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Political Update

By Robert E. Martin

State Attorney General Needs to Issue an Opinion on Continued City Council Charter Violations

        The dysfunctional inability of the Saginaw City Council to find a replacement created by the resignation of Dennis Browning only underscores the need for sweeping change, especially considering that we are dealing with a Council that cannot even follow the rules of its own City Charter.

 

Chapter III Section 15 of the Charter clearly states: "A vacancy occurring in the council shall be filled within 30 days by a majority vote of the remaining councilmen." The fact that that the city is now past the 30-day mark, with 28 tie-votes divided between Earl Jesse and Harold Evans, simply demonstrates an inability of Council to follow fundamental rules of running a government.
     

With Evans dropping out of the race and the Council set on taking both new and re-applications from the original flock of candidates seeking the post, it appears attentions are being diverted from another very clear violation of the City Charter by Councilwoman Roma Thurin.
     

Thurin has stated on two separate instances to reporters that she is interested in seeking the office of State Representative currently held by Carl Williams. 

 

Again, the Charter is very clear on this topic, stating in Chapter 14: 'No officer or employee shall be a candidate for any elective office or a member of any committee or similar organization of any political party or participate actively in partisan politics, except that a councilman may be a candidate to succeed himself."
 

When councilman Mike Hanley announced to the press he was seeking the State Rep position, he immediately resigned from City Council.  When councilman Carl Williams announced that he was intending to run for the position, he immediately resigned from City Council.

 

So why hasn't Thurin been forced to resign?  It appears that given the clear language of the Charter, City Attorney Tom Fancher doesn't feel there is a conflict.  However, laws are built upon facts & reason, not feelings.
  

It is imperative that Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox issue an opinion on this matter as quickly as possible.  Had action been taken sooner, it could have broken the Council deadlock on selecting a replacement for Browning.
     
Time to Put Iraq Back in the Spotlight

Can anybody tell me what happened to the war in Iraq? You surely must remember it because it's still going on. But in-between the media circus of the Michael Jackson trial and the debate over poor Terry Schiavo, coupled with President Bush's current attempts to focus attention on reforming Social Security, the cost in lives & resources to our country still continues to escalate.

Let me refresh your memories.

To date the Iraq conflict has taken the lives of more than 1,550 U.S troops and an estimated 20,000 Iraqi civilians, causing life-altering injuries to more than 6,000 other American soldiers and countless more Iraqis.

It's also the war that has cost the U.S. upwards of $165 billion dollars and contributed to a 23 percent increase in the price of gasoline since we invaded Baghdad.
It's the war that has divided our nation while fostering mistrust from many of our allies and neighbors, all the while establishing Iraq as ground zero for further terrorist recruitment.

It is also the war that was not mentioned once during President Bush's 21-minute 2005 inaugural address.

For the more than a quarter of a million brave American souls that we have sent over to Iraq, it is time that as a nation of serial obsessives, we s tart putting the cost and ramifications of this catastrophe back on the front-burner.

Senate Democrats Push for Water Legacy Legislation: Senate Republicans Will Not Give a Vote

Every day, Michigan loses 3 billion gallons of water that are not naturally replaced. That water is vital to the economic and environmental health of Michigan.

Sen. Liz Braters Water Legacy Act (WLA) would give the state the ability to require permitting for water outflows. Senate Democrats have presented legislation, but the Republican controlled Senate will not bring the bill to the floor.

Michigan is the only state in the Great Lakes basin without a law regulating water withdrawal, yet Michigan is the state most dependent on the Great Lakes.

We have no legal framework for protecting future threats to this resource. The water deficit has been so severe in recent years that groundwater use has caused the reversal of the water flow into the Great Lakes.

At a time when Michigan is losing population and influence in Washington, it is imperative that we get some form of protective legislation in place to protect our most precious natural resource.

The WLA would help us protect and manage our water resources while providing a predictable regulatory environment for businesses. Through town halls and hearings, Senate Democrats continue to make efforts to ensure legislation that will work for both businesses and the environment.

A forum was held in Ann Arbor last month, and future gatherings are planned in Muskegon, Monroe, Grayling, the Upper Peninsula, and St. Claire Shores.

I urge you to contact your representatives today and demand that they act on this extremely important piece of legislation.

Last Minute Update . . .
 
The 303 Collective will be presenting the 303 Exhibition 2 which will feature artists Christina Gibbs & Jason Graham sharing the 303's main exhibition space to display their sculptural and installation works.

The Gallery will be open July 8-9 from 12 pm - 6 pm; July 15-16, July 22-23, and July 29-30, also from 12 - 6 pm. An artist reception will be held on July 9th from 4-7 pm.

For more information call 989-297-5111 or e-mail the 303collective@yahoo.com