Articles of Interest 8-18-06

Another Levin…Mitt Romney coming back to Michigan…GOPAC training coming to Michigan…Looking for local bloggers.

Andy Levin cancelled his participation at a candidate’s forum yesterday because he said he was moving his family into their new home.  So we thought it would be appropriate to drop by and welcome him to Michigan with a “welcome basket”.

In case you’re wondering who is Andy Levin…Andy is the son of Congressman Sander Levin (D).  He has spent almost his entire adult life living somewhere else, as a Washington lobbyist for the AFL-CIO.  Just days before the filing deadline, a new voter registration occurred at “dad’s place” and a new candidate was filed for the State Senate…another Levin namesake.

So anyways, we prepared a “welcome basket” packed with Michigan products, state, county, city and precinct maps and a card where I wrote a short note welcoming them to Michigan and ended by saying…"you missed the best of times under Engler and the worst of times under Granholm, but I’m sure you’ll catch up".

As we arrived at the front door with photographers and local media representative in tow, the house was still empty.  The doors were open and a painting crew was there painting the house. No boxes, no furniture, no one was moving in. Umm???

The painters happily greeted me as I approached the front door with basket in hand and I asked if Andy was home.  He said “who?”.  I said “Andy, the new owner”.

The painter then said “the owner father has been by, you know who he is (Cong. Sander Levin) and I smiled, nodding my head…but the owner is never here”. Umm???

I then looked over to the press guy and said… “did you get that”…he nodded yes.

I asked if I could leave the basket for Andy and his family and the painter welcomed me into their home and showed me a protected place under the kitchen counter where I could leave the basket.  I set it down, he kindly covered it with plastic and we left. (I wonder if he was using union painters???)

It appears good ‘ol dad has been taking care of the “home” front while Andy might have been finishing up some of his Washington lobbying responsibilities before attempting his “come back” to claim the Levin political dynasty for himself…ummm, but I think he’s going to have to live here first!?!

Check out our first post on the  blog:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2006/08/andy_levin_welc.html

Governor Mitt Romney will be hosting a Pizza and Politics evening for all the grassroots activists who show up at the State Convention Friday evening.  The Romney crew will be set up in the “East Entrance” of the Rock Financial Showplace from 6:30 to 8:30pm.  Governor Romney will personally be there to meet and talk with delegates.

As head of the Republican Governors Association, Governor Romney is very committed to helping Michigan Republicans do all they can to elect Dick DeVos as Michigan’s next Governor.  Once again, we are thankful for his continued help!

Lots of folks picked up bumper stickers…thanks.  It does help, it’s easy and it sends a message.  Too bad we can’t easily put them on a Harley!

The national GOPAC organization (www.gopac.org) has asked the MRP to join efforts to host three regional candidate training seminars at NO COST to participants.   The dates & locations for the seminars are below.   

Friday, September 8th - Saginaw
Saturday, September 9th - Grand Rapids
Sunday, September 10th - Brighton

The exact locations and times will be announced soon.   These seminars are geared towards local & county level candidates and incumbents, potential candidates, and everyday GOP activists.   

PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD TO YOUR LOCAL CANDIDATES.   Interested individuals should contact Anthony Lewis at 517-487-5413 or anthony@migop.org ASAP as space will be limited. 

The MIGOP Blog Team is currently seeking new volunteers! 

We need folks who are willing to write and respond on blogs.

This November’s election has the potential to bring about a lot of change within Michigan, as we look to elect Dick Devos as Governor and Mike Bouchard as state Senator.  More than ever, MRP acknowledges the increasingly important role that e-communications and new media (such as blogs) play in today’s political elections.

If you choose to participate, you will receive weekly information such as talking points and salient issues that could be discussed, in addition to a compilation of various Michigan and national political blog websites on which you could post the information of your choice. Your contribution of 15 to 20 minutes a week (which is approximately the anticipated time it would take for you to post a few blogs) has the potential to greatly assist our Party and the affiliated campaigns.

This is a fun way for you to become directly involved with the Michigan Republican Party’s statewide efforts, in addition to staying up to date on the issues of the day!!  You can sign up to be a blog volunteer by clicking here.  You may also find the sign up information at http://www.migop.org/getinvolved/volunteer.asp.

As we work to get as many Republicans elected this November as possible, I look forward to working with you on this endeavor to make sure that EVERY DAY COUNTS!

Saul Anuzis

STATE STORIES

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/August%202006/michiganGovernor.htm

Michigan Governor:
Granholm, DeVos Again in Toss-Up

Granholm (D) 47%, DeVos (R) 46%

With Michigan's rickety economy continuing to loom large in minds of many voters—45% say it is the election issue that most concerns them—Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) and Republican Dick DeVos remain locked in an extremely competitive battle for the governor's mansion.

In our July survey DeVos, son of the Amway founder, wrested a six-point advantage over the incumbent. But Governor Granholm now nominally leads in the contest, 47% to 46%.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/August%202006/michiganSenate.htm

Michigan Senate Race: Senator Stabenow on Same Hot Seat as the Governor?

Stabenow (D) 49% Bouchard (R) 44% 

Fresh from an August 8 Senate primary election that he won more handily than expected, Republican Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard is now just five points shy of the level of support attracted by Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow. Stabenow leads 49% to 44% (see crosstabs).

Like other GOP contenders in Michigan, for most of the year Bouchard lagged behind the incumbent by double digits. And the Senator, by maintaining at least a 50% level of support, had seemed to enjoy at least marginally greater job security than the Governor. Senator Stabenow's lead did decline as the year progressed, but not drastically until now.

http://lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060816/NEWS03/608160370&SearchID=73254040320244

Michigan unemployment rate back up to 7 percent

LANSING - Michigan's unemployment rate jumped to 7 percent in July, a rise tied largely to automakers shutting down plants as they traditionally do in the summer to retool for newer models.

The June rate was 6.3 percent, and the state rate a year ago - when temporary auto layoffs also were a factor - was 6.7 percent. The national unemployment rate in July rose to a five-month high of 4.8 percent.

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2006/08/andy_levin_welc.html

Anuzis Welcomes Levin To Michigan

Michigan Republican Party (MRP) Chair Saul ANUZIS took a dig at 13th District Senate candidate Andy LEVIN today by welcoming the former AFL-CIO official to Michigan after living for years in Washington D.C.

Anuzis pointed out that Levin just recently purchased a home in Bloomfield Hills after using his father's Royal Oak address to establish residency before the filing deadline.

"I want to be the first to welcome Andy to Michigan," said Anuzis. "He's been gone a long time so I included a map of the district to make sure he doesn't get lost. I wouldn't want him confusing Woodward Avenue with Pennsylvania Avenue or the Clinton River with Hillary Clinton."

Levin, the son of U.S. Rep. Sandy LEVIN (D-Royal Oak) and the nephew of U.S. Sen. Carl LEVIN (D-Detroit), is facing former Rep. John PAPPAGEORGE in the General Election in a race MIRS has projected as the top Senate race to watch this November.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060817/UPDATE/608170445

Candidate accuses Kilpatrick of strong-arming

DETROIT -- Unity within Michigan's Democratic Party is showing some strains, with state Rep. Mary Waters and 10 other elected Democrats accusing Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Thursday of using strong-arm tactics to intimidate potential candidates.

"It is apparent that the Democratic Party of Michigan is submitting to the bullying tactics of Mayor Kilpatrick," said Waters, of Detroit, who will lose her House seat at year's end due to term limits.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060818/NEWS06/608180443

Feud divides Democrats

Kilpatrick's lack of support upsets candidate

The feud between Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's supporters and opponents remains a festering wound in the Democratic Party that could threaten its ability to deliver a strong voter turnout needed in Detroit to notch wins in statewide November elections.

In the latest volley on Thursday, state Rep. Mary Waters, D-Detroit, accused Kilpatrick of undermining her candidacy for the party's secretary of state nomination in an effort to strengthen the Republican Party's chances of winning offices in the November election.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Njc0ZTUyZWE5NjNkODQ1OTcwNTljZTdlODgxODFlYTU

Governor’s Races and the Republican Realignment
The tides seem about to turn.

Michigan: The old line on Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm was that the former beauty queen would have been a major contender for the White House had she not been born in Canada. The new line is that, come January, she might well have enough time on her hands for extended tours of the White House and Canada. Republican Dick DeVos, of the Amway clan, has spent many millions of dollars building a strong statewide campaign that currently has him leading the incumbent by a modest amount in several polls. Granholm’s difficulty is that Michigan voters know their economy is one of the worst in the country, and not without reason hold state government responsible for at least some of the problem. Her saving grace may be that Republicans control the state legislature; in Democratic-leaning Michigan, in 2006, swing voters may not want to turn all the state-government house keys over to the GOP.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060818/NEWS05/608180471/1007/NEWS05

Affirmative action ban's hearing gets under way

A dozen Michigan residents told a federal judge Thursday in Detroit that they were duped into signing or circulating petitions that put a proposal on the November ballot to ban affirmative action in government hiring and education.

"I don't like being lied to," Fred Anthony Jr., 49, a retired Flint autoworker who signed a petition, told U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow. Anthony said the circulator told him signing the petition would help his children get into college.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060818/NEWS02/608180329/1004

Cleared suspects speak out

Two Dearborn men of Middle Eastern descent who were jailed after authorities suspected them of terrorism spoke out Thursday against bigotry and racial profiling.

"I hope this unfortunate turn of events will open some eyes and shed some light on the paranoia and xenophobia that is gripping the country," Osama Abulhassan said at a news conference in Dearborn.

http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060818/NEWS04/608180328/1005/news04

Two GOP senators rip veto of funds to remove aging dams

GRAND RAPIDS - Two Republican state senators say they are angry that Gov. Jennifer Gran-holm vetoed proposed funding that would have been used toward the removal of three aging dams from the Kalamazoo River.

Representatives of the Granholm administration said Thursday the Otsego, Plainwell and Trowbridge dams cannot be removed until there is a federally approved plan in place for cleaning up contaminated sediment in those areas of the river.

http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/news-1/115582771431170.xml&coll=4

Disaster duties of the National Guard should come from governors

The president thinks he knows better than state governors when it comes to calling out the National Guard for domestic crises.

For hundreds of years, state militias called the National Guard have taken orders from governors during natural disasters and most civil unrest.

http://www.mlive.com/columns/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1155831612203210.xml&coll=5

Follow the leader Sikkema's fix for key issues deserves lawmakers' support

Vital legislation for Michigan could be passed if gubernatorial politics doesn't kill a compromise a well-motivated leader is crafting.

At stake are thousands of jobs if overtime eligibility rules aren't fixed, a raise in the Merit Award scholarship to $4,000 and a proposed tax credit for low-income workers.

http://www.mlive.com/news/jacitpat/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1155830769161760.xml&coll=3

Veto kills $500K grant

Citing law, Granholm vetoes funding for Cascades restoration work

Hopes of a $500,000 grant for the Cascades renovation project were dashed Wednesday afternoon when supporters learned the money would not be coming to Jackson.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm vetoed the grant because it was improperly added to the state budget as an amendment, said a spokesman for the budget office.

National Stories

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/16/AR2006081601598.html?referrer=email&referrer=email&referrer=email

Democrats' Stock Is Rising on K Street

Firms Anticipate A Shift in Power

Washington lobbying firms, trade associations and corporate offices are moving to hire more well-connected Democrats in response to rising prospects that the opposition party will wrest control of at least one chamber of Congress from Republicans in the November elections.

In what lobbyists are calling a harbinger of possible upheaval on Capitol Hill, many who make a living influencing government have gone from mostly shunning Democrats to aggressively recruiting them as lobbyists over the past six months or so.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/17/domesticspying.lawsuit/index.html

NSA eavesdropping program ruled unconstitutional

CNN) -- A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the U.S. government's domestic eavesdropping program is unconstitutional and ordered it ended immediately.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said the Bush Administration disagrees with the ruling and has appealed.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060818/NEWS05/608180422/1007

Challenge promised over ruling in spy case

Detroit judge: Program illegal

The Bush administration pledged Thursday to mount a fierce legal challenge after a federal judge in Detroit struck down a program that secretly intercepts the international phone calls and e-mails of thousands of people in the United States in the pursuit of terrorism suspects.

"We're going to do everything we can do in the courts to allow this program to continue," U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said at a Washington news conference. "We've had numerous statements by leaders of the intelligence community about the effectiveness of the program in protecting America."

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060818/OPINION01/608180345/1068/OPINION

A Detroit Judge with Backbone

A Detroit judge succeeded Thursday where Congress has so far failed -- standing up to the Bush administration's wanton dismissal of the Bill of Rights. U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor declared the administration's secret spying program unconstitutional and blocked the government from intercepting calls into this country from abroad that might involve terrorists without getting warrants from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

Taylor made no bones about what was at stake.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060818/NEWS05/608180421/1007/NEWS05

Michigan congressional delegation split on ruling

WASHINGTON -- Michigan's congressional delegation split along party lines over Thursday's court ruling that found President George W. Bush's controversial warrantless wiretap program unconstitutional.

Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Holland and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said he was disappointed by U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor's decision, joining other Republicans who criticized the outcry over the wiretapping. Hoekstra was one of eight congressional leaders who were briefed after the program began in 2002.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/17/pensions.overhaul.ap/index.html

Bush signs bill overhauling pensions

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush signed a broad overhaul of pension and savings rules Thursday, giving millions of people a better chance of getting the retirement benefits they have earned.

The law, passed with fanfare by Congress two weeks ago, gives companies seven years to shore up funding of their traditional pensions, also known as defined benefit plans. Special rules for seriously underfunded companies require them to catch up faster.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/17/pf/retirement/pension_signing/index.htm

Pension reform: Boon for 401(k)s

The reform President Bush signed into law could mean increased worker savings. But it won't stop the move away from pensions.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- One of the most sweeping reforms of the retirement plan universe was signed into law by President Bush on Thursday afternoon, promising to bolster pension plan funding and increase workers' retirement savings.

Many provisions of the bill have received wide acclaim, notably those regarding 401(k)s. But critics say the legislation could accelerate the move away from traditional pension plans, that parts of the bill will benefit only high-income workers and that it does little to help the millions of workers whose companies don't offer retirement plans.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/17/bush.ap/index.html

Bush: Critics want to 'cut and run' from Iraq

LANCASTER, Pennsylvania (AP) -- President Bush said critics of his Iraq policies are advocating a "cut and run" strategy that would draw terrorists to American soil.

"Leaving before we complete our mission would create a terrorist state in the heart of the Middle East, a country with huge oil reserves that the terrorist network would be willing to use to extract economic pain from those of us who believe in freedom," Bush said Wednesday.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/August/mccainIdeology.htm

McCain in the Middle

U.S. Senator John McCain's long and varied career has placed him front and center in a number of battles.  He served his country in Vietnam as a member of the U.S. Navy.  He survived nearly six years of imprisonment in a Hanoi prisoner of war camp.  He's led the fight for campaign finance reform. He's even fought his way through a few bouts with cancer. Where have all of these victories placed him in the eyes of the general public?

Though the word “maverick” is often used to describe him, 44% of American adults classify McCain as a political moderate.  Twenty-two percent (22%) consider him conservative and 13% see him as liberal.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060817/ap_on_el_ge/democratic_ad_hispanics

Ad disappears from Democratic Web site

WASHINGTON - Democrats dropped an ad that Hispanics had criticized as unfairly depicting illegal immigrants as terrorists.

The ad had disappeared from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's Web site Thursday. A link that had led to the advertisement now leads to a different ad.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BUSH?SITE=MIDTF&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-08-18-06-56-13

Bush to Meet With Economic Team

WASHINGTON (AP) -- High energy prices, a slowing economy and upcoming congressional elections frame President Bush's annual meeting with his top economic advisers, held this year in a cooler clime.

Instead of gathering at his Texas ranch, where the temperature is topping 100, the president and his advisers are meeting Friday at the wooded Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/17/AR2006081701484.html

Republicans Losing The 'Security Moms'

CLINTONVILLE, Ohio, Aug. 17 -- Married women with children, the "security moms" whose concerns about terrorism made them an essential part of Republican victories in 2002 and 2004, are taking flight from GOP politicians this year in ways that appear likely to provide a major boost for Democrats in the midterm elections, according to polls and interviews.

This critical group of swing voters -- who are an especially significant factor in many of the most competitive suburban districts on which control of Congress will hinge -- is more inclined to vote Democratic than at any point since Sept. 11, 2001, according to data compiled for The Washington Post by the Pew Research Center.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0818/p01s03-uspo.html

Politicos beware: You live in YouTube's world.

WASHINGTON – S.R. Sidarth never imagined his 15 minutes of fame would come from a sleepy campaign stop in the southwest Virginia town of Breaks. Or that his handiwork with a camcorder would catapult to the list of most-watched videos on the Web's most-trafficked video site. Or that The Washington Post would devote an entire article to exploring exactly what to call the 20-year-old college student's hairstyle - a mohawk or a mullet? (Answer: neither.)

Sen. George Allen (R) of Virginia also surely never imagined that the young man assigned to track his campaign appearances would cause him days of grief, simply by recording a comment that critics have called "racist" or, at best, "insensitive." 

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/?id=110008815

Bush Phobia May Prove Fatal
Our bitter politics may drop the gift of a foiled plot.

New York City on Wednesday released more audiotapes from September 11, the day whose realities won't go away no matter how corrosive and divided our national politics become.

What are the realities of 9/11? Oliver Stone's movie, "World Trade Center," released a few weeks ago, conveys the horror, valor and loss that day. That is one reality.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=16555

Judgment Day Coming -- for the Neocons

The Democrats are determined to make the election of 2006 a referendum on Bush and the war in Iraq. And, as of now, that is how history will likely record it.

But beneath the surface of the national election, a different plebiscite is being held, within the conservative movement, on the ideology George Bush imposed on Ronald Reagan's party.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/18/opinion/18fri1.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Ruling for the Law

Ever since President Bush was forced to admit that he was spying on Americans’ telephone calls and e-mail without warrants, his lawyers have fought to keep challenges to the program out of the courts. Yesterday, that plan failed. A federal judge in Detroit declared the eavesdropping program to be illegal and unconstitutional. She also offered a scathing condemnation of what lies behind the wiretapping — Mr. Bush’s attempt to expand his powers to the point that he can place himself beyond the reach of Congress, judges or the Constitution.

“There are no hereditary kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution,” wrote Judge Anna Diggs Taylor of the United States District Court in Detroit. Her decision was based on a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/

The Friday Line: U.S. Senate

The closer we get to the election (82 days but who's counting), the more volatile the bottom half of our Senate Line becomes.

Two races dropped precipitously over the last month: Tennessee and Minnesota. In Tennessee, Rep. Harold Ford Jr.'s (D) chances took a major hit when former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker won the August 3 primary rather easily over former Reps. Van Hilleary and Ed Bryant. Corker was the most moderate of the three Republicans and carried the added bonus of being neither a lawmaker nor a lobbyist -- two major strikes against a candidate in this year's political atmopshere.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/08/17/northkorea.nukes/index.html

U.S. puzzles over N. Korea n-site

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Recent imagery shows a change at a suspected North Korean underground nuclear site, a possible indication Pyongyang is planning an underground test of a nuclear weapon, U.S. military and intelligence officials have told CNN.

The officials emphasized, however, the development was minor and said there was no way to draw firm conclusions about what it means.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/17/iraq.main/index.html

Iraq: 3 die as 'worst month' figures revealed

July violence the deadliest since March 2003

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A bomb ripped through a market in Baghdad's Sadr City on Thursday, another day of carnage in a city under siege by insurgents and people bent on sectarian revenge.

Three people were killed and 27 more were wounded when the explosive detonated in Rashaad market, located in the volatile, densely populated eastern Baghdad Shiite slum of Sadr City, a base of support for anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/17/AR2006081701190.html

A Moment to Be Seized in Lebanon

The charm of any U.N. Security Council resolution lies in the preamble, which invariably begins by "recalling" all previous resolutions on the same subject that have been entirely ignored, therefore necessitating the current resolution. Hence newly minted Resolution 1701: Before mandating the return of south Lebanon to Lebanese government control, it lists the seven Security Council resolutions going back 28 years that have demanded the same thing.

We are to believe, however, that this time the United Nations means it. Yet, the fact that responsibility for implementation is given to Kofi Annan's office -- not known for integrity, competence or neutrality -- betrays a certain unseriousness about the enterprise from the very beginning.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/18/mideast.france.ap/index.html

France defends sending 200 troops

PARIS, France (AP) -- French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie on Friday defended France's decision to send just 200 additional troops to reinforce the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon and reiterated that the force needs a clear mandate to operate effectively.

"I can't let it be said or implied that France is not doing its duty in the Lebanese crisis," the minister told French radio RTL in an interview.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/17/AR2006081701541.html

Where Did the French Go?

So far, look for them on the sidelines.

THROUGHOUT this summer's crisis in relations between Israel and Lebanon, France has been liberal with its advice and admonitions, as befits the major power it claims to be. Now that the time has arrived to assume the responsibility of a major power, however, France appears suddenly bashful. The consequence for the peace deal it helped broker could be calamitous.

During the fighting that began when Hezbollah crossed into Israel to kidnap two soldiers and kill several others, France pressed for Israel to cease its military actions. At one point, it supported Arab demands that Israel withdraw before an international force was in place. Just this week, France's foreign minister was telling Israel to end its blockade of Lebanese ports and airports.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/17/mideast.main/index.html

Video provokes questions of Lebanese army

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- A video showing Lebanese soldiers cordially offering Israeli troops glasses of tea during the military offensive earlier this month has hit Israeli and Hezbollah airwaves.

The video, shot by Israelis on August 10, when Israeli troops "took control" of the southern Lebanese town of Marjeyoun, aired on Israel's Channel 2 on Wednesday.

http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/carroll/index.html

Jill learns her captors are Al Qaeda acolytes

One afternoon in the first week after I'd been taken - and I'd been moved to yet another house - Abu Ali called me into a big sitting room with green velveteen couches. On the far wall, above the TV, was a gigantic poster of waterfalls and rocks and trees.

But my captors wanted me to look at something very different: DVDs of them waging war.

MIRS Capitol Capsule, Thursday, August 17, 2006

www.mirsnews.com

John Reurink (517) 482-2125

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"I want to be the first to welcome Andy to Michigan."

— Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul ANUZIS, taking a dig at Democratic Senate candidate Andy LEVIN who recently moved to Bloomfield Hills after years of working for the AFL-CIO in Washington D.C.

Top 10 House Races To Watch
The Aug. 8 primary solidified a few of the races that appeared in our first Top 10 feature, but since the recent election didn't include any shocking upsets, our latest Top 10 ranking doesn't include too many earth-shattering moves.

The one exception comes in the 91st District, where we significantly moved up Rep. David FARHAT's (R-Muskegon) race in light of some new information from Muskegon County. Farhat, along with two other Republican incumbents, was already sending out campaign literature in August, despite not having a primary election opponent.

Whether it's polling numbers or a hunch, it appears more caucus resources on both sides are being shifted to Muskegon.

As in the Senate, it appears the Republicans are playing more defense in the marginal seats while the Democrats are on offense. The GOP won a 58-52 advantage in the lower chamber in 2004 and should be able to expand on that in 2006. But it's looking more and more like both sides will break even this year, which would actually be a victory for the Democrats.

With that, here are our updated rankings of the Top 10 House Races To Watch:

* Ranking on May 5, 2006 (See "Top House Races To Watch," 5/5/06)

1. 56th District, John MANOR (R) v. Kate EBLI (D) — *1
The race to replace the late Rep. Herb KEHRL (D-Monroe) was the most competitive race before the primary and its position in the MIRS ranking hasn't changed. It's hard to give either candidate an advantage seeing both are reportedly working hard and it's highly likely both caucuses are going to dump a lot of money into this race.

Realistically, this seat means more to the Democrats than the Republicans. It's hard to concoct a scenario that has the Democrats winning more than the 52 seats they won in 2004 that doesn't include an Ebli win. For the Republicans, losing this seat would be tough, but seeing this is a 46 percent GOP district, a win here is gravy.

With a competitive open Senate race and rematch in the 55th House District also competing for attention in Monroe County, the voters in the most southeast county of Michigan will have more than their fill of state politics come November.

2. 91st District, Rep. David Farhat (R-Muskegon) v. Mary VALENTINE (D) — *NR
This race shoots to the top of our ranking for a number of reasons, the first being that Republicans are starting to get worried about the impact of two news stories that have appeared in local newspapers in the last year. Farhat eventually settled a civil suit regarding an allegedly unpaid loan, but the second, regarding the Internal Revenue Service, is in litigation.

That's bad news for someone who won by only four percentage points two years ago against someone who got very little House Democratic Caucus support. The Republican base in the 91st District is 52 percent and, unfortunately, Farhat's strengths in the Legislature are his vital behind-the-scenes contributions on the state budget, which are tough to quantify in a campaign.

Meanwhile, the aggressive Valentine is someone Republicans are anxious to paint as an out-of-step liberal in the vein of the Democratic Senate candidate in this area, former Rep. Julie DENNIS. This one could get pretty ugly.

3. 75th District, Robert DEAN (D) v. Tim DOYLE (R) — *3
Even with its 54 percent Republican base, the Democrats could score an upset in this Grand Rapids district with Dean, a Grand Rapids City Commissioner, if his campaign proves that it's up to the task. Doyle, an assistant Kent County Prosecutor, scored a fairly underwhelming victory in the primary considering he was the "establishment" candidate and raised nearly three times more money than his top opponent, Christian MEYER.

Democrats say this district is changing. It's becoming more liberal and that may be true, but these trends take time to mature and tend to make themselves apparent over time. Rep. Jerry KOOIMAN (R-Grand Rapids) won his final term in this district with only 52 percent support, but that was during a presidential election.

The other trend that's hard to ignore with the 75th District is that it's noticeably more Republican in gubernatorial years. That's good news for Doyle. A Grand Rapids Press article recently gave an edge to Dean, but we'll need to see more from his campaign to be convinced.

4. 107th District, Rep. Gary McDOWELL (D-Rudyard) v. Jay DUGGAN (R) — *2
McDowell is still the Republicans' best chance to defeat an incumbent and rest assured that money will be spent up there this year. McDowell has a few things going for him, though. He's been smart with his votes. He's kept his face in the local media (for good things). Northern voters tend to like their incumbents. And he lives on the north side of the Mackinac Bridge, where 54 percent of those who voted in 2004 live.

Duggan has a nice profile and is an attractive candidate in a district the Republicans should have never lost in the first place. With a 57 percent Republican base, McDowell should be in more trouble than he is, but he has proven that he's no slouch when it comes to fundraising.

5. 64th District, Rep. Rick BAXTER (R-Hanover) v. Marty GRIFFIN (D) — *4
The word has long been out that Baxter's overly conservative record could spell trouble for him in this Jackson County district, especially if Baxter's primary opponent, Bob ROSS, decides to run as a write-in candidate, as he's talked about.

But Griffin's $7,000 in cash on hand isn't a lot to go on, particularly when other Democratic challengers are working with three to four times more. Baxter was forced to spend some money in the primary, but still has four times more in cash on hand than Griffin. In the end, these numbers don't mean a lot if Griffin gets caucus support, but it's hard to sell your campaign to the big-money donors with totals this low, regardless of what the doors are telling you.

6. 94th District, Bob BLAINE (D) v. Ken HORN (R) — *5
This very Republican district should be difficult for any Democrat to win, but if anybody is going to do it, Blaine, a county commissioner, is the person to do it. Horn, also a county commissioner, survived an extremely competitive primary election to advance to the General Election, and will be helped by a 56 percent Republican base in this Saginaw County district.

He'll need it because the deep pockets of Tim KELLY drained Horn's bank account to about $11,000 in cash on hand, which puts him right about even with Blaine, a political moderate who reportedly is knocking on doors and raising money.

7. 38th District, Rep. David LAW (R-Commerce Twp.) v. Lisa BROWN (D) — *9
Law sent out a few mailers during the primary, which is notable seeing that he didn't have a primary opponent. The first-term lawmaker is helping himself by earning the endorsements of the Michigan Education Association (MEA), trial lawyers and some environmental interests. He's worked the system for some money for a Holocaust Museum, which the area's notable Jewish community is likely appreciative of.

Brown is working with $27,000 in cash on hand and more likely to come. This district has a 49 percent Democratic base, but is said to be trending Democratic. However, Law has consistently voted his district and cannot be painted as an arch conservative. The base numbers and Law's drunk driving arrest are reasons enough for the Democrats to think they may have a play in this district.

8. 55th District, Rep. Kathy ANGERER (D-Dundee) v. Matt MILOSCH (R) — *NR
The return of Milosch is being taken more seriously now that he reported raising $45,000 and Republican sources indicate that polling done in Monroe County shows that Angerer is vulnerable and Milosch is still somewhat popular. Milosch lost his seat in a 51 percent Republican district to Angerer two years ago during a presidential election, when more Democrats tend to vote. It's possible the numbers could change in a gubernatorial year.

However, an illness in Milosch's family means he's spending more time mending the family's golf course than he would otherwise. That means less time on the campaign trail. It is also hard to ignore the $100,000 Angerer has in the bank.

9. 67th District, Barb BYRUM (D) v. Don VICKERS (R) — *8
Vickers is putting a lot of stock on his door-to-door effort, which Republicans hope is substantial because Byrum is killing him in the fundraising battle. Vickers is giving up his Ingham County Commission seat in his attempt to keep another Byrum from representing this district, but his problems start in Democratic south Lansing and spread from there.

House Minority Leader Dianne BYRUM (D-Onondaga) is keeping her daughter out front and in the public eye, which may turn this race into a referendum on the Byrum name. If the race goes in that direction, Democrats would feel fairly comfortable.

10. 65th District, Rep. Leslie MORTIMER (R-Horton) v. Mike SIMPSON (D) — *NR
If you look like vulnerable and act like vulnerable, you're vulnerable. How else can you explain the literature pieces mailed out to this Jackson County district in the primary election when Mortimer didn't have an opponent? How do you explain the press coverage the Republicans have tried to gin up around Mortimer? How about her aggressive door-to-door effort?

The Mortimers found themselves on the wrong side of the U.S. Rep. Joe SCHWARZ (R-Battle Creek) Republican primary and may need to do some work to shore up her base, but Mortimer is acting like she's representing a district with a 44 percent Republican base, not the district with the 54 percent base she does have.

Also On The Radar Screen

110th District, Dave SCHMIDT (R) v. Mike LAHTI (D) — *6
The right Democrat emerged out the primary in this district and Republicans are going to struggle to beat him. Lahti is from Marquette, the unofficial capital of the Upper Peninsula, and Schmidt is from sparsely populated Ontonagon. Republicans like Schmidt, but it would appear that Lahti is the real deal.

83rd District, Rep. John ESPINOZA (D-Croswell) v. Ed SMITH (R) — *7
This district would garner more attention if Smith were doing something in this district with its 56 percent Republican base. But nobody is going to take you seriously when you only have $1,000 in cash on hand after a primary in which you had no opponent. One Grand isn't going to get you far against Espinoza, an incumbent who has distinguished himself in the House and has protected himself from bad votes.

97th District, Rep. Tim MOORE (R-Farwell) v. Dave SCHWAB (D) — *10
Schwab should be doing better than he is, but he's facing an uphill battle with Moore.

108th District Rep. Tom CASPERSON (R-Escanaba) v. Judy NERAT — NR
Casperson should be in great shape as the Democrats appear to prime Nerat for 2008. Meanwhile, Casperson's concerns are closer to home with a wife who's battling cancer.

District 26, Rep. Marie DONIGAN (D-Royal Oak) v. Kevin KONCZAL — NR
It's still a long shot for the Republican, but Donigan's fairly liberal voting record keeps it in play.

101st District, Rep. David PALSROK (R-Manistee) v. Dan SCRIPPS — NR
The Republicans would love to see the Democrats spend some money in this district and its 56 percent base, but the way Scripps is raising money, they may not have to. Scripps has more cash on hand at this point in the race than the incumbent, which is almost unheard of. Had it not been for a late deposit from House Speaker Craig DeROCHE (R-Novi), Paslrok would be in a lot worse shape.

Johnson Made Waves For Gov In House
During her final term in the Legislature, former Rep. Ruth JOHNSON, who was announced this week as the running mate for Republicans gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVOS, was actually one of the earliest (if sometimes subtle) critics of the Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM administration.

In 2003-2004, Johnson, now the Oakland County Clerk, was House Land Use and Environment Committee Chair and one of the legislators Granholm named to her Land Use Council.

This council was one of Granholm's first initiatives, and one that seemed geared toward setting the stage for numerous aspects of an agenda for the then-incoming governor.

But as the Land Use Council process played out, it began to look to many like a super-sized version of the first-the-verdict,-then-the-trial task forces that politicos of all stripes use to gin up credibility for their arguments.

Of all the members of the Land Use Council, Johnson was the one who repeatedly gave MIRS on-the-record comments about what the Land Use Council was doing and, in retrospect, through those comments may have somewhat undermined its credibility.

And in what some may consider impressive, Johnson did this while repeatedly declining open invitations to suggest that the Council's final recommendations were more or less pre-determined.

An example of such a response came when the Land Use Council was in the midst of its process (See "Land Use Council Process Clarified, Defended," 7/3/06).

"I have written letters [to council staff] about my concerns," Johnson said. "In the most recent letter I expressed my concern that this [the final recommendations] not be too punitive. I think it's important that we protect property rights and I think we have to be very careful when redistributing resources."

In the same article, Johnson described the process as, "We (the council) really haven't voted on anything yet," Johnson said. "There was one time when we were making a list and asked to raise our hands if we thought a topic should be included. That's the only time we came close to voting and some people didn't even vote."

Also in the July 3, 2003 article, Johnson told MIRS she was very concerned about concepts that, so far, have not played a very large role in the council process.

"I believe that if you create good communities that have what people consider to be desirable, you will attract people to those communities," Johnson said. "That includes things like good school systems, which we [the council] haven't really addressed, and safety, which deserves far more emphasis than it has been given so far. To me, if we don't give these issues enough emphasis we will have completely dropped the ball."

On Aug. 18. 2003, Johnson was given the MIRS Quote of the Day, for her comment about the final Land Use Council report. That quote, was a somewhat dry, "It's a very expensive agenda."

Later, it was Johnson who pointed out that virtually all the recommendations from the Land Use Council that were likely to be enacted, were measures that had already been queued up in the Legislature before the Council had been created. However, she also maintained that Granholm's Council might have given some of those measure more traction.

The major issue Johnson became known for during her stint in the Legislature was her subcommittee's probe into alleged abuses at the Oakland County Intermediate School District (ISD), which turned into a general pursuit of possible wrong-doing at other ISDs, as well.

As chair of the House Subcommittee Reviewing ISDs (a panel that had subpoena powers), Johnson repeatedly spoke out about what she saw as potential abuses at ISDs. However, the subcommittee simply had neither the expertise or tools to delve beyond a certain depth.

On this basis, Johnson asked the Attorney General Mike COX to investigate. But Cox said he needed funding to pay for such a probe and, hence, the Legislature provided $660,000. It was an appropriation that Granholm vetoed, with the argument that Cox shouldn't need a special appropriation to do an investigation.

To a large extent, Granholm's veto ended further probing into the alleged ISD scandals. However, Johnson did still manage to get some ISD reform legislation passed, although it wasn't as extensive as that for which she'd initially advocated.

The Jan. 14, 2004 edition of MIRS, covered a letter complaining of Granholm's veto that Johnson had sent out to editorial boards across the state (See "ISD Editorial Sent Statewide," 1/14/04). But few publications outside of MIRS published it.

The letter stated in part that:

"Gov. Granholm's recent veto of $660,000 appropriated by the Legislature to the attorney general's office for investigation of the Oakland County ISD and several others across the state is a disservice to the kids who have gone without while some top administrators lined their pockets and the pockets of their friends with taxpayer money.

"Without the appropriation, the attorney general's investigation is at an impasse. The veto could be viewed as a wink and a nod to the gross mismanagement and corruption. Withholding the legislature's appropriation in effect helps the lawbreakers cover up their misdeeds."

Later, then-Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA), Mike FLANAGAN, issued a rebuttal to the letter (See "Flanagan Responds To Johnson ISD Letter," 01/22/04) in which he noted that investigations had already been done at the Oakland ISD and others throughout the state.

"It is my hope … that Michigan's ISDs can get back to the important work of educating children instead of focusing on problems of the past," Flanagan wrote.

Who Is Extreme?
Next to the word "China" the term "extremist" appears to be the next most popular word in the Democratic Party's lexicon these days, especially as it relates to a certain Republican candidate for governor.

"A perfect match of two extremists" was the tag Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) Chair Mark BREWER pegged on Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVOS and his new running mate, Ruth JOHNSON.

Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM used the term "extremist" during her kick-off rally in conjunction with the Emily's List folks, but was careful not to link it to the name DeVos, specifically.

She was in the same gear this week when asked about why he was so extreme.

Attempting to stay on the high road, she demurred saying, "First of all, I'm not sure I've used that."

Unwilling to take no for an answer she was asked later on in the same interview, "Will you use that word to describe him?"

There was an "um," a pause, and then she used the word without using it.

"That word is not an inappropriate description of where they are coming from." And the governor proceeded to suggest that the DeVos support for the trade polices that hurt state companies were not "Michigan's values" and his opposition to abortion in cases of rape and incest was not consistent with mainstream Michigan either.

Asked on the campaign trail to respond to all the "extreme" rhetoric DeVos noted, "Name calling doesn't create any jobs in Michigan and while the opposition wants to make this personal … it can't be personal. It's got to be about Michigan."

DeVos agrees that the Democrats probably focus-grouped the word "extreme" and/or "extremist" and found it to their liking … but not to his.

Stabenow Cuts First TV Ad
U.S. Sen. Debbie STABENOW (D-Lansing) released her first television advertisement of her 2006 re-election campaign today in a $467,000, five-market buy that runs from today through Sunday.

The ad, titled "Leader," features Stabenow standing on the factory floor talking about her commitment to "leveling the playing field" on the international trade front and reducing health care costs for businesses.

The montage of accompanying pictures includes Stabenow talking with factory workers and ends with a photo of three children jumping off a lake dock holding inner tubes around their waists.

The text of the ad is as followes:

"Times are tough in Michigan — but so are we.

"With a level playing field — our workers can compete with anybody.

"That's why I'm fighting for a trade prosecutor — to crack down on countries that violate our trade laws.

"To reduce health care costs — to help Michigan businesses compete.

"And invest in education - so our children have a chance to get ahead.

"I'm Debbie Stabenow and I approve this message because we've got a great future here in Michigan and I'm fighting for it every day."

The ad will run in the Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Flint and Traverse City markets and counters the three television ads Bouchard started running during the primary election.

Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul ANUZIS took the time to rebut the ad line. He kicked off by saying he couldn't agree more with Stabenow's statement that "times are tough."

"The citizens of Michigan must be tough to have suffered through nearly six years of Debbie Stabenow's inaction and partisan politics," he said.

He then noted that Stabenow has only passed one bill in more than five years as senator — a bill to rename a federal building in Detroit. He then slammed her votes against tax cut plans that Anuzis argues would have stimulated the economy.

Gongwer News Service, Inc.

www.gongwer.com

517-482-3500

Volume #45, Report #158, Article #01 --Thursday, August 17, 2006

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INFIGHTING GROWS AS DEMS NEAR CONVENTION

The state Democrats are still working which of their brothers and sisters will make the ticket for the November election, and the stress of the decision is apparently generating some sibling rivalries. Rep. Mary Waters (D-Detroit), the only announced candidate for secretary of state, on Thursday accused Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick of trying to sabotage the ticket to give Republicans some wins. But party officials said there were no questions where Mr. Kilpatrick's loyalties lay. Ms. Waters, speaking at a press conference for a coalition of Democrats, said Mr. Kilpatrick was trying to bully the party into accepting his choices for various posts.   Ms. Waters is not among those choices, having backed one of his opponents in the 2005 mayoral race. She said Mr. Kilpatrick was trying to stack the ticket to guarantee a Republican win in the fall, at least for attorney general, adding that she had been told Mr. Kilpatrick was planning to vote Republican in the November election. "The mayor has a vested interest to kind of return a favor to Mike Cox," said Sam Riddle, spokesperson for Ms. Waters. Mr. Cox had investigated allegations of fraud and corruption in the first Kilpatrick administration, but found no wrongdoing.   Many Detroit residents, particularly those who oppose Mr. Kilpatrick, have argued the investigation and results were driven more by politics than by law enforcement. "A lot of folks in Detroit believe the mayor doesn't give a hoot about Democratic ticket," Mr. Riddle said. Ms. Waters said at a press conference that Mr. Kilpatrick is supporting attorney Amos Williams for attorney general because Mr. Williams would not be strong enough to defeat Mr. Cox.   Mr. Williams on the ticket also would allow Ms. Waters to be bumped in favor of a non-black candidate for secretary of state. Macomb County Clerk Camella Sabaugh is the object of most of that speculation, but she has refused to comment on her interest in the secretary of state nomination. Former district Judge Scott Bowen is battling Mr. Williams for the attorney general nomination. Mr. Riddle said assertions by some in the part that Ms. Waters is not a strong enough candidate to defeat Secretary of State Terri Land are wrong.   "Mary Waters has faced those type of people every day of her life since she left the cotton fields of Alabama," he said, adding people have told her she wasn't a strong enough candidate to be elected to the House or to be elected minority floor leader, a post she has now held for two terms. "The one thing Mary brings to the ticket that prior candidates didn't bring is she runs as an American, not a hyphenated American," he said. But Democratic spokesperson Jason Moon said, "Mayor Kilpatrick is fully supportive of the Democratic ticket and has been engaged in the selection process for months. All this is going to be decided at our upcoming convention where our party's delegates will elect the best candidate for secretary of state and attorney general." And Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis said, as far as he knew, Mr. Kilpatrick was not an agent for his party working inside the opposition.   "This is just internal Democratic politics," he said.   "You've basically have an open convention.   The governor is not in charge of this convention so she can't pick her candidates." Mr. Anuzis said the outcome of the Democratic convention was not important to his party.   "We really don't care who the Democrats nominate for attorney general or secretary of state," he said.   "We've got two of the best incumbents in the country." Mr. Riddle agreed that Ms. Governor Jennifer Granholm is not in charge of the convention, but argued that should change. "If this governor wants to get big numbers in the polls, all she has to do is stand up to Kwame Kilpatrick," he said.   "If Michigan perceives that this governor is bowing to a bully, some folks won't go for her because of it." And he said it was particularly important for Ms. Granholm to take the reins from Mr. Kilpatrick because the primary election, where only one of his anointed candidates won, showed he does not have political coattails.   "He doesn't even have a t-shirt," Mr. Riddle said. Granholm campaign spokesperson Chris De Witt said Ms. Granholm had made it clear she would not set her own slate.   "A number of people have had opportunities to weigh in on the various candidates, but ultimately it will be the convention delegates who will make the choice," he said.

Volume #45, Report #158, Article #08 --Thursday, August 17, 2006

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FIRST STABENOW AD HIGHLIGHTS 'FIGHT FOR MICHIGAN'

The first TV ad for the 2006 campaign by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) depicts her as fighting for Michigan in areas of trade policies, health care and education, and promises a bright future despite current tough times.   The airing of the ad in five media markets comes at about the same point in the campaign as in 2002 when her first ad in that election responded to an attack on her prescription drug plan by saying she would "fight for the seniors and families of Michigan." State and national Republicans shot back that Ms. Stabenow has done little to fight for Michigan during her six years in office, and Republican challenger Michael Bouchard criticized her for opposing such issues as Association Health Plans and Medical Savings Accounts.   Mr. Bouchard, the Oakland County sheriff, began running his first ad last week, which is still airing, Ms. Stabenow opens her new ad by saying, "Times are tough in Michigan - but so are we."   She then talks of fighting for a trade prosecutor to crack down on countries that violate trade pacts, for investment in education and to reduce health care costs.   She closes by saying, "I'm Debbie Stabenow and I approve this message because we've got a great future here in Michigan and I'm fighting for it everyday." Stabenow spokesperson Brent Colburn said the ad demonstrates that voters will have a clear choice.   "On one hand they have someone who will support the tired and failed policies of the Bush administration that have cost us jobs and threatened our way of life.   On the other hand, they have a Senator who has stood up and fought for the issues that matter to them, like protecting good paying jobs, making health care more accessible and affordable, and ensuring that education is a real priority." Republicans accused Ms. Stabenow of failing to produce for the state, noting she has sponsored just one successful bill in her tenure (renaming a federal building) and opposed a variety of GOP-led issues such as tax cuts and medical malpractice reforms and other measures intended to make health care more accessible. "Debbie Stabenow's voting record in Washington does not match up with what she's saying in Michigan," said Bouchard campaign spokesperson Jennifer Morris. And Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis, whose rebuttal asserted Ms. Stabenow has done nothing to alleviate Michigan's woes, said, "We need an effective leader who will represent the people, one that will do something, to turn Michigan around. Michigan does have a great future ahead, and with a new senator in Washington, D.C. we can all realize this promise." It will run in the Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Flint and Traverse City markets. Mr. Bouchard continues to air the third ad of his campaign, which was last one he ran before last week's primary: a playful spot featuring his daughter noting the qualities that might serve him well as a senator, but not to a teenager such as herself while on a date, as the camera pulls back to show Mr. Bouchard sitting between the young couple.

Volume #45, Report #158, Article #06 --Thursday, August 17, 2006

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LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRATS LAUNCHING 527 REDISTRICTING FUND

NASHVILLE - Democrats convening here for the National Conference of State Legislatures were informed Thursday that their campaign committee will be forming a 527 committee, named so for its section of the tax-code, that will implement a long-term congressional redistricting strategy. The Foundation for the Future is in response to the June Supreme Court decision upholding the majority of the 2003 Texas redistricting plan.   The committee will be chaired by Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and AFL-CIO. Redistricting will occur after the 2010 U.S. Census.

Volume #45, Report #158, Article #04 --Thursday, August 17, 2006

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CHERTOFF: PROGRESS MADE AS 9/11 ANNIVERSARY APPROACHES

NASHVILLE - U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, speaking before the National Conference of State Legislatures here Thursday, said as the United States soon will recognize the 5th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, citizens should know that progress has been made and continues to be made, as just last week a terrorist plot to place explosives on planes flying between the United Kingdom and United States was thwarted. Mr. Chertoff told the packed audience, "You have a critical role to play in the assurance that the citizens of this country have a full awareness of homeland security." Intelligence capabilities are more integrated since the 2001 attacks, he said, and $2 billion has been invested into making communication devices interoperable and allow for first responders to receive training for that - an issue that arose during the attacks as emergency responders were talking on different frequencies. While the nation's port security has been criticized, Mr. Chertoff said that $10 billion has been invested, including the assurance that by the end of this year, 80 percent of containers coming into U.S. ports go through radiation screening.   The department hopes that will be closer to 100 percent in 2007. "We need persistence to finish the job we intended to do," he said, adding that state and local officials still have been the focus, as any attack would have local impact first. Discussing the spoiled terrorist plot from last week, Mr. Chertoff said as the investigation unfolds, liquids and gels will still not be permitted in carry-on baggage.   The department is preparing for a new front of attack - explosives - and that besides screening for the technology involved in creating that type of device, airport security will also begin monitoring behavior of flyers, a process that has been used for years at border crossings, he said. "We are not distracted," Mr. Chertoff said.   "We are still at a high level of alert." REAL ID: While speaking more specifically to Vermont, Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Bonnie Rutledge, provided testimony during the conference that the greatest difficulty perhaps facing everyone in state government is that the federal government has not promulgated rules related to the Real ID act, and even if rules were in place today, states would still have a hard time meeting the implementation deadline. Though the state supports the concept of Real ID, Vermont first will have to deal with the issue that it did not require driver's licenses to have a photo on them prior to 2004, as well as the fact that the principal residence of a citizen is not a requirement for the license. "(The act) will require everyone currently holding an operator's license or identification card be 're-enrolled' and identify documents be verified," she said.   "With over 200 million licensed drivers in the United States, this will cause a tremendous burden on the DMV's as well as the customers we serve." Sen. Lorraine Inouye of Hawaii agreed, saying that as a state with a large immigrant population, a frontline DMV worker is not prepared to check the validity of foreign identification documents issued by other countries that may or may not have been obtained fraudulently. States have not been given the funding to train these workers, Ms. Inouye said, adding that many elderly residents who immigrated to Hawaii do not possess documents such as birth certificates that are required under the Act. "If this law is not repealed or its deadline extended, Hawaii will see many of its residents lose Social Security, health (care) and other federal benefits because they cannot get the Real ID necessary to enter federal offices," she said. And Charlie Mitchell, state legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union, said that the organization believes the entire Real ID system is flawed and that instead of preventing terrorism, what it really boils down to is a restriction of people's movements and liberties. "ID documents do not reveal anything about evil intent, and even if they did determined terrorists will always be able to obtain fraudulent documents," he said. While Mr. Mitchell said the Act will create a national database, which raises privacy and identity theft concerns, Mr. Chertoff during his speech said while he could not discuss what the rules will be, there will not be a federal database but that states will be able to share information with each other. "We don't want that Big Brother approach," Mr. Chertoff said.