APOLOGIES DEMANDED

Christopher J. Arndt fights a never ending battle for truth and justice...

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Monday, December 17, 2007

We knew racist Mark Schauer was a liar... turns out he's a criminal too!

By Nick De Leeuw

We knew Mark Schauer was a racist. We knew he was a liar. He's been padding his resume with those facts for the last year. But low and behold, turns out he's a lawbreaker too.

When Mark Schauer announced his candidacy for Congress in Michigan's 7th District earlier this year it became awfully plain to see that honesty wasn't the State Senator's strong suit. After all, he'd told the caucus and his constituents only a year earlier that if they sent him to the State Senate in Lansing he would serve his full four years and wouldn't run for higher office.

When Mark Schauer's Chief of Staff, Ken Brock, began traveling the 7th District a few months ago, telling anyone who would listen about how Schauer's primary opponent could never win because he was Jewish, Schauer proved that his personal ethics were far from the mainstream. He stood by Brock, defending his "odious" anti-Semitic comments, making them his own.

No one likes a liar. And even fewer people like a racist. But that's Mark Schauer. The worst part up until now was the fact that he wasn't even ashamed of himself. Toss in the candidate's leadership in pushing the Democrats' $2.3 BILLION job killing tax hike through the legislature and his adamant opposition to the right to life and support of partial-birth-abortion on demand and you get a sense of Mark Schauer's personal convictions. But none of that is illegal.
Could Mark Schauer really be a criminal? Only if you consider breaking the law criminal. And when Mark Schauer breaks the law he does it in spades.

According to Schauer's hometown paper, the Battle Creek Enquirer:

Schauer chaired the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee and oversaw the Senate Democratic Fund, for which his bombastic chief of staff, Ken Brock, took over as treasurer.

The fund raked in $440,000 above the legal limit of $20,000 per person - which the Dems don't deny. Twelve senatorial candidate committees did, with Schauer's as the worst offender at $187,000.

The moolah was instantly pumped into the campaigns of four key candidates, three of whom were trounced anyway.

For state races, this is a staggering chunk of change. The grievance is pretty cut and dried (some might call it money laundering). When seven candidates got wind of the GOP's secretary of state complaint, they ostensibly demanded a refund. Marky-Mark did not.

Here's how it worked. Schauer decided to go ahead and raise a bunch of illegal campaign cash. He received illegal money from Democrats including Carl Williams, Alexander Lipsey, Bob Schockman, Gretchen Whitmer, Mickey Switalski, Buzz Thomas, Liz Brater, Mike Prusi, Gilda Jacobs, Glenn Anderson and Mark Slavens and then pitched in $187,000 himself. Mind you, the limit is $20,000.

Once the Democrats realized they'd been discovered each of the folks who currently serve in the legislature went ahead and asked for refunds. Essentially they said "oops, our mistake, don't punish us for it!" Prusi, Whitmer, Switalski, Brater, Thomas, Slavens and Jacobs all took their illegal cash back, essentially admitting they'd been caught with their hands in the cookie jar and trying to make things right (well after the fact).

But no such change of heart from Mark Schauer. When he breaks the law he stands by his criminal activity! And he stands by his man, too. Ken Brock, the anti-Semite who's racist comments drew the ire of everyone in Michigan except Mark Schauer, was the Senator's treasurer on this particular money laundering operation and signed all of the papers.
And there's no backing down from either of them. They continue to site an example from 1995 to explain why they were allowed to raise the illegal cash. Of course they conveniently overlook the fact that in 1996 the law was changed.

Put that one in different terms... it'd be like having a school district in 2007 segregate black and white students, citing the long over-turned Plessy v Ferguson ("separate but equal"). Hey, it was a law once! Although that may not be the best example since Schauer's tolerance of racism runs pretty deep these days...

Now MIRS says that "on the scale of state campaign finance complaints, it's a biggie." But it's just a campaign finance violation, right? That's hardly criminal, is it? Yes. It is. And it carries with it some serious jail time. Each violation of this particular statute brings along a penalty of as much as 90 days in jail and / or serious monetary fines. Schauer is currently being investigated by the Bureau of Elections for twenty-two (22) violations.

So what happens now?

The Secretary of State has the complaint and is gathering information. Attorney General Mike Cox said during his appearance on "Off the Record" last Friday that he was just learning of the violations and would pursue the case if the SoS asked him to. And she may. The facts are pretty black and white. An official decision is expected sometime in January at the latest.

Twenty-two serious campaign finance violations. Money laundering. His fellow Democrats abandoning him. Mark Schauer's criminal career is just getting warmed up... maybe it's all an effort to fit right in with the rest of the Democrats in Congress. Assuming the Democrats in the 7th District continue to stand by a racist liar who's willing to throw away the law when it suits his purposes.
http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2007/12/17/95752/104

Labels: Mark Schauer, Michigan, politics, reprints

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 11:07:00 AM | |

Mark Schauer is not above taking advantage of political blunders

Blast him. It was easy for him to oppose a move by a Mike Bishop that could be interpreted as censorious. Read Mark Schauer taking advantage.

Mark Schauer: I Oppose Censorship of Blogs

by: Mark Schauer

Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 16:23:06 PM EDT

(Democratic Senator Mark Schauer represents Michigan's 19th district, and is the Senate Minority Leader. Welcome Senator Schauer! - promoted by Christine)

I hadn't yet had the opportunity to post on Blogging for Michigan, but most of you already know that I think you do a wonderful job of discussing issues that are important to our state. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I firmly believe that blogs and the online community are an important part of sharing ideas, interacting with the public, and examining what we do as your elected officials. I've personally had constituents tell me that they find it useful to have access to this information and this type of dialogue.

In fact, I have made it a priority to reach out to bloggers, treat them as the constituents they are, and give them the respect and information they deserve as new media journalists. Their editorial content is up to them and I can tell you there have been plenty of opinions I haven't completely agreed with, but I would hope my colleagues would encourage expanding the debate and increasing the dialogue, rather than establishing this dangerous precedent of slamming the door in their face.

That's why I am so disturbed by the recent decision made by the Senate Republican Leader's office to ban certain blogs and the comments by his staff that implies that they are working on continuing and expanding this censorship. I plan to share my concerns with the Senator, his office, and the Secretary of the Senate, but let me be clear that I find this censorship unacceptable. I hope that this is simply a matter of confused staffers and a lack of understanding of new media on their part and not a firm, and in my opinion very misguided, policy direction that they are committed to.

In the meantime, please keep doing what you do. And for our friends at the Yearly Kos convention in Chicago, please tell everyone there that despite all this, Michigan really is a great state and they should come see for themselves soon!

Labels: Mark Schauer, Michigan, politics

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 10:44:00 AM | |

who is behind Mark Schauer's website

A futile attempt to locate Congressional candidate Mark Schauer's field offices led me to his campaign website's WHOIS entry. I do not believe there is a field office, let alone a multiplicity of field offices, yet. He still has his offices at the capital, although the mailing addresses for Senator Schauer's role as legislator and candidate are both respectively Post Office Boxes.

WHOIS information for: markschauer.com:

[whois.directnic.com]
Registration and WHOIS Service provided by directNIC.com

Intercosmos Media Group, Inc. provides the data in the directNIC.com
Registrar WHOIS database for informational purposes only.  The information
may only be used to assist in obtaining information about a domain name's
registration record.

directNIC makes this information available "as is", and does not guarantee
its accuracy.


Registrant:
Schauer for Congress
P.O Box 100
Battle Creek, MI 49016
US
(517)575-5976


Domain Name: MARKSCHAUER.COM

Administrative Contact:
Schauer, Mark info@markschauer.com
P.O Box 100
Battle Creek, MI 49016
US
(517)575-5976


Technical Contact:
Schauer, Mark info@markschauer.com
P.O Box 100
Battle Creek, MI 49016
US
(517)575-5976


Record last updated 10-26-2007 07:59:26 AM
Record expires on 03-04-2011
Record created on 03-04-1999

Domain servers in listed order:
 NS1.IMSITES.COM 207.89.146.2
 NS2.IMSITES.COM 207.89.146.3

Labels: Mark Schauer, Michigan, politics

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 10:26:00 AM | |

who reads about Mark Schauer a few minutes ago?

Domain Name

house.gov ^? (U.S. Government)

IP Address

143.231.249.# (Information Systems, U.S. House of Representatives)

ISP

Information Systems, U.S. House of Representatives

Location

Continent	:	North America
Country	:	United States (Facts)
State	:	District of Columbia
City	:	Washington
Lat/Long	:	38.9097, -77.0231 (Map)

Monitor

Resolution	:	1024 x 768
Color Depth	:	32 bits

Time of Visit

Mar 10 2008 9:48:12 am

Last Page View

Mar 10 2008 10:10:36 am

Visit Length

22 minutes 24 seconds

Page Views

Referring URL

Visit Entry Page

http://apologiesdemanded.blogspot.com/

Visit Exit Page

http://apologiesdema...rvative-for-his.html

Out Click

evil left hippie scum
http://www.battlecre...2150301/1014/OPINION

Time Zone

UTC-4:00

Visitor's Time

Mar 10 2008 10:48:12 am

Visit Number

52,387

Time of Visit		Mar 10 2008 9:33:50 am
Last Page View		Mar 10 2008 9:34:23 am
Visit Length		33 seconds
Page Views		1
Referring URL
Visit Entry Page		http://apologiesdema...-to-be-hard-for.html
Visit Exit Page		http://apologiesdema...-to-be-hard-for.html
Out Click		The Democrats' fund-raising apparatus has equipped them with a more substantial war chest than the G http://www.detnews.c...POLITICS01/802180368
Time Zone		UTC-4:00
Visitor's Time		Mar 10 2008 10:33:50 am
Visit Number		52,386

I see you. I notice parts.

Labels: politics, weblog news

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 10:17:00 AM | |

is Tim Walberg too Conservative for his District?

Two articles ask the question.

I'll attempt to answer the question myself later. Much, much later.

Labels: Michigan, politics, Tim Walberg

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 10:05:00 AM | |

Mark Schauer will take and take and take

An "opinion":

HENRIETTA TOWNSHIP — The newspaper published an article on our two state representatives Feb. 24. I would like to go a little further and look at some of the numbers for them and state Sen. Mark Schauer. The Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency expects spending from all sources to be $42.8 billion for 2008. This is an increase of $937.6 million over 2007 and is a record for Michigan. This figure is a net increase aside from "cuts" that are supposed to happen in 2008. The gross increase in spending for Michigan happens to be about what the tax increases were that our local representatives supported, which was $1.358 billion. Remember, the government produces nothing, so the more it spends, the less you have... Second place, none other than the guy who introduced the 30 percent income tax hike himself (SB 605), Mark Schauer. He approved $1,350,045,900 in new spending. Don't forget, he wants to go to Washington to add a couple more zeros to that figure on the national level.

Labels: Mark Schauer, Michigan, politics

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 10:03:00 AM | |

Sharon Renier versus Mark Schauer

The lesser Democrat candidate for 7th District Michigan is Sharon Renier and she is in fact running, as best as I can tell.

Renier will face state Sen. Mark Schauer, D-Bedford Township, in the August primary, but she said she's not worried about the primary run because she's confident people will see her as the better candidate.

"I'm kind of thinking Mark Schauer is going to take care of himself," she said. "He wanted to be the Senate minority leader, and he said he wouldn't run for Congress. What kind of legislation has this man written and passed? What has he done for us?"

How does Sen. Schauer publicly view his challenger? Not much.

Schauer said he is focusing his campaign energy not on Renier but on Walberg.

"The person I plan to differentiate myself from is Tim Walberg, and that's what I hope and expect Sharon Renier to do herself," he said. "I respect anyone who wants to join in a conversation about how we can make Michigan stronger and how we can make our country stronger."

Schauer said he's not going back on his word to serve his constituents in the state's 19th Senate District, but instead wants to address their issues and concerns to the national stage in Washington, D.C. Schauer was re-elected to a four-year Senate term in 2006.

"Tim Walberg has abysmally failed to represent the people of the seventh Congressional district," he said. "As my constituents and supporters ... continually asked me to run, in good conscience, I couldn't sit on the sidelines. I have a deep passion for the people of Michigan, and the state is facing some incredible challenges."

What kind of challenge will Renier pose to Schauer?

In 2004, Schwarz received more than 58 percent of the vote compared to Renier's 36 percent. In 2006, Walberg received 50 percent of the vote, edging out Renier by just four percentage points.

Renier said she's been labeled as just an organic chicken farmer, and there's much more to her. She speaks three languages and plays 10 instruments, which led to a short stint in a punk band in the 1980s.

Renier said she's had 30 years of experience as a paralegal, including five years working for Lee Iacocca, former chief executive of the Chrysler Corp. Renier said she also worked on the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as the United States Agency for International Development in El Salvador.

Renier's campaign Web site, renier4rep.com, is expected to launch later this week, and she said it will detail her campaign positions and opinions, which include the economy and the war in Iraq.

Not much, I am afraid. I don't believe she can fund raise.

Labels: Mark Schauer, Michigan, politics

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 09:58:00 AM | |

we don't have to save their dreams

Mark Schauer gives people more of the benefit of the doubt than I will. People are forfeiting their properties as foreclosures continue.

The foreclosure crisis continues to put a big hurt on the state of Michigan. Those in one of the hardest hit cities learn how to save their homes. Homeowners are hoping it's not too late. Homeowners who have become victims to a struggling economy learn how to prevent turning the American dream into a nightmare.

Senator Mark Schauer, (D) 19th district: "Jackson County already has had 200 foreclosed homes just in this year, over 1,200 in 2007, so it's a crisis. We have to help people save the dream."

Saving the dream is one thing. Suspending the rules of the road to save a driver that could not quite make it will likely imperil other drivers.

Labels: Mark Schauer, Michigan, politics

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 09:52:00 AM | |

Mark Schauer wants to give you money to pay for Jackson Community College renovation/expansion

The project will cost $29 million. Jackson Community College is lobbying the state government (i.e. you and me) to pay for half. That's too excessive. They cut it down to a single seven million dollar project: a single building. NowMark Schauer wants to give $3.5 million of what is already a cash-starved state to these kids as a so-called investment in the future economy.

If it's approved, the state typically would pay for about half the project costs and the college would have to raise the additional money, said state Sen. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek.

``The process is a multi-step process, but I think we've got a good shot,'' Schauer said of the JCC proposal coming to fruition.

For past projects, JCC has raised facility fees for students after voters rejected tax increases to pay for building renovations.

Without a multimillion-dollar state appropriation, the college would have to seek voter approval of a millage to pay for the project. Without a multimillion-dollar state appropriation, the college would have to seek voter approval of a millage to pay for the project. But Schauer said Tuesday ``there's some urgency to get these projects going ... as a way to stimulate the state's economy.''

I believe it's more so Mark Schauer can claim that he gave money to help education.

Labels: Mark Schauer, Michigan, politics

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 09:44:00 AM | |

Mark Schauer wants to make it easier for the less serious to vote

Should it be easier to vote? Should kids be encouraged to vote?

State Sen. Cameron Brown, R-Sturgis, introduced legislation last week that will allow 16-year-olds to preregister to vote when they get their driver's license.

According to Brown, the proposed law would allow teens to give all the necessary information to the secretary of state when they get their licenses, and the secretary of state then would send the information to the local clerks on teens' 18th birthdays, allowing them to be automatically registered to vote and added to the qualified voter file.

This is a bad idea. A leftist Democrat would disagree.

State Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer, D-Bedford Township, said he intends to cosponsor the bill, which he called "common sense legislation."

"I think it's a fabulous idea. We need to remove as many impediments to participating in the voting process as possible," he said. "Making it easier for young people to register will directly result in more young people voting and participating in the voting process."

Impediments to the voting process make sure that serious people participate and weeds out un-serious voters mucking up the process. When we make it casual and render voter registration non-deliberate then it encourages more and more children to be interested in political action like they are interested in Netflix.

It's foolish to increase voter participation. We want less people to vote because we want thinking people and true believers to vote.

Unless of course they vote how I tell them to.

Labels: Mark Schauer, Michigan, politics

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 09:34:00 AM | |

the ACLU sees drivers' liscenses as a basic right

Legal "immigrants" (they're not immigrants) who are not permanent residents (permanency is an aspect of genuine immigration, in my mind) can now be legally granted drivers licenses to do their work. I like that.

I am not a fan of the Battle Creek Enquirer referring to these purposefully temporary folk as "immigrants". My father was an immigrant and he traveled here illegally.

The integrity of words aside, we can thank God and principles that illegal immigrants, and illegal aliens are now denied legal forms of residential and political affirmation and identification: a driver's license.

The ACLU responds by making a general statement referring to the stuff for a broad stretch of the population.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued Land this week in an attempt to reverse the policy that denied certain immigrants licenses.

The ACLU said its immediate goal was to restore driving privileges for legal immigrants. But the organization's position is that driver's licenses should be available to all residents, including immigrants who live and work in the state and intend to remain.

I've seen too many idiots mis-use and abuse their legal sanction to drive. No matter what you think about immigration and such, it should be a universally recognized axiom that driving is a privilege and not a right. If we treat it as a right at all than people will assert it as a right when they come of age and then we will have even more well-meaning threats on the road, if that is even possible.

Labels: Michigan, politics

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 09:19:00 AM | |

how is Tim Walberg a man of the Right?

Tim Walberg does town hall meetings. One of them monitored by the Jackson Citizen-Patriot gives examples of why I support Tim Walberg.

Here's some examples. Tim Walberg has a definitive angle of No Child Left Behind.

The freshman Republican also said that even though he supports the principles behind No Child Left Behind -- President Bush's school-accountability measure -- he does not support federal mandates in education.
Walberg said he supports legislation that would allow a state or school district to opt out of the program if it already has accountability measures in place.

Despite that President Bush wanted it, pushed it, pushed for it, and championed it, NCLB is a federal education mandate and is inherently leftist given its Big Government nature.

Here are some more right-wing viewpoints.

Among other issues:

Walberg said Michigan should be a ``right-to-work'' state, which would prohibit union security clauses that require all workers who benefit from collective bargaining to pay dues.

He said he supports secure borders, but wants legal laborers from other countries to be able to work in the U.S.

He supports the idea of the ``Michigan Fair Tax,'' which would eliminate the state income tax and raise the sales tax.

I'm going to get the Michigan Fair Tax folks to help my guy some more.

Labels: politics, Tim Walberg

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 09:13:00 AM | |

of course it's going to be hard for Republicans

Carl Levin is like the wind or Everest. He's always been and he'll always be. Jack Hoogendyk has a chance. The fact is, however, that if you are betting on Michigan's Senate race in 2008, betting on a Hoogendyk victory may be the move of a sucker or a soon to be rich man.

Then there are the Democrat moves to challenge Republican incumbents. Joe Knollenberg and Tim Walberg are major targets. The Dems' edge there is slightly similar to Levin's eternal edge. The Democrats' fund-raising apparatus has equipped them with a more substantial war chest than the GOP.

What I have to say about Levin is the same. Michiganians keep him not because they like him but because they are used to him. In a sense it is conservative people straining to grab hold of a status quo and keep that. Ultimately his status as a thirty-plus-year incumbent grants him confidence from donate-people. Donate-people grant money to winners. This vision has allowed the Eternal Senator so much free cash then a challenger has almost Biblical-level difficulty in raising enough cash to be effective.

Tim Walberg is a target because his opposition to Leftist Bush-43 Education Program NCLB is one example of how far Right he is.... but being Conservative alone won't make you permanent in Michigan Seventh District, although it helps. Permanence is put in place by a sense of permanence and that is granted by more than one term, and not one term.

Joe Knollenberg is one well-known and well-liked by MIGOP all over the place. I don't care. My knowledge that he is well outside my District and the immediate electoral concerns of me and mine has led me to reject helping him or learning about him years ago. I'm sure I'd agree with him and that I'd like the guy but that's not my business; my finite resources go for Walberg. That Knollenberg is well-loved by MIGOP has granted him a symbolic frame of wonderfulness, which is probably why the Dems have made him, of all vulnerable GOPpers, a special target.

Of course, this is all just conjecture.

Labels: Michigan, politics, Tim Walberg

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 09:01:00 AM | |

about The Bank Job

Peter Suderman gives The Bank Job a negative review, calling it a "con job" implying that the movie's stylistic affectations are used to sell something that is ultimately somewhat empty and doesn't quite deliver the meat.

He helps me by linking over to a Guardian article going over some of the stuff of reality that we can confirm and learn from; what we know for sure is in there, and the real life tapes are what was used to provide real life quotes to fit the dialogue in the movie's screenplay. Some of it is conjecture I am sure; some of it is sexing up; purportedly the screenwriters based it on a "'deep-throat 'informant".

It is what it is.

I hope to review it later for Monitor Duty but given how complicated the movie was it is slightly difficult to get my head around it; I may not review it at all.

Labels: movies

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/10/2008 08:32:00 AM | |

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Mark Schauer's legislative, Caucus staff press release from 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Mark Schauer
2006-12-22	(517) 373-2426
Schauer Announces Leader Office, Caucus Staff
LANSING-Senate Democratic Leader-elect Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek) unveiled today the staff for both his leadership office and the caucus. The assignments include a number of returning staff, as well as new positions and increased responsibilities. “This team has the skills, dedication, and focus to help our caucus be aggressive and effective from day one,” said Sen. Schauer. “We are fortunate to have such talented individuals ready to take on the critical issues facing Michigan.” Leader’s office appointments include: • Ken Brock as Schauer’s Chief-of-Staff. Brock has served in this capacity for both Schauer and former Sen. Burton Leland (D-Detroit). Sen. Mark Schauer, Senate Democratic Leader-elect • Lisa Dedden-Cooper as Schauer’s Legislative Director. Last year Dedden joined the Schauer office as Deputy Chief-of-Staff after serving in a similar role for the House Democratic Floor Leader. • Lisa Metcalf as Schauer’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration. Metcalf has worked with Schauer since 2002 and previously worked on House Democratic Central Staff. • Margaret Schulte as Director of member Services. Schulte joins the leader’s office after working with Sen. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor) and former Sen. Ken DeBeaussaert (D-Chesterfield). • BJ Neidhardt as Director of External Affairs. Neidhardt is the former Campaign Director for the Senate Democratic Caucus, and has also worked on the gubernatorial campaign of former Virginia Governor Mark Warner and U.S. Representative Dick Gephardt’s 2004 Presidential run. Caucus office appointments include: • David Randels as Caucus Staff Director. Randels has previously served as the Caucus Deputy Director of Constituent Services and Schauer’s Constituent Services Director. • Nancy Green to remain Policy Director. • Tom Lenard to remain Communications Director. Lenard will also serve as Schauer’s spokesperson. • Liz Kerr as Deputy Communications Director. • Mike Vatter to remain as Director of Information Systems. • John Mulcrone to remain as Democratic Legal Counsel. ###

Labels: Mark Schauer, politics, press releases, reprints

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 11:43:00 PM | |

Mark Schauer job history (pre-political, non-political)

Mark Schauer ' (born October 2, 1961) is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He is a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate, representing the 19th District since 2003 and currently serving as the Minority Leader. His district covers all of Calhoun County and most of Jackson County. Previously he was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1997 through 2002.

Schauer was born in Howell, Michigan, the son of Robert and Myra Schauer. He was Valedictorian of his high school class and graduated summa cum laude from Albion College in 1984, where he was a member of the the Phi Beta Kappa. Schauer worked as an urban planner for the Calhoun County Planning Department, 1984-1987, while he completed a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. A few years after graduating in 1987, he accepted a position in program development for the Community Action Agency in Battle Creek. Shortly afterwards, the director left for another position and Schauer was selected to run the CAA, which then consisted of 200 employees, had a 21-member board of directors and offered a broad range of programs for the poor, including home weatherization, a foster grandparent program, food assistance and the local Head Start program for children.

Schauer was also a founding board member of Battle Creek Habitat for Humanity in 1988 and was honored for fifteen years of service to Habitat for Humanity by being named the "2003 Public Official of the Year" by Habitat for Humanity of Michigan.[1] Schauer has also been actively involved in the supporting the Food Bank of South Central Michigan and the Urban League of Battle Creek. He also serves on the board of directors of the Kids 'n' Stuff children's museum in Albion. He was a coordinator of the Calhoun County Human Services Coordinating Council, 1992-1997.

Labels: Mark Schauer, politics, reprints

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 10:17:00 PM | |

Mark Shauer's Senate staff as of July 2003

My staff are also available to
assist you with any questions
or issues you may have. Please
feel free to contact them:

Ken Brock - Chief of Staff
Gary Garbarino - Deputy Chief of Staff
Keith Johnson - Floor Aide
Lisa Metcalf - Legis. Aide & Scheduler
David Randels - Legislative Aide

source: Mark Schauer newsletter July 2003

Labels: Mark Schauer, politics, reprints

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 09:24:00 PM | |

Todd Rundgren - Bang The Drum All Day

Labels: embedded media, music

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 03:39:00 AM | |

Mark Schauer - raised and spent

Total Raised and Spent

2008 RACE: MICHIGAN DISTRICT 7

Mark Schauer (D)


Raised:	$577,133
Spent:	$76,413
Cash on hand:	$500,720
Last Report:	12/31/2007

B/L/I pie

PACs:	$206,825	(36%)
Individuals:	$353,700	(61%)
Candidate:	$0	-
Other:	$16,608	(3%)

Text from the page I stole from: "All the numbers on this page are for the 2007-2008 House election cycle, based on Federal Election Commission data available on Wednesday, February 27, 2008. Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics."

Labels: Mark Schauer, politics, reprints

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 03:07:00 AM | |

Mark Schauer votes on Animals

From MichiganVotes.org

Bills introduced, amendments offered, roll call votes taken from 1/1/2007 to 3/9/2008

Supported 2007 House Bill 4860 (Increase fees on licensed entities and professions ). Passed in the Senate (36 to 2) on September 26, 2007, to not reduce pet shop license fees on Sept. 30, 2007. The fees were “temporarily” increased in 2006, and under current law will go back down after on Sept. 30, 2007. The bill would extend the higher fees until September 30, 2012. The bill is one of a large package of bills increasing fees on dozens of regulated business and career activities, including House Bills 4840 to 4849, and 4860. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2007 Senate Bill 626 (Ban dog racing and simulcasting ). Passed in the Senate (36 to 0) on February 13, 2008, to ban dog racing and dog race simulcasting for the purpose of gambling, subject to up to 93 days imprisonment and a maximum fine of $5,000. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2007 Senate Bill 346 (Penalties for owner fleeing dog bite incident ). Passed in the Senate (35 to 0) on December 12, 2007, to prohibit and establish penalties for dog owners fleeing the scene of dog bite incident, or failing to provide assistance to bitten individual. The bill would require the dog owner to give his name and address to the bitten person, and to assist the bitten person, or if assistance is refused, to contact the local police or an emergency service provider. Violators would be subject to up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2007 Senate Bill 350 (Authorize animal welfare program ). Passed in the Senate (37 to 0) on April 18, 2007, to create a state animal welfare fund financed by the contributions proposed by Senate Bill 347, which would spend the money on funds to promote sterilization and adoption of dogs and cats, educate the public about animal anti-cruelty laws, and related matters. [Vote Details and Comments]

Labels: Mark Schauer, reprints

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 03:06:00 AM | |

Mark Schauer votes on Agriculture

From MichiganVotes.org

State Rep Mark Schauer - Bills introduced, amendments offered, roll call votes taken from 1/1/2001 to 12/31/2002

Votes 1 to 32 of 32

Supported 2001 Senate Bill 694. Passed in the House (97 to 1) on December 13, 2002, to allow but does not require local governments to permit the transport on public roads of oversized farm machinery on Saturdays, as well as on weekdays. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2002 House Bill 6256. Passed in the House (94 to 9) on November 12, 2002, to revise the law which authorizes mandated assessments on persons involved in agriculture to pay for commodity marketing programs. The bill updates definitions and requirements, committee memberships, district boundaries, etc., and includes specific regulations governing mandated assessments. It would consolidate into this statute marketing programs authorized elsewhere for wheat, beans, and potatoes. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2002 House Bill 5928. Passed in the House (100 to 0) on June 19, 2002, to concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2002 House Bill 5832. Passed in the House (103 to 0) on June 5, 2002, to concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 Senate Bill 989. Passed in the House (65 to 41) on May 16, 2002, to concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported an amendment for 2001 Senate Bill 989. The amendment failed in the House (43 to 49) on April 25, 2002, to authorize the Department of Agriculture to make administrative rulings that would force a company which it determined had improperly applied pesticide to pay the property owner the costs of a department-approved cleanup. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported an amendment for 2001 Senate Bill 989. The amendment failed in the House (43 to 50) on April 25, 2002, to authorize the Department of Agriculture to make administrative rulings that would force a company which it determined had improperly applied pesticide to pay the property owner the costs of a cleanup approved by either the Department of Natural Resources or the Department of Environmental Quality. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported an amendment for 2001 Senate Bill 989. The amendment failed in the House (42 to 58) on April 25, 2002, to authorize the Department of Agriculture to revoke the license of a company which it determined had improperly applied pesticide on a person's property and not cleaned it up within 30 days. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported an amendment for 2001 Senate Bill 989. The amendment passed in the House (56 to 41) on April 25, 2002, to reduce the proposed license fee increases for different kinds of pesicide applicators' licenses. [Vote Details and Comments]
Opposed an amendment for 2001 Senate Bill 989. The amendment passed in the House (58 to 40) on April 25, 2002, to reconsider the vote by which the House adopted the amendment to reduce the proposed license fee increases for different kinds of pesicide applicators' licenses. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2002 House Bill 5958. Passed in the House (60 to 35) on May 23, 2002, to establish in statute that it is legal to use pesticides in the waters of the state to control aquatic nuisance species, and to establish regulations for their use. Licensed applicators would have more flexibility regarding where and when they treat lakes and ponds. The bill is part of a legislative package comprised of House Bills 5958 to 5960. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2002 House Bill 5928. Passed in the House (107 to 0) on May 16, 2002, to make changes to a new state food code adopted in 2000, and clarify certain definitions in the code. In particular the bill authorizes the state to continue restaurant inspections should a local health department be unable to or choose not to, with fees assessed on local establishments to pay for the state inspections; revises mandated disclosures by restaurants on the potential hazards of raw or undercooked foods; and clarifies which state agency is responsible for regulation of restaurant ventilation equipment. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2002 House Bill 5832. Passed in the House (107 to 0) on May 1, 2002, to revise livestock inspection and zoning procedures, giving the Department of Agriculture greater discretion and authority regarding certain animal testing, quarantine, sale and transportation regulations related to the issue of bovine TB. The bill establishes other new definitions and requirements related to this issue. It would also create a new criminal statute for intentionally exposing, infecting or contaminating an animal to a disease, except for bona fide research. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 Senate Bill 989. Passed in the House (95 to 4) on April 25, 2002, to revise and update the registration and licensure provisions in the state pesticide regulation law, increase license fees, provide new and updated definitions, and increased felony penalties for certain violations. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 5434. Passed in the House (101 to 0) on March 7, 2002, to concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2002 House Bill 5750. Passed in the House (102 to 0) on April 9, 2002, to repeal outdated provisions giving the Department of Agriculture motor fuel quality rule-making authority. The bill is part of a large package repealing obsolete laws. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 4009. Passed in the House (99 to 2) on February 21, 2002, to concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill, with amendments. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2002 Senate Bill 1019. Passed in the House (107 to 0) on May 9, 2002, to repeal archaic rule-making authority related to started pullets (chickens). The bill is part of a large package repealing obsolete laws. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2002 Senate Bill 1020. Passed in the House (104 to 0) on September 18, 2002, to repeal archaic rule-making authority related to fruit baskets. The bill is part of a large package repealing obsolete laws. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 5521. Passed in the House (106 to 0) on May 1, 2002, to provide sentencing guidelines to accompany new penalties in the proposed revision of the law that requires licensure and regulation of grain dealers. See House Bill 5434. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 5525. Passed in the House (104 to 0) on February 13, 2002, to update the standards, definitions, and requirements of the state law dealing with agricultural and commercial weights and measures, so they reflect changes in technology and use, and comply with new uniform national standards. The bill also would create state regulations for automatic checkout systems. It gives the Director of the state Department of Agriculture greater authority in setting weights and measures standards, increases criminal penalties, and authorizes civil penalties. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 5434. Passed in the House (105 to 0) on January 30, 2002, to rewrite and update the law that requires licensure and regulation of grain dealers. The bill also increases the license fees for grain dealers, and authorizes administrative fines for violations of state regulations. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 4820. Passed in the House (105 to 0) on December 12, 2001, to concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill, amended to remove an exception which permits farm families and employees to drink unpasteurized milk. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 4829. Passed in the House (103 to 0) on December 12, 2001, to concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill, amended to remove an exception which permits farm families and employees to drink unpasteurized milk. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 5136. Passed in the House (100 to 0) on February 20, 2002, to authorize civil damages against a person who intentionally damages all or part of a field crop belonging to another person which was produced for research or testing purposes. Damages could be awarded in the amount of twice the value of the crop, plus the value of the research, plus legal costs. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 5013. Passed in the House (107 to 0) on October 24, 2001, to authorize the Department of Environmental Quality to make and enforce contracts with private landowners regarding conservation practices on their land, make payments to farmers for conservation practices, verify the practices, and encourage conservation practices in other ways. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 4879. Passed in the House (105 to 0) on June 19, 2001, to allow school buses to be used to transport agricultural workers to and from a field for agricultural operations. Current law requires school buses to be painted "national school bus chrome yellow," and prohibits painting non-school buses with the same color and design. Therefore it is illegal for school buses otherwise idle in the summer growing season to be used for any but a handful of specifically authorized purposes. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 4829. Passed in the House (103 to 0) on September 26, 2001, to combine and update the state’s 21 dairy laws into two public acts. This is part of a legislative package comprised of House Bills 4820 and 4829. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 4820. Passed in the House (107 to 0) on September 26, 2001, to combine and update the state’s 21 dairy laws into two public acts. This is part of a legislative package comprised of House Bills 4820 and 4829 . [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 Senate Bill 350. Passed in the House (102 to 1) on June 7, 2001, to require all horses in the state to be tested for equine infectious anemia no later than April 30, 2002, and at least once every three years thereafter. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 4513. Passed in the House (105 to 0) on May 23, 2001, to repeal the law requiring licensure of farm produce brokers. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2001 House Bill 4009. Passed in the House (102 to 1) on December 12, 2001, to authorize state subsidized interest-free loans to farmers or agribusinesses affected by drought conditions during the summer of 2001. The loans would be made by banks, which would be compensated by the state for the foregone interest. The maximum loan would be $150,000 for a farmer, or $300,000 for an agribusiness, less any federal grants, or any federal crop insurance which was either paid to the farmer, or would have been paid had he taken advantage of its availability. The loans would be paid back over a ten-year period. The House Fiscal Agency estimates that the bill could cost as much as $39.8 million over ten years. [Vote Details and Comments]

Bills introduced, amendments offered, roll call votes taken from 1/1/2007 to 3/9/2008

Supported 2008 Senate Bill 1007 (Revise and add to state milk regulations ). Passed in the Senate (36 to 0) on February 13, 2008, to revise and add to the (extensive) state regulations on the production, distribution, marketing and sale of milk and milk products. Mostly the bill would align these with current federal law. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2008 Senate Bill 1008 (Revise and add to state milk regulations ). Passed in the Senate (36 to 0) on February 13, 2008, to revise and add to the (extensive) state regulations on the production, distribution, marketing and sale of milk and milk products. Mostly the bill would align these with current federal law. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2007 House Bill 5034 (Revise local fertilizer regulation preemption law ). Passed in the Senate (35 to 3) on February 20, 2008, to define “agricultural use” of fertilizer for purposes of expanding an exception to the state preemption on local fertilizer regulation ordinances proposed by House Bill 5035. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2007 House Bill 5035 (Revise local fertilizer regulation preemption law ). Passed in the Senate (35 to 3) on February 20, 2008, to revise an exception to the law that preempts local regulation of fertilizer use in cases where the use would cause “unreasonable adverse effects on the environment or public health.” The bill would clarify that the exception also applies to actual agricultural use of fertilizer, not just to its sales, storage, etc. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2007 House Bill 4849 (Increase fees on licensed entities and professions ). Passed in the Senate (36 to 2) on September 26, 2007, to not reduce certain certain pesticide regulatory fees on Sept. 30, 2007. The fees were “temporarily” increased by a previous legislature, and under current law will go back down after that date. The bill would extend the current fees to September 30, 2012. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2007 House Bill 4862 (Increase fees on licensed entities and professions ). Passed in the Senate (36 to 2) on September 26, 2007, to not reduce plant nursery inspection fees on Sept. 30, 2007. The fees were “temporarily” increased in 2006, and under current law will go back down after that date. The fees were “temporarily” increased in 2006, and under current law will go back down after on Sept. 30, 2007. The bill would extend the higher fees until September 30, 2012. The bill is one of a large package of bills increasing fees on dozens of regulated business and career activities, including House Bills 4840 to 4849, and 4860 to 4864. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2007 House Bill 4863 (Increase fees on licensed entities and professions ). Passed in the Senate (36 to 2) on September 26, 2007, to not reduce horseback riding stable licensure fees on Sept. 30, 2007. The fees were “temporarily” increased in 2006, and under current law will go back down after on Sept. 30, 2007. The bill would extend the higher fees until September 30, 2012. The bill is one of a large package of bills increasing fees on dozens of regulated business and career activities, including House Bills 4840 to 4849, and 4860 to 4864. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2007 House Bill 4864 (Increase fees on licensed entities and professions ). Passed in the Senate (36 to 2) on September 26, 2007, to not reduce livestock and horse auction or broker and dealer fees on Sept. 30, 2007. The fees were “temporarily” increased in 2006, and under current law will go back down after on Sept. 30, 2007. The bill would extend the higher fees until September 30, 2012. The bill is one of a large package of bills increasing fees on dozens of regulated business and career activities, including House Bills 4840 to 4849, and 4860 to 4864. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2007 Senate Bill 682 (Expand pesticide licensure ). Passed in the Senate (38 to 0) on November 7, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported a substitute for 2007 Senate Bill 504 (Revise farm environmental regulation enforcement ). The substitute failed in the Senate (16 to 22) on June 20, 2007, to impose a moratorium on any new concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) in the state. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported an amendment for 2007 Senate Bill 504 (Revise farm environmental regulation enforcement ). The amendment failed in the Senate (17 to 21) on June 20, 2007, to require additional annual testing of streams near large CAFOs, and if tests after manure is spread on fields show that downstream water does not meet water quality standards, to presume that the CAFO is responsible for the pollution. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported an amendment for 2007 Senate Bill 448 (Impose new CAFO regulations ). The amendment failed in the Senate (17 to 21) on June 20, 2007, to authorize the neighbor of a large CAFO to sue the operation for damages resulting from the loss of property value due to objectionable odors, if the neighbor was there first. [Vote Details and Comments]
Opposed 2007 Senate Bill 501 (Create state agriculture environmental law booklet ). Passed in the Senate (22 to 16) on June 20, 2007, to require the Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Quality to publish an online document identifying environmental laws and rules affecting farms and farming operations. [Vote Details and Comments]
Opposed 2007 Senate Bill 503 (Revise farm environmental regulation enforcement ). Passed in the Senate (23 to 15) on June 20, 2007, to require licensure and regulation of commercial animal waste handlers, including training and bonding requirements, $100 annual license fees, and adherence to regulations specified in the bill and to further regulations that the Department of Agriculture would be authorized to impose in the future without additional legislation. [Vote Details and Comments]
Opposed 2007 Senate Bill 504 (Revise farm environmental regulation enforcement ). Passed in the Senate (21 to 17) on June 20, 2007, to establish that a farm, including a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO), that follows the pollution prevention standards of the "Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program" (MAEAP), which includes education, on-farm risk assessment, and third party verification, will not be considered to have to have violated new livestock, cropping, or farmstead regulations, or committed storm water discharge violations, unless a water quality study conclusively established that it caused a receiving body of water to exceed water quality standards. Farms that meet the standards would not be required to get water pollution discharge permits if they have less than 3,500 cows, and generally be subject to regulation by the Department of Agriculture rather than the Department of Environmental Quality. [Vote Details and Comments]
Opposed 2007 Senate Bill 447 (Impose new CAFO regulations ). Passed in the Senate (22 to 16) on June 20, 2007, to require concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) operators to post a surety bond in amounts specified in the bill, which range from $100,000 to $1 million depending on the size of the operation and whether it has experienced any permit violations. The bond money could be used for to pay potential environmental cleanup costs related to permit violations. Also, to prohibit a CAFO from increasing the number of animals if it has violated water pollution laws. [Vote Details and Comments]
Opposed 2007 Senate Bill 448 (Impose new CAFO regulations ). Passed in the Senate (21 to 17) on June 20, 2007, to authorize the repeal a large concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) permit if the operator is found responsible under civil law or guilty under criminal law of violating certain water pollution laws. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2007 House Bill 4327 (Repeal tomato labeling law ). Passed in the Senate (38 to 0) on May 8, 2007, to repeal a law that prohibits the sale of tomatoes which are not vine ripened unless the wrappings and containers are labeled “not vine ripened” or “artificially ripened by ethylene”. [Vote Details and Comments]
Supported 2007 Senate Bill 14 (Extend term of $5 million loan to sugar beet growers ). Passed in the Senate (38 to 0) on February 20, 2007, to extend from five to 10 years the term of a $5 million taxpayer-subsidized loan authorized by Public Act 342 of 2004. The loan paid a Saginaw-area sugar beet growers' cooperative to purchase the assets of the Monitor Sugar processing company. [Vote Details and Comments]

Labels: Mark Schauer, politics, reprints

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 03:01:00 AM | |

bills introduced by Mark Schauer

From MichiganVotes.org

14 bills introduced by Sen. Mark Schauer

Introduced 2008 Senate Bill 1033 (Subject MCCA to OMA ) to require the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) to comply with the state Open Meetings Act, which otherwise only applies to public bodies. MCCA is the private entity established to provide reinsurance to cover the liability of individual auto insurance companies to pay unlimited medical claims above $400,000 per incident, as required by the state no-fault auto insurance law.
Introduced 2008 Senate Bill 1017 (Ban local government contracts to firms that use illegal aliens ) to prohibit local governments from giving contracts to businesses that employ undocumented workers (illegal aliens), and that do not take unspecified “reasonable steps” to ascertain that neither their employees nor those of subcontractors are illegal aliens.
Introduced 2008 Senate Bill 1018 (Expand “certified technology parks” tax breaks ) to authorize the creation of three additional “certified technology parks” in which “tax increment financing” is used to provide subsidies to technology-based businesses. A tax increment financing authority (TIFA) "captures" the increment of extra local property tax revenue that would result from the property value growth which might be generated by certain improvement projects (or selective business subsidies) the authority undertakes (or grants).
Introduced 2008 Senate Resolution 137 of tribute to honor Pamela Harden Nyquist, Assistant Secretary of the Senate. Passed in the Senate by voice vote on January 9, 2008.
Introduced 2007 Senate Resolution 126 honoring veterans on Veterans Day, November 11, 2007.
Introduced 2007 Senate Resolution 117 (Urge Congress to expand "S-Chip") to urge Congress to override the President's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) expansion. This is a federal-funded, state managed program created to extend Medicaid-like health coverage to children of low income working families whose income exceeds Medicaid caps and who don't have private insurance, but which states have expanded to cover many adults. The vetoed bill would raise the family income cap to triple the poverty rate (up to $83,000 in some states) and increase spending on the program by $35 billion (funded by a tobacco tax hike). The President sought a $5 spending increase, and a provision prohibiting states to further expand coverage until 95 percent of uninsured low-income children were covered.
Introduced 2007 Senate Resolution 114 to amend the Standing Rules of the Senate.
Introduced 2007 Senate Bill 817 (Clarify statute of limitation in certain torts ) to clarify in statute the application of the statute of limitations in certain tort cases. Rather than extending back to when the wrong occurred, the deadline for bringing a lawsuit would toll from when the plaintiff discovers or through reasonable diligence should have discovered the elements of the cause of action, and the identity of the defendant.
Introduced 2007 Senate Bill 724 (Expand commercial/industrial groundwater restrictions and regulations ) to lower the groundwater use threshold that would require a new commercial or industrial user to undergo extensive permitting procedures. The threshold would go from 2,000,000 gallons to 1,000,000 gallons per day for waters other than the Great Lakes, and from 5,000,000 gallons to 2,000,000 gallons per day for Great Lakes and tributary waters. Among the extensive permit requirements would be the need to perform rigorous hydro-geological, water source, natural features, and soil studies. The bill would also increase permit application fees, lengthen from 120 days to 180 days the time the Department of Environmental Quality has to act on a permit request (once it determines that the application is “administratively complete”), and require a public comment period. The bill is part of a legislative package consisting of Senate Bills 721 to 729 and House Bills 5065 to 5073 that would restrict and subject to extensive regulation the use of groundwater by industrial and commercial businesses.
Introduced 2007 Senate Bill 605 (Increase income tax to 4.6 percent ) to increase the personal income tax from 3.9 percent to 4.6 percent, and raise the personal exemption from $2,500 to $3,360.
Introduced 2007 Senate Resolution 74 honoring Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, and the 2007 Super Bowl Champions.
Introduced 2007 Senate Bill 544 (Impose 20-cent per gallon tax on water bottled in-state ) to impose a 20-cents per gallon tax on bottled drinking water bottled by a bottler located in Michigan. The tax would not apply to water bottled in another state.
Introduced 2007 Senate Bill 316 (FY 2008 Executive Budget “Revenue Enhancements” ) to repeal the exemption from merchandise purchased by prison inmates in prison stores. This is one of a number of “tax expenditure repeal” proposals included in Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s Fiscal Year 2007-2008 budget recommendation, which is based on approximately $1 billion in tax increases. This measure would cost prisoners approximately $700,000 each year.
Introduced 2007 Senate Bill 264 (Exempt Employment Relations Commission from Open Meetings Act ) to exempt meetings of the Michigan Employment Relations Commission from the Open Meetings Act, which requires all meetings of a public body to be open to the public. The MERC is empowered to issue authoritative rulings and orders that deem the actions of one side or the other in a labor dispute to be unfair labor practices prohibited by the state’s labor law.

2 amendments introduced by Sen. Mark Schauer

Offered an amendment to 2007 Senate Bill 624 (Revise presidential primary dates; require declaration of party ) to allow no-reason absentee voting in Michigan elections. The amendment failed in the Senate (17 to 21) on August 22, 2007.
Offered an amendment to 2007 House Bill 4884 (Revise tobacco lawsuit money distribution ) to require that in 2016, $30 million be transferred from the “21st Century Jobs Fund” business subsidy program to the general fund. The amendment failed in the Senate (18 to 19) on June 27, 2007.

Labels: Mark Schauer, politics, reprints

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 01:56:00 AM | |

They Might Be Giants - Older

Labels: embedded media, music

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 01:56:00 AM | |

Todd Agnew - Grace Like Rain

Labels: embedded media, music

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 01:55:00 AM | |

Senator Mark Schauer Missed Votes

Bills introduced, amendments offered, roll call votes taken from 1/1/2007 to 3/9/2008

From MichiganVotes.org

Did not vote on a motion for 2007 Senate Bill 713 (Adopt uniform anatomical gift act ). The motion passed in the Senate (34 to 1) on March 6, 2008, to give the bill immediate effect. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 Senate Joint Resolution I (Repeal unconstitutional provisions in state Constitution). Passed in the Senate (27 to 0) on November 7, 2007, to place before voters in the next general election a Constitutional amendment to repeal various provisions of the state Constitution that have been ruled unconstitutional by state or federal courts. These include: A requirement that an elector have property in a district that is affected by an election in order to be qualified to vote; the formula for reapportioning State senatorial and representative districts; provisions that establish a Commission on Legislative Apportionment; and term limit requirements for members of Congress. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on a motion for 2007 Senate Bill 276 (Expand certain targeted personal property tax breaks ). The motion failed in the Senate (22 to 10) on October 10, 2007, to give the bill immediate effect. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 Senate Bill 418 (Require MESSA to disclose claims history data ). Failed in the Senate (18 to 17) on September 30, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 Senate Bill 418 (Require MESSA to disclose claims history data ). Failed in the Senate (19 to 17) on September 30, 2007, to concur with the House-passed version of the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 Senate Bill 754 (Require certain communications to returning veterans ). Passed in the Senate (36 to 0) on October 24, 2007, to require the state Department of Labor and Economic Growth to include in the “welcome home” letter that it sends to returning veterans a list of all state-funded veterans service organizations, in order of the amount of state funding each receives. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 Senate Bill 632 (Expand allowable prison labor sales ). Passed in the Senate (37 to 0) on September 18, 2007, to allow the sale to private parties or businesses of “cut-and-sewn textiles” created by prison labor, if there is no private business in the state making the same products or ones "similar in style." Under current law, the “Michigan Prison Industries” entity may only sell prisoner-made products to governments or non-profit organizations. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on a substitute for 2007 Senate Bill 418 (Require MESSA to disclose claims history data ). The substitute failed in the Senate (18 to 19) on June 26, 2007, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that that does not include the state-sponsored "stop loss" policy provisions, but does include the provisions that make it easier for schools and local governments to form insurance purchasing pools. An amendment offered by Senator Kahn and adopted which would effectively eliminate a provision require the Michigan Education Special Services Association, an insurance agency subsidiary of the MEA teachers union that provides health insurance to most school districts, to release individual school district claims history data. This information is said to be necessary to allow other insurance providers to bid on a district's health insurance purchases. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 Senate Bill 577 (Impose home owner/builder restrictions ). Passed in the Senate (36 to 0) on October 24, 2007, to prohibit a person who is not a licensed contractor and who acts as the general contractor for a residence, and who moves in after the structure is complete, from selling it within 120 days. If he or she does not move in, it can be offered for sale immediately. Also, to require the fact that the structure was built by an owner-builder to be disclosed to the buyer if it is sold within two years. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 House Bill 4800 (Repeal dual state employee pension/salary loophole ). Passed in the Senate (37 to 0) on September 18, 2007, pension law that allows an employee to “retire,” start collecting a pension, and then return to work for state either directly or through a contractual arrangement with a third party, collecting a wage or salary while simultaneously collecting pension benefits. The bill would suspend pension payments while an individual worked for the state, directly or indirectly, and also suspend post-retirement health insurance benefits if the person was eligible for employer-sponsored coverage, or Medicare (the federal health plan for seniors). [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 Senate Bill 455 (Revise urban township TIFA criteria ). Passed in the Senate (36 to 0) on October 24, 2007, to amend the eligibility criteria for communities to create local development finance authorities, which undertake public facility projects funded by tax increment financing. The bill would extend this authority to the township of Grass Lake in Jackson County so that it could provide various direct or indirect subsidies to the Tenneco Automotive company. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 House Concurrent Resolution 19. Passed in the Senate (37 to 0) on May 15, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 House Concurrent Resolution 17. Passed in the Senate (37 to 0) on May 15, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 House Concurrent Resolution 16. Passed in the Senate (37 to 0) on May 15, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 House Concurrent Resolution 15. Passed in the Senate (37 to 0) on May 15, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 House Concurrent Resolution 14. Passed in the Senate (37 to 0) on May 15, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 House Concurrent Resolution 13. Passed in the Senate (36 to 0) on May 15, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 House Concurrent Resolution 12. Passed in the Senate (36 to 0) on May 15, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]
Did not vote on 2007 Senate Bill 194 (Revise strict discipline academy funding ). Passed in the Senate (37 to 0) on April 26, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]

Labels: Mark Schauer, politics

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 01:52:00 AM | |

between Libertarians and Conservatives is Federalism!

I don't have time for this!

Jim Manzi harkens back to William F. Buckley in order to discuss adequately the concerns of the two principle philosophical angles of the Right.

Labels: politics, William F. Buckley

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 01:50:00 AM | |

Mark Steyn on voting by historical guilt

Part of the argument is that too many leftists confuse the weigh of metaphorical chains with the weight of real ones.

Part of the truth indicated is that Barack Obama does not have, in the past of his ancestors, the weight of real chains.

Part of the truth is that all of this "historic guilt" is a load of stupid reasons to vote a member of a so-called minority into office.

Some Americans will vote in order to make up for some actions and attitudes perpetrated and beholden by other Americans who are mostly now dead.

Labels: Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, John McCain, Mark Steyn, politics, Presidential race

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 01:46:00 AM | |

WFB - ""The best run country in the world is Switzerland . . ."

The Catholic Libertarian goes back to the bygone words of WFB, with the wondrous notion that perhaps the unobtrusive nature of an ideal (and thus unrealized) government is where you don't even know the leader as a famous figure.

Labels: politics, William F. Buckley

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 01:39:00 AM | |

Huckabee MySpace Bulletin - from his MySpace Page Moderator

From:	Mike Huckabee
Date:	Mar 5, 2008 1:47 AM
Subject:	A Message from Mike's MySpace Page Moderator
Body:	Dear MySpace Friends of Gov. Huckabee: As most all of you know by now, Governor Huckabee has officially ended his bid for the Presidency of the United States, so I wanted to share with all of you a few thoughts of mine at this time. I started this MySpace page back in January 2007 when Mike first announced his intention to run for President. In March 2007, Mike's daughter, Sarah Huckabee, and his daughter-in-law, Lauren Huckabee, asked me to make it the "official" page for the campaign. What an honor that was! Moderating this page has been one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I am grateful to Gov. Huckabee and his family for the opportunity to do so. Throughout the past 15 months, I have had the opportunity to get to know so many of you great supporters of the Governor that I feel like we are part of one big family! To see how all of you have come together and worked your heart out for this campaign has helped to restore my faith in the American political process! I will continue to keep this MySpace page operational and I will continue to add friends and approve comments as well. Please know though that messages may be not be answered in as timely of a manner as before. More importantly, I will continue to keep you all updated periodically on Governor Huckabee's latest endeavors and projects, as I think it's safe to say that America hasn't heard the last from this great man. Again, thank you Governor Huckabee for the opportunity to be so involved in your campaign. You've been a role model and friend to me since that day we first met in 1993 at North Pulaski High School in Jacksonville, Arkansas and you continue to be. And thanks to all of you MySpace friends for making this such a wonderful 15 months for me! Blessings to you all! Darrell W. Brown MySpace Moderator for Governor Mike Huckabee myspace.com/brodarrell

Labels: Mike Huckabee, MySpace, politics, Presidential race, reprints

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 01:37:00 AM | |

Huckabee MySpace Bulletin - Mike Huckabee Ends Bid for the Presidency

From:	Mike Huckabee
Date:	Mar 5, 2008 12:18 AM
Subject:	Mike Huckabee Ends Bid for the Presidency
Body:	Huckabee drops out of presidential race By ANGELA K. BROWN and LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press Writers Mike Huckabee bowed to reality Tuesday and out of the Republican presidential race. "We kept the faith," he told his end-of-the-road rally Tuesday after John McCain clinched the nomination. "I'd rather lose an election than lose the principles that got me into politics in the first place." The genial conservative went out as he had campaigned all along, with a quip: "It's time for us to hit the reset button." Huckabee won the leadoff Iowa caucuses, making him a sudden but short-lived sensation, and then seven other states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisiana and Kansas. Meantime, McCain piled up big victories on his way to winning the prize on Tuesday night. The writing was on the wall for weeks, but the former Arkansas governor hung on until McCain secured the necessary delegates. "We started this effort with very little recognition and virtually no resources," Huckabee told supporters. "We ended with slightly more recognition and very few resources." The crowd laughed. "But what a journey," he said. "What a journey. A journey of a lifetime." Huckabee rarely raised a negative word during the campaign about McCain, a man he clearly likes, and he called him Tuesday night to congratulate him. Huckabee said he extended "my commitment to him and to the party to do everything possible to unite our party, but more importantly to unite our country." Huckabee vowed: "We aren't going away completely. We want to be a part of helping to keep the issues alive that have kept us in this race." An ordained Baptist minister, Huckabee spoke the language of the pastors and preached in their megachurches. He compared abortion to slavery and played up his opposition to gay marriage. At breakfasts and large gatherings with national Christian leaders, Huckabee urged pastors to use their address books and e-mail lists to mobilize their flocks. For a time, conservatives dissatisfied with McCain were drawn to Huckabee, but the party began to unite behind the likely — and now certain — nominee. Huckabee displayed the common touch that came from a meager childhood in a little rented house with a father who worked two jobs in Hope, Ark., hometown of Bill Clinton. He told working-class voters he understood their problems. "When you grow up and life's a struggle, you have a whole different understanding of what most people are going through," he said in one ad. "Most Americans want their next president to remind them of the guy they work with — not the guy who laid them off." He played the bass guitar on the campaign stage, to rock and roll classics like "Mustang Sally" or "Takin' Care of Business." In scoring largely Southern victories, Huckabee demonstrated limited appeal outside of his religious conservative base. He was also a near novice on world affairs, which became evident after a few stumbles. At one point, he was caught unaware that the White House had released a report saying Iran had halted its nuclear weapons program. Throughout, he went easy on McCain — but not their common rival Mitt Romney. Huckabee said he was proud that he and McCain ran a civil campaign. He told supporters in Columbia, S.C., the night he lost there, "Even though I'd like the outcome to be just a little different, I had rather be where I am, and have done it with honor, than to have won with the dishonor of getting there by attacking somebody else."

Labels: Mike Huckabee, politics, Presidential race, reprints

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 01:35:00 AM | |

Mark Schauer - Contact Your Legislator

From MichiganVotes.org

Contact Your Legislator

The Honorable Mark Schauer

The Honorable Mark Schauer
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536

Phone: (517) 373-2426

E-mail Sen. Mark Schauer
Homepage for Sen. Mark Schauer
View campaign contributions to Sen. Mark Schauer

Term information:

1/1/2007 to 12/31/2010: Democrat State Senator, District 19
1/1/2003 to 12/31/2006: Democrat State Senator, District 19
1/1/2001 to 12/31/2002: Democrat State Representative, District 62
1/1/1997 to 12/31/2000: Democrat State Representative, District 62

Labels: Mark Schauer, politics, reprints

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 01:29:00 AM | |

Ron Paul Moves on From Presidential Campaign

The following is an article copied directly from ABC's Political Radar, legally reprinted here on Facebook. It is copied to and reprinted here entirely without permission.

Ron Paul officially, for what it is worth, drops out of the Presidential race and refuses to run for President outside the Republican Party, living up to all promises.

March 6, 2008 7:33 PM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports: "Elections are short-term efforts," Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, told supporters in a Web video tonight. "Revolutions are long-term projects."

Paul indicated that the 2008 presidential campaign portion of his revolution is over.

An earlier version of this report indicated that Paul would "drop out" of the race. In the video, Paul did not use the words "drop out," opting instead to say the campaign is "winding down," and he encourages supporters to still cast votes for him. But he referred to his campaign in the past tense.

"We are still in the early stages of bringing about the changes that this revolution is all about," Paul said in the video. "Let us hope that we can one day look back and say that this campaign was a significant first step that signaled a change in direction for our country. Our job now is to plan for the next phase."

For Paul, that phase will mean spreading his message beyond the campaign trail. He hopes to create an umbrella organization to stoke some of the grassroots support that made his presidential campaign notable.

The video was briefly available on Paul's Web site and YouTube before being pulled for what the campaign termed "technical difficulties." Officials promised it would be reposted on YouTube. In the meantime, the video could be seen by clicking HERE.

Paul said his revolution is about more than his campaign and more than just him. He also put in a plug for his forthcoming book -- "The Revolution: A Manifesto."

It was a spirited run for Paul, whose followers called their support for him a "revolution" of non-interventionism and small government.

In recent weeks, Paul's campaign had already taken a back seat to his simultaneous bid for re-election to his congressional seat.

Despite a concerned-seeming fundraising blitz toward the end of the Republican primary in Texas, Paul won the party primary for the 14th Texas congressional district by more than 2 to 1. He did not fare so well in the Republican presidential primary in Texas, getting less than 5 percent of the vote and no delegates.

Paul has amassed 14 delegates that he can take to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis in September -- miles short of what was needed to be seen as a contender for the nomination.

Paul ran well outside his party on issues as central as the war in Iraq and civil liberties. His contention that his views were closer to the roots of the Republican Party got some people thinking, but ultimately did not get enough votes.

The Texas congressman, an OB-GYN by trade, can rightly claim his presidential bid, which enjoyed a visible -- if apparently non-voting -- following, and enjoyed several quarters of impressive fundraising, was successful at giving Republicans some pause.

Echoes of his pledge to shut down the IRS could be heard in the campaign of Mike Huckabee, who ran closer to the Republican mainstream on other issues. And as the U.S. economy dips, some may see new light in Paul's criticism of the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve for the role they play in inflation.

Ultimately, however, Paul wanted to campaign as a Republican and be, as one aide put it recently, "not entirely quixotic."

Paul has shied away from calls by supporters to run a third party campaign for the presidency. He mounted such a campaign in 1988 when he left the Republican Party to run for president as a Libertarian. But this time, Paul has said that the U.S. political system is too tough a nut to crack for third parties. It takes too much money and organization, he has said, to get on the ballot.

Plus, as he wrote to supporters after trouncing his congressional primary opponent, his job in the Congress is a pretty good one and allows him a soap box from which to preach his small government, libertarian gospel.

"The message of freedom is popular," he wrote on Tuesday night. "And I will continue to trumpet it in Congress and across America as I fight on behalf of the conservative, common-sense values which made our country so great. In conclusion, I would like to offer my thanks and gratitude to all of the wonderful people who supported me in this campaign. I look forward to representing all of the good people of the 14th District of Texas in Congress in the years to come."

Labels: Facebook, politics, Presidential race, reprints, Ron Paul

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/09/2008 12:57:00 AM | |

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

one way to tell if the Simpsons has jumped the Shark #1

One of the characters says "Whaaaaaaaaaa?" in response to something, as an expression of surprise.

I hate it. It sucks.

Labels: television

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/04/2008 05:12:00 PM | |

more than a little smug for 2007

Morons being smug about quotes taken from Republicans (not neccessarily Conservatives) in 2007.

Also there are two bits from Daily Show Stewart and Liar Joe Wilson. It's intended to be ironic, I think.

As an aside - we should recall that the Geneva Convention has a narrow range of application.

Labels: link dump, politics

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/04/2008 03:19:00 PM | |

an upcoming set of posts featuring Morris, McCain and...

the talk radio show that got thrown under the bus!!!

One of my favorite series on this blog is the "versus" series, although I suppose it would be more of a theme than a series. If it is a theme and not a series then coming this week (I am ashamed that I could not create it Sunday) is multi-part series detailing an act of foolishness by Presidential candidate John McCain.

It will work as follows:

Bill Cunningham versus Barack Hussein Obama
John McCain versus Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham versus John McCain
Dick Morris verus Hillary Rodham Clinton
John McCain versus Dick Morris

Ultimately the issue is not that John McCain threw Bill Cunningham under the Straight Talk Express (good Lord why call the bus that) but just who knows Hillary Clinton the best and who regards her publicly in the most honorable light.

Labels: Barack Obama, Bill Cunningham, Hillary Rodham Clinton, John McCain, politics, Presidential race

posted by Chris Arndt at 3/04/2008 02:25:00 PM | |

HOME

Monday, December 17, 2007

We knew racist Mark Schauer was a liar... turns out he's a criminal too!

Mark Schauer: I Oppose Censorship of Blogs

by: Mark Schauer

Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 16:23:06 PM EDT

Schauer Announces Leader Office, Caucus Staff

Contact Your Legislator

The Honorable Mark Schauer