Can a Millionaire Michigan Congressman Represent the Average Michigander?

Did you know that Michigan is represented by at least seven millionaires in Congress? No, they do not receive that much as our representatives in Congress. They only make $165,200 from their congressional pay and supplement it in other ways. Oh yeah, and don't forget the free trips to such fun places as Las Vegas (Fred Upton), Mackinac (John Dingell), and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Sander Levin). In case my loyal readers have not noticed, I tend to stick up for the little man. Kind of like how Johnny Cash wore black to show support to the "poor and beaten down." Now, I am no Johnny Cash, but more importantly I am also no millionaire (although the extra cash would be nice ;)).

The median income in Michigan is $45,000. It takes millions of dollars to campaign for Congress these days. You can do the math in your head and easily come to the same conclusion. The "little man" is not running for Congress and winning. If the "little man" cannot afford to run for Congress, how is he fairly represented?

Thanks to The Detroit News, here is a list of those congressmen that are millionaires. I also included links to their respective contact pages so you can drop them a line and ask them what they do to represent the "little man."

• Rep. Fred Upton,R-St. Joseph
• Rep. Joe Schwarz, R-Battle Creek
• Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland
• Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills
• Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn
• Rep. Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak
• Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit

Do yourself a favor and read the full article in The Detroit News. I am still trying to make my eyebrows come back down from my hairline.

Granholm and DeVos in a Battle for Governor of Michigan

We have yet to see any real nasty mudslinging (and that is a good thing) from either Jennifer Granholm or Dick DeVos in their campaigns for the 2006 Michigan Gubernatorial election. Sure, there have been small snipes and light jabs, but no malicious attacks have been launched (again, that is a good thing). It must be tough to have to campaign in Michigan in the summer. I can not imagine trying to turn people's attention to politics when there are so many fairs, festivals, and fun things to do and see. Not that Michigan voters are apathetic or unconcerned about our economy, jobs, roads, and public schools. A quick Google search (I searched this phrase in quotes "michigan politics") turned up over 73,000 results.

An article in The Detroit News highlights the battle that awaits the incumbent, Jennifer Granholm, and the challenger, Dick DeVos. Hey, while I am thinking of it. You need to register to vote (if you have not yet done so) no later than October 10 if you want to have a say (and you should) in who is Michigan's next governor.

By the way, DeVos is pronounced de-vaus. Recently, my sister was talking about somebody named DeeVoehs (her pronunciation, not mine). I thought she was talking about that rock group, Devo. Boy, did I ever laugh when I figured out she was talking about Dick DeVos :).

Hey Granholm & DeVos, it's the Economy, Stupid

Remember Bill Clinton's successful presidential campaign in 1992? The Democratic strategist, James Carville, hung a sign in Clinton's campaign headquarters that had the following three points -

1. Change vs. more of the same
2. The economy, stupid
3. Don't forget health care.

You know, both Granholm and DeVos could both be using those three points in their campaigns this year. Especially now that a recent poll from the Detroit News shows that 79% of Michigan voters polled say the economy (stupid) is the top challenge facing Michigan. Also, 64% believe that Michigan's economy is getting weaker with only 9% thinking it is getting stronger.

One of the poll's scariest numbers (at least to me) was that Education was in second place (behind the Economy at 79%) with 4% believing that it is the most serious issue affecting Michigan. Without a proper education how will the future Michigan workforce be any better prepared for a rapidly changing economy than our current workforce?

Will it be Governor Granholm or her challenger Dick DeVos that creates a solid plan (with hard facts and figures) and gives Michigan voters enough hope to garner their votes this November?

Key Points of DeVos' Michigan Turnaround Plan

Okay, it took some doing, but I managed to peruse the 34 page Michigan Turnaround Plan that Dick DeVos unveiled late last week. Like all plans, his has a plethora of innovative ideas and common sense. However, putting this plan and individual ideas in place is a whole different ballgame. I love fresh and innovative ideas. Getting them up and running is usually a tough sell. Too often, our lawmakers (both federal and state levels) are stuck in the old mentality of "but we have always done things this way" and are scared to make bold moves down a new path.

DeVos' Michigan Turnaround Plan outlines four missions that he has set for our state. Again, it is an "outline" which means that he lays out his ideas without a lot of concrete ideas on how to accomplish them. I am not knocking DeVos' plan, Governor Granholm does the same thing with all of her plans. All politicians do this sort of thing. Remember the first President George Bush's "no new taxes" statement?

Anyway, here is a (very brief) synopsis of the four missions DeVos has outlined for Michigan's Turnaround Plan:

Mission #1 - Create a job climate second to none. So no other state can “Match Michigan.”

• Get rid of the SBT
• Reduce the red tape and layers of government to make it easier to start businesses in Michigan
• Demand high standards for high school graduates. Offer support to administrators and teachers as well as give them the tools they need to meet those requirements

Mission #2 - Overhaul state government to make it work for Michigan families. To make it work for jobs.

• Transform the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) into what it was meant to do – attract job providers and create jobs.
• Cut through red tape
• Cut state spending. Michigan's budge has increased over the last four years. FY 2002-2003 $39.077 billion FY 2006-2007 $42.385 billion

  Increase of over $3 billion

Mission #3 - Diversify our economy to create the jobs of tomorrow.

• Get job creation ideas from our universities
• Simplify the process of starting a business in Michigan
• Market Michigan's agricultural products around the world
• Increase funding for tourism promotion

Mission #4 - Conquer the global marketplace and sell Michigan-made products all over the world.

• Improve our efforts to sell Michigan-made products around the world (here, here, I support that :))
• Make and promote a “Made in Michigan” brand.

Read the full report here.

Want to Learn More about Dick DeVos?

This morning's Detroit News has an in-depth article about the man behind the campaign for Michigan's next Governor, Dick DeVos. The article lets readers get to know about DeVos from his early childhood to the present. It is nice to get some background information on him, but if you want to know what his campaign is about you should check out his Michigan Turnaround Plan. The plan is in PDF format and is about just under 10 MB. I haven't had the time to read and digest it just yet. It is 39 pages long, so I guess I will read it over the weekend and post my thoughts this Monday.

My favorite quote from the Detroit News article is this one -

Asked for the bedrock principal that explains why he's running for governor, the former Boy Scout and Scout leader said: "I believe the Boy Scout idea that you leave the campsite better than you found it."

I wrote something similar in the comments of another post earlier this week in response to saying that Dick DeVos was not qualified to be Governor of Michigan. My comment was this -

"Well, whomever is elected Governor in November will be in charge of a state that is not really any better off than when John Engler left us in this mess four years ago. We still need someone with innovative and unconventional methods to shake Michigan out of its economic doldrums."

Saturday's Detroit News will feature "a closer look at DeVos' experience at Alticor, formerly Amway, and his family's wealth."

Dick DeVos' Campaign Blog

DeVos Leads Granholm by 8 Points

In the latest Detroit News/WXYZ-TV Poll, Dick DeVos is shown to be leading Governor Granholm by 8 points. DeVos has 48 percent to Granholm's 40 percent with another 12 percent undecided. The poll has an error rate of 4-points. Now, 48 percent is not exactly an overwhelming majority by any means. If it were something like 60-40 that would at least show a clear majority preferring one candidate over the other. Democrats will say that DeVos bought his lead with the millions he has spent on television ads. Republicans will say that it is DeVos' message that is resonating with voters as well as Michigan's economic woes that has enabled this lead in the polls.

I am not too big on polls. Remember the exit polling performed in the last presidential election? Supposedly Bush was being soundly trounced.

Read The Detroit News for more information regarding Michigan's race for the next governor.