Apr 23, 2013
Joined by twenty-eight of his colleagues, Michigan House Rep. Bruce Rendon (R-103) thinks he has the solution to preventing gun violence among children. This morning he introduced a resolution (HR – 104 of 2013) that encourages public schools to adopt a video training program developed by the National Rifle Association called the Eddie Eagle Gun [...]
Apr 23, 2013
Attorney General Bill Schuette put the brakes on Sen. Casperson’s plan to rob the Department of natural Resources Trust Fund for the purpose of paving logging roads and dredging commercial harbors. In AG Opinion #7270, Schuette ruled that the fund is constitutionally protected from uses other than which it is designated. Senator Thomas Casperson, along [...]
Apr 22, 2013
By Bob Sloan As many have begun to write, ALEC is pursuing privatization of everything “public” in America. Perhaps a better description for their actions is “profitizing”, a term VLTP has used for nearly two years to describe efforts by the conservative Koch-funded cabal of think tanks and corporations to turn tax dollars into profits [...]
Apr 22, 2013
On Earth Day most writers choose to cover hopeful topics about greening the planet, but Democracy Tree feels this is the right time to talk about the dark side of Michigan’s environmental future. Specifically Sen. Tom Casperson (R-38). Casperson hails from Escanaba, the third largest city in the Upper Peninsula. His family owns Casperson and Son [...]
Apr 21, 2013
An analysis of two recent articles from Michigan and why they are ALEC-related. Analysis by Bob Sloan ALEC’s attention to America’s education “reform” is focused and advancing state by state as they promote privatization of public school systems. Vouchers, “parent trigger”, long distance learning, “vitrual schools” and a “Public-Private Fair Competition Act” are [...]
Apr 19, 2013
Announcement from Teamsters Local 886: http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/04/expose-alec-take-pledge-today.html “Our brothers and sisters in Oklahoma are spreading the word about the nefarious ALEC as the group heads toward Oklahoma City for an annual confab. Teamsters Local 886 is working hard to shine a bright light on ALEC’s misdeeds during its stay in Oklahoma City on May 2-3. ALEC “delegates” will [...]
Apr 18, 2013
Anyone remember two years ago when some Michigan Republican Senators attempted to pass a bill, SB-612, that would have prevented women from receiving insurance coverage for an elective abortion if they didn’t purchase a special rider policy? Well, House Republicans are at it again — but with a fresh new twist! Representatives Price, Victory, Lauwers, Rendon, and Potvin this [...]
Apr 18, 2013
by Will Huntsberry, published by NC’s Indy Week VLTP and our editors and authors have attempted to inform the public that education is the next big initiative of ALEC. Not to educate, but rather to privatize public schools and turn teaching over to private corporations. These corporate “teachers” are not required to be state certified [...]
Apr 18, 2013
In response to an article by RICK MUIR PUBLISHED 18 APRIL 2013 11:58 in the “New Statesman” As conservative parties in nations across the pond attempt to emulate America’s Right Wing policies and initiatives, Rick Muir questions if replicating the “NEW” U.S. stance on imprisonment and criminal justice is warranted. Mr. Muir accurately depicts many of the [...]
Apr 18, 2013
A petition drive has been launched by Voters for Fair Use of Ballot Referendum, aka Voters for FUBR (pronounced foo’-bar). Bill Lucas, of Ferndale Michigan, founded the organization in late 2012. Its purpose is to prevent the legislative abuse of attaching appropriations to new laws to render them referendum-proof. Voters for FUBR are circulating a petition with a proposal [...]
