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.
The last days of primary season in the hotly contested race to replace Bart Stupak in Michigan’s first Congressional district have featured allegations of rule breaking and low blows.
On Thursday State Sen. Jason Allen (R-Alanson) announced that he was filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission charging his fellow Republican Dan Benishek of Iron River with failing to make a required disclaimer during campaign phone calls.
Allen said that had violated the law by not including a contact phone number in phone messages to voters.
The Allen campaign also alleged that Benishek’s calls included statements that are untrue, though they did not provide details of any incorrect information promoted by Benishek.
“This blatant disregard for election law and the perpetual attack of lies and misinformation by Mr. Benishek is the type of political Washington insider campaign tactics that people are fed up with and it is a disservice to the voters of the First Congressional District.” Allen said.
The Allen campaign did not provide a copy of an FEC complaint related to the disclaimer charge and as of Friday the FEC had not received a complaint on this issue.
FEC spokeswoman Julia Queen said that telephone banks that make more than 500 telephone calls of an identical or substantially similar nature during any 30 period are required to carry a
disclaimer.
“You just have to say who the phone call is for,” Queen said. “I don’t see anything in reference to a phone number.”
“If a complaint is filed they will do an investigation and determine whether a violation has occurred.”
Dan Benishek called Allen’s allegation of wrongdoing “baloney” and said that his calls have always included an attorney recommended statement saying that they were paid for by Benishek for Congress.
Benishek characterized Allen’s campaign complaint and associated media blitz as a desperate move to damage a popular opponent during the homestretch of the campaign.
“It is a disheartening distraction,” Benishek said.
Dealing with phone calls about Allen’s charge has taken up most of his time in recent days, he said.
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