend precious dollars elsewhere.” “Unlike several other state fairs, the State Fair of Texas doesn’t receive government funds. But for the fair to continue making money on its own, officials have to keep things fresh to attract the crowds.” In other words, the profit motive has kept the Texas state fair alive, while the lack of such an incentive has caused the Michigan State Fair to go extinct.
“We’ve tried to keep the product relevant by constantly changing the product,” said Errol McKoy, fair president. “We preach innovation.” This innovation has included renovating the world famous Cotton Bowl in order to keep the traditional Red River football rivalry between the Universities of Texas and Oklahoma on the state fair grounds as it has been for the last eighty years.
The fair is using its profits to pay for this and other projects. “So, the pressure’s on to keep the money rolling in.” And the Texas State Fair has been able to keep the money rolling in because of a board of directors “who expect business results.”
Interestingly, the article quotes Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm saying that “while they are a wonderful tradition, the state fairs are not an essential purpose of government.” We agree Governor. So why not follow Texas’ lead and let the private sector preserve Michigan’s wonderful tradition?
Political class to taxpayers: you work for us
You work for us. Do the government employees serve the taxpayers, or are the taxpayers here to provide them with salaries and benefits?
If you’re a government worker, most of whom are part of the political class that we’ve written of before, the answer is obvious. It doesn’t matter how stretched taxpayers are, the cost of government (that’s what bureaucrats’ salaries and benefits are, after all) must not decrease.
The clever members of the political class couch their objections to cutting government spending in terms with which we all sympathize. See this wonderful article explaining Detroit’s current fiscal/government situation for an example of this:
“This guy is just full of it,” Leamon Wilson, chairman of the presidents [sic] of AFSCME’s locals, said about Bing. “He’s not trying to work with us. He doesn’t seem to have any respect for the workers and what they do.”
In other words, a mayor who doesn’t seek to curry favor with the bureaucrats as his top priority, and whose administration asks questions of department heads such as
What services do you provide now? What services should you provide? How much will it cost? Is there a way to do it cheaper? Can another entity do it cheaper?
is, in this government-employee-union leader’s view, anti-worker (whatever that’s supposed to mean). The RLC-MI surely isn’t the only group around that finds objections like the AFSCME leader’s ridiculous (no matter how much he mischaracterizes the debate as being about “respect for workers”). And the Bing administration’s questions, if they actually lead to right-sizing city government, show just differently Mayor Bing thinks from the political class.
Would that more GOP leaders follow Mayor Bing’s lead, and ask department heads to justify their departments’ existence as publicly funded entities.