LSJ Blogs: Capitol Journal by Scott Davis

Yes, Virginia. There is toxicity in the Capitol

 

For years, many have observed a rising level of “toxicity” in political relations in the Capitol, with partisanship and ego-clashing resulting in deadlocked government.

So it may come as no surprise that there is indeed high levels of toxic compounds, like lead and flame retardants, in the state Capitol.

The Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health unveiled these findings Thursday in pushing for passage of state bills that would a phase out the toxic compound deca-BDE, and give parents more information about the most toxic chemicals in children’s products.

In one finding, sites in the State Capital, accessible to children, contained over 4,500 ppm lead, 15-times higher than the mandated limit of 300 ppm in children’s products.

“The dust samples taken in my office and elsewhere around the Capitol area highlight the need to eliminate deca-BDE,” said State Senator Liz Brater, D-Ann Arbor. “It’s yet another indication that the ‘Great Lakes State’ needs to stand up for the health of the Lakes and ourselves, and mitigate yet another chemical disaster.”

House delays action on retirement bills

Gov. Jennifer Granholm is becoming increasingly concerned about delays in approving her proposed retirement incentive plans for school and state employees.

The Republican-controlled Senate has passed a version of the retirement incentives bills, but the Democratic-controlled House adjourned today without voting on the package, designed to encourage up to 46,000 public employees into retirement.

Abby Rubley, spokeswoman for House Speaker Andy Dillon, said the House has scheduled an early Tuesday session in hopes of tackling the issue.

But the Democratic governor said she is worried about the lack of action because schools need to make important budgeting decisions in coming weeks, the Associated Press reported. The budget year for school districts begins July 1.

If the House approves its own version of the bills, they likely will move into a conference committee where lawmakers can work out the differences. One possibility is that the House will vote next week on the school employee retirement bill because of the urgency and delay action on the state employees bill.

Virg tilts his lance at Wall Street

What’s Virg Bernero angry about today? Goldman Sachs and Wall Street corruption.

On the heels of a Securities and Exchange Commission fraud lawsuit against Goldman Sachs, the Lansing mayor and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful is calling on the Granholm administration to review the state’s dealings with the investment firm and other Wall Street firms and sever ties with those engaged in fraudulent practices.

“It’s about time the Wall Street fraudsters are held to account for pushing our nation’s economy to the brink of collapse,” Bernero said.  “For too long the unholy alliance of Wall Street and Washington has been allowed to throw middle class Americans under the bus in order to fatten their obscene profits and pay for their outrageous bonuses.”

Bernero’s call, once again, echoes a theme of this campaign – the common worker pitted against the massive forces of Wall Street and corporate greed. Last week, Bernero blasted Toyota a second time for its failures in addressing acceleration and braking problems.

He called on Granholm to shift all state money now deposited with Wall Street firms to Michigan-based banks and credit.

Granholm: Don't drink the Tea

Tea party or no tea party, Michigan Democrats are hoping to recreate some of the Obama magic that led to major Democratic victories in 2008.

Speaking last weekend at the Jeff-Jack dinner in Detroit, Granholm urged state Democrats to take up the fight during this year’s elections in the wake of Tea Party protests nationwide, Gongwer News reported.

"All of us here should not be feeling blue about the Tea Party protesters," she said.

State Senate Minority Leader Mike Prusi, a Democrat, dismissed tea partiers as a bunch of angry and uninformed people and urged Democrats not to rest on their laurels.

U.S. Sen. Carl Levin acknowledged that Republicans have been doing well in recent nationally in recent months, but that they “peaked too early.” Democrats will do better later this year, he said.

Schauer's campaign is well-financed

Facing a particularly tough re-election bid this year, U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer is headed into the race with a well-stocked treasure chest.

The Battle Creek Democrat’s campaign reported Thursday that Schauer has raised more than $401,000 between January and April and has $1.4 million in cash on hand. The report had not yet been released yet by the Federal Election Commission, so the fundraiser of Republican competitors could not be examined for comparison.

Schauer has been under attack from Republicans and anti-tax groups for his support of the controversial health reform measure. His chief Republican rival, Tim Walberg, is hoping to use the healthcare controversy as one issue to regain his seat in the fall.

Wheeler Smith: Boys will be boys

State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, is wagging her finger at her two Democratic challengers – House Speaker Andy Dillon and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero – in a somewhat motherly way.

In a news release headlined “tsk…tsk…tsk,” Smith chastised both men for the recent spat in which they challenged each other to release fund raising lists to resolve conflict of interest issues.

She said the dispute is meaningless

“When you publicly announce a plan, you don’t have to worry about being controlled by special interest or being bought by the insurance lobby because people know where you stand." Smith said, "The issue of disclosure is not about releasing a list of people who attended a fundraiser, it is releasing a plan so people know what your values are.  The only reason this has even become an issue is because no other Democratic candidate besides me has laid out a comprehensive reform strategy for Michigan."

Oh well, she concludes: “Boys will be boys.”

A gentler, kinder Tea Party

More than 800 people showed up for Saturday’s Tea Party Express event showed in Lansing in a largely peaceful protest that lacked the incendiary picket signs of other tea party events nationwide.

Clearly, demonstrators were upset about the recent passage of healthcare reform, but they stated their objects respectfully, and nowhere to be found were signs that had racist overtones or that compared President Barack Obama to Adolph Hitler.

This may be part of a concerted campaign to tone down the movement’s image just before the fall general elections. For instance, the Columbus Tea Party in Ohio recently sent a letter to its members asking them to refrain from bringing signs conveying “bigotry” to events and not to drink beforehand, according to Talkingpointsmemo, a political Web site. The site published a copy of the letter.

All of this, of course, is for the good. A reasoned debate on this country on health care? Who would have thunk it?

Stupak: First Michigan Democrat falls due to the healthcare scare

It appears that newly passed healthcare reform is claiming its first Democratic victim in Michigan.

The Washington Post reports this morning U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak in northern Michigan will announce today that he will not see re-election in the fall. Sources told the Post that Stupak is exhausted and burned out after the long fight over healthcare, which he finally endorsed reluctantly despite concerns about federally funded abortions.

Moreover, in recent weeks, Stupak has endured an aggressive backlash among voters in his district because of his vote, including, in some cases, threats of violence. The Tea Party Express has targeted Stupak for defeat and is holding several rallies this week in his district.

Expect some gloating about Stupak’s “retirement” when the Tea Party Express rolls into Lansing Saturday.

State Dems still trailing Republicans, but primary race is closing

A new poll paints a troubling picture for Democrats’ chances to retain the governor’s  seat in November, but has encouraging news nonetheless for Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, a Democrat.

According to the EPIC-MRA poll, the two top Democratic contenders – Bernero and House Speaker Andy Dillon – would lose to the top three Republican challengers if the election were held today. Those challengers are U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Holland, Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder and Attorney General Mike Cox.

Bernero still trails Dillon – 22 percent to 15 percent – but the poll suggests the gap is closing. Further good news for Bernero is that once voters were given brief overviews of the candidates, Bernero went ahead of Dillon, 29 percent to 24 percent.

Pollsters say this may due to a perception that Dillon has contributed to Michigan’s fiscal problems while serving in the Legislature.

Michigan Democrats have chance to view the goods

Michigan Democrats and undecided voters finally have a chance to do some side-by-side comparison shopping.

Democratic gubernatorial candidates Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, House Speaker Andy Dillon of Redford Township and state Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith of Salem Township will participate in their first 90-minute forum April 18 at Cobo Center. Mark Brewer, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, will moderate the forum.

Will Bernero adopt his “angry mayor” persona? Will Dillon invest in a bullhorn to make himself heard above the yells? Will Wheeler Smith don a referee’s outfit to maintain the peace between the two sparring men?

The forum will begin at 8:30 a.m. Stay tuned.