PONTIAC, Mich. (WJBK) - Two former leaders of the Oakland County Democratic Party are facing a total of nine felonies for allegedly forging election paperwork to get fake Tea Party candidates on November's ballot.
"It is not a partisan statement, and we need to make that very clear," said Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper.
Former Oakland County Democratic Chair Mike McGuinness and former Democratic Operations Director Jason Bauer face up to 14 years in prison if convicted.
"Some of the people didn't even know they were on the ballot till they began receiving delinquency notices of filings that were required as a candidate," said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.
The sheriff says 23 statewide races had questionable Tea Party candidates on the ballot and the investigation may go beyond Oakland County.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
House to debate defunding NPR
House Moves Toward Defunding NPR
The House on Thursday moved to proceed to debate on a bill that would block federal funding for National Public Radio.
The passage of the rule for the bill to cut NPR funding comes one week after the resignation of NPR fundraiser Ron Schiller, who came under fire for making controversial remarks about the tea party. The rule passed by a vote of 236-181.
NPR Executive Director Vivian Schiller, who is not related to Ron Schiller, was also fired in the wake of the incident, which drew sharp criticism from Republicans and conservative activists.
The House on Thursday moved to proceed to debate on a bill that would block federal funding for National Public Radio.
The passage of the rule for the bill to cut NPR funding comes one week after the resignation of NPR fundraiser Ron Schiller, who came under fire for making controversial remarks about the tea party. The rule passed by a vote of 236-181.
NPR Executive Director Vivian Schiller, who is not related to Ron Schiller, was also fired in the wake of the incident, which drew sharp criticism from Republicans and conservative activists.
Madison County redistricting hearing set for March 21st at 9:00 am
Supes to pick 1 of 3 plans at meeting
Three maps, each offering different splits on the five Madison County supervisors' districts, are up for public review before a vote on Monday.
The proposals on how to divide the county to reflect 2010 Census figures for elections later this year can be seen online or in person. Residents can look at the proposals via the county's website, http://www.madison-co.com/ or inspect the mounted display maps located outside the board room at the Madison County Chancery Courthouse, 146 W. Center St. in Canton during business hours.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to decide on one of the three plans following a public hearing that begins at 9 a.m. Monday.
"Are any of these perfect plans? No, but the plan chosen will be a fair plan that people can look at and know who their supervisor is as we move forward with the election process," Board of Supervisors President Tim Johnson said Tuesday.
District 3 Supervisor D.I. Smith recommends that residents look over the plans that redistribute the county's population as evenly as possible throughout the five districts before the hearing. Then, he said, he expects the public to respond.
"People need to come to the hearing," he said. "This potentially could be one of the biggest numbers of citizens to get involved since the tax increase in 2008" when angry taxpayers packed the board room.
"I think people will be concerned when they see the massive changes proposed. This was not just tweaking district lines," Smith said.
Three maps, each offering different splits on the five Madison County supervisors' districts, are up for public review before a vote on Monday.
The proposals on how to divide the county to reflect 2010 Census figures for elections later this year can be seen online or in person. Residents can look at the proposals via the county's website, http://www.madison-co.com/ or inspect the mounted display maps located outside the board room at the Madison County Chancery Courthouse, 146 W. Center St. in Canton during business hours.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to decide on one of the three plans following a public hearing that begins at 9 a.m. Monday.
"Are any of these perfect plans? No, but the plan chosen will be a fair plan that people can look at and know who their supervisor is as we move forward with the election process," Board of Supervisors President Tim Johnson said Tuesday.
District 3 Supervisor D.I. Smith recommends that residents look over the plans that redistribute the county's population as evenly as possible throughout the five districts before the hearing. Then, he said, he expects the public to respond.
"People need to come to the hearing," he said. "This potentially could be one of the biggest numbers of citizens to get involved since the tax increase in 2008" when angry taxpayers packed the board room.
"I think people will be concerned when they see the massive changes proposed. This was not just tweaking district lines," Smith said.
CL: Lawmakers push for more drilling permits
WASHINGTON — The administration's "slow-walking'' of drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico is costing thousands of jobs and crippling the Gulf region's economy, Gulf Coast officials told Congress Wednesday.
"We continue to feel the burden of regulatory uncertainty, which has led to the freezing of investment and expenditures and consequently a drag on our economy,'' Scott Angelle, secretary of Louisiana's Department of Natural Resources, told members of the House Natural Resources Committee.
Wednesday's hearing focused on the impact of last year's moratorium on deepwater drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico.
Gulf Coast lawmakers and officials from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama say, even though the temporary ban was lifted late last year, federal officials have been slow to issue permits. They say that's created a "de facto'' ban on drilling in deep and shallow waters.
Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., chairman of the committee, vowed Wednesday to introduce legislation later this month that would speed the permit process and reverse the administration's plan to ban offshore drilling outside the Gulf of Mexico.
"The Obama administration seems unmoved by thousands of lost jobs, rapidly rising gasoline prices and the threat these high prices pose to our economy,'' Hastings said.
Later Wednesday, Gulf Coast lawmakers, including Republican members from Mississippi, warned again that the administration's inaction in issuing new drilling permits will decimate the region's economy.
Fourth District Rep. Steve Palazzo said last year's moratorium has cost the region as many as 12,000 jobs and has made residents in the Gulf feel "powerless.''
"We just keep getting hit on every front,'' Palazzo said. '"Please, we need these jobs.''
Third District Rep. Gregg Harper also urged the administration to issue more permits and expand energy production in the Gulf.
"Instead of slowing the approval process for new offshore drilling permits, the president should be promoting increased domestic energy production from oil, renewables, natural gas, clean coal technology and nuclear power - ultimately leading to an energy-independent America,'' Harper said in a statement.
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"We continue to feel the burden of regulatory uncertainty, which has led to the freezing of investment and expenditures and consequently a drag on our economy,'' Scott Angelle, secretary of Louisiana's Department of Natural Resources, told members of the House Natural Resources Committee.
Wednesday's hearing focused on the impact of last year's moratorium on deepwater drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico.
Gulf Coast lawmakers and officials from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama say, even though the temporary ban was lifted late last year, federal officials have been slow to issue permits. They say that's created a "de facto'' ban on drilling in deep and shallow waters.
Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., chairman of the committee, vowed Wednesday to introduce legislation later this month that would speed the permit process and reverse the administration's plan to ban offshore drilling outside the Gulf of Mexico.
"The Obama administration seems unmoved by thousands of lost jobs, rapidly rising gasoline prices and the threat these high prices pose to our economy,'' Hastings said.
Later Wednesday, Gulf Coast lawmakers, including Republican members from Mississippi, warned again that the administration's inaction in issuing new drilling permits will decimate the region's economy.
Fourth District Rep. Steve Palazzo said last year's moratorium has cost the region as many as 12,000 jobs and has made residents in the Gulf feel "powerless.''
"We just keep getting hit on every front,'' Palazzo said. '"Please, we need these jobs.''
Third District Rep. Gregg Harper also urged the administration to issue more permits and expand energy production in the Gulf.
"Instead of slowing the approval process for new offshore drilling permits, the president should be promoting increased domestic energy production from oil, renewables, natural gas, clean coal technology and nuclear power - ultimately leading to an energy-independent America,'' Harper said in a statement.
Read More
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