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Michigan Government
The Political Agenda of the Michigan GOP Has Created Economic Apartheid, Not Jobs
by Rob Smith
On December 12, 2012 Governor Rick Snyder was quoted in the Detroit Free Press as saying that "Michigan is well-positioned for a comeback." A few days later, for the third year, Forbes Magazine ranked Michigan 47th in Forbes’…
Ann Arbor Dems Who Supported Governor Rick Snyder Get Some Recognition
A2P Notes: This piece originally ran in April 2011. In the interim, much has changed, politically, in our state. The Michigan GOP and Governor Rick Snyder have waged a relentless war on unions, teachers, reproductive rights, gays, voting…
House Calls: Representative Jeff Irwin Still Behind County-Wide Transit
Representative Jeff Irwin, a Democrat, served for a decade as a Washtenaw County Commissioner. In January 2013, he will began his second term in the Michigan House of Representatives. In his regular column, House Calls, A2Politico will pose…
Special Interests Trying to Get What They Want Through Amending Mich Constitution
by Rob Smith
Michigan Radio writer Lester Graham points out in a great piece titled, "Muddying the Michigan Constitution?": "In the 224 years since it was ratified, the U.S. Constitution has been amended 27 times. The latest Michigan…
MI 52nd District Race Boils Down to Bamboozling Naive Dems & Independents. Again.
by P.D. Lesko
52nd District Representative Mark Ouimet and Governor Rick Snyder both let mainstream media assumptions that they were moderate Republicans go uncorrected. The last laugh, in retrospect, has been on all of the Ann Arbor and…
Michigan Rising: A Political Souffle That Has Fallen
by Rob Smith
Michigan Rising was born The Committee to Recall Rick Snyder. It was exciting and dynamic—citizens who came together to try to rid Michigan of Republican Governor Rick Snyder. Volunteers across the state took on the incredible…
Interview: 22nd Circuit Court Challenger Michael Woodyard Pledges To Dispense Justice “Fairly.”
MICHAEL WOODYARD IS either Gandalf or Saruman, it just depends on whom you ask. He is challenging Judge Timothy Connors for his seat on the 22nd Circuit Court, a seat Connors has either warmed, or filled admirably, depending on whom you…
Former Ann Arbor Public Services Administrator Starts Detroit Fire Then Throws Gasoline On It
Sue McCormick's (below) bouffant hair-do, a 60s throw-back, supposedly hides horns. At least this is what a fired forestry worker claimed when talking about his work for the City of Ann Arbor, and McCormick—who was his boss. McCormick, who…
Michigan County Clerk Fails to File His Own Campaign Finance Disclosure Form
Politicos who miss campaign finance deadlines often make headlines. How politicos handle their own campaign finances is seen as a relevant gauge to determine how honest and responsible they'll be if put in charge of taxpayer money and…
Forget Voter Registration Drives. Get Michigan’s Registered Voters Interested in Elections.
by Rob Smith
Michigan Rising (formerly the Committee to Recall Rick Snyder) tried twice to collect enough signatures to put the question of whether to recall Governor Rick Snyder on the ballot. Twice the group failed. Such signature drives…