Better off than you were a year ago?

Last November, Midland voters chose the cuts-only candidate. I guess they are getting what they asked for as the school system faces huge cuts to their budget: http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=7074188

Six months and counting

Anyone seen Rep. Stamas lately? Last I heard, he was holding "office hours" in Midland, and he did make a showing in the requisite Memorial Day events...in Midland. How about Saginaw county, specifically Kochville, Carrollton, Zilwaukee? Any of you good folks seen him around?

Seems his introduced bills (6) and amendments (4) also have nothing to do with the platform that he supposedly ran on (Jobs, Education, Health Care).

Let's see, there's HB 4898: to require state agencies with authority over various environmental regulatory regimes, in particular the Department of Environmental Quality, to hire an independent expert to conduct two studies each year benchmarking the regulation administration on the basis of per permit cost, how fast permits are processed, “customer service” practices, measurable environmental effects, how it compares to other states, and more. The benchmarking would continue at that pace until all programs had been reviewed.

HB 4736: to authorize enhanced restitution for victims of identity theft, which would include any costs and attorney fees incurred to rectify the effects on the victim’s finances, credit history and personal records.

HB 4657: to give the state Public Service Commission the duty of recommending policies that would “reduce barriers” to senior or low income utility customers receiving state subsidies.

HB 4517: to grant a pro-rated homestead property tax exemption after May 1 to a person who acquires and occupies a homestead for which an exemption was not already on the tax roll on May 1. Under current law, if an owner has not filed the principal residence (homestead) property tax exemption for a residence by May 1, then the property tax exemption does not apply until the following year.

HB 4153: no longer use state agencies (and money) to enforce the wetland land use regulations required by federal law, but instead leave this to federal authorities to enforce.

See www.michiganvotes.org for more detail.

Against hiring Michigan first?

In case you haven't been watching (http://www.michiganvotes.org/), Mr. Stamas has opposed numerous bills introduced relevant to citizenship and residency preferences for the hiring of employees. All seems rather hypocritical of the GOP which stands firmly behind granting any immigrant rights. So, you can employ them and pay them susbstandard wages but don't penalize the business for doing so? There's also that ugly provision about hiring Michigan workers first. You cannot tell me that there are no qualified Michigan workers, in these economic times. There might be a few laid off Midland workers who won't take kindly to this. As I recall, a lot of Michigan residents are looking for work. We should be doing everything that we can to keep them here. Then, there's our new batch of college graduates to think of. Will they be able to stay within the state or will they have to go elsewhere for employment?

Opposed: 2009 House Bill 4085 - 4094 (Require citizenship and resident preferences in subsidies & tax breaks).

To be fair he did support related bills 4083, 4084 & 4090.

Michigan Votes

In case you are interested and have some time, you can keep an eye on the legislation that Mr. Stamas supports or opposes at:

http://www.michiganvotes.org/

State budget cuts

The Governor unveiled her State budget on Thursday and, as expected, there were proposed cuts to education, corrections, and health care.

According to the Midland Daily Snooze, Mr. Stamas offered up "that Granholm is on the right track but I believe we can do even more to spend taxpayer dollars more efficiently and wisely."

So how can we do better Mr. Stamas? These blanket statements that are put out, without any really content, are truly annoying. So, you were going for a little press without any substance. Any solutions to offer up?

He added "The governor's decision to use part of our federal stimulus package money to help pay for the state's deficit is shortsighted. That money is intended to create jobs and stimulate our economy, not pay for government programs and services. Our schools should always be a top priority, and we need to ensure our budget reflects that priority."

Again a little bit of substance would do you well. Actual ideas and promises to help fix the problem might be good. But wait, your party really doesn't ever offer up ideas and solutions. My bad.

But he did add, that "her decision to consolidate some departments and use technology to improve government efficiency are commendable." Hmmm, your buddies in the township won't be too happy about that.

Legislator pay cuts - Part 2

Our friends in the legislature have voted to cut their pay (see resolution description below). The most burning question however is when would the proposed cut go into effect? Word has it, not until 2011 or later. Hmmm, we'll cut our pay.....later.

House Concurrent Resolution 0003 (2009):
A concurrent resolution to request the State Officers' Compensation Commission to recommend a 10 percent reduction in salaries of the members of the Legislature, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State the next time the commission meets and to urge the commission to ensure that none of its future recommendations exceed the average increase in state employee pay. Last Action: 02/05/2009 - REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND REFORM

According to the Midland Daily News: "Democrat Alma Wheeler Smith of Washtenaw County’s Salem Township cast the only House vote against the 10 percent pay cut for lawmakers, the governor and other elected officials. She called the resolution “frivolous and misleading.” “There is no language for implementation in this bill,” she said in a prepared statement. “To decrease the salaries as proposed requires a constitutional change, which consequently requires a public vote. It is a real shame that we advocate transparency in government and then we put forth a resolution like this one designed to pull the wool over the public’s eyes.”The State Officers’ Compensation Commission reportedly will meet later this year."

Coal plant

If you have been following the news for the past two years, you know that a coal plant has been proposed for Midland, just off Waldo road. However, there's been a great deal of resistance locally and the state also seems opposed to any new expansions. However, according to the Saginaw News, "Rep. Jim Stamas, a Midland Township Republican, said he's concerned a hold on coal-powered plants would hurt new industries that need energy now. LS Power Co. of East Brunswick, N.J., is deep in the permit process for a $1.3 billion "clean coal" plant in Midland, and Jackson-based Consumers Energy plans a $2.3 billion similar electricity generation venture adjacent to the Karn-Weadock complex in Bay County. "I'm all for renewable energies," Stamas said. "I don't know that they've shown the ability to provide the energy we need."


If Mr. Stamas is "all for renewable energies" then it will be exciting to see him proposing the growth, expansion and use of such energy sources. In the meantime, he might want to spend some time with the Michigan Environmental Council, who can educate him about the ability of renewable energy to provide the energy that is needed in region.