"That's Saul, folks!"Michigan Republican Party Blog

Articles of Interest 5-31-07

MORNING SUMMARY:

House Democrats flock to Mackinac Island…Republicans missing, working in Lansing.

What a good time to send a signal to Michigan business leaders…fire Andy Levin…. Governor Granholm’s Administration DLEG official blames Michigan business for running a “terror campaign”.  He should be fired!

My fellow Teamster, President James Hoffa addressed the group last night and said we need to work together…I  brought up “right to work” and he wasn’t very receptive.

Former MI GOP Co-Chair Margy Van Houten has gone out on her own to start her private law practice.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

-As the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Conference started on Mackinac Island, it was striking to notice all the Democrats who made it up for “opening day” and I only spotted two Republican legislators who arrived in the evening.

As legislators continue to attempt to close the budget on 2007, many decided it was “OK” to come up to Mackinac.  Now, to be fair, the conference is an annual event that is by most accounts very valuable and educational as leaders from around the state gather to discuss public policy.  But it’s a little more than a bit ironic that the Democrats who have been crying “wolf” for the last month or so were the first ones to find time to make it up for cocktails and dinner last night.

Maybe the Governor could take a few lessons from the Mayor of Detroit, who has addressed some of the tough structural problems facing the city?  A Democrat who did and a Democrat who won’t, can’t, or doesn’t know how???  A tale of two Democrats?

-Governor Granholm should fire DLEG Deputy Director Andy Levin for accusing Michigan job providers for running a “terror campaign”.  What better time than now?

We are having a hard enough time keeping jobs from leaving our state, let alone trying to attract job providers to Michigan.  Then you have a top Administration official tell one of Michigan’s top unions that Michigan employers are running a “terror campaign”.

This is inexcusable…Andy Levin should be fired…immediately.

Here we are at the business policy conference on Mackinac Island and the Governor could send a signal to prospective companies who are looking to either expand in Michigan or come to Michigan…does the Governor’s Administration consider employers exercising their rights “terrorists” when it comes to labor negotiations, or is Michigan open to job providers and committed that everyone will get a fair shake when it comes to labor negotiations?  Which will it be Governor?

Andy Levin’s comments send the wrong signal to job providers, Michigan based companies, Wall Street and the markets.  Michigan needs to be “employer friendly”…not calling companies doing business in Michigan terrorists.

We are the ONLY state in the country losing jobs 4 years in a row.  We have the highest unemployment in the country.

What are Governor Granholm and Andy Levin thinking….this is an outrage.

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/granholm_admini.html

Here is our press release calling on Governor Granholm to fire Andy Levin:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/granholm_should.html

-Jim Hoffa, the President of the Teamsters, sent a strong message to the leadership gathered at the Mackinac Island conference.  He said we “have to work together” and he encouraged dialogue and a spirit of compromise.  That I like.

I had a chance to talk to Mr. Hoffa for a while and “right to work” came up.  He actually thought it was a bad idea and I told him that many I have been talking to are very interested in exploring what it would mean NOT to have “compulsory union membership” in Michigan.

He was very clear that he thought it would be a divisive issue, although we both agreed it would draw folks to the polls…I just think we both had a little different perspective on how it would play out.

-Margy Van Houten, who served as my Co-Chair at the Michigan Republican Party, has gone out on her own and started her own law practice.  You can reach Margy at:

Margaret M. Van Houten , PLC
25121 Ford Road
Dearborn, MI  48128
TEL: 313-278-4500
FAX: 313-565-9729
Email: mmvanhouten@comcast.net

Saul Anuzis

Articles of Interest 5-30-07

MORNING UPDATE:

Single Business Tax replacement continues to move through the “work group” process.

Congressman Mike Rogers exposed the “Murtha Scandal” which highlighted the Democrat’s hypocrisy about earmarks…see articles below.

Here is a survey that helps you figure out which candidate for President best represents your views.  See below.

State Representative Jack Hoogendyk sent out a blistering email and blog post that highlighted some of the Governor’s mismanagement and waste in state government.  See the complete post below.

Make sure you read the New Yorker article in the clips called “Party Unfaithful”.



THE REST OF THE STORY:

-House Democrats and Senate Republicans are continuing to work on crafting a compromise to pass a “revenue neutral” proposal to replace the Single Business Tax.  The Governor and the Democrats have said they will NOT accept any cuts in business taxes and are actually looking for ways to increase tax revenues.

Republicans are now working to make the replacement tax as fair and “competitive” as possible.  The Democrats have no willingness to look at a tax reduction of any kind. 

As the SBT replacement is completed….we MUST start working on “structural reforms” that will allow Michigan to live within its means.  There are hundreds of millions of dollars that could be saved if the Governor and the Democrats have the political will to make some of the tough decisions we need to make to restructure the way government delivers services.

-It appears the Democrats in Congress have successfully swept the “Murtha Scandal” of earmarking under the rug.  The Democrats promised a more open system and quickly reverted to politics as usual.

Congressman Mike Rogers exposed the hypocrisy that caused a national outcry…see some of the articles below:

The Hammer’s Back; This time in the form of a Democrat, Rep. Murtha

Murtha’s Friends

The Murtha Democrats

Intelligence bill's 'earmarks' no longer secret

They’re the Law

-Which candidate running for President best represents your views?  Have some fun and take this survey, you may be surprised?

http://www.selectsmart.com/president/2008.html

-Representative Jack Hoogendyk wrote the following: 

“Over the past several months, there has been much posturing about how to balance this year's budget shortfall which as of mid-May had ballooned to over $800 million.  The assumption from the governor's office is that we have "cut to the bone" and there is nowhere else to find savings, therefore we must raise taxes to balance the shortfall.

What the governor seems unwilling or unable to deal with is a basic problem of mismanagement in state government, a problem that only the head of the executive branch can address. Governor Granholm herself was quoted as saying in December 2003 regarding cuts to higher education, "just like any other entity, if you can't cut 5 percent a year, you are not doing your job." (Booth Newspapers, December 17, 2003). But since 2003 state government has grown by $4 billion and hundreds of millions have been lost because of gross mismanagement by the governor's own department heads.  Let me cite a few examples:

§         The Department of Information and Technology (DIT) signs a contract with Ameritech for voice and data communications worth $17 million, but after several "change orders" ends up paying $129 million.
§         The Department of Management and Budget signs a contract with EDS for computing hardware, software and services worth $58 million, which explodes to $555 million after "changes".
§         DIT signs a 13-year contract with Oracle for software and support for "all state agencies" for $2 million, but somehow additions are approved to increase the contract to $144 million.
§         A forty-month contract with Policy Studies, Inc. for the Michigan Child Support Enforcement System to provide project management services worth $5.6 million is increased to $200 million, (over $1 million per week in overcharges!)
§         The Department of Community Health makes over $55 million in questionable or over-payments to its Pharmacy Benefits Manager.

Meanwhile, in 2006 the Department of Human services (Mary Ann Udow, Director) overspends its budget by $30 million, doesn't report it as required by law and goes on spending, even though they know two months before the end of the budget year that they are over-budget and in violation of the constitution.

All of these overpayments and many more like them were reported by the Auditor General of the State.  You can see this audit at: http://audgen.michigan.gov/comprpt/docs/r5051005.pdf  The legislature responded when appropriate with new legislation to tighten controls.  But the only way to truly address these serious issues is for the Department heads to be held responsible by the "CEO" (the governor) for their incompetence.  This has not happened. To my knowledge, no department heads have been dismissed or even disciplined for their gross mismanagement.

The governor continues to ask for tax increases.  She has recommended an additional $1 billion in spending for next year.  She has recommended an additional 700 civil service positions, (while threatening to lay off 29 state troopers).  As a state representative responsible for sound fiscal policy, I cannot in good conscience even consider voting for tax increases when spending continues to spiral upward and hundreds of millions of dollars are mismanaged and misspent by government.  I am hopeful that the executive branch of government will get its house in order.”

Saul Anuzis

Articles of Interest 5-29-07

MORNING UPDATE

State House and Senate members are due to pass the final bills to balance the 2007 budget early this week.

Secure our borders FIRST.  When we leave Iraq, there will be a shift in priorities for the terrorists…and we’re not ready.  This new immigration bill doesn’t help.

Unemployment at 7.1%…legacy costs soar…Right to Work discussions growing.  First Peter Karmonos brought it up…now legislative leaders are talking about it.  Find out more.

Mid-Michigan’s new TV coverage now on the web: The Political Update.

THE REST OF THE STORY

-After a long, drawn out battle, the 2007 budget will be balanced without raising taxes.  There were a number of compromises, accounting adjustments and one time fixes…but these allowed the 2007 budget to be “de-coupled” from the 2008 budget and gives us some time to work on meaningful reforms.

The Democrats, led by the Governor and the Democrat Speaker are determined to raise taxes, although their side has no idea of how much, which ones or how they want to increase “revenues”.  The ONLY thing the Democrats agree on is that they want to raise taxes.  So stay diligent, we have lots of work ahead of us.

-I spent almost a week reviewing and reading the provisions and articles about the new “Immigration Bill”.  I am more concerned now then ever before.  Millions of illegal immigrants - who we know nothing about would be allowed to “legally” stay here. Immediate “probationary” legal status for virtually all illegals. The border fence currently under construction would be cut in half. 

Local enforcement: “Nothing in this section may be construed to provide additional authority to any State or local entity to enforce Federal immigration laws.”  Ouch!

There is an unwillingness by the president and Congress to clarify the state and local role in immigration enforcement underlines the federal government’s aversion to using immigration law to protect the nation.  I don’t get it?

The words “assimilation” and “Americanization” do not even appear, replaced instead by the word “integration”.  So much for patriotic immigration.  My family came here because we wanted to be Americans…we wanted to share in the American dream…and yet, we proudly hung onto our native culture.  The new plan is asking for trouble.

We will be pulling out of Iraq, our efforts in Afghanistan will diminish, and the War on Terror will shift into a worldwide “special ops” operation, chasing down terrorist with every tool we have available.  We don’t/won’t have a choice…and we need to be ready here.

When this happens, we better have our borders secured. We better know who is in our country and why. I’m not advocating shipping millions of people out of our country, but I would like to have “Visa” or “American Express” get a contract to implement a nationwide registration program for all non-citizens.  America’s strength is the fact our country is founded on the rule of law…what happens if we just ignore that for the sake of political expedience?

-Right to Work debate grows in Michigan as unemployment hits all time high.  For more information and background go to:

http://www.mackinac.org/articlewef.aspx?ID=8527

http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm

-The Political Update, a mid-Michigan TV show now has archived all their shows on the web and you can see the latest programs anytime.  For more info go to:

www.thepoliticalupdate.com

County GOP and State Party meetings are starting.  We’ll be scheduling individual meetings June through August.  Thanks for your support and assistance.

Saul Anuzis

Bagpipes Cryin'....very powerful

Memorial Day Weekend...

God bless you, your families and loved ones.

We'll be back Tuesday, May 29th.

Articles of Interest 5-26-07 MIDNIGHT EDITION

528 Days until election day.

MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (MORNING UPDATE EARLY)

This will be my last message for the Memorial Day Weekend…enjoy the break.

Republicans successfully “de-couple” 2007 budget from 2008…2007 is on it’s way to a balanced without raising taxes!  Republicans represent the taxpayers!!!  Now we have some time for real reform…real discussion…no more “blackmail”.

Governor Granholm’s Administration DLEG official blames Michigan business for running a “terror campaign”.  He should be fired!

Islamophobia…a thought provoking article.

Republican Leader Congressman John Boehner delivered an emotional appeal to fund the War on Terror on the floor of the House.

Obama and Hillary play politics with troop funding.

So how much TAXPAYER dollars is being spent by the state of Michigan???

Congressman Cantor starts an online “No Amnesty” petition.

THE REST OF THE STORY

-Senate Republicans working with House Republican members held off any attempts by the Democrats to raise taxes to balance the 2007 budget.  The Senate previously passed two sets of budgets that balanced the budget without raising taxes…they were finally able to get a “negative” supplemental through the House that does the same.

Education spending was temporarily preserved, assuming the House passes the final part of the agreement.  The House voted for additional securitization of tobacco settlement monies, which were used to help fund the budget.  This just takes away from future spending and gives the state time to implement real reforms to change some of the “structural” problems Democrats and Governor Granholm have refused to address to date.

Granholm tried to tie the two budgets together and create a “crisis” to raise taxes.  Republicans stood strong and now have an opportunity to force real reforms.

NOW the spin:  Governor Granholm is trying desperately to take credit for saving education and others from cuts…bull.  Senate Republicans offered the same last week and the Democrats came up short on enough votes to raise taxes in 2008.

So the Senate Republican and their House Republican allies in the House have forced a balanced budget in 2007 without raising TAXES.  Republican 1…Democrats 0.

What appears to be the “ace in the hole” for the Democrats is that Senator Bishop agreed to allow a vote on a tax increase in the Senate.  OK…the House Democrats still have to pass a tax increase in the House…which they apparently were 5 votes short as of today…and then they still have to get at least TWO Republican Senators to vote with them in the Senate…assuming all the Democrats stick together there.

The Democrats “wish” for a tax increase is a long way away.  The Republican and Senator Bishop in particular did a great job in holding the line, calling the Governor’s bluff, working with Speaker Dillon (one of the more conservative Democrats in the House) to come up with a balanced budget for 2007 and leave room for some real reforms of state government before the Democrats make another run at raising taxes.

The general public is much better educated on the budget.  Republicans, taxpayers and those working to pay the bills received a “wake up call”.  Be prepared…stay vigilant.

Call your Republican Senators and Representatives and thank them for a job well done.  All the work, phone calls, letters and discussions with opinion leaders and legislators you had made…paid off.  Thanks for all you did…you made a difference.

Taxpayers won round one!!!

-Governor Granholm should fire DLEG Deputy Director Andy Levin for accusing Michigan job providers for running a “terror campaign”.

We are having a hard enough time keeping jobs from leaving our state, let alone trying to attract job providers to Michigan.  Then you have a top Administration official tell one of Michigan’s top unions that Michigan employers are running a “terror campaign”.

This is inexcusable…Andy Levin should be fired…immediately.

This sends the wrong signal to job providers, Michigan based companies, Wall Street and the markets.  Michigan needs to be “employer friendly”…not calling companies doing business in Michigan terrorists.

We are the ONLY state in the country losing jobs 4 years in a row.  We have the highest unemployment in the country.

What is Governor Granholm and Andy Levin thinking….this is an outrage.

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/granholm_admini.html

Here is our press release calling on Governor Granholm to fire Andy Levin:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/granholm_should.html

-There was a very thought provoking editorial written in the Wall Street Journal’s Opinion Journal challenging “moderate” Muslim leaders.  A very direct way to address “Islamophobia” in the west:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/islamophobiaa_p.html

-If you haven’t had a chance to see Congressman John Boehner’s speech on the floor of the House about funding the War on Terror, I would recommend you take the minute or so to watch this video:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/republican_lead.html

-Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton showed us how politics at it’s worst works.  Both joined a small minority of Senators to vote against funding our troops in the War on Terror.  This vote was little less than political pandering to their extreme left wing to garner votes for their presidential ambitions.

If they are willing to put our men and women in the military at risk for the sake of getting the Democrat nomination for president…what’s it worth.

We need to stand behind our troops and help them establish a situation in Iraq that will get them home as quickly as possible.  We want our troops home…so let’s give them to tools and support to do the job right and bring them home asap!

A strange vote at the start of Memorial Day weekend???

-Here is a good political analysis and explanation of the games that were being played:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/democrats_play_.html

-Here are some facts and figures about how much taxpayer’s dollars are being spent by the state of Michigan.  When the Democrats keep telling you about the “billions” that have been cut and that there is “no more waste” in the system…just send them a copy of this:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/how_much_does_m.html

-Congressman Eric Cantor, who is also one of the Republican Deputy Whips in the House started a “No Amnesty” petition.  You can view the petition language and sign on here:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/congressman_can.html

-I’m going to take the rest of the weekend off…enjoy your families and remember why we pay homage to those who wear our uniform...say a prayer for the men and women who serve and have served our country.  God bless.

Congressman Cantor's "No Amnesty" Petition

Congressman Eric Cantor has made his NO AMNESTY petition available for all to sign.  It states:

The rule of law is vital to the success and character of our nation.

I strongly urge our nations leaders to oppose the Ted Kennedy Amnesty Bill currently being considered by the United States Senate.

Almost two decades ago, amnesty was attempted, it failed. Repeating that mistake will do nothing to secure our borders today.

Americas insecure borders are an enormous threat to our national security, a liability we can not afford in the struggle against gang violence on our streets or in the Global War on Terror.

We must take steps to secure our border, but amnesty is not the way.

Our message is simple, do not support amnesty.

http://noamnestypetition.com/

How Much Does Michigan Spend

2003:

Spending

(FY 03-04) Total Budget: $38,546,223,200

(FY 03-04) General Fund: $8,886,841,500 (House Fiscal Agency FY 03-04 Budget Overview Summary and Analysis, page 4: http://house.michigan.gov/hfa/PDFs/summ03-04_b.pdf).

Inflation

2.27% (http://inflationdata.com/inflation/inflation_rate/CurrentInflation.asp).

Unemployment

7.1% (http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?series_id=LASST26000003&data_tool=%22EaG%22)

State Estimated Population

10,068,311 (http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal/lm_census_StateEst0006_181741_7.xls)

2004:

Spending

(FY 04-05) Total Budget: $39,236,530,900

(FY 04-05) General Fund: $8,751,597,200 (House Fiscal Agency FY 04-05 Budget Overview Summary and Analysis, page 12: http://house.michigan.gov/hfa/PDFs/Summ_analy04-05.pdf).

Inflation

2.68% (http://inflationdata.com/inflation/inflation_rate/CurrentInflation.asp).

Unemployment

7% (http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?series_id=LASST26000003&data_tool=%22EaG%22).

State Estimated Population

10,093,398 (http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal/lm_census_StateEst0006_181741_7.xls).

2005:

Spending

(FY 05-06) Total Budget: $40,224,217,400

(FY 05-06) General Fund: $8,975,685,700 (House Fiscal Agency FY 05-06 Budget Overview Summary and Analysis, page 10: http://house.michigan.gov/hfa/PDFs/Summ_analy05-06.pdf).

Inflation

3.39% (http://inflationdata.com/inflation/inflation_rate/CurrentInflation.asp).

Unemployment

6.8% (http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?series_id=LASST26000003&data_tool=%22EaG%22).

State Estimated Population

10,100,833 (http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal/lm_census_StateEst0006_181741_7.xls)

2006:

Spending

(FY 06-07) Total Budget: $41,672,547,100

(FY 06-07) General Fund: $9,222,830,000 (House Fiscal Agency FY 06-07 Budget Overview Summary and Analysis, page 9: http://house.michigan.gov/hfa/PDFs/FULLsummAnal%20web.pdf).

Inflation

3.24% (http://inflationdata.com/inflation/inflation_rate/CurrentInflation.asp).

Unemployment

6.9% (http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?series_id=LASST26000003&data_tool=%22EaG%22).

State Estimated Population

10,095,643 (http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal/lm_census_StateEst0006_181741_7.xls).

Granholm Should Fire Levin

State Labor and Economic Development Official Compares Michigan Companies to “Terrorists”

LANSING- Today, Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saulius “Saul” Anuzis called on Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to terminate Andy Levin from his position of Deputy Director of the state’s Department of Labor and Economic Growth.   

The May 26, 2007 edition of People’s Weekly World reported that while addressing the Biennial AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention Levin spoke about the Employee Free Choice Act.  The act is a piece of federal legislation that, if enacted, would make it easier for employees to unionize.   Levin called companies who fought unionization terrorists, saying that the only way to stop the "terror campaign" that companies initiate after workers vote to form a union is to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, which contains stiff penalties for such abuses.

“We are having a hard enough time keeping jobs from leaving our state as it is, let alone trying to attract job providers to Michigan,” said Anuzis in response.  “And now the DLEG Deputy Director , someone who is supposed to welcome Michigan employers and potential employers tells one of Michigan’s top unions that Michigan employers are running a ‘terror campaign’.  This is inexcusable.  Governor Granholm is obligated to send a message to present and prospective Michigan employers that her administration sharply disagrees with this divisive and unconstructive rhetoric.  Andy Levin should be fired immediately.”

Last week the Bureau of Labor statistics released economic data showing that Michigan had lost another 4,000 jobs in April and once again had the highest unemployment rate in the country.

Granholm Administration to MI Job Providers: Terrorists???

May 25, 2007

Card Check: What Labor Proclaims

Manufacturers, here is what organized labor is saying about you in its efforts to pass the deceptively named Employee Free Choice Act. From remarks at the Michigan AFL-CIO Convention

[Andy] Levin, who worked in the national AFL-CIO’s organizing department for 10 years, said the only way to stop the "terror campaign" that companies initiate after workers vote to form a union is to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, which contains stiff penalties for such abuses.

Got that, employers, manufacturers? You are terrorists.

But wait! This isn't just a union blowhard declaring business owners to be the moral equivalent of Al Qaeda, it's a Michigan state official. Someone who earns his living from the taxpayer's dollar saying business runs a "terror campaign."

Andy Levin is the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth's deputy director, overseeing workforce development, career education and other key programs.

Consider that. A public official, a member of the Governor's administration responsible for jobs creation in Michigan, is calling employers terrorists.

What a wonderful welcoming message to potential employers: "Oh, we've put together a great economic package for you, tax abatements, incentives. We have an excellent, comprehensive workforce development plan in place. A skilled, eager labor pool. We really want you to locate your factory in Michigan -- you damn terrorist."

Tagged: AFL-CIO , Andy Levin , Employee Free Choice ACt , H.R. 800 , S. 1041

Posted by Carter Wood at May 25, 2007 9:19 AM

Democrats play politics...risk Troop funding???

Obama & Hillary Abandon Troops...Play Politics

The 2008 Democratic field took a giant leap to the left last night with one of those rare Senate votes that will be remembered for a while. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., will have plenty of opportunities to explain why they were among the small minority of 14 senators to vote against war funding (and you can bet they'll be asked about it early and often). But what does it say about their read of the political landscape that they felt the need to vote the way they did?

Both camps spun the votes as a way to force President Bush to pursue a new course in Iraq. But somehow most other Democrats didn't find it necessary to vote against war funding to convey that message. "The no vote was not the mainstream Democratic view," ABC's Jake Tapper reports, adding that, "of the 16 sitting senators who voted against going to war to begin with, 11 voted to provide funds for US troops Thursday evening."

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/story?id=3105288&page=1

Republican Leader John Boehner says it like it is!!!

Islamophobia...a provoking editorial

IN THE UMMAH

How to End 'Islamophobia'
The latest survey of American Muslims won't reassure their fellow citizens.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110010123

BY TAWFIK HAMID
Friday, May 25, 2007 12:01 a.m.

Islamic organizations regularly accuse non-Muslims of "Islamophobia," a fear and disdain for everything Islamic. On May 17, this accusation bubbled up again as foreign ministers from the Organization of the Islamic Conference called Islamophobia "the worst form of terrorism."
These ministers also warned, according to the Arab News, that this form of discrimination would cause millions of Muslims in Western countries, "many of whom were already underprivileged," to be "further alienated."

In America, perhaps the most conspicuous organization to persistently accuse opponents of Islamophobia is the Council of American Islamic Relations. CAIR has taken up the legal case of the "Flying Imams," the six individuals who were pulled from a US Airways flight in Minneapolis this past November after engaging in suspicious behavior before takeoff.
Not long ago, CAIR filed a "John Doe" lawsuit that would have made passengers liable for "malicious" complaints about suspicious Muslim passengers.

In an interview at the time, CAIR spokesman Nihad Awad accused Rep.
Peter King (R., N.Y.) of being an "extremist" who "encourages Islamophobia" for pointing out what most people would think is obvious, that such a lawsuit would have a chilling effect on passengers who witnessed alarming activity and wished to report it. We can only assume that Mr. Awad believes flyers should passively remain in a state of fear as they travel and submissively risk their lives. In this case, Congress is acting appropriately and considering passing a law sponsored by Mr.
King that would grant passengers immunity from such lawsuits.

It may seem bizarre, but Islamic reformers are not immune to the charge of "Islamophobia" either. For 20 years, I have preached a reformed interpretation of Islam that teaches peace and respects human rights. I have consistently spoken out -- with dozens of other Muslim and Arab reformers -- against the mistreatment of women, gays and religious minorities in the Islamic world. We have pointed out the violent teachings of Salafism and the imperative of Westerners to protect themselves against it.

Yet according to CAIR's Michigan spokeswoman, Zeinab Chami, I am "the latest weapon in the Islamophobe arsenal." If standing against the violent edicts of Shariah law is "Islamophobic," then I will treat her accusation as a badge of honor.

Muslims must ask what prompts this "phobia" in the first place. When we in the West examine the worldwide atrocities perpetrated daily in the name of Islam, it is vital to question if we -- Muslims -- should lay the blame on others for Islamophobia or if we should first look hard at ourselves.

According to a recent Pew Global Attitudes survey, "younger Muslims in the U.S. are much more likely than older Muslim Americans to say that suicide bombing in the defense of Islam can be at least sometimes justified." About one out of every four American Muslims under 30 think suicide bombing in defense of Islam is justified in at least some circumstances. Twenty-eight percent believe that Muslims did not carry out the 9/11 attacks and 32% declined to answer that question.

While the survey has been represented in the media as proof of moderation among American Muslims, the actual results should yield the opposite conclusion. If, as the Pew study estimates, there are 2.35 million Muslims in America, that means there are a substantial number of people in the U.S. who think suicide bombing is sometimes justified.
Similarly, if 5% of American Muslims support al Qaeda, that's more than 100,000 people.

To bring an end to Islamophobia, we must employ a holistic approach that treats the core of the disease. It will not suffice to merely suppress the symptoms. It is imperative to adopt new Islamic teachings that do not allow killing apostates (Redda Law). Islamic authorities must provide mainstream Islamic books that forbid polygamy and beating women.
Accepted Islamic doctrine should take a strong stand against slavery and the raping of female war prisoners, as happens in Darfur under the explicit canons of Shariah ("Ma Malakat Aimanikum"). Muslims should teach, everywhere and universally, that a woman's testimony in court counts as much as a man's, that women should not be punished if they marry whom they please or dress as they wish.

We Muslims should publicly show our strong disapproval for the growing number of attacks by Muslims against other faiths and against other Muslims. Let us not even dwell on 9/11, Madrid, London, Bali and countless other scenes of carnage. It has been estimated that of the two million refugees fleeing Islamic terror in Iraq, 40% are Christian, and many of them seek a haven in Lebanon, where the Christian population itself has declined by 60%. Even in Turkey, Islamists recently found it necessary to slit the throats of three Christians for publishing Bibles.

Of course, Islamist attacks are not limited to Christians and Jews. Why do we hear no Muslim condemnation of the ongoing slaughter of Buddhists in Thailand by Islamic groups? Why was there silence over the Mumbai train bombings which took the lives of over 200 Hindus in 2006? We must not forget that innocent Muslims, too, are suffering. Indeed, the most common murderers of Muslims are, and have always been, other Muslims.

Where is the Muslim outcry over the Sunni-Shiite violence in Iraq?

Islamophobia could end when masses of Muslims demonstrate in the streets against videos displaying innocent people being beheaded with the same vigor we employ against airlines, Israel and cartoons of Muhammad. It might cease when Muslims unambiguously and publicly insist that Shariah law should have no binding legal status in free, democratic societies.

It is well past time that Muslims cease using the charge of "Islamophobia" as a tool to intimidate and blackmail those who speak up against suspicious passengers and against those who rightly criticize current Islamic practices and preachings. Instead, Muslims must engage in honest and humble introspection. Muslims should -- must -- develop strategies to rescue our religion by combating the tyranny of Salafi Islam and its dreadful consequences. Among more important outcomes, this will also put an end to so-called Islamophobia.

Dr. Hamid, a onetime member of Jemaah Islamiya, an Islamist terrorist group, is a medical doctor and Muslim reformer living in the West.

Copyright (c) 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Articles of Interest 5-25-07

529 Days until election day.

MORNING SUMMARY

Democrats are willing to work “over-time”, but only when they have a chance to raise taxes.  If they would have only worked this hard to live within our means…we wouldn’t be in this position today.

The Democrats were NOT able to muster a vote on taxes yesterday.  Governor Granholm and Speaker Dillon couldn’t provide the leadership or direction to their own party, let alone pick off any Republican votes.

Based on the Budget Estimating Conference, the state collected $185 MILLION more this year than it did last year during the same period of time.

Let me REPEAT that….Michigan collected an ADDITIONAL $185 MILLION in new revenues this year than we did the year before.

So if the Governor spent the same amount she did last year (election year spending) this year (rather than deficit spending) we would NOT be in the mess we are in today.  In fact, she could have spent and extra $185 MILLION on revenue sharing or schools…without causing her “crisis”.

The Governor has violated the constitution and is attempting to blackmail the legislature into a tax increase….call your legislators today…let them know what you think.

Governor Granholm has already proposed increasing 2008 spending by 9.1%….while the consumer price index (inflation) increased only 2.1%. 

We are losing jobs, we are losing taxpayers and we keep spending more on welfare and medicare….the only folks who will want to move here are folks from other states who’s welfare benefits run out…because Governor Granholm won’t support a limit like almost every other state has.

We have a SPENDING problem….NOT a revenue problem.

John Edwards once supported the War on Terror….when the politics made sense to him.  This guy is a walking hypocrite…in the worse manner…check this out:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/john_edwards_on.html

Right Michigan has compiled and posted a great list of state contracts that the Governor and state government has let get out of contol.  You’ll be shocked!

http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2007/5/24/14027/4009

THE REST OF THE STORY

Here are some facts and figures the House Republicans put out about the Governor’s 2008 budget….know the facts, question your legislators.

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/republicans_tal.html

Saul Anuzis

John Edwards on the War on Terror...then...

Republicans Talk "Real" Numbers....We Have a Spending Problem

May 24, 2007

9.1 %

No, 9.1 percent is not Michigan’s unemployment rate --- yet.

9.1 percent – four and a half times the rate of inflation - is how much the governor and House Democrats want to increase state spending this year…with the help of a tax hike. 

You might ask…“Hey, didn’t I read somewhere we were in the midst of a budget crisis?  I thought they said they would only raise my taxes after cutting state spending?”

Well, following last Friday’s revenue estimating conference, state fiscal experts pegged current General Fund spending for fiscal year (FY 2007) at:

$8,804,300,000.00 (Source: House Fiscal Agency)

Governor Granholm’s budget for this year – mirrored in budget bills moving through the state House – calls for spending in the General Fund (FY 2008) of:

$9,610,900,000.00 (Source: Governor’s Executive Budget Recommendation for FY 2008)

Today, House Democrats are poised to vote on a plan to raise people’s income taxes, a move that would bring to Lansing next year:

$900,000,000.00 (Source: House Democratic Policy Documents)

__________________________________________________________________

Increased state spending: 9.1 percent (Source: HFA and Executive Budget Recommendation)

The current Consumer Price Index: 2.1 percent (Source: Consensus Revenue Estimating Conf.)

The Democrat’s proposed hike in the state income tax: 18 percent (Source: House Bill 4500)

The chances taxpayers are about to get a raw deal: 100 percent --- if House Democrats get their way.

Articles of Interest 5-24-07

530 Days until election day.

MORNING UPDATE:

TAXES, TAXES, TAXES…the Democrats are pushing hard…call your State Senator and State Representative….House Democrats will be pushing for a vote today or tomorrow.

Democrats are threatening to play the “class warfare” card by proposing a graduated income tax.  Democrats want to raise Michigan’s income tax…again!

Attorney General Mike Cox and State Senator Roger Kahn are pushing the Governor to help seniors save on prescription drugs…common sense, lost in the political shuffle.

The Heritage Foundation released a report that spells out the 10 ways the Senate’s immigration bill undermines the rule of law.  If we don’t stand for the rule of law, what do we stand for?

Ooops…Democrats “Double Standard”…Congressman Murtha

John Edwards, still the $55,000 for half hour speech “average” kind of guy?

If Democrats and John Edwards have it their way, his $400 haircuts will costs him $424 in Michigan!   At least he can afford it!

THE REST OF THE STORY:

-House Democrats want to raise the state’s income tax.  They feel that this is the easiest to accomplish, both from a political and revenue enhancement standpoint.  They are also bringing in the  “class warfare” card of having the “rich” pay more.  The “rich” are our most “flexible” residents.  Raising the income tax and inheritance tax on them is nothing less than an incentive to change your residency to Florida or many of the other states that don’t punish success.

We need entrepreneurs and successful business people to stay here, invest here, support our cultural institutions here and yes…pay taxes here.  We don’t want to chase those people away as well.

We have those who have lost a job – leaving our state.  Being one of the only states with unlimited welfare benefits we have welfare recipients – coming to our state.  And now the Democrats want to chase away job creators and taxpayer and have them leave our state?  These policies have consequences and no government has ever taxed itself out of a recession. 

Michigan has the highest unemployment in the country.

Michigan is in a single state recession.

-Today a new coalition called Help Seniors Save Now announced the beginning of a grassroots campaign to continue to pressure Governor Granholm to improve and expand the Michigan prescription drug website, www.michigandrugprices.com.  Inspired by Attorney General Mike Cox's recent investigation of prescription drug prices across the State of Michigan, Help Seniors Save Now has called on seniors and Michigan consumers to get involved and call the governor to urge her to enhance the Michigan Prescription Drug Website.

The group has also created a website, www.HelpSeniorsSaveNow.com, which encourages Michigan seniors and consumers to call the governor at 517-373-3400 and tell her to make prescription drug prices a priority. They have also created an online petition to keep the pressure on Granholm to improve and expand the prescription drug website from 30 drugs to 150 drugs.

Yesterday, Attorney General Mike Cox and State Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Township), demonstrated their leadership on this important issue and announced legislation to mandate the governor improve the website. Help Seniors Save Now plans to continue its grassroots effort until the governor commits to making these changes. For more information on Help Seniors Save Now, go to www.HelpSeniorsSaveNow.com.

-The Heritage Foundation has prepared the first comprehensive analysis of the immigration bill I have seen.  The most controversial component of the Senate's Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 is Title VI, euphemistically ntitled "Nonimmigrants in the United States Previously in Unlawful Status." It would create a new "Z" visa exclusively for illegal aliens. This title would change the status of those who are here illegally to legal, essentially granting amnesty to those "previously in unlawful status." This seriously flawed proposal would undermine the rule of law by granting massive benefits to those who have willfully violated U.S. laws, while denying those benefits to those who have played by the rules and sometimes even to U.S. citizens.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Immigration/wm1468.cfm

-The Democrats kept calling it a “culture of corruption” but ignored their own “little problems”.  Now steps up Congressman Murtha…ooops…and the Democrats hypocrisy is exposed.  Check it out:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/oopsdemocrats_d.html

-Democrat presidential candidate John Edwards continues to mascarade as the “common man” for the “average” citizen….talk about hypocrisy:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/john_edwardsjus.html

Saul Anuzis

oops....Democrats Double Standard

Ethics, Shmethics

It's been only five months since Democrats took over the House promising to cure a "culture of corruption" they said had built up under GOP control. Yesterday, freshman Democrats who campaigned and won on that issue were embarrassed as their party leadership more or less forced them to sidetrack a resolution reprimanding Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, the party's main anti-war spokesman, for allegedly threatening to use his power as a committee chairman to kill a GOP member's earmarks, AKA local spending projects. Such threats are a violation of the very House rules that Democrats put into place last January when they took over.

Mr. Murtha acknowledged he had indeed been furious at an attempt by Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan to zero out a $23 million drug intelligence center near Mr. Murtha's hometown in Pennsylvania. The center had been targeted as duplicative and wasteful in several federal audits.

But Mr. Murtha wasn't having any of it. The chairman of the powerful Defense Appropriations committee walked up to Mr. Rogers on the House floor and loudly vowed he would never receive any projects for his own district "now and forever."

At a closed-door meeting of the Democratic caucus, glum freshmen and junior members were told it was expected of them to table a GOP motion to reprimand Mr. Murtha. "House Democrats privately said that they were frustrated that Murtha had not apologized or explained himself, but that they were resigned to defend him on the floor," The Hill newspaper reported. The final vote to table was 219-189, falling mostly along party lines. Mr. Murtha's Pennsylvania neighbor, Rep. Tim Murphy, was the only Republican to vote to table the motion; Reps. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Jim Cooper of Tennessee were the only Democrats to support calling a vote to reprimand.

Republicans are having a field day playing up Mr. Murtha's bullying tactics. A GOP ad being circulated on the Internet reminds voters that Mr. Murtha was investigated for his role in meeting with undercover FBI agents in the early 1980s ABSCAM bribery scandal. In an infamous videotape, Mr. Murtha can be seen turning down a $50,000 bribe but indicating he might be amenable to it in the future. The GOP ad notes that in his attempt to intimidate Mr. Rogers, the Pennsylvania Democrat must have forgotten the target of his ire used to be an FBI agent. "You would think Murtha would recognize an FBI agent when he saw one," the ad asks. "Rogers wasn't even undercover."

-- John Fund

John Edwards...just like "us"???

Recent Headlines Threaten Edwards' Main Campaign Theme

From The San Francisco Chronicle

Carla Marinucci

May 23, 2007

Democrat John Edwards has eloquently established his credentials as an advocate for the poor with a presidential campaign focused on the devastating effects of poverty in America. But the former North Carolina senator's populist drive has hit a series of troubling land mines: a pair of $400 haircuts, a $500,000 paycheck from a hedge fund, and now a $55,000 payday for a speech on poverty to students at UC Davis.

The problem now facing the Democratic presidential candidate is whether the pileup of headlines, including the latest regarding hefty fees from university speeches reported Monday by The Chronicle, threatens to obliterate Edwards' dominant campaign theme. The former senator, who has been portrayed as the champion of the poor and the son of a humble mill worker, now faces the possibility that voters will have a different image: that of a millionaire trial lawyer who talks one way and lives another. ...

"It's outrageous. He's trying to come off as Mr. Populist and Mr. 'I'm trying to help the poor,' and he charges $55,000 for a speaking fee? That's ridiculous,'' says Dick Rosengarten, Los Angeles-based publisher of the California Political Week newsletter. "Combined with the haircut, who's in charge of this guy's campaign? What are they thinking?'' ...

Edwards' political troubles began after revelations that his campaign paid $400 for a haircut, prompting GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee to quip that Democrats are "spending more than John Edwards in a beauty shop.'' Edwards also was rapped for his work for a hedge fund -- an investment seen as catering to the super rich -- and his $500,000 salary.

The criticism intensified Tuesday as conservative bloggers, commentators and opponents jumped on Edwards for charging $55,000 for a 2006 speech at UC Davis. Critics said the speech about poverty before a mostly student audience of 1,787 -- who were charged more than $17 a ticket -- challenges Edwards' campaign message and raises questions about the candidate's judgment.

Democratic strategist Kam Kuwata said the incidents suggest sloppy message control and a tendency toward being tone deaf in the campaign -- something Edwards must address immediately before it causes irreparable harm among voters in the early Democratic primaries and caucuses. ...

But Republicans insist that Edwards, a multimillionaire former trial lawyer, is especially vulnerable because he's crafted his campaign around themes of education and poverty -- while making more than $285,000 last year speaking to college students.

"It's not like it's Exxon,'' said Patrick Dorinson, a California Republican media strategist. "The message is: 'I'm going to talk to you about poverty -- and thanks for the check.' ''

To View Entire Article, Please Visit: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/23/MNG6HQ00861.DTL 

Articles of Interest 5-23-07

531 Days until election day.

MORNING UPDATE:

Governor Granholm and the Democrats have refused to act since the beginning of the fiscal year…blackmailing the legislature and taxpayers into taking the better of two evils…a tax increase or draconian cuts (state government shutdown and large school aid cuts).  Is that the leadership we expected?

This is solely because the Governor refused to make any adjustments in spending throughout the year.

Attorney General Mike Cox will once again be calling on the governor to act, online prescription information will save seniors millions.

We continue to get calls for more information on the “immigration bill”.  Below you will find links to the bill itself and the Heritage Foundations annotatable and linkable version.

Senator Bob Kerrey (D) wrote a very powerful editorial on Iraq in the Wall Street Journal.

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/sen_bob_kerrey_.html

THE REST OF THE STORY:

-With “Two Cent Jenny” and  “iPod Andy”, it’s politics as usual.  Right after the State of the State, Michigan Democrats started their campaign to raise taxes.  They increased spending levels, made new commitments for funding programs…all the while knowing there would NOT be enough revenues to pay for that level of spending.

Rather than make any adjustments early in the fiscal year, the Governor made a conscious political decision to blackmail the legislature and the taxpayers into a positions of choosing between best of two evils…raising taxes or draconian cuts.

The Republicans sent the Governor 2 legislative proposals that passed the Senate and a bipartisan House/Senate deal that was rejected for political purposes.

Republicans gave the Governor and the Democrats THREE options to balance this budget without raising taxes.  The Democrats refused.

On the other hand, the Democrats offered little more than rhetoric.  A plan with no votes is little more than political rhetoric.

Now they are threatening a shut down of state government…education cuts at the $120 per pupil level (where Republicans had a deal that would only require at $32 per pupil cut) and scare tactics that make our most vulnerable wonder what is going on.

They ask for cooperation for the sake of “good government”.  This has  been one of the trickiest political rankling that  Lansing has seen.  The Democrats are pushing the envelope to the edge, playing partisan politics and all the while trying to “buy off” a few Republican votes to jam their proposal down the taxpayers wallets.

Be prepared…call your legislature…I don’t think this what the voters bargain for when they re-elected this Governor.  In the end, those who voted for her will get what they asked for…not what was promised, but what you knew she would do…raise taxes, increase spending and blame Republicans who attempted to be fiscally conservative as being the bad guys.

Let’s hope our state can afford it???

-Attorney General Mike Cox had a press conference this afternoon calling on the governor to spend the money allotted regarding a prescription drug assistance program.  Just like when she failed to deliver on her "health care for all" promise last month, Governor Granholm is again failing our seniors by not taking the necessary actions to make sure prescription drug prices are affordable for the uninsured. 

-The Congress’ bill tracking system THOMAS has posted the new immigration bill and the Heritage Foundation has posted an annotatable and linkable version …section by section.  You can find both links on our blog at:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/link_to_immigra.html

-Senator Bob Kerrey (D) wrote a very powerful editorial on Iraq in the Wall Street Journal.

He writes: “The key question for Congress is whether or not Iraq has become the primary battleground against the same radical Islamists who declared war on the U.S. in the 1990s and who have carried out a series of terrorist operations including 9/11. The answer is emphatically "yes."”

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/05/sen_bob_kerrey_.html

Saul Anuzis