Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sense of Urgency for the State
Is it me or are you also feeling a lack of urgency by our state leaders that are about to take office after the election this Tuesday? Both Republicans and Democrats. There seems to be little concern or few suggested remedies for dealing with our huge fiscal crisis, our education crisis (K-12 drop out rate; poverty in schools, public employee health care costs, pension costs, and high cost of tuition for students in our universities, university graduation and completion rate, etc.)our local government crisis, etc., etc.. Where is the innovation, where are the solutions that should follow he outrage.
Choices for the New Governor
What are the top five things the Governor should try to do in his first 60 days in office?
Some should be able to accomplished by Executive Order versus legislation and some will need immediate action by the legislature.
Maybe the legislature should come into session and not leave until they get the state's fiscal problems resolved and put in place some solutions, some plans and/or some innovations for our state.
Some should be able to accomplished by Executive Order versus legislation and some will need immediate action by the legislature.
Maybe the legislature should come into session and not leave until they get the state's fiscal problems resolved and put in place some solutions, some plans and/or some innovations for our state.
New Governor's challenges in 2011 Facing the New Governor and Legtislature
Michigan's new governor must be ready on Day 1
By CHRIS CHRISTOFF
FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU CHIEF
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Michigan's new governor will take the wheel of a state that's speeding toward a $1.6-billion deficit with little room to maneuver.
He'll share the Capitol with perhaps the most inexperienced Legislature in modern times thanks to term limits, as well as a new secretary of state and attorney general.
He must hit the ground running with a team that will shape the way Lansing does business for the next four years.
Compared with eight years ago, when Jennifer Granholm swept into office on wings of hope and history as the first female governor, Michigan is shell-shocked by economic decline driven by the near-collapse of the U.S. automotive and financial sectors.
Republican Rick Snyder says he'll cut business taxes. Democrat Virg Bernero says he'll revive manufacturing. Either will tackle a government and tax system that can no longer coexist as they are.
"Without a doubt, the challenges facing the new governor are going to dwarf the problems any new governor confronted in the past," said Dennis Cawthorne, lobbyist, ex-legislator and Michigan devotee. "In the past, there have been nooks, crannies and cookie jars available to somehow fill the billion-dollar deficits.
"It truly appears this time we have run out of them."
Tough Tasks Await New Leader
A lot of big decisions await the next governor, starting the day after Tuesday's election.
He even should start planning his State of the State address in January, said Bill Rustem, president of Public Sector Consultants of Lansing.
"It's the articulation of a vision -- where does he want to take the state?" said Rustem, who was an adviser to former Gov. William Milliken.
"It's a brand-new Legislature. It's important setting the tone for the first 100 days, and for the administration beyond that."
But before the big speech, the next governor will have his hands full putting that administration together.
And scouting the Legislature, with whom he'll dicker and deal.
And making plans to tackle the worst financial picture in many decades.
The economy drowns out other issues that usually have more exposure in gubernatorial campaigns, such as the environment and funding for public schools, said Doug Roberts, a former state treasurer and now director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University.
Read more: Michigan's new governor must be ready on Day 1 | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/201010310300/NEWS15/10310528#ixzz13xUjtoSl
By CHRIS CHRISTOFF
FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU CHIEF
Comments (30) Recommend Print E-mail Letter to the editor Share
Single-page viewNext Page
1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Michigan's new governor will take the wheel of a state that's speeding toward a $1.6-billion deficit with little room to maneuver.
He'll share the Capitol with perhaps the most inexperienced Legislature in modern times thanks to term limits, as well as a new secretary of state and attorney general.
He must hit the ground running with a team that will shape the way Lansing does business for the next four years.
Compared with eight years ago, when Jennifer Granholm swept into office on wings of hope and history as the first female governor, Michigan is shell-shocked by economic decline driven by the near-collapse of the U.S. automotive and financial sectors.
Republican Rick Snyder says he'll cut business taxes. Democrat Virg Bernero says he'll revive manufacturing. Either will tackle a government and tax system that can no longer coexist as they are.
"Without a doubt, the challenges facing the new governor are going to dwarf the problems any new governor confronted in the past," said Dennis Cawthorne, lobbyist, ex-legislator and Michigan devotee. "In the past, there have been nooks, crannies and cookie jars available to somehow fill the billion-dollar deficits.
"It truly appears this time we have run out of them."
Tough Tasks Await New Leader
A lot of big decisions await the next governor, starting the day after Tuesday's election.
He even should start planning his State of the State address in January, said Bill Rustem, president of Public Sector Consultants of Lansing.
"It's the articulation of a vision -- where does he want to take the state?" said Rustem, who was an adviser to former Gov. William Milliken.
"It's a brand-new Legislature. It's important setting the tone for the first 100 days, and for the administration beyond that."
But before the big speech, the next governor will have his hands full putting that administration together.
And scouting the Legislature, with whom he'll dicker and deal.
And making plans to tackle the worst financial picture in many decades.
The economy drowns out other issues that usually have more exposure in gubernatorial campaigns, such as the environment and funding for public schools, said Doug Roberts, a former state treasurer and now director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University.
Read more: Michigan's new governor must be ready on Day 1 | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/201010310300/NEWS15/10310528#ixzz13xUjtoSl
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Money in Politics
Big money is flowing into the 1st Congressional District, UP and Northern Michigan, and into the SW Michigan congressional race between Schauer and Walberg. Makes you think about the old debate about limiting candidates to taking contributions from donors who live in their district-- and NO ONE else.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Slavery in America and Worldwide Human Trafficing
Ten million young people held against their will- in slavery in America according to a new study on worldwide human trafficking.
Twenty seven million people worldwide are traded in human trafficking worldwide-slavery.
800,000 people put into slavery across worldwide borders each year.
Slaves found in 90 US cities this year.
Human trafficking is a $32 billion worldwide industry.
Twenty seven million people worldwide are traded in human trafficking worldwide-slavery.
800,000 people put into slavery across worldwide borders each year.
Slaves found in 90 US cities this year.
Human trafficking is a $32 billion worldwide industry.
Coattails
Will either candidate for Governor have any "coattails" that might help elect their parties choice for Secretary of State or AG? might be important in the final vote count of these two offices. They each might need the coattails to carry them over the victory line.
Closing weeks of campaign
Look for more and more political advertising to occur in last couple of weeks of this election-and itnwill get nastier and nastier. Interesting that we are hearing less radio advertising this political season and more direct mail via snail mail and via email. Of course TV is still king. Citizen journalism is growing by leaps and bounds. Everyone with a cell phone can take a picture andnpost it on the web or use their flip camera to record behavior or actions of a candidate. No source checking, no ethical standards just a citizen posting a picture or video on the open source Internet .
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