Reform Michigan: No-Reason Absentee Voting

I just stumbled across an editorial from the Lansing State (July 10, 2008 edition) which brings out a very simple point about no-reason absentee voting.  It notes that in the Reform Michigan NOW ballot proposal, on section creates no reason absentee voting.  Well, why can’t the legislature just do it?  They have tried in the past and yet nothing has ever been able to make it to law.  Below is an excert:

In Michigan, unless you are a senior citizen, you are required to provide a proper reason for requesting a ballot before Election Day.

This is an impediment to voting – and unfair. Why should senior citizens be given a voting option denied to younger voters?

Year after year, legislation is filed at the State Capitol to alter the law. Quite a few of these bills, some backed by Democrats, some by Republicans, would authorize “no-reason” balloting. If any registered voter wants an absentee ballot, they can get it – without giving a reason.

Yet the bills have invariably gone nowhere.

… (read the entire editorial)

I don’t think it’s a secret to anyone who knows me that I tend to like the Lansing State Journal – and it’s these kinds of editorials that make me like them!

GM announces cuts, changes

Here we go again: round infinity-billion of US auto makers crying about tough times and how it is sooo hard for them to have to let people go to return to profitabilty, but it must be done.  To be quite honest, I believe a lot of people in Michigan have had it with all the talk and the whining.  Yes, it’s true the Bush Administration doesn’t care about the auto industry and the entire state is suffering because of this, but the auto manufacturers based in Michigan have to start at least partially blaming themselves for being so wrapped up in big profit, low fuel efficient vehicles.  Now their employees are paying the price.

From CNN.com:

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — General Motors Corp. said Tuesday it will suspend its dividend, sell off $4 billion to $7 billion worth of assets and cut 20% worth of salaried cash costs in an overall plan to save billions of dollars.

“We need to take some very tough actions to ensure our survival and success,” said Chief Executive Rick Wagoner, in a press conference, referring to the current market conditions as an “unprecedentedly difficult time.”

…

Bigger Paycheck?

For many people in the state of Michigan, July 2nd passed without a second thought.  But for over 300,000 people, July 2nd meant a bigger paycheck.  The Michigan Minimum wage increased from $7.15 to $7.40 because of a bill passed in 2006 which phased in a three-tiered wage hike.  It is also believed that over 450,000 workers recieved some sort of pay boost even though they were already above the minimum wage.

In short, this means that a person working a full-time job at minimum wage, has gone from making $10,712 a year to $15,392 per year.  They did this within a two year time span.  While we should certainly be applauding this movement towards a more fair wage (but not necessarily good enough yet), it still hurts to know that it is not even enough to break the 2008 federal poverty definition for 2008:

         2008 HHS Poverty Guidelines

Persons in Family or Household	48 Contiguous States and D.C.	Alaska	Hawaii
1	$10,400	$13,000	$11,960
2	14,000	17,500	16,100
3	17,600	22,000	20,240
4	21,200	26,500	24,380
5	24,800	31,000	28,520
6	28,400	35,500	32,660
7	32,000	40,000	36,800
8	35,600	44,500	40,940
For each additional person, add	3,600	4,500	4,140

SOURCE:  Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 15, January 23, 2008, pp. 3971–3972

So thank you very much for the pay increase, but we seriously need to look at adjusting it for inflation (like the state of Washington) or requiring a vote every year on it or something of the sort.  I’m open for ideas here people. 

Term Limits – Part 1: Defense

In 1992, Michigan voters approved term limits for state elected officials.  The governor, state senators, attorney general and Secretary of State can serve two 4 year terms; State house members may serve three 2 year terms.  I for one strongly oppose term limits, and the evidence seems to be stacking up against them. 

But in response to a Detroit News article about high turnover in the State House (you can see it here), I’ve decided to look a little closer into term limits and try to help some of my nonpolitical friends understand the argument better.  I’m sharing that information on here for all of you as well!

But before I get too far, I should admit there are certainly arguments for and against term limits in this state, mostly revolving around special interests and career politicians and each argument deserves a close look.  I’ll start with a defense.

McCain plans $400M campaign despite Public Financing

Wow.  $400 million is A LOT of money, but that is how much McCain’s campaign manager says the campaing is budgeting for during the election (both primary and general).  This is not all his own money, obviously, especially since McCain has chosen to keep his promise to accept public financing.  The plan looks as follows:

The McCain campaign expects to benefit from the Republican National Committee’s widening fundraising edge over the Democratic National Committee. The party committees are allowed to coordinate spending with their presidential nominees, as well as make independent, uncoordinated expenditures.

At the end of May, the RNC had more than ten times as much money in the bank as the DNC — $40.6 million to $4.4 million. June financial reports are due with the Federal Election Commission on July 20.

Both parties also have formed joint fundraising accounts with their candidates. Davis said the McCain Victory 2008 committee had $67.8 million in the bank at the end of June. Combined with McCain’s own war chest, the Arizona senator now has about $94.5 million as he prepares to enter the general election. (Full article)

With Obama opting out of public financing, there has been a lot of debate about the system and whether it works or not.

Gas Prices

Okay, time for a random issue rant.

So we all know that gas costs are rising, but have you ever stopped to think the impact that has on other aspects of our life or how corporations could be ‘dealing’ with the problem?  Through my extensive geekiness, I have discovered two interesting articles that I wanted to share with you all.