Budget Reflections
September 15th, 2007 | by christine |I’m just going to throw this together real quick and then proceed with my life for a while. Sounds crazy, but I really do have one.
Sub only MIRS is reporting that,
Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the administration worked with Dillon’s team to reach compromises with some Republican members. Among those things allegedly offered were judgeships, no-contest elections and more money for school districts in certain legislator’s districts.
See, this is why we do not wait until the last minute to do these things. Now we have to give away the farm. Judgeships? Think those are gonna be liberal judges? This has huge implications.
Why did we wait?
MIRS also reports that the focus of the negotiations are on Dick Ball and Mike Nofs.
First of all, Mike Nofs belongs to SBC, so all you have to do is make SBC happy and Mike Nofs will bend over for you.
Second, Dick Ball is my guy, and this is why I told Leon Drolet that it was stupid for him to bring the pig to my town. Dick Ball does what the Republicans tell him to do. Period.
Another thing that strikes is the short-term mentality of a lot of these Republican House members. For example, Rep Tom Pearce said yesterday, “I’m confused as to why this amendment is before us today. It won’t help us today.” He went on to explain that the House shouldn’t be looking at things that will help in the future.
That’s the kind of thinking that goes on in the House. Explains a lot, doesn’t it?
The budget negotiations will continue on into the weekend. Meanwhile I’m going to try to look the other way for the next couple of days while this train wreck runs its course.
5 Responses to “Budget Reflections”
By David Ball on Sep 19, 2007 | Reply
christine: I appreciate your support for my father, State Representative Dick Ball. However, I must assert that he does not do what the Republicans tell him to do (nor does he do what the Democrats want him to do). My father does what he sincerely believes is the right thing to do for the citizens of the 85th District and the state of Michigan. Period. Some of the electorate may disagree with his voting record, but they should respect his integrity, which is a scarce commodity in Lansing.
By christine on Sep 19, 2007 | Reply
Hi David, thanks for the comment.
I have a bit of a soft spot for your dad because he is incredibly well liked in this area. A lot of people I know really like him. Very rarely do you find someone who dislikes him or says something negative about him personally.
But I disagree with you, because (generally speaking) when you talk to a Democrat, they say “Dick Ball sounds like a Democrat.” When you talk to a Republican, they say, “Dick Ball sounds like a Republican.” When you look at his voting record, it’s all Republican.
Whether he does what they tell him, or he does what he sees them do, is not for me to say. But I think he’s just 1)open minded and 2) influenced by the strongest voice, and the strongest voice to a member of the Republican caucus is the Republican caucus. I really think that is what goes on.
Otherwise, when he “sounds like a Democrat” (which is why he has so much Democratic support), then he’s lying to us, because he certainly doesn’t vote like a Democrat. I just can’t believe he’s a liar. I just think he’s influenced.
My opinion is based on watching him very closely in the debates and the campaigns. I don’t think he’s a bad guy, I don’t think he has an integrity problem, I just think he is not settled on a position, and by the time the Republican caucus is through with him, he believes that they are right.
I am disappointed in his conduct with this budget business. Pick a position and vote on it. Quit playing around. But that’s a problem that they all have, it’s hardly a Dick Ball thing.
So, you got a new blog going? That’s great! I’m all for blogs & bloggers, so let me know if I can help you get some visitors.
By David Ball on Sep 19, 2007 | Reply
christine: Okay, here’s a quick response. As an independent voter, I’m not sure what a Republican or a Democrat “sounds like.” In terms of core values, I believe the Democratic party lost its way in the 1970s, and the Republican party lost its way in the 1980s. My father “sounds like” himself, because he says what he believes, and I’m pleased that voters from both political parties can relate to him. He may be influenced by his peers in the Republican party in the same way that we’re all influenced by the people with whom we keep company, for better or for worse. He may not appear to be “settled” on a position because he is very analytical and he weighs the pros and cons before establishing his position. This approach may confound or frustrate some observers if they prefer an idealogue who consistently supports the party position on a public policy issue. I prefer my father’s thoughtful and deliberative way of serving his constituents. I’m proud of his conduct in the budget process because he has upheld his principles and maintained his integrity while working under tremendous political pressure. My father is committed to doing the right thing on behalf of the citizens of the 85th District and the state of Michigan. In contrast, many of his peers in both the Republican and Democratic parties have exhibited a willingness to sell their souls for thirty pieces of silver, metaphorically speaking.
By christine on Sep 19, 2007 | Reply
Well when you listen to him speak, he does sound like he is being deliberately thoughtful. But at the end of it all, I’m not sure where he stands. And like I said, the voting doesn’t match that talk. However I don’t really disagree with you on the majority of what you said.
The thing about the budget is, just yesterday or today, he said he didn’t want to vote on revenues with Drolet threatening him with recall, unless the vulnerable Democrats would vote on revenues too. It’s all about the pink pig. And in your dad’s case, there’s no reason to give Drolet any concern whatsoever, because 1)Shiawassee just loves your dad and will not recall him, and 2)Shiawassee is burned out on recalls anyway, and 3)even people like me (mouthy partisan hacks) would support him.
So I was a little disheartened to hear him mention the pink pig. But he is at least involved in the negotiations, so I give him credit for hopefully building a bridge between the two parties. I will give him big kudos if he helps bring the two together.
But like I said before, I’m not thrilled with any of them at this time. I lost a lot of respect for them when they took the 2 week vacation in July, when we had a budget crisis hanging over us. House Dems were clearly complicit in that. That wasn’t your dad’s doing but it definitely left me with a distaste for all of them who did not object to the time away from budget negotiations.
By David Ball on Sep 19, 2007 | Reply
christine: I don’t blame you and other voters for becoming cynical about the political process in Lansing. The governor and the legislature have demonstrated very little integrity or competence in the budget process. While unwarranted in a time of crisis, I’m not convinced the legislative vacation hindered progress toward an ultimate resolution because the positions had already become hardened. The partisan debate has devolved into a blood feud among Machiavellian idealogues who don’t have much regard for their political opponents. The future of Michigan is at stake, and the rest of the nation is moving forward while Michigan spins its wheels. (Please excuse the metaphors.)