Grassroots group calls Emmons’ resolution a charade
LANSING, Mich. – The grassroots free-market group Americans for Prosperity-Michigan today condemned the Senate vote to pass SB 693, which would create a Michigan healthcare exchange. At the same time, AFP-Michigan called Sen. Judy Emmons resolution urging the Attorney General to fight the new federal health care law “a charade.”
“I’ll put it bluntly for those lawmakers who voted in favor of this legislation,” said Scott Hagerstrom. “We view their vote to create a state healthcare exchange as a vote for President Barack Obama’s Washington health care takeover. And, we’ll be educating and mobilizing our members with this in mind.”
Hagerstrom noted that creating a state health care exchange would help build the infrastructure for President Obama’s health care law—at a time when just 38 percent of Americans support the new law and there are credible constitutional challenges. These new government bureaucracies would enforce the law’s regulations that will drive up premiums and distribute billions in taxpayer-funded subsidies.
For Republican lawmakers who voted to create the exchange and then voted for a resolution opposing President Obama’s health care law, Hagerstrom had this to say. “It’s a sham, a charade. And we’re going to expose this resolution for what it is—a thinly veiled attempt to cover up their vote in support of President Obama’s Washington health care takeover. With friends like these, who needs enemies?”
According to Hagerstrom, state healthcare exchanges are just one more way the law is designed to coerce states into compliance. Michigan’s exchange would have to comply with thousands of pages of regulation—including those yet unwritten—established by the Obama Administration. The law also allows the feds to commandeer any exchange that doesn’t comply with federal “guidelines.”
“We are going to hold lawmakers’ feet to the fire on this issue,” concluded Hagerstrom. “House lawmakers would do well to approach this legislation with more caution than their Senate colleagues.”
Americans for Prosperity-Michigan is a statewide organization of 65,000 activists committed to strengthening our constitutional government, establishing fiscal restraint, and giving taxpayers greater control over government. We are dedicated to recruiting, training, educating and motivating grassroots activists to be effective in their own communities.
Group warns taxpayers must remain vigilant;
Calls on Gov. Snyder to respect the legislative process
State Sen. Mike Kowall voted against the proposed Detroit-Canada bridge in committee
LANSING, Mich. – Americans for Prosperity-Michigan applauded today’s Senate Economic Development Committee vote against the Detroit-Canada government bridge, calling it “an important victory for taxpayers.” However, the group warned, Michigan taxpayers must remain vigilant because bridge proponents will likely seek another route to passage for the proposal.
“We applaud the lawmakers on the committee who had the backbone to stand up for taxpayers even under tremendous pressure to support bigger government,” said Scott Hagerstrom, AFP-Michigan state director. “This vote is an important victory for taxpayers.”
Those lawmakers who voted against the proposal were: Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake Township), Sen. Goeff Hansen (R-Hart) and Sen. Mike Nofs (R-Battle Creek). Lawmakers who supported the proposal were: Sen. Judy Emmons (R-Sheridan) and Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell). Both Democrats on the committee, Sen. Tupac Hunter (Detroit) and Sen. Virgil Smith (Detroit), passed on the vote.
“Unfortunately, the forces of big government will continue to push this proposal,” said Hagerstrom. “It’s like the bad guy in a horror movie—it just refuses to die. We’re calling on Gov. Snyder to respect the legislative process and turn his attention to issues that will bring genuine prosperity to our state.”
The vote comes on the heels of an AFP-Michigan poll that showed nearly half (49 percent) of Michigan voters oppose a new Detroit-Canada bridge, while just 31 percent of respondents said they supported the proposed bridge project. Voters were more than twice as likely to “strongly oppose” the bridge than they were to “strongly support” the bridge (36 percent to 16 percent), with the total number of voters who supported the bridge lower than those most fervently against it.
The full poll results can be found online at www.MichiganAFP.com. For more information about AFP-Michigan’s position on the New International Trade Crossing, visit www.DetroitBridgeInfo.com
Americans for Prosperity-Michigan is a statewide organization of 65,000 activists committed to strengthening our constitutional government, establishing fiscal restraint, and giving taxpayers greater control over government. We are dedicated to recruiting, training, educating and motivating grassroots activists to be effective in their own communities.
Originally appeared in The Detroit Free Press
by Dawson Bell
http://bit.ly/o2i4gv
A poll commissioned by a group aligned with the owners of the Ambassador Bridge and released this morning found strong opposition to the proposed new, government-owned crossing between Detroit and Windsor.
Forty-nine percent of those polled opposed the span, 36% strongly, according to pollster Kelly Anne Conway, compared to 31% who supported the idea (16% strongly).
The poll was conducted by the polling company, inc./WomanTrend for Americans for Prosperity Michigan, a conservative activist organization which has conducted a vigorous marketing campaign opposing the new bridge as an alleged government boondoggle.
Here is the question posed by the polling firm: “There is currently a debate happening in the Michigan legislature regarding the building of a new bridge near Detroit that would provide an additional connection between Michigan and Canada. The new bridge would be funded, built and managed by the Michigan and Canadian governments. Do you support or oppose this proposal?”
Bills before the legislature to allow the bridge project to move forward aim to protect Michigan taxpayers from any financial obligation.
AFP Michigan Director Scott Hagerstrom said the polling results indicate that Gov. Rick Snyder and lawmakers who support the new bridge are at odds with public opinion.
Pollster Kelly Anne Conway said the bridge question in her poll – unlike other, recent attempts to gauge support for the project — was posed in a neutral way, aimed at eliciting the most accurate measure of voter sentiment. Respondents were not offered any of the arguments for or against the idea, she said.
Conway said opposition to the new bridge is relatively uniform across regions of the state, age groups and political leanings. Self-identified independents (56%) and conservatives (52%) were most likely to oppose the project. But a plurality of Democrats (47%) and liberals (49%) were also opposed, she said.
The telephone survey of 600 registered voters was conducted Oct. 14-16. It has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
7 of 10 voters support Right to Work; Nearly half of voters oppose Detroit bridge
LANSING, Mich. – Key findings of a new poll released by Americans for Prosperity-Michigan show that nearly half (49 percent) of Michigan voters oppose a new Detroit-Canada bridge, and seven out of 10 voters support giving workers the right not to be forced to join a union. The AFP-Michigan poll covers a total of six key taxpayer issues, including government checkbook transparency, a gas tax increase, and limiting property taxes to a fixed percent of a home’s value. The full poll results may be found online at www.MichiganAFP.com.
“Americans for Prosperity wanted to take the pulse of Michigan voters on some of the core issues we’re focusing our efforts on during the remainder of the legislative session this year,” said Scott Hagerstrom, state director of Americans for Prosperity-Michigan. “When asked plainly, voters do choose less government, lower taxes and greater transparency.”
The phone survey of 600 likely Michigan voters was conducted by the polling company, inc./WomanTrend with a margin of error of +/- 4.0 percent. Among its findings:
• Detroit-Windsor Bridge – Nearly one-half of respondents opposed the bridge, with 36 percent strongly opposed. In fact, voters were more than twice as likely to “strongly oppose” the bridge than they were to “strongly support” the bridge (36 percent to 16 percent). The total number of voters who supported the bridge was lower than those most fervently against it.
• Right to Work – 71 percent of respondents supported giving Michigan workers, including teachers, the right not to be forced to join a union. No less than 54 percent of all three political parties and ideologies rejected the idea of compulsory unionization.
• Gas Taxes – A mere 13 percent of respondents supported an increase in the gas tax in Michigan, while 80 percent opposed a gas tax hike.
• Government Transparency – Lawmakers loath to take up controversial issues should embrace government transparency. A whopping 83 percent supported government checkbook transparency.
• Property Taxes – A majority of Michigan voters (62 percent) favored fixing property taxes in correlation with home value, with 39 percent strongly in favor of such a measure.
“Our findings indicate that lawmakers should start focusing their energy on Right to Work, government transparency and a property tax limitation,” concluded Hagerstrom. “An expensive and unnecessary Detroit-Canada government bridge is a distraction from the issues that will bring genuine prosperity to our state.”
Americans for Prosperity-Michigan is a statewide organization of 65,000 activists committed to strengthening our constitutional government, establishing fiscal restraint, and giving taxpayers greater control over government. We are dedicated to recruiting, training, educating and motivating grassroots activists to be effective in their own communities.
Grassroots group says bridge will cost taxpayers more than a few dimes
MIDLAND, Mich. – The grassroots free-market group Americans for Prosperity-Michigan held a news conference today with Dick Morris to highlight concerns about Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed New International Trade Crossing. The 65,000-member-strong group has been an outspoken opponent of the new Detroit-Canada government bridge.
“The appropriate way to fund such a project is through private investment, not by pickpocketing the public purse,” said Annie Patnaude, deputy state director of Americans for Prosperity-Michigan. “Politicians on both sides of the border are making promises, but it is Michigan taxpayers who will ultimately foot the bill.” Read the rest »
By Scott Hagerstrom, State Director of AFP-Michigan
Gov. Rick Snyder has reassured Michigan citizens that the New International Trade Crossing project has their best interests at heart. Yet the administration’s draft legislation thwarts transparency and accountability to the very public it is supposed to benefit, raising questions as to whether the project will be a benefit or a boondoggle.
Transparency and accountability are universal truths of good government. In fact, Snyder made these issues key throughout his campaign. Read the rest »
Originally posted at CNN Money http://ow.ly/4SmXm
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — The U.S. Postal Service continues to hemorrhage money, with a loss of $2.2 billion in the most recent quarter.
The national mail service said Tuesday that it expects to have a cash shortfall and reach its statutory borrowing limit by the time its fiscal year ends in September. That means the agency could be forced to default on some of its payments to the federal government.
Patrick Donahoe, the Postmaster General, said the service is still seeking changes to federal laws that would allow it to change its business model and potentially save enough money to avoid a default.
“The Postal Service may return to financial stability only through significant changes to the laws that limit flexibility and impose undue financial burdens,” Donahoe said in a statement.
At issue is a 2006 law requiring the service to pay between $5.4 and $5.8 billion into its prepaid retiree health benefits each year. In addition, the agency is seeking Congressional approval to eliminate Saturday mail service.
The postal service has estimated that moving to five day service could save $3.1 billion. But the Postal Regulatory Commission, which oversees the agency, issued an advisory in March that put the savings at a much more modest $1.7 billion.
While the Postal Service is not strictly a government agency, it is not exactly a private business either.
Dear USPS: Consider privatizing
The service funds its operations through the sale of postage, products and services. But it does receive some taxpayer support and is only required to make enough money to break even.
The service has been struggling with a prolonged slump in mail volume as email and other electronic forms of communication have supplanted ‘snail mail,’ as the practice of sending letters is now known.
In addition, the service has been hit hard by the weak economy as businesses cut back on direct mail marketing, traditionally a big source of revenue for USPS.
“Sluggish economic growth and diversion of First-Class Mail to electronic alternatives continue to cause record losses,” said Joseph Corbett, the chief financial officer at USPS.
That’s despite ongoing cost cutting measures, including a reduction of over 130,000 full-time workers over the last three years, he added.
20 most profitable companies
Meanwhile, the recent spike in gas prices could make the situation even worse.
The service said it expects to save up to $1.6 billion this fiscal year as a result of its efforts to reduce expenses and reorganize its operations. But the benefit of those measures “may be offset by rising fuel prices,” the service said.
In its fiscal second quarter, which ended in March, the Postal Service said it lost $2.2 billion, up from $1.3 billion in the same period in 2010.
Operating revenue dropped 2.8% to $16.2 billion in the quarter.
Total mail volume fell 35 in the quarter to 41 billion pieces from 42.3 billion in the same period last year.
Watchdog group exposes how media’s and public’s rights would be violated
LANSING, Mich. – Americans For Prosperity-Michigan today released its findings on Gov. Snyder’s proposed Detroit River International Crossing legislation, including instances where Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is denied and legislative oversight and public accountability is lacking.
AFP-MI DRIC Facebook Avatar
“Gov. Snyder campaigned on the issues of government accountability and transparency, but his bridge bill contains neither,” said Scott Hagerstrom, State Director of AFP-Michigan. “While the term ‘Freedom of Information Act’ appears twice in the bill, it is immediately preceded by ‘except as otherwise provided’ and ‘is exempt from.’ ” Read the rest »
Final version of 2011 DRIC bill draft from Governor Snyder’s office (PDF).
01095’11 Draft 2 DKH DRAFT 2
A bill to create a governmental authority for new international trade crossings; to prescribe the powers and duties of the authority; to authorize procurement, design, finance, construction, maintenance, operation, improvement, and repair of new international bridges and approaches; to authorize certain agreements with public and private entities; to provide for the issuance of, and terms and conditions for, certain bonds; to provide for the imposition, collection, and enforcement of user fees and other charges; to provide for civil fines; to authorize the acquisition, maintenance, and disposal of interests in real and personal property; to provide for certain duties of certain state and local departments and officers; to provide for the power to enter into interlocal agreements; to exempt certain property, income, and activities from tax; to make an appropriation; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.
Read the rest »
Americans For Prosperity-Michigan Launches
Second Round of Radio Ads on DRIC
LANSING, Mich. – Americans For Prosperity-Michigan today began a week-long education campaign on radio stations covering in radio in Calhoun, Jackson, Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, Allegan and Barry counties. The ads (listen here and here) specifically target the districts of State Senators Mike Nofs (R-Battle Creek) and Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) on the issue of the unnecessary and unaffordable Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) stimulus project.
Read the rest »
Frank Beckmann: Welcome to our show again, one of the official economists of the Frank Beckmann show, he hasn’t been on in a while, which is our fault and we are glad to have him back from The Mackinac Center, David Littman… I saw a report on, I think it was Channel 4 over the weekend; you were on there talking about the bridge project, the DRIC project, and you were the first one to raise the question “Do we even need a second bridge over the Detroit River?”
David Littman: Of course we don’t. Read the rest »
District-wide mailings, radio ads, web video call on legislators
to oppose unnecessary, unaffordable Detroit bridge
LANSING, Mich. – Americans For Prosperity-Michigan today announced a statewide campaign
to stop Michigan from plunging $620 million further into debt. The Detroit River International
Crossing (DRIC), a taxpayer funded Detroit bridge which traffic studies show is unwarranted, is
expected to be introduced in the State Senate within a few weeks. State Senators Goeff Hansen
(R-Hart), Judy Emmons (R-Sheridan) and Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell) are the focus of the
campaign’s first week because they have yet to take a position for or against this stimulus project.
“Senators Hansen, Emmons and Hildenbrand have records as solid fiscal conservatives, which is why we are surprised they have yet to take a stand against this bridge boondoggle as they have in the past,” said Scott Hagerstrom, State Director for AFP-Michigan. “We encourage them to immediately stand up for the taxpayers they represent and oppose this bridge that will cost every Michigan family $194.” Read the rest »
For Immediate Release: April 8, 2011 Contact: Jake Davison, (517) 285-9659; jdavison@afphq.org
LANSING, MI — On Monday, the grassroots, free-market group Americans For Prosperity–Michigan (AFP-MI) will announce details of its statewide campaign aimed at stopping $620 million in debt for the Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) project. The DRIC will not only cost federal taxpayers $2.2 billion, but Michigan taxpayers will be forced to bear the burden of $70 million in federal government debt and a hefty $550 million of debt to Canada.
Scott Hagerstrom, AFP-Michigan State Director, will provide information regarding specific tactics that will be included in the AFP-Michigan campaign and what lawmakers and districts will be targeted. He will be available to answer questions from the media.
WHO: Scott Hagerstrom, State Director, Americans For Prosperity-Michigan
WHAT: News conference
WHEN: MONDAY, April 11; 1:30-2:30 PM
WHERE: Americans For Prosperity–Michigan, 222 W. Genesee St., Lansing
(Four blocks north on Capitol Ave., and turn left at W. Genesee. Onsite parking available.)
###
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