RINO alert - Bruce Hawley - State Rep District 73

I don't often throw the term RINO. When I do, it's because I save it for "republicans" who back democrats, like that current punk living on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Look what we got here. Thanks to JR Foley on Right Michigan for bringing this to our attention. It's not cool to be a democrat, and some are going to take care of that. 


From the Grand Rapids Press.

GRAND RAPIDS -- A three-way Republican primary is set for state Rep. Tom Pearce's, R-Rockford, 73rd District seat. Tim Nelson, 39, of Rockford, director of spiritual formation at Ada Bible Church, will battle Tom Norton, of Sand Lake, a retention specialist with Charter Communications and Bruce Hawley, of Kent City, a former business manager for Ironworkers Local 340.
In 2008, Hawley was defeated when he ran as a Democrat.

This isn't back 1990 when there were more conservative democrats. This isn't just a local office up in the UP. This was 2008 for state rep, when Obama was leading the ticket. Hawley ran for office as a democrat in 2008.


Here, a Michigan Liberal thread shows that Bruce Hawley was campaigning with Carl Levin.

This Daily Kos thread has him and Obama campaigning together

The Campaign Contributions list shows his real ties. He donated to Andy Dillon, Dave LaGrand who ran against Bill Hardiman, Democrat state party, state rep Mary Valentine, state rep Roy Schmidt, Jennifer Granholm, Kent County Democrats, and the 3rd District Democratic Committee.

Now, all of a sudden, he's a Republican? If this is a real party switch, I'd need to see a lot of actions which showed a switch, especially on economic matters and campaigning. This seems just all too convenient to me. He didn't just vote or run as a democrat. He gave to all of the big names in West Michigan democrat politics, along with Dillon and Granholm. Granholm.

Heads up out that way.

State House Preview - Livingston County

Recently we had the big announcements of Steve Williams dropping out of the race with Bill Rogers jumping in. That leads to this.

Our two state house seats will be open. Chris Ward and Joe Hune are term limited out. Valde Garcia in the state senate is also term limited out, but state senate seats are only open in gubenatorial election years.

The 47th District is Joe Hune's district. The 66th District is Chris Ward's district. The 47th has been competitive in the past during the primary while the 66th has not had a primary under its current boundaries (02-onward). Joe won by 2 votes in the 02 primary.

Some nickname the 47th the "Howell" district and the 66th the "Brighton" district, but it's not that simple. Some with Brighton addresses live in the 47th and a lot of people with Howell addresses live in the 66th. That's due the rather crazy shape of the districts. The 47th is shaped almost like a "C" with the rest of the county in the 66th District.

In the 47th we have:
Conway Township (North of Fowlerville)
Handy Township (including Fowlerville)
Iosco Township (between Fowlerville and Gregory)
Conhoctah Township (between Howell and Byron)
Howell Township
City of Howell
Unadilla Township (including Gregory)
Putnam Township (including Pinckney and Hell)
Hamburg Township (all of it - Brighton, Lakeland, Pinckney, and Hamburg portions)
Tyrone Township (near Fenton)
Deerfield Township (near Argentine)
and Hartland Township

In the 66th we have
City of Brighton
Brighton Township
Green Oak Township (Between Brighton and South Lyon)
Genoa Township (Between Howell and Brighton)
Marion Township (Between Howell and Pinckney)
and Oceola Township (Between Howell and Hartland)
The 66th also covers Milford Township in Oakland County

From a partisan standpoint, both districts have some competitive areas (Putnam Twp, Unadilla, City of Brighton, City of Howell, a couple of precincts in Hamburg and Green Oak) but are solidly republican districts. Bush won over 60% in both of them. The real competition is in the primary barring a Don Sherwood style of disaster.

In the 47th, there is mostly rumors. I think the frontrunner, if she runs, would be Cindy Denby. Cindy is the Handy Township supervisor. She's also Joe Hune's Chief of Staff up in Lansing. The reason I'd consider her the frontrunner (if she runs) is because of the experience factor, geography factor, and the fact that Joe's been a solid less government conservative. Joe didn't vote for either the tax increases, tax shifts, or the fee increases when 15 republicans including a former speaker caved to Granholm. As far as the geography factor, that worked to Joe's advantage. The Fowlerville candidate had an extremely high turnout, great organization, and got 3-1+ margins in his area - and he wasn't the only candidate to campaign out there. Joe then did well enough in Hamburg and Putnam to win.

I've heard for a couple of years that that county commissioners Don Parker and Dave Domas are considering a run. Both candidates have won tough primaries in the past and can not be counted out. Domas also was a state rep candidate in 02. If they run, I expect them to be serious candidates.

In the 66th, we have two public announcements so far. County commissioner and businessman Bill Rogers (Mike's Brother) and Chiropractor and businessman Jason Corosanite. Bill Rogers has only been in one semi-competitive race from which I can remember. That was in 02 against Democrat Irene Cahill. The final numbers wern't close, but Cahill worked hard enough to place a scare in some GOP circles. I doubt Bill forgot that, and I don't expect him to take the primary lightly. As this is my district, I'm looking to see what Bill and Jason plan on doing if they are elected. I'm particulary interested in their tax views and budgetary reforms. I've heard rumors of one, maybe two more candidates considering a run there.

Assuming Bill Rogers stays in, that also opens up a county commissioner seat, District 7. I've heard a rumor of a well known individual who might run, but I haven't confirmed one way or the other. District 7, Bill's current district, covers all of the City of Brighton, Southeastern Genoa Township (Brighton area), and Northwestern Genoa Township (Howell area). While the city of Brighton can be competitive, the parts of Genoa in this district are some of the most republican areas in the country (70%+), let alone county.

The only way I see any of these three seats being competitive outside of the party is if the candidates turn out to be real bums. I don't take anything for granted, as incumbent Don Sherwood lost a 60% Bush district by 6% due to being a piece of trash.

More budget updates

The battle of attrition is still going on.

First, I got this in an email forwarded to me. An excerpt of the Political Diary in the Wall Street Journal.

GOP's Future at Stake in Michigan Fight

Michigan's Republican Party is in the midst of an internal skirmish over, of all issues, taxes. The infighting came to public light in recent weeks when certain establishment-oriented party insiders began complaining that the state party chairman, Saul Anuzis, was sounding a message that's "too" anti-tax.

The state now faces a $1.8 billion deficit and Mr. Anuzis sensibly wants that wiped out by cutting a bloated state budget, not tax hikes, but some Republicans in the legislature want to strike a deal with pro-tax Governor Jennifer Granholm. Mr. Anuzis' persistent proclamations against higher taxes have caused grumbling among party moderates, who complain he's "making it more difficult to work out a deal to resolve Michigan's nagging budget deficit," as the Detroit News recently reported. The moderates insist that it's inappropriate for a party chair to dictate the party's policy to elected officials.

Conservatives, for their part, can't fathom why Mr. Anuzis' behavior has come under attack in his own party. They fear it means liberal Republicans in Lansing are signaling their readiness to cut a budget deal with pro-tax Democrats at a time, peculiarly, when Democrats seem disposed to shoot themselves in the head on the budget. House Democratic Speaker Andy Dillon has become so frustrated with the refusal of Senate Republicans to negotiate on taxes that he just announced: "We are going to act alone." He wants to raise income and/or sales taxes in the state.

That budget solution would be an economic catastrophe for a state that already has among the nation's highest unemployment rates and highest number of mortgage foreclosures (despite having missed out on the housing boom that led to mortgage excesses in other parts of the country). Why Republicans would want their fingerprints on this economic suicide pact is a mystery to the conservative activists I interviewed in the state.

Democrats have been gaining electoral ground in this national battleground state in recent years, but today's tax fight could be a pivotal moment to define the differences between the two parties. Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, says that Mr. Anuzis is a "party chair worthy of cheering." And Mr. Anuzis isn't backing down. "We have to hold the line on no new taxes," he tells me. By giving voters a real choice between lower taxes and more spending, Mr. Anuzis is doing exactly the right thing to bring Republicans back to majority status in Michigan.

-- Stephen Moore

So far so good, the GOP has stayed strong. What's right for the state is also right for our party in this case. No more taxes! Re-establish our fiscal conservative bonafides in our brand image, and move away from the big spending jokers who killed us in 2004 statewide, and 2006 on a state and national level.


Also, Right Michigan reports that Andy Dillon took some time off after the lockdown ended to go golfing at Oak Pointe with some lobbyists. I wish I knew about it and was able to get up there to welcome him with my camera. "Out golfing with lobbyists while Michigan burns." BTW - Who let that joker into Livingston County, anyway?

Few changes. The dems still aren't united on this tax increase. Mike Simpson of Jackson County voted for the tax before not voting for it. The Matt Millen of governors is still running her mouth pushing for a tax increase. Andy Dillon is still the Marty Morningwig to Granholm's Millen.

And in other news, our AG Mike Cox resigned as co-chair from John McCain's campaign. Interesting development this close to our Mackinac Conference.

Media story on tax battle

Needless to say, the big story right now is the tax battles in the democrat controlled house. Nick and Right Michigan are doing a top job covering this, and I recommend that site for the best updates

First, the Free Press report on this:

LANSING -- As midnight struck, a House vote to raise the state income tax 18% was still in limbo early today, nearly 10 hours after voting began.

The voting board, which never recorded an official tally, was wiped clean and lawmakers resumed efforts to reach the needed 56 votes, quickly reaching the 43 votes they had before midnight.

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Majority Democrats said they were planning what could be a long weekend waiting for a handful of Republicans to join them in supporting increasing the income tax to 4.6%

Democrats had hoped Friday would be a day of decisive action to resolve the budget crisis and avoid an Oct. 1 partial shutdown of state government. It remained unclear whether the marathon session would solve the problem.

House Speaker Andy Dillon said he hoped for a bipartisan agreement -- by Sunday. Without Republican votes for a tax increase -- there had been none all day -- it would be a harder sell in the GOP-controlled Senate, said Dillon, D-Redford Township.

In a speech earlier on the House floor, Dillon implored Republicans to join the voting for a tax increase of up to $1 billion or more, even though his party has enough votes to pass the tax hike without its GOP brethren.

But Republicans held out, saying the Legislature had done little to curb spending, which Democrats promised to do. Sort of.

There's the key in bold. Dillon has enough votes in his party to get that passed. Yet, he's playing hardball because not only does he demand a tax increase. He demands that the democrats in tough districts get get out of jail free cards so they don't have to vote against their district. This isn't just about taxes. It about the democrats CYA effort. They want to cover their butts.

And what had been months of partisan wrangling, posturing and even name-calling over how to avert a $1.75-billion deficit was reaching a pressure-cooked conclusion, for better or worse.

The deadlock revolved around a handful of Republicans whom Democrats hoped to pick off for a vote to increase the income tax from its current 3.9%.

Rep. Dick Ball, R-Owosso, said that what seems fair to Democrats seems like political suicide to Republicans.

"We can't let Republican vulnerables vote yes and walk the plank," he said, "while Democratic vulnerables are protected."

Referring to the standoff, Ball added, "as my grandmother used to say, we have a mell of a hess."

This isn't Leon Drolet or Jack Hoogendyk saying this. This is Dick Ball. When you have Dick Ball, possibly the most fiscally liberal Republican in the house saying that, then there is a major league problem. It sounds like that these hardball tactics by Dillon and Granholm are hurting chances of getting a republican on board. Ball is probably their top target, as Drolet and the Michigan Tax Alliance are also closely watching their vote.

Now as for Dillon using the Senate as an excuse, that's bullshit, and I don't use that word often on this blog. Do you really think that a budget bill that passes the house will not be altered in some way in the senate - or vice versa? When that happens, the bill goes to a conference committee before going to another vote in the house/senate. The state house also has much more of a democrat majority than the state senate has a republican majority.

Now, the Detroit News

Nerves frayed, tempers flared and words were more heated Saturday as Republicans and Democrats in the state House -- which has met almost continually since Friday morning -- struggled unsuccessfully to find common ground that will balance the state budget and avoid a government shutdown Oct. 1.

They are trying to resolve a $1.75-billion hole in next year's budget that Democrats say requires a tax hike. Republicans, demanding budget cuts and government spending reforms, continued to oppose it.

(snip)

Dillon could marshal an all-Democrat favorable vote -- they control the chamber 58-52 -- but he wants it to be a bipartisan proposal involving at least 10 Republicans. Furthermore, several Democrats are in politically dicey districts and could lose reelection next year if voters are angered by a tax cut. Fifty-six votes are needed to raise the income tax.

I think the News means tax increase, but the point is clear. Again, this is a CYA effort for a get out of jail free cards for democrats who want to raise our taxes against the wishes of we the people.

It's time for the GOP house to continue to hold the line against these political games by Andy Dillon, and to make Dillon use his people in order to raise taxes. I don't want to see a bi-partisan tax increase. If that happens, it's time for a bi-partisan recall effort, including tax increasing republicans. The recall wouldn't just be for increasing taxes, but for bailing out the democrats.

No changes on taxes, dems can't unite their caucus

The late session called by Dillon has no changes.

Still no changes on the taxes. There are still 14 holdouts on the democrats. No Republicans have voted for tax increases (But Gaffney and Ball still need your calls ASAP).

Apparently, the dems are all mad that Republicans aren't supporting the tax increase, even though the dems control the house. Dillon and company not only want the tax increase, but they don't want one sided partisan heat from a democrat tax increase. They want to give "get out of jail cards" to the democrats in tough districts (like McDowell, Simpson, Griffin, Byrum, and Corriveau) for raising our taxes.

There are enough democrat votes to pass this without a single republican vote, so stop bitching about the republicans and look at your own caucus that you can't unite. Some Republicans have said they would support a tax increase as long as there were reforms in things like MESSA or Right to Work. (That's still not good enough for me) That's the probable price unless you want to forget the get out of jail free cards you want so badly.

So far, Andy Dillon ain't looking so good. Time for him to stop following the lead of the Matt Millen of governors, and to come up with plan C.

Tax updates

Nick at Right Michigan has some excellent news on the tax updates. The first two come from Nick's site.

The Michigan House of Representatives is hard at work this afternoon trying to raise our taxes.
But they haven't started to address the budget crisis. Wait, what?

Confused? Yeah, smart people should be. Here's what they're doing.

The House just held a roll call vote on House Joint Resolution Z. When you break it down to brass tacks, HJR-Z will permit the House to implement a graduated income tax but not until January or February.

That's right. January or February. No, you're not mistaken. The new fiscal year does indeed start October 1st, 2007. In other words, this vote wasn't only to raise our taxes, it was also to put off dealing with the budget mess for four or five months after the state becomes insolvent!

This was another of those tricky votes that required a 2/3rds majority to pass. It failed. Spectacularly. More spectacularly even then their attempt to raise the sales tax earlier in the week.

But don't worry, it wasn't a total waste of time. During debate leading up to the vote Republican after Republican took the floor to call for spending cuts and reforms, areas completely overlooked by the House Democrats.

And the Democrats, oh, they had some doozies. Rep. Coleman Young Jr. said that voting for reforms "sucks," while George Cushingberry began yelling into the microphone that right-to-work legislation represents bigotry and racism of the highest order, combining it in rhetoric with slavery in the American South.

Nevermind that no one had once mentioned right-to-work legislation, that no such legislation is before the body, that no such legislation is tie-barred to the tax hike and that permitting workers to choose whether or not to join a union represents as step towards personal freedom, not slavery. But all of that is neither here nor there.

When it was obvious that HJR-Z would go down to spectacular defeat Majority Floor Leader Steve Tobocman took the mic to ask that the board be cleared, hiding the fact that 47 or 48 Democrats were voting once again to raise our taxes. There was one audible AYE while the entire GOP caucus shouted NAY but Rep. Sak, holding the gavel, claimed the AYEs had it and cleared the board.

Nice of him, huh?

Now they're on to House Bill 5194, a measure that would actually raise our taxes today. We'll see what they've got in the way of support. Keep on those phones and keep on those emails!

Part II is on their site as well. Here's the link. So far, so good.

More Big Government

The first is bipartisanship at its worst. It's one of these bills that sound great, but does it really need to be a LAW enforced by fines and a gun to your head?

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — More Michigan children would be required to travel in safety car seats under legislation passed Wednesday by the state House.

Current Michigan law generally requires children under 4 to ride in a child restraint system, rather than just seat belts alone.

The bills passed by the House would broaden the requirements. Children under 4-foot-9 and less than 80 pounds would have to be in a restraint system or a booster seat until they turn 8.

The main bill in the package passed by a 101-7 vote. The legislation now goes to the Senate.

Another bill would require that child restraint systems for the younger children be in the back seat, if the vehicle has a back seat. And the bills would eliminate Michigan's current exemption for a child being nursed.

"It's important that we protect our young children," said Rep. Barb Byrum, a Democrat from Onondaga and one of the package's sponsors. "This will help ensure that our kids are protected."

I understand recommendations, but I have a problem with fining people for that. Will there be checkpoints for that like there are for seatbelts?

The other big government is led by coastal democrats from Taxachusetts and Commiefornia who hate American cars.

From the AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of House Democrats said Wednesday they would push for a boost in gas mileage standards for automobiles later this summer.

Both Democrats and Republicans complained that a stripped-down energy plan now under consideration by a House committee was devised to prevent them from including more ambitious proposals to raise fuel economy standards, reduce the carbon content in fuels and promote liquefied coal as a motor fuel.

"We will pass a tough fuel economy standard soon — just as the Senate has done," Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., said at the start of a daylong hearing by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to consider changes to the bill.


The Senate approved a plan last week to require automakers to increase the average fuel efficiency of their new fleets to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Markey and several California lawmakers said they intended to seek stricter requirements when the energy proposal was considered on the House floor later this summer.

With the democrats taking over the state legislature and congress, things have gone from bad to worse.

First announced candidate for one of Livingston County's state house seats

From the Argus

County Commissioner Steve Williams announced his candidacy for the state House of Representatives on Friday.

Williams, who represents Putnam Township and parts of Marion, Genoa and Hamburg townships on the county board, will run in 2008 for the seat in Lansing currently held by Rep. Chris Ward, R-Brighton. Ward won't be able to run again because of term limits.

Williams ran for the seat in 2002, but dropped out in the primary because he was mobilized into the armed forces.

He emphasized his ability to solve problems and work together with other lawmakers.

"I'm a conservative, pro-life, pro-defense, pro-Second Amendment candidate," he said. "But I recognize there is a need for services."

This is an open seat and also my district (66th). This district covers most of the Brighton area and two 1/2 municipalities of the Howell Area. Brighton City/Township, Green Oak, Genoa Township, Marion Township (Steve's home), and Oceola Township. The rest of the county is in Joe Hune's district (47th), which is also an open seat in 2008. Milford Township in Oakland County is also in the 66th District. There are plenty of rumored candidates for both districts, and Steve was one of the most mentioned.

Steve's a strong candidate and made a smart decision by announcing this early. He nearly beat then-incumbent Judie Scranton back in 2000 almost solely on the life issue. He ran again for 2002, but dropped out after 9/11 as he was a reservist called up for active duty. He has a track record and has walked the walk on the 2nd Amendment and life issues.

Steve's a good guy, although I am not making any endorsements for this race at this time. He's one candidate I will consider voting for when the time comes. However, the primary is still 15 months away and I'd like to see who else is running before jumping into the fire.