MIRSnews.com Monday: Recent Episodes
MIRSnews.com
What big stories will come out of the state Capitol in 2018? The MIRS team gives its predictions. Guest Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) shares what is on his to-do list. What can Democratic gubernatorial candidate Shri Thanedar expect from his Super Bowl TV ad? Is opponent Abdul El-Sayed being more effective in rounding up progressive support by bringing in former Bernie Sanders staffers? And when will the leadership in organized labor embrace Gretchen Whitmer as their preferred Democratic party nominee?
Also, Rick Jones said he “absolutely will not” be retiring from professional life after he’s term-limited out of office in 2018. What will the future hold for him? Jones shares a few possibilities. He also shares his thoughts on the race to replace him and a few state House candidates he’ll be supporting this summer and fall.
Who will MIRS name its House Member of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the categories of effectiveness, impact and level of activity?
Who will MIRS name its Senator of the Year and legislative Democrat of the Year in the categories of effectiveness, impact and level of activity? A record six nominees were mentioned for each recognition. Also, how will MIRS address the mouse in the house? The idea of an office cat is suggested. And Dominic the Donkey makes his annual holiday return.
On this week’s MIRS’ Monday Publisher John Reurink and Editor Kyle Melinn dissect the races to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Sander Levin in the state’s 9th Congressional District and John Conyers who has stepped down in the state’s 13th Congressional District.
Also this week, John sits down with Gov. Rick Snyder to ask the state’s top elected leader about the recent Enbridge agreement, the state’s fiscal health going forward, and what he walks away from 2017 being proud of. That and much more on this week’s edition.
House Speaker Tom Leonard calls on Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon to resign, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley is asked if he’s comfortable hitching his wagon to that of Gov. Rick Snyder going into 2018 and the MIRS team discusses why Republican leaders didn’t get what they wanted in the municipal employee retirement package.
Attorney General Bill Schuette met with reporters today during a year-end roundtable discussion on the issues of 2017. The converation is not editted.
Democratic Attorney General candidate Dana Nessel talks about her controversial “penis” video, why regional politics should play no role in forming the Democratic Party ticket and why an all female ticket would be a boon to the Dems come November.
Sara Wurfel of Truscott Rossman shares her opinion on the video and the difference between the sexual harassment allegations between U.S. Sen. Al Franken and those leveled against U.S. Rep. John Conyers. The MIRS team weighs in on these, as well.
Rep. James Lower (R-Cedar Lake), chair of the Local Government Committee, wants to see reform of the state’s municipal employee retiree health care system pass the House before Christmas. He said he doesn’t see a package include state-mandated cuts to retiree benefits in local communities. Lower also talks about the House Republican candidate recruitment efforts and the GOP leadership race.
Also, Bob McCann of Cover Two Strategies, says that he doesn’t see a way out for U.S. Rep. John Conyers in his sexual harrassment controversy outside of resignation. The Democratic Party needs to lead on the issue of protecting women in the workplace regardless of whether Conyers become a casualty in the process, he says.
Republican business executive Sandy Pensler makes his U.S. Senate run official today. Who is he? Why now? Where does he stand on issues of the environment, Line 5 and President Donald Trump? How much of his own money is he willing to spend to win the nomination and, potentially, knock off incumbent U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow?
Also, the Grassroots Midwest folks, Adrian Hemond and Brian Began break down the U.S. Senate race, the state Senate and the state House less than a year out from the 2018 elections. Listen to their takes on the potentially hot seat. Where the Democrats have their best shots to pick up seats in the Senate. Could the Republicans actually be looking for pick ups in the House? This and much more in this week’s edition.
New MIRS polling shows Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan strong in a general election match up with announced GOP gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Bill Schuette while former Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer remains in a strong lead in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. This week MIRS sat down with Stu Sandler of Grand River Strategies for his take on the poll numbers and the state of the race.
(Publisher’s Note: Sandler is consulting with a Super PAC backing Schuette’s bid).
Also new polling numbers show Detroit businessman John James in the lead for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate against former Chief Justice Robert Young who’s announced and U.S. Rep. Fred Upton who is considering a bid. Sandler, who is serving James as a consultant talks about those numbers and where he sees his candidate’s strengths lining up as the race moves forward.
Mayor Mike Duggan is expected to win re-election on Tuesday, but Detroit political consultant Steve Hood said he’s more interested to see the results of other races in Detroit outside of Duggan’s presumed margin of victory. What are they and what do they mean? Hood explains.
Medical marijuana is on the ballot in Detroit. Is former Sen. Virgil Smith now the frontrunner in Detroit’s Second Ward race? Should Duggan run for governor? Will the Republicans win the 109th House District for the first time since the ‘50? This and much more on this week’s edition.
What changes could House Speaker Tom Leonard make to his auto insurance proposal that will get the “yes” vote of House Minority Leader Sam Singh? The East Lansing Democrat answers that and whether House Democratic members would face caucus discipline if they vote for a bill that creates consumer choice in personal injury protection.
Also, what are the highlights from last Wednesday’s campaign finance documents? Democratic consultant Angela Vasquez-Giroux shares her opinions with the rest of the MIRS team on that and an effort within Dem circles to recruit Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith to run for Attorney General.
Kid Rock makes it clear he is not running for the U.S Senate while making an appearance on the Howard Stern radio program. Explicit language is used.
It sounds ominous and scary, but the “Dark Stores” decision by the state Supreme Court on Friday is being described as an “awesome” result for local governments. Chris Hackbarth of the Michigan Municipal League explains why. He’ll also talk about why it’s important for the legislature to still address the dark stores issue and why his members want the municipal retiree benefits issue tackled by lawmakers by year’s end.
At least one Democratic House member is openly supporting the Leonard-Duggan auto insurance bill, but the MIRS team explains why there is likely to be more if House Speaker Tom Leonard puts the bill up for a vote.
And, in June the state nixed an independent “risks” assessment being conducted on Line 5 that was weeks away from release due to an alleged conflict of interest. What was that report going to say and is there anyone who is qualified to do these type of report who haven’t [...]
Rep. Scott Dianda (D-Calumet) talks about his feelings on auto insurance reform, how 109th District candidate Sara Cambensy will do next month in the special election in the Upper Peninsula and what the folks in the U.P. think about President Donald Trump.
MIRS addresses the issue of car thefts in Detroit. Why hasn’t that been a discussion point in talking about lower auto insurance rates in the Motor City? Also, a compromise between Republicans and Democrats on the auto insurance issue could significantly alter Michigan’s no-fault system. The MIRS team explains how. This, frog hunting with spears and more in this week’s edition.
Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton) criticizes Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof for the Leader’s decision to remove Colbeck all of his standing committees and his appropriations subcommittees.
Gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer announces the endorsements of Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, Prosecutor Kym Worthy and Sheriff Benny Napoleon at the Mathis Community Center in Detroit. The following is uneditted audio from the event.
House Speaker Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) is running for Attorney General, but when it comes to priorities, which comes first — being the leader of the state House of Representatives or seeking his next office? What bearing does his interest in being Attorney General have on the decisions he makes as Speaker of the House? MIRSposes these and other questions during a 16-minute interview.
Also, how does Gov. Rick Snyder reconcile the difference between his congressional testimony that he first learned of the legionella issues in Flint in January 2016 when his urban affairs director, Harvey Hollins, told a Genesee County court that he told Snyder in December 2015? MIRS breaks down this issue and the immediate future of the auto insurance reform bill in this week’s episode.
Will Rep. Sheldon Neeley (D-Flint) and the rest of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus be satisfied with anything short of Michigan State Police Director Kriste Kibbey Etue leaving her position? Neeley answers this question along with his feelings on whether Gov. Rick Snyder and his administration are responsive to the African American community, in general. Also, where is he on Speaker Tom Leonard and Mayor Mike Duggan’s car insurance reform package?
The MIRS team deduces that Etue’s response to her “degenerates” Facebook repost hasn’t been executed well and discuss the danger that comes with either her or the Governor not meeting with the Black Caucus on the issue. And could Leonard nab the 55 (or 56 in six weeks) needed yes votes on his auto insurance package by posting the question on the board and putting members on record as voting no on an auto insurance rate cut? This and more in this week’s edition.
The MIRSteam ties a bow on the Michigan Republican Party’s biennial conference on Mackinac Island by putting forth answers to some lingering questions: Was the event Attorney General Bill Schuette’s coronation for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2018? Why did Schuette say he would “change” the state’ prevailing wage law as opposed to “repealing it?” And why wasn’t there a large presence for Lt. Gov. Brian Calley’s Clean Michigan Government proposal?
Also, U.S. Senate candidate John James talks about the reaction of his prominent father, business leader and Democratic contributor John A. James, in running for the Republican nomination. How much of James’ personal wealth will go into winning his bid next August? The anti-abortion, pro-gun conservative makes his case on this week’s podcast.