Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Money Helps 'Dues Skim' Stay Alive

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

Home health care workers still losing money to SEIU despite law to end the scam; dummy employer executive director working only 3 hours a month

By Jack Spencer | 5/16/2012

Based on emails obtained by Capitol Confidential, after the dummy employer in the “home health care dues skim,” was defunded, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) donated at least $12,000 to help keep it going. In addition, Susan Steinke, executive director of the dummy employer, moved its headquarters into her home.

Emails also show that Steinke could work no more than five (5) hours a week (later no more than 3 hours a month) for the dummy employer. Her hours were limited in this way in order to allow her to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16921

Union Friendly GOP Legislator Spurned by Big Labor

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:29:00 -0500

Rep. Zorn target of union attacks after voting for more charter schools

By Tom Gantert | 5/16/2012

State Representative Dale Zorn has often been a Republican ally to public sector unions by trying to thwart some of his own caucus' reform efforts. Yet, when Rep. Zorn cast the deciding vote in May in favor of Senate Bill 619, which lifted some restrictions on enrollment in cyber charter schools, it infuriated the teacher unions and their allies. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16920

Biased Message Pitched in Taxpayer Funded Textbook

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

Book claims Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick was bipartisan legislator

By Tom Gantert | 5/15/2012

Students in high schools around Michigan and the nation are being taught how former U.S. Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Detroit, was “more interested in finding solutions than focusing on politics,” according to a 2005 American Government textbook still in use. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16916

Alcohol Regulation Study: No Advantage To Tighter Restrictions

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:29:00 -0500

By Jack Spencer | 5/15/2012

Michigan’s alcohol regulatory system contributes to higher costs for the public without providing discernible public health and safety advantages, according to a new study. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16917

Energy Debates Heat Up As High Electric Rates Continue

Mon, 14 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

By Jack Spencer | 5/14/2012

Residents and businesses in Michigan are wrestling with the highest electric rates in the region — and with the best way to fix that situation.

As is often the case in Michigan, a more competitive market versus a monopoly market is central to the debate, as is mandating an increase in the amount of renewable energy the state uses. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16893

How CapCon Uses Transparency Laws to Hold Government Accountable

Mon, 14 May 2012 06:29:00 -0500

By Jarrett Skorup | 5/14/2012

These ideas frequently put us on the opposite side of some well-connected and politically powerful special interests, many of which directly or indirectly do receive government money, and have an interest in preserving government secrecy. As seen recently in the politically charged environment in Wisconsin, some of these entities will use extreme tactics against those who oppose their interests . http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16892

'Taxpayer Burnout' Likely At Play In Rejection Of Grand Rapids Community College Millage Request

Sat, 12 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

By Anne Schieber | 5/12/2012

After a stunning defeat at the polls Tuesday, the president of Grand Rapids Community College said it will be a long time, if at all, before the school goes back to the voters for more money.

Despite a $150,000 promotional campaign, a traditionally favorable time for millage approvals, and more than 100,000 faculty, students, administrators and alumni in the community, voters rejected the $98.6 million bond issue request by a 14 percent margin. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16895

Commentary: Politician 'Ambushes' Government Transparency Group, Gets 'Counter-Ambushed'

Sat, 12 May 2012 06:29:00 -0500

By Jack McHugh | 5/12/2012

Politicians using a public hearing to “ambush” a political foe is hardly rare, eyebrows were raised a couple weeks ago when Republican state representative Rep. Bradford Jacobsen from Oxford attacked an organization called Sunshine Review, whose “radical” mission is to increase government transparency. This week the reform group struck back. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16891

Teacher Made Over $80K Per Year, Retires With a Pension of Over $40K — Claims 'Violation of Trust'

Fri, 11 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

Article analysis takes on educators paying 5 percent of pension costs

By Tom Gantert | 5/11/2012

Does a teacher who made $81,000 before retiring to a $41,400 a-year-pension have a valid complaint that she wasn’t paid enough?

That was the focus of a recent story in The Bridge, The Center For Michigan’s news site, in which former Royal Oak teacher Kathy Kapera was featured. The article said that Kapera thought the lucrative retirement benefits teachers receive “would make up for the relative lack of financial compensation she would earn as a teacher.” http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16896

Commentary: Legislators Choose School Employees Over Taxpayers on Retirement Benefit Reform

Fri, 11 May 2012 06:29:00 -0500

By James M. Hohman and Jack McHugh | 5/11/2012

Unlike regular pension checks, nothing in law obligates taxpayers to honor these retiree health benefit promises. The politicians never set aside any money to pre-fund them, and implicitly reserved the right to trim or even eliminate them should the cost become unaffordable. Considering that benefit costs increased by $366 million since 2000, an 85 percent jump, these costs are prohibitive. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16890

Analysis: Local Governments Wrong to Call Foul On Property Tax Reform

Thu, 10 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

Phase out, elimination of tax credits and improving economy should help communities adjust

By James M. Hohman | 5/10/2012

As to the threat of local units raising overall property taxes if the bill passes, local government boards are already making good on that threat without the bill even passing. For instance, schools alone are asking to increase local property taxes by $540 million this year alon http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16887

Federal 'Stimulus' Spent $34.5 Million In Michigan For Only 183 Total Jobs

Thu, 10 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

14 companies spent over $188K per job

By Anne Schieber | 5/10/2012

One company, Astraeus Wind Energey Inc. of Eaton Rapids, got a $7 million grant and a loan of $1.54 million and has created 11 jobs. If no other workers are hired, those jobs were created at a cost of $776,364 each. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16868