I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
Rep. Thad McCotter (R-Livonia) is finding himself as the target of strong criticism from government watchdogs for giving a contract to a company owned by Saul Anuzis, former head of the Michigan Republican Party and the brother of his chief of staff, to do promotional work for a committee that McCotter intends to eliminate.
Politico reports that Coast to Coast Strategies, the Anuzis company, has already been paid $30,000 for work on behalf of the Republican Policy Committee and stands to make more than twice that much before the committee is likely phased out after the November election.
Government watchdogs say the arrangement raises questions about McCotter’s stewardship of federal money.
“Anytime you see that a lawmaker’s using their budget — whether it’s an office budget or the Republican Policy Committee budget — to support a close family member of one of their staffers, it should raise eyebrows,” said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. “Maybe they deserve this contract but maybe not. It’s impossible for the independent observer to see if this is nepotism or if this is a beneficial use of the taxpayers’ money.”
In Republican leadership circles, McCotter’s recent crusade to abolish the RPC has been a source of palpable tension, a tussle that spilled into public view last week when McCotter slammed Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and one of his pet spending-reduction ideas in a Fox News interview.
Tensions had been building between the two men. Cantor was caught by surprise when his boss and rival, House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, ended a Republican leadership meeting last month by giving McCotter the floor to introduce his RPC proposal.
While McCotter, a member of Boehner’s inner circle, frames the plan as a way for Republicans to demonstrate dedication to fiscal restraint, the $360,000 policy committee budget would just be repurposed for other congressional initiatives or deficit reduction if the RPC shuts down. McCotter would also try to find other congressional jobs for the RPC’s staff members if Republicans close the committee’s doors, his top aide said.
The article cites GOP insiders as saying this is really all about denying a leadership position to Rep. Tom Price of Georgia, who is often at odds with Boehner.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter