(3559,3559,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If you walk through the halls of the Capitol you will see the lobbyists doing what they do best - pushing the agenda of their clients. They are working hard now on members of the Michigan Senate to push through the Medicaid deal that Governor Snyder has been promoting and that the Michigan House has already passed.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on whose working behind the scenes to make a deal for their special interests click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18370?utm_source=Mackinac+Center+Publications&amp;utm_campaign=e3491928e1-MichCapCon_12_28_2011&amp;utm_medium=email\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18370?utm_source=Mackinac+Center+Publications&amp;utm_campaign=e3491928e1-MichCapCon_12_28_2011&amp;utm_medium=email</span></a><br />',2,3089,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3560,3560,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A newly unveiled component of President Obama&rsquo;s healthcare law forcing insurers to pay annual fees is raising RED FLAGS in state capitols. The new tax could be as high as $15 billion that could disrupt Medicaid programs and other services.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The health insurance providers fee in the healthcare reform law is designed to raise tens of billions of dollars in the coming years.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the new regulations and how they will impact the states click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/administration/287005-states-balk-at-15b-obama-healthcare-tax-on-insurers\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/administration/287005-states-balk-at-15b-obama-healthcare-tax-on-insurers</span></a><br />',2,3090,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3562,3562,'President Obama has publicly stated he has the most transparent administration ever.&nbsp; Well, maybe he thinks so.&nbsp; But there seems to be some discrepancy between his view of &quot;transparency&quot; and the public\'s requests for information.&nbsp; Freedom of Information requests were filled at a rate of about 65%, with the remaining denied requests often blamed on national security.&nbsp; Good enough?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/11/us-citing-security-to-censor-more-public-records-analysis-finds/\">www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/11/us-citing-security-to-censor-more-public-records-analysis-finds/</a><br />',2,3093,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3563,3563,'Republicans are often accused to trying to prevent people from voting.&nbsp; Those on the Left claim that asking for identification is a barrier to casting a ballot.&nbsp; And then we hear something like this:&nbsp; a Cincinnati<strong> poll</strong> <strong>worker </strong>voted for Obama six times!&nbsp; And she may have been voting more than once for many elections!&nbsp; How does this happen?&nbsp; What can be done about it?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/03/12/cincinnati-poll-worker-indicted-for-voting-for-obama-six-times/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/03/12/cincinnati-poll-worker-indicted-for-voting-for-obama-six-times/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3565,3565,'Rep. Paul Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman, introduced his budget plan today.&nbsp;&nbsp; To get the specifics, see:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/342708/ryans-conservative-budget-andrew-stiles\">www.nationalreview.com/articles/342708/ryans-conservative-budget-andrew-stiles</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\nThere\'s a rumor that the Democrats are going to introduce their budget plan, too.&nbsp; And then there will be an ordinary legislative procedure in which both chambers vote on their budget plans and, if they don\'t agree, the legislation goes to conference committee to resolve the differences.&nbsp; No late night, back room deals this time.&nbsp; Think they can do it?<br />',2,3095,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3566,3566,'After four years of not passing a budget, the Senate Democrats have introduced a budget plan at last!&nbsp; In summary, it\'s pretty simple:&nbsp; raise taxes, leave entitlements alone.&nbsp; How will this go over with the American public?&nbsp; What will Senate Republicans do?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.redstate.com/2013/03/12/vulnerable-incumbent-democrats-leery-of-budget-mcconnell-vows-theyre-not-getting-another-tax-hike/\">www.redstate.com/2013/03/12/vulnerable-incumbent-democrats-leery-of-budget-mcconnell-vows-theyre-not-getting-another-tax-hike/</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\nP.S.&nbsp; Still nothing from the White House.&nbsp; What happens when (if?) the President\'s budget arrives on Capitol Hill?<br />',2,3096,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3567,3567,'Does anyone else see a problem with public policy being impacted by Yoko Ono and Lady Gaga?&nbsp; Looks like the latest cause of Pop Culture is fracking, or, more to the point, anti-fracking.&nbsp; What irony that the Progressives should come out against a practice that is, in fact, moving the country forward in its quest to become energy independent!&nbsp; Yet, despite all the real scientific evidence to the contrary, celebrities and Hollywood have deemed that fracking will cause an environmental holocaust and must be stopped!&nbsp; Everyone should be charging their smart phones, tablets and MP3 players from their windmill in the back yard!&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/03/12/frack-to-the-future/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/03/12/frack-to-the-future/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3569,3569,'What\'s going on at the White House?&nbsp; Has President Obama discovered humility?&nbsp; Or is this just a charade for the press?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/03/12/obamas-charm-offensive/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/03/12/obamas-charm-offensive/</a><br />',2,3098,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3570,3570,'In an interview with ABC News, President Obama said that, at the moment, the national debt is manageable.&nbsp;&nbsp; No immediate problem, everybody calm down!&nbsp; Wasn\'t his excuse for the poor economy a huge debt that was left by the previous administration?&nbsp; And now that the debt has doubled since Obama took office, it\'s no longer a problem?&nbsp; Who does he think he\'s kidding?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/03/13/in-reality-debt-matters-it-matters-a-lot/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/03/13/in-reality-debt-matters-it-matters-a-lot/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3571,3571,'In an interview with ABC News, President Obama said that, at the moment, the national debt is manageable.&nbsp;&nbsp; No immediate problem, everybody calm down!&nbsp; Wasn\'t his excuse for the poor economy a huge debt that was left by the previous administration?&nbsp; And now that the debt has doubled since Obama took office, it\'s no longer a problem?&nbsp; Who does he think he\'s kidding?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/03/13/in-reality-debt-matters-it-matters-a-lot/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/03/13/in-reality-debt-matters-it-matters-a-lot/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3572,3572,'In an interview with ABC News, President Obama, for the moment, the national debt is manageable.&nbsp; No immediate problem, everybody calm down!&nbsp; Wasn\'t this the same guy who blamed the poor economy on a huge debt left by the previous administration?&nbsp; And now that it\'s doubled, no big deal?&nbsp; Who does he think he\'s kidding?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/03/13/in-reality-debt-matters-it-matters-a-lot/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/03/13/in-reality-debt-matters-it-matters-a-lot/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3574,3574,'The Common Core State Standards Initiative sets grade-by-grade requirements for K-12 students in many academic areas.&nbsp; It was used as the basis for President Obama\'s Race to the Top, that awarded $4.35 billion in federal grants to schools.&nbsp; As a result, a large majority of the states adopted the standards so they would be eligible to receive the money.&nbsp; But there are many concerns about the Common Core Initiative.&nbsp; Not only does it shift control of educational curriculum away from the states, but home schoolers and private institutions are concerned that they, also, will lose &quot;educational liberty, parental rights, and local authority&quot;.&nbsp; As with so many federal initiatives that look good on the surface, drilling down exposes problems.&nbsp; Why is opposition growing to the Common Core?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/education/item/14756-opposition-to-obama-backed-national-education-scheme-grows\">www.thenewamerican.com/culture/education/item/14756-opposition-to-obama-backed-national-education-scheme-grows</a><br />',2,3100,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3575,3575,'This has been the week of the dueling budgets.&nbsp; Both House Republicans and Senate Democrats have introduced dramatically different budgets.&nbsp; These budgets underscore the significant differences betwen the parties in their views of how to deal with the debt and move the country forward.&nbsp; A&nbsp;former Congressional Budget Office director, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, predicts that the Republican budget plan would result in more economic growth and, consequently, more jobs.&nbsp; How does he reach that conclusion?&nbsp; Get details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/former-congressional-budget-chief-balanced-budget-increase-job-121049514--politics.html\">news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/former-congressional-budget-chief-balanced-budget-increase-job-121049514--politics.html</a><br />',2,3101,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3580,3580,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">This is a excerpt from an article from Michigan Capitol Confidential:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong><em><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;According to the latest capital improvement program submitted to the state, Evart Municipal Airport has no hangars, no fueling, no aircraft based there and an issue with deer entering the runway. Over the next five years, the airport has requested $1,072,884 in federal entitlements, $93,936 in federal apportionment, $89,553 from the state, and $534,678 from the local government. The nearly $1.7 million requested is more than the $1.6 million the airport has received from those sources since 2000.&quot;</span></em></strong></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on where the federal government could be cutting spending click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18433\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18433</span></a><br />',2,3104,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3581,3581,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">These are some of the known consequences of Obamacare we will see in the future::</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">1. Millions are and will lose their current insurance.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">2. Healthcare premiums will continue skyrocket.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">3. Job losses.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">4. Potential doctor shortages.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">5. Tax increases on America\'s middle class.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To see the details of these negative impacts and the other possible effects click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/03/22/Top-Ten-ObamaCare-Stories-Media-Covering-Up\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/03/22/Top-Ten-ObamaCare-Stories-Media-Covering-Up</span></a><br />',2,3106,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3585,3585,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Never trust what goes on behind closed doors!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The democrats are pushing hard to cut a deal that will grant amnesty to 11,000,000 undocumented aliens.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It is a perfect opportunity to complete their path to &ldquo;State Socialism&rdquo; that the President and his progressive minions have been pushing for the last 4 years. If the amnesty bill they are pushing passes it could well be the end of the republican party as we know it.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read an article on what is going on and the possible outcome click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2013/03/19/sessions-gop-allies-ask-for-hearings-on-secret-immigration-bill/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://dailycaller.com/2013/03/19/sessions-gop-allies-ask-for-hearings-on-secret-immigration-bill/</span></a><br />',2,3108,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3588,3588,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Vice President Biden told an enthusiastic crowd that the 2012 election results were a mandate for the democrats and on America\'s future direction - and that Republicans &quot;didn\'t get the message.&quot;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">All the democrats need to do in 2014 is to win 17 seats in the House and they will be in total control of congress and be able to complete the &ldquo;FUNDAMENTAL TRANSFORMATION&rdquo; of America from a republic to a Socialist Democracy.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read an article on what the democrat goals are to destroy the America as we know it click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57575972/biden-republicans-didnt-get-the-message-from-2012/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57575972/biden-republicans-didnt-get-the-message-from-2012/</span></a><br />',2,3111,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3590,3590,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">In 887 Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior: <br />\r\n</span><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form o government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship.&quot; </span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&quot;The average age of the world\'s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence: </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">From bondage to spiritual faith; </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">From spiritual faith to great courage; </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">From courage to liberty; </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">From liberty to abundance; </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">From abundance to complacency; </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">From complacency to apathy; </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">From apathy to dependence; </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">From dependence back into bondage.&quot; </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 128);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Obituary follows: </span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong>Born 1776, Died 2012 </strong></em></span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It doesn\'t hurt to read this several times. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the last Presidential election: </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Number of States won by: </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obama: 19 </span></span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Romney: 29 </span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Square miles of land won by: </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 128);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obama: 580,000 </span></span><br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\">Romney: 2,427,000 </span></span></strong></em><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Population of counties won by: </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obama: 127 million </span></span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Romney: 143 million </span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 128);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obama: 13.2 </span></span><br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Romney: 2.1 </span></span></strong></em><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Professor Olson adds: </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;In aggregate, the map of the territory Romney won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country. </span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 128);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Obama territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in low income tenements and living off various forms of government welfare...&quot; </span></span></strong></em><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the &quot;complacency and apathy&quot; phase of Professor Tyler\'s definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation\'s population already having reached the &quot;governmental dependency&quot; phase. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<strong><em><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegals - and they vote - then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years. </span></span></em></strong><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If you are in favor of this, then by all means, delete this message. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If you are not, then pass this along to help everyone realize just how much is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">IS THIS THE AMRICA YOU WANT?<br />\r\nMAKE A DIFFERENCE, GET INVOLVED!</span></span></strong></em></div>\r\n<br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3591,3591,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">In direct response to discussions with frustrated residents from his Senate district Senator Jones has introduced legislation.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The proposed proposed legislation would restore the personal income tax exemptions on pensions and the homestead property tax credits.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the complete story read the rest of the article at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/group_of_republican_senators_s.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/group_of_republican_senators_s.html</span></a><br />',2,3114,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3593,3593,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Senators Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have been pushing for the creation of a biometric ID card&nbsp; that would use personal markers such as fingerprints to make it easy for employers to check the status of prospective hires. But Graham said cost estimates came back higher than he expected, and</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;That seems to have been cost-prohibitive, so we\'re looking at other ways to achieve the same goal,&quot;.</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">E-Verify was launched as a pilot program in 1997 and now is used by about 7 percent of employers. It\'s largely voluntary as a federal program but mandatory in some states. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Draft immigration legislation by President Barack Obama, which he has said he\'ll offer if the Senate group doesn\'t come to agreement quickly enough, would make E-Verify mandatory nationally, and the Senate group is likely to take the same route.</strong></em></span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the complete story read the rest of the article at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://news.yahoo.com/senate-immigration-group-national-id-too-costly-203225949--politics.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://news.yahoo.com/senate-immigration-group-national-id-too-costly-203225949--politics.html</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,3115,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3595,3595,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Will the current administration that is currently forcing religious institutions to purchase abortion pills through ObamaCare&nbsp; eventually use civil rights violations to order that Churchs have to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies? </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Consider that it was just a few months ago that the White House criticized a reverend for preaching the Bible\'s teachings on homosexuality resulting in his invitation to speak at Obama\'s inauguration being rescinded.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the complete story read the rest of the article at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/03/26/Same-Sex-Marriage-Is-the-Medias-Vehicle-the-Destination-Is-to-Destroy-Church\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/03/26/Same-Sex-Marriage-Is-the-Medias-Vehicle-the-Destination-Is-to-Destroy-Church</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,3117,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3596,3596,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Some of the sections of the proposed UN agreement&nbsp; would require the federal government to unconstitutionally infringe upon the right of Americans to keep and bear arms as protected by the Constitution&rsquo;s Second Amendment.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Preamble of the Arms Trade Treaty points to the United Nations Charter as the source of guiding principles upon which the agreement is based. Citizens of the United States, however, recognize God as the source of all rights they enjoy. Not even the Constitution claims to be the giver of rights; it is merely the protector of them.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the complete story on how this agreement would remove our second amendment rights read the rest of the article at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/14931-final-version-of-arms-trade-treaty-released-disarmament-of-civilians-on-track\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/14931-final-version-of-arms-trade-treaty-released-disarmament-of-civilians-on-track</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3118,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3598,3598,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Justin Amash is being mentioned as a potential U.S. Senate candidate to replace Senator Carl Levin who will not seek reelection in 2014.&nbsp; Amash became the subject of speculation when several potential candidates for the seat said they wouldn&rsquo;t be interested in running.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the complete story on if he may be considering running in the primary and what his chances of getting the nomination might be read the rest of the article at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/the-senate-trouble-maker-in-waiting-20130321\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/the-senate-trouble-maker-in-waiting-20130321</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3120,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3601,3601,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Michigan\'s Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema is taking serious flack because of a controversial anti-gay social media posting and has been asked by some members of his party to resign.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A group of 21 young Republican activists released a letter&nbsp; calling for him to resign his post from the RNC after posting a copy of an online article on his Facebook page Wednesday titled &quot;Everyone Should Know These Statistics on Homosexuals.&quot;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the complete story read the rest of the article at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130328/POLITICS02/303280433\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130328/POLITICS02/303280433</span></a><br />',2,3121,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3603,3603,'<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Don&rsquo;t miss this rare opportunity to become informed about a threat that is very real -- RADICAL ISLAM, SHARIA LAW, and the ATTACK UPON THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION! </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">MOUNT HOPE CHURCH WILL BE FEATURING</span></span></strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><br />\r\n</span></span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">KAMAL SALEEM<br />\r\n<img width=\"611\" height=\"356\" src=\"/sites/default/files/saleem.jpg\" alt=\"\" /><br />\r\n</span></strong></span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Former Islamic Terrorist but NOW A BELIEVER IN CHRIST!</span></strong></em></span></div>\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Mount Hope Church is committed to stand against evil and they are giving us an opportunity to become informed about a threat that is very real -- RADICAL ISLAM, SHARIA LAW, and the ATTACK UPON THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION -- so that you can prepare yourself to oppose it. Mount Hope Church will be hosting a speaker who at one time in his life epitomized that threat to America, former terrorist Kamal Saleem. Saleem, a former Islamic Terrorist, left Jihad behind and is now a follower of Christ.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Saleem, who was born and raised in Lebanon, worked for a variety of notorious terrorist groups in the Middle East, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Saddam Hussien, and Yasser Arafat.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">As a young man, he came to America with the goal of helping to destroy the country from within by implementing cultural Jihad. But the true God had other plans. Now his life&rsquo;s focus is not only to share the love of Christ with Muslims, but also to wake-up America and the body of Christ regarding the clear and present danger radical Islam imposes on our faith and on our way of life.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The central theme of this event is to help us understand that the politically correct crowd (which is deepening and widening) doesn&rsquo;t want us to see the obvious -- that our First and Second Amendment rights are under attack, as is the United States Constitution. Our own government and media are greasing the skids for the acceptance of an expanding government and a diminishment of freedom in America! Some of you increasingly realize that we are coming closer to losing our constitutional republic to forces from within and without.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">You are needed not only to understand the times, but to know what to do! Come and do your best to bring others who may be unaware regarding the realities of the fight for Constitutional America.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">When: &nbsp; Saturday, April 27, 2013</span></span></strong><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Time:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 6:00 pm</span></strong></span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong>Where: Mount Hope Church</strong></span></span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 845 Ionia Road</strong></span></span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Portland, MI 48875</strong></span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">There is NO registration fee -- However a free-will offering will be taken!</span></strong></em></span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\">For directions or for more information about the event call 517-647-4136.</span></span></strong></div>',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3604,3604,'Since the 70\'s, when marriage was viewed by some as &quot;a meaningless piece of paper&quot; to the 21st century when more and more children are being born out of wedlock, the traditional views of marriage and the family have been in turmoil in American society.&nbsp; Where will it all lead?&nbsp; Read Mark Steyn\'s commentary:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/344287/death-family-mark-steyn?pg=1\">www.nationalreview.com/articles/344287/death-family-mark-steyn</a><br />',2,3126,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3605,3605,'Will the United States get involved in the ongoing, bloody conflict in Syria?&nbsp; According to the Constitution, the President can only act with the consent and approval of the Congress.&nbsp; Will the&nbsp;Congress sit idly by while the President acts independently according to his own plan?&nbsp; Only if the Congress continues to abdicate its constitutional authority!&nbsp; Read on:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/03/28/george-will-a-bipartisan-abdication/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/03/28/george-will-a-bipartisan-abdication/</a><br />',2,3127,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3606,3606,'Senator Lindsey Graham indicates there may be a bipartisan deal to address the issue of immigration reform. Get the details in this video:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2013/03/31/lindsey-graham-on-immigration-i-think-weve-got-a-deal-video/\">dailycaller.com/2013/03/31/lindsey-graham-on-immigration-i-think-weve-got-a-deal-video/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3608,3608,'If we\'re in a recovery and the economy is improving, why is household income going down?&nbsp; As recently as February 2013, median annual household income dropped by 1.1 percent.&nbsp; What\'s up with that?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/03/29/household-income-tumbles-during-the-obama-recovery/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/03/29/household-income-tumbles-during-the-obama-recovery/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3610,3610,'Last month, 53 Senators voted in favor of a non-binding amendment to stop the United States from entering into a United Nations treaty that would regulate trade of small arms and other conventional weapons.&nbsp; On Tuesday, however, the administration voted in favor of the UN treaty.&nbsp; Is this just another act of petulence by an administration that wants to get its way or is does President Obama think he can circumvent the Congress once again with an executive order?&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/un-treaties/291401-un-adopts-obama-backed-arms-trade-treaty-opposed-by-the-nra\">thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/un-treaties/291401-un-adopts-obama-backed-arms-trade-treaty-opposed-by-the-nra</a><br />',2,3131,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3611,3611,'You may have heard about a city in California that is filing for bankruptcy.&nbsp; Stockton, California offered its employees absurd pensions and benefits for years and now finds itself unable to meet these unsustainable obligations.&nbsp; As a result, Stockton\'s citizens have faced cutbacks to public programs while the unions have been allowed to protect their outrageous pay levels.&nbsp; Will the city get away with ignoring the real driver of its indebtedness?&nbsp; And, more importantly, will the citizens of Stockton stand for it?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://reason.com/archives/2013/03/29/union-greed-drives-california-bankruptcy\">reason.com/archives/2013/03/29/union-greed-drives-california-bankruptcy</a><br />',2,3132,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3613,3613,'Even though net job growth has been increasing for small business for the first few months of the year, future plans for hiring or another story.&nbsp; Despite the encouraging economic improvement in the stock market and the housing industry, small business isn\'t seeing the same positive result.&nbsp; Are we still seeing small businesses being created?&nbsp; Why are small business owners reluctant to hire?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2013/04/04/nfib-small-businesses-to-reduce-hiring/\">dailycaller.com/2013/04/04/nfib-small-businesses-to-reduce-hiring/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3615,3615,'The 3 R\'s have taken on new meaning in the 21st century.&nbsp; Progressism is taking over the public schools.&nbsp; The traditional reading, \'riting and \'rithmetic curriculum has turned into racism, reproduction and recycling.&nbsp; What is going on in the public school system? Get details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/04/04/how-propaganda-rules-our-schools/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/04/04/how-propaganda-rules-our-schools/</a><br />',2,3136,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3618,3618,'With wind farms popping up all over the place, the latest news isn\'t good.&nbsp; The CEO of the nation\'s biggest producer of wind energy says it\'s costly, unreliable and only getting worse with goverment subsidies.&nbsp; Read what else he has to say:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/opinion/editorials/2013/04/the_scoop_on_wind\">bostonherald.com/news_opinion/opinion/editorials/2013/04/the_scoop_on_wind</a><br />',2,3137,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3621,3621,'Last week\'s employment numbers were abysmal.&nbsp; But all we\'re hearing is that the economy is recovering, things are getting better.&nbsp; Do you suppose that\'s what the 496,000 workers who dropped out of the work force think?&nbsp; Many aren\'t seeing the recovery that\'s allegedly underway.&nbsp; But you\'d never know that based on the &quot;reporting&quot; you see every night in the mainstream.&nbsp; What does it all mean?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/04/06/four-more-years-of-pain/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/04/06/four-more-years-of-pain/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3620,3620,'We don\'t have to look very far to see a crumbling city that\'s the result of poor governing.&nbsp; Once the picture of America\'s industrial strength, Detroit is now collapsing under its own weight.&nbsp; What went wrong?&nbsp; Can anything be done to bring it back?&nbsp; Learn more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/04/07/rebuilding_a_ruined_city_117832.html\">www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/04/07/rebuilding_a_ruined_city_117832.html</a><br />',2,3139,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3623,3623,'The concept of &quot;family&quot; is under attack.&nbsp; More evidence of this can be seen on MSNBC\'s commercial break that suggests that kids should be the responsibility of everyone.&nbsp; And lumping everybody\'s kids together will somehow lead to better decision making regarding the group\'s well being.&nbsp; Are they suggesting that two caring parents invested in their children\'s well being isn\'t the best possible environment for a child to be raised?&nbsp; Does anyone else find this alarming?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/345053/your-kids-aren-t-your-own-rich-lowry\">www.nationalreview.com/articles/345053/your-kids-aren-t-your-own-rich-lowry</a><br />',2,3141,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3627,3627,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Just outside of Salt Lake City Utah there is a new massive construction project nearing completion for the National Security Agency.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The NSA says the Data Center is for the intelligence community with a major focus on cyber security. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Current director of the NSA General Keith Alexander, declined requests to sit down for an interview.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Many people believe, including former NSA employees, say the data center is a threat to our liberty, security and privacy.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the complete story read the rest of the article at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/04/12/nsa-data-center-front-and-center-in-debate-over-liberty-security-and-privacy/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/04/12/nsa-data-center-front-and-center-in-debate-over-liberty-security-and-privacy/</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3143,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3629,3629,'<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The inescapable truth is that President Obama wants to get rid of the roughly $1 trillion budget-cutting sequester and substitute it with a $1 trillion-plus tax hike that means more spending and more taxes. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">For an article from Wall Streets Larry Kudlow on what the effects of Obamacare will have on all of us read the rest of teh article:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/345477/obama-s-growth-busting-budget-larry-kudlow\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/345477/obama-s-growth-busting-budget-larry-kudlow</span></a><br />',2,3145,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3630,3630,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">In a Budget Committee, hearing, President Obama\'s budget director, Jeff Zients, admitted he did not know how much debt was added under the President\'s plan, saying that &quot;there are a lot of numbers there...&quot;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To view a video with the comments from the budget director click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrAx3Jl9rqI&amp;feature=youtu.be\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrAx3Jl9rqI&amp;feature=youtu.be</span></a><br />',2,3146,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3634,3634,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">From a White House statement released in advance to Politico.com, Pesident Obama\'s 2014 budget will target personal retirement accounts.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It will include a new proposal that prohibits individuals from accumulating over $3 million in IRAs and other tax-preferred retirement accounts.&nbsp; Under current rules, some wealthy individuals are able to accumulate many millions of dollars in these accounts, substantially more than is needed to fund reasonable levels of retirement saving. The budget would limit an individual&rsquo;s total balance across tax-preferred accounts to an amount sufficient to finance an annuity of not more than $205,000 per year in retirement, or about $3 million in 2013. This proposal would raise $9 billion over 10 years.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read the rest of the article click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://finance.townhall.com/columnists/bobbeauprez/2013/04/10/obamas-budget-targets-ira-savings-n1562985/page/full/\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">http://finance.townhall.com/columnists/bobbeauprez/2013/04/10/obamas-budget-targets-ira-savings-n1562985/page/full/</span></a><br />',2,3149,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3639,3639,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Seventeen Northern Michigan residents have filed a lawsuit claiming a new Consumers Energy windmills are making people sick.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The $25,000,000.00 lawsuit filed against Lake Winds Energy Park wind farm in Mason County claims the windmills were built too close to their homes and that residents are suffering from dizziness, sleeplessness, headaches and other physical symptoms because of the noise. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read the rest of the article on the issue at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18528\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18528</span></a><br />',2,3152,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3640,3640,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">In Maryland the government thinks if it rains you should pay more taxes so they have passed legislation to make that happen. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read what they have done to tax rainfall and how they will determine what you should pay click on the following link::</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/15111-rain-tax-to-soak-maryland-taxpayers\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/15111-rain-tax-to-soak-maryland-taxpayers</span></a><br />',2,3153,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3641,3641,'<em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&ldquo;Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.&rdquo;</span></span></strong></em><br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ― Benjamin Franklin</span></span></strong></em><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The government is more than willing to provide us with security -- but at what cost to our liberty and personal freedoms?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The NSA knows more about us than we do about ourselves and they have created a place in Utah that no one seems to want to talk about where they will be storing volumes of data on each of us.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To hear want a previous NSA employee who designed and wrote spy software for the NSA thinks about it, click on the following link to watch a video.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9-3K3rkPRE\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9-3K3rkPRE</span></a><br />',2,3154,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3643,3643,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Snyder is still pushing for Medicaid expansion that would allow people to be eligible at 133% of the poverty level under President Obama&rsquo;s Patient Protection and The Affordable Care Act. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To date, state lawmakers have resisted and have been skeptical of the long-term costs associated with such an expansion. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For a perspective from American&rsquo;s For Prosperity and what the effects of the expansion would be click on the following link.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://americansforprosperity.org/michigan/newsroom/coalition-group-begins-full-court-press-for-medicaid-expansion/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://americansforprosperity.org/michigan/newsroom/coalition-group-begins-full-court-press-for-medicaid-expansion/</span></a><br />',2,3156,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3653,3653,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Michigan legislators are considering ways to address the underfunding of the school pension system.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">House Bill 4190 would change the way that the state apportions the costs of catching up on years of school pension system underfunding. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Under the bill school districts would send in an amount determined by their &quot;current operating expenses.&quot; These include payroll as well as other expenses, including payments to vendors.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The reality is that the legislature MUST ADDRESS the issue&nbsp; by closing the current defined benefit system to new employees, instead providing them with a defined contribution retirement system. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on the issue at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18546\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18546</span></a><br />',2,3168,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3654,3654,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Goveror Snyder is calling to increase road funding by more than $1,000,000,000.00 &ldquo;A YEAR&rdquo;.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Representative Wayne Schmidt (R) of Traverse City, chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has scheduled testimony on bills to move the discussion from if the state should boost road funding to how the state should increase road funding.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on what is being proposed to fix the roads at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/04/michigan_road_funding_house_pl.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/04/michigan_road_funding_house_pl.html</span></a><br />',2,3169,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3656,3656,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the Constitution would have to be reinterpreted in order to curtail civil liberties to prevent terrorism. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Bloomberg likened such reinterpretation to the Supreme Court&rsquo;s interpretation of the Second Amendment, which he says allowed for greater gun control to preserve public safety.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">This man considered himself to be a &ldquo;Republican&rdquo; at one time before he became a &ldquo;Democrat&rdquo; and now says he is &ldquo;Unaffiliated&rdquo;. Talk about a split personality. And this guy wants to change the constitution to curtail more of our rights?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more on his comments click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/04/23/Bloomberg-Constitution-reinterpreted\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/04/23/Bloomberg-Constitution-reinterpreted</span></a><br />',2,3171,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3658,3658,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Congress is considering legislation that would permit states to impose state and local taxes on &ldquo;Internet&rdquo; purchases known as &ldquo;The Marketplace Fairness Act&rdquo;. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">President Obama has endorsed the concept of the legislation and the Senate has voted 74 to 20 on a procedural vote to move the bill forward. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more on the proposed new internet tax and how it may impact you click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/congress/item/15181-internet-sales-tax-bill-moves-forward-in-senate\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/congress/item/15181-internet-sales-tax-bill-moves-forward-in-senate</span></a><br />',2,3173,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3660,3660,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The federal government is spending $152,000 to study &ldquo;voice therapy&rdquo; for transgenders, saying it is incumbent to being &ldquo;accepted as one\'s preferred gender.&rdquo;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I didn&rsquo;t know there was such a thing as a preferred gender! </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I thought if you looked at you private parts that was the indicator of your gender?</span><br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">And the President says there is nowhere to cut -- ARE YOU SERIOUS!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more on the idiotic spending of the federal government click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/gov-t-spending-152500-study-voice-therapy-transgenders\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/gov-t-spending-152500-study-voice-therapy-transgenders</span></a><br />',2,3175,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3697,3697,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">You wonder how our country got to where it is today and then you watch a video like this and you can understand why?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Watch the video at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2diNojgJF9c\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2diNojgJF9c</span></a><br />',2,3215,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3699,3699,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Republicans are concerned about the political implications of the &quot;path to citizenship&quot; for 11 million illegal immigrants even though they may have up to 13 years to broaden the party\'s appeal to Hispanics. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">However, the Schumer-Rubio bill would create an expedited citizenship process for millions of illegal immigrants that would make them eligible for citizenship in just 5 years.&nbsp; </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more about the proposed plan for amnesty and the concerns of the GOP for the future of the party click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/04/24/legalization-could-give-gop-permanent-electoral-disadvantage\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/04/24/legalization-could-give-gop-permanent-electoral-disadvantage</span></a><br />',2,3217,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3701,3701,'The debate goes on.&nbsp; We need more cuts.&nbsp;&nbsp; No, we need more stimulus.&nbsp; Would you run your household budget like this?&nbsp; Running the government budget isn\'t the same as running a household budget.&nbsp; The economy is improving... but not quickly enough.&nbsp; And where is all this debate leading us?&nbsp; We\'re ending up with&nbsp; a stagnant, lack-luster economy that we\'re beginning to <em>believe</em> is the &quot;new normal&quot;.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/04/26/surprise-the-economy-still-stinks/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/04/26/surprise-the-economy-still-stinks/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3705,3705,'Setting national standards for basic educational curriculums sounds like a good idea, doesn\'t it?&nbsp; Shouldn\'t kids be learning at the same level no matter where they live?&nbsp; But like so many &quot;good ideas&quot;, implementation of a national educational standard isn\'t going so well.&nbsp; Criticisms are coming from all directions.&nbsp; What\'s wrong with this &quot;great idea&quot;?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/turmoil-swirling-around-common-core-education-standards/2013/04/29/7e2b0ec4-b0fd-11e2-bbf2-a6f9e9d79e19_story.html\">www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/turmoil-swirling-around-common-core-education-standards/2013/04/29/7e2b0ec4-b0fd-11e2-bbf2-a6f9e9d79e19_story.html</a><br />\r\n<br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3704,3704,'Gay marriage fight is a &quot;lie&quot; to destroy marriage.&nbsp; Masha Gessen, an activist in the LGBT community, gave a speech in 2012 that supports a theory held by many traditional marriage proponents:&nbsp; granting gays the right to marry is really intended to destroy the institution of marriage and redefine the &quot;traditional family&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp; The video clip included with this story offers some insight into her thinking on the subject:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://news.yahoo.com/lesbian-activist-surprisingly-candid-speech-gay-marriage-fight-144222847.html\">news.yahoo.com/lesbian-activist-surprisingly-candid-speech-gay-marriage-fight-144222847.html</a><br />',2,3221,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3707,3707,'Originally characterized as a way to help cities eliminate blight, Rep. Dan Kildee\'s first sponsored piece of legislation appears to provide funding for &quot;land banks&quot;, which are used to acquire tax-foreclosed properties.&nbsp; How does that eliminate blight?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mackinac.org/18450\">www.mackinac.org/18450</a><br />',2,3224,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3711,3711,'These days it\'s news when a well-known person comes &quot;out of the closet&quot; to announce his or her homosexuality.&nbsp; But what happens when someone comes out as a Christian?&nbsp; Read all about it:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://spectator.org/archives/2013/05/01/a-sportscaster-comes-out-as-ch\">spectator.org/archives/2013/05/01/a-sportscaster-comes-out-as-ch</a><br />',2,3225,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3712,3712,'What do you think would benefit the state more:&nbsp; film subsidies or road repair?&nbsp; That\'s the question before the Legislature.&nbsp; If you think it\'s a no-brainer, think again!&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mackinac.org/18564?utm_source=Mackinac+Center+Publications&amp;utm_campaign=fa17dbacac-TWAM_04_30_2013&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_4fe5eae3c7-fa17dbacac-259524753\">www.mackinac.org/18564</a><br />',2,3226,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3713,3713,'Today\'s job report for April offered a mixed bag of news about the economy and the &quot;recovery&quot;.&nbsp; Some of the news, such as a real reduction in the unemployment rate, not one fueled by people leaving the work force, is good.&nbsp; But some of the other numbers, such as no increase in manufacturing jobs, weren\'t so much.&nbsp; What does it all mean?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/05/03/april-jobs-report-surprising-strength-consistent-with-a-slowdown/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/05/03/april-jobs-report-surprising-strength-consistent-with-a-slowdown/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3715,3715,'We\'ve learned in the past couple of days that more students have been accused of involvement in the Boston marathon bombings.&nbsp; One of those students was here without a valid student visa.&nbsp; As a result, Homeland Security has ordered border security agents to verify that every international student arriving here has a valid student visa.&nbsp; Wouldn\'t you have expected that to be standard operating procedure?&nbsp; Apparently, there was a glitch in the system.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/boston-bombing-student-visas/2013/05/03/id/502736\">www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/boston-bombing-student-visas/2013/05/03/id/502736</a><br />',2,3228,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3722,3722,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Recruiting people to get welfare! Why don&rsquo;t we try to get them skills so they can get a job and contribute to society? </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Across the country, states are courting participants for food stamps (now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) even has a webpage dedicated to helping states create &ldquo;SNAP Outreach Plans.&rdquo; </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For a perspective on welfare in America click on the following link.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://blog.heritage.org/2013/04/30/uncle-sam-wants-you-on-food-stamps/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://blog.heritage.org/2013/04/30/uncle-sam-wants-you-on-food-stamps/</span></a><br />',2,3237,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3717,3717,'When there is so much evidence to the contrary, why are environmentalists insisting that fracking is a public health risk?&nbsp; Besides the job opportunities that might result from expanding the recovery of natural gas from shale, there are other benefits as well.&nbsp; Learn more about the debate:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2013/04/29/fracking-doesnt-pose-health-risks/\">dailycaller.com/2013/04/29/fracking-doesnt-pose-health-risks/</a><br />',2,3230,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3718,3718,'With 2014 quickly approaching, concerns about implemention of the Affordable Care Act are increasing.&nbsp; Still unpopular according to the polls, many who would potentially benefit from the act are unaware of the exchanges that might be available to them in their states.&nbsp; And nobody seems to know what impact there will be on premiums, especially for the young, healthy Americans whose participation is crticial for success of the program.&nbsp; Will the federal goverment\'s summer &quot;offensive&quot; be enough to get Obamacare laucnhed?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/uninsured-obama-health-care/2013/05/05/id/502843\">www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/uninsured-obama-health-care/2013/05/05/id/502843</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3720,3720,'You may have heard that the sequester would never happen.&nbsp; Well, so much for that idea!&nbsp; Not only did it happen, but we\'ve learned that President Obama is so anxious to raise taxes and insist on more government spending, that he\'s willing to endanger the public to make his point.&nbsp; And then all you ever hear is that it\'s all the Republicans\' fault! &nbsp; This is the kind of &quot;leader&quot; we have in the White House.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/347250/sequester-cynicism\">www.nationalreview.com/article/347250/sequester-cynicism</a><br />',2,3235,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3724,3724,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Snyder has joined with Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan to fully support the implementation of Common Core standards that includes, a huge expansion of unproven early education standards and spending at the state level.</span><br />\r\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It was reported in MIRS today that &quot;Gov. Rick SNYDER had some strong words today on two subjects that are hanging in the balance in the state budget negotiations.</span><br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">During a town hall meeting on education in Detroit today, Snyder said he thinks the Common Core State Standards are \'a good thing,\' and he continued to lay out his arguments for more funding for early childhood education in Michigan.&quot; U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan was with Snyder at the Town Hall.</span><br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Arne Duncan, like his boss, President Obama, is fully supportive of, and working hard to implement a full federal takeover of public education.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"/sites/default/files/Facts_Stop_Common_Core.pdf\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To find out more on Common Core download the following PDF file.</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Call Your State Legislator&rsquo;s and the Governor and tell them Michigan DOES NOT WANT COMMON CORE!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Rick Snyder</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">P.O. Box 30013</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Lansing, Michigan 48909</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">PHONE: (517) 373-3400</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">PHONE: (517) 335-7858 - Constituent Services</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">FAX:(517) 335-6863</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">(Governor Snyder has said he <span style=\"font-size: large;\">DOES&nbsp;SUPPORT</span> Common Core)</span></strong></em><strong><br />\r\n</strong></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Senator Judy Emmons</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">P.O. Box 30036</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Lansing, MI 48909-7536</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">By Phone: (517) 373-3760&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">By Fax: (517) 373-8661</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Representative Tom Leonard</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">N-1197 House Office Building</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">P.O. Box 30014</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Lansing, MI 48909</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Phone: (517) 373-1778</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Toll Free: (877) 859-8086</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">FAX: (517) 373-5780</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Email: TomLeonard@house.mi.gov</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">(Representative Leonard has said he <span style=\"font-size: large;\">DOES&nbsp;NOT</span> support Common Core)</span></strong></em><strong><br />\r\n<br />\r\n</strong></span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Senator Rick Jones</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">P.O. Box 30036</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Lansing, MI 48909-7536&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">By Phone: (517) 373-3447&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">By Fax: (517) 373-5849&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">By Email: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SenRJones@senate.michigan.gov</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">(Senator Jones has said he <span style=\"font-size: large;\">DOES&nbsp;NOT</span> support Common Core)</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3732,3732,'So it turns out the IRS was targeting conservative groups during the 2012 election season.&nbsp; What a surprise!&nbsp; Of course, it was a bunch of low-level employees who did this, so there\'ll be no accountability or consequences.&nbsp; What has this government become?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://news.yahoo.com/irs-apologizes-targeting-conservative-groups-144349480.html\">news.yahoo.com/irs-apologizes-targeting-conservative-groups-144349480.html</a> <br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3728,3728,'A bill designed to impose state and local taxes on all internet sales has been moved out of committee to the Senate floor.&nbsp; This legislation, promoted as a means of &quot;leveling the playing field&quot; between brick-and-mortar businesses and internet companies, flies in the face of the free enterprise system.&nbsp; What impact with an internet sales tax have on commerce?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://patriotpost.us/alexander/17882\">patriotpost.us/alexander/17882</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3727,3727,'Most of the gasoline sold in this country contains 10% ethanol, a high-octane fuel derived from corn.&nbsp; Now the government wants to increase that percentage to 15%, a level many auto manufacturers claim will damage vehicle engines.&nbsp; Whose opinion do you trust?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/07/auto-makers-warn-new-ethanol-mandate-could-damage-cars/\">www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/07/auto-makers-warn-new-ethanol-mandate-could-damage-cars/</a><br />',2,3243,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3735,3735,'<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">HOW TIMES CHANGE!</span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The lawyer of Gregory Hicks, the former U.S. deputy chief of mission in Libya who testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Wednesday, confirmed the information to The Daily Caller on Saturday about Hicks&rsquo; party affiliation and his voting history.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">What reward does he get for testifying and telling the truth about what happened? Keep reading and you decide if there was retribution because of his testimony.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/11/benghazi-whistle-blower-a-democrat-voted-for-hillary-and-obama-twice/#ixzz2T5JxyTwU\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/11/benghazi-whistle-blower-a-democrat-voted-for-hillary-and-obama-twice/#ixzz2T5JxyTwU</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3247,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3737,3737,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Is this where you thought your &ldquo;BAILOUT MONEY&rdquo; would go to? </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Don&rsquo;t get me wrong, it&rsquo;s great &ldquo;Government Motors&rdquo; is doing well, but maybe they should pay their debt to US back before they invest in overseas ventures with known enemies of our country.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Can I assume that all of these new employees will be in the UAW? But that&rsquo;s OK - Rights?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the new planned Cadillac plant click on the following link.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/05/07/gm-to-build-13-billion-cadillac-plant-in-china/#ixzz2TC7r8gm8\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/05/07/gm-to-build-13-billion-cadillac-plant-in-china/#ixzz2TC7r8gm8</span></a><br />',2,3249,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3738,3738,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read the following article on the website link and you decide where President Obama stands on Islam and its influence in Washington and in his administration.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/04/can_a_president_who_has_promised_to_stand_with_the_muslims_protect_americans.html#ixzz2TCMP9cDZ\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/04/can_a_president_who_has_promised_to_stand_with_the_muslims_protect_americans.html#ixzz2TCMP9cDZ</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3250,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3742,3742,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Debbies statement from then Senate floor on balancing the budget:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;I first want to thank the chair of our committee, the budget committee, for doing such a terrific job in bringing us all together. My colleagues on the committee, as we all know, we worked very, very hard together in order to be able to put together a balanced budget that reflects the values of the American people, that&rsquo;s fair, that&rsquo;s balanced in values and approach as well as in numbers, and we did that.&rdquo;<br />\r\n<br />\r\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &mdash; Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), remarks on the Senate floor, May 8, 2013</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The real question is can it possibly be true? Absolutely not! Miss Debbie is truly delusional, but she was reelected.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The truth is thatthe&nbsp; Budget Committee figures show hundreds of billions of dollars in deficits year after year, with $566 billion in deficits at the end of the 10-year period and around $5.2 trillion will be added to the national debt over the same period.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read the more on Debbies remarks and what the Liberal Washington Post had to say about her comments click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/the-claim-that-senate-democrats-have-produced-a-balanced-budget/2013/05/11/df943560-ba70-11e2-b94c-b684dda07add_blog.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/the-claim-that-senate-democrats-have-produced-a-balanced-budget/2013/05/11/df943560-ba70-11e2-b94c-b684dda07add_blog.html</span></a><br />',2,3252,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3745,3745,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Allegan County commissioners voted 4-3 April 25 to recommend that state lawmakers carefully consider legislation restricting new electricity meter installation.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&ldquo;Smart meters&rdquo; will allow for the transmission and encryption energy usage data to the company without the need for an employee to read the customers meter.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the controversial meters and the resolution passed by the Allegan County Board of Commissioners click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.allegannews.com/articles/2013/05/03/local_news/3.txt\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.allegannews.com/articles/2013/05/03/local_news/3.txt</span></a><br />',2,3259,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3746,3746,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Missouri legislature passed SB 265 with a veto-proof majority protecting private property and due process rights by banning a deeply controversial United Nations &ldquo;sustainability&rdquo; scheme known as UN Agenda 21. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the legislation and what it requires units of government to comply with click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/15344-missouri-legislature-bans-un-agenda-21\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/15344-missouri-legislature-bans-un-agenda-21</span></a><br />',2,3260,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3747,3747,'<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><img width=\"272\" height=\"187\" src=\"/sites/default/files/ananich.jpg\" alt=\"\" /><br />\r\n<br />\r\nRepresentative Jim Ananich (D-Flint) has introduced House Bill 4342.</span></div>\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The bill was introduced on 2/28/2013 and referred to the Committee on Tax Policy where hopefully it will never see the light of day and die in December of next year.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Introducing a bill like this was a waste of the bill drafters time, the paper it was printed on, and all of the other efforts that went into getting it introduced and printed.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">But it isn&rsquo;t surprising that a democrat from Flint would seek to take state money and give it to others who would do absolutely nothing for it.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The bill would require the state to:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong><em><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Establish and administer a &ldquo;$ave Michigan&rdquo; matching grant program to provide individuals and families with incentives and an opportunity to build savings and accrue assets provided under this act. The program would provide a 50% match of every dollar of a qualified taxpayer&rsquo;s federal income tax refund that he or she has directly deposited into a qualified savings account and maintained within that account for a minimum of 1 year, not to exceed $250.00. These matching grants under this act would be made by electronic funds transfer directly into the qualified taxpayer&rsquo;s qualified savings account. The state may take any necessary action to ensure the successful operation of the program, including, but not limited to, entering into agreements with qualified financial institutions related to the operation of the program and the establishment of qualified savings accounts.</span></em></strong></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">So let me summarize. we are going to give up to $250 in matching funds to anyone making less that $18,000.00 a year if they put money in from a tax return and keep it in the bank for one year because we want them to learn how to save money.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Are you serious? This will magically make them responsible savers? I see why the people of Flint elected this guy he wants to hand out money to them at our expense.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The bill would also create &ldquo;infrastructure&rdquo; to verify that the &ldquo;program&rdquo; is working correctly between the banks and the individuals and that the money stays in the account for a year. I wonder how much that would cost.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">We just heard the State has extra revenue - what a great place to spend it!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The following is a link to the actual bill as it was introduced.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/billintroduced/House/htm/2013-HIB-4342.htm\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/billintroduced/House/htm/2013-HIB-4342.htm</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3753,3753,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The new head of the IRS\' Affordable Care Act office is Sarah Hall Ingram. She takes the job after a successful stint with the IRS targeting conservative groups for auditing.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I don&rsquo;t know about you but I have a few concerns, as a vocal conservative, that the agency making healthcare decisions for me will do it without a built in bias.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">What a sad day that we have to fear our government and the decisions they make that impact our lives.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the person who will be in charge of Obamacare click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/05/this_is_what_tyranny_looks_like.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/05/this_is_what_tyranny_looks_like.html</span></a><br />',2,3264,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3755,3755,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A committee named &ldquo;No Taxes for Abortion Insurance&rdquo;, affiliated with Right to Life of Michigan, is backing a petition drive that would prohibit health insurance policies from covering elective abortion unless additional coverage is bought through an optional rider.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A similar provision was passed by the Republican-led Legislature last session that Governor Snyder eventually vetoed.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article the petition drive and the history of why Governor Snyder vetoed a similar bill last year click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/05/petition_drive_michigan_aborti.html#incart_river\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/05/petition_drive_michigan_aborti.html#incart_river</span></a><br />',2,3266,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3756,3756,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">This expressly violates the Fourth Amendment&rsquo;s guarantee of the &ldquo;right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures&rdquo;.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Under Section 32 CFR Part 182 &mdash; Defense Support of Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies &mdash; critical and constitutionally suspect changes were made that permit units of the U.S. armed forces to &ldquo;engage temporarily in activities that are necessary to quell large-scale, unexpected civil disturbances.&rdquo;</strong></em></span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">But we are willing to forgo those constitutional rights for protection - Rights?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on how our rights are being violated by new regulations click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/15426-new-federal-regulations-give-pentagon-sweeping-domestic-police-power\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/15426-new-federal-regulations-give-pentagon-sweeping-domestic-police-power</span></a><br />',2,3267,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3758,3758,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;Unfortunately you&rsquo;ve grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government as nothing more than some separate, sinister entity that&rsquo;s at the root of all of our problems. . . . They&rsquo;ll warn that tyranny is always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices. Because what they suggest is that our . . . experiment in self-rule is somehow just a sham with which we can&rsquo;t be trusted.&rdquo;</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Maybe President Obama doesn&rsquo;t know what Tyranny means!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;A government in which a single ruler is vested with absolute power.&rdquo;</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obama&rsquo;s version of government looks like tyranny to me. What do you think?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on Obama and his latest remarks about his opponents and his tyrannical actions click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/348546/far-cry-founders-mona-charen\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.nationalreview.com/article/348546/far-cry-founders-mona-charen</span></a><br />',2,3269,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3759,3759,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;Unfortunately you&rsquo;ve grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government as nothing more than some separate, sinister entity that&rsquo;s at the root of all of our problems. . . . They&rsquo;ll warn that tyranny is always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices. Because what they suggest is that our . . . experiment in self-rule is somehow just a sham with which we can&rsquo;t be trusted.&rdquo;</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Maybe President Obama doesn&rsquo;t know what Tyranny means!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;A government in which a single ruler is vested with absolute power.&rdquo;</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obama&rsquo;s version of government looks like tyranny to me. What do you think?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on Obama and his latest remarks about his opponents and his tyrannical actions click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/348546/far-cry-founders-mona-charen\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.nationalreview.com/article/348546/far-cry-founders-mona-charen</span></a><br />',2,3270,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3761,3761,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The &ldquo;Farm Bill&rdquo; will cost $940 billion over five years that is about as much as Obamacare purports to cost over ten. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Spending on food stamps will make up 80 percent of it, and the bill as marked reports $20 billion in savings by tightening eligibility and closing loopholes.&nbsp; </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the Farm Bill and its inherent problems click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/348581/aggies%E2%80%99-farm-editors\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.nationalreview.com/article/348581/aggies%E2%80%99-farm-editors</span></a><br />',2,3272,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3762,3762,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;<span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">During a recent</span><span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">&nbsp; </span><span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">Ways and Means Committee hearing, Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., grilled outgoing IRS commissioner Steven Miller about the IRS targeting a pro-life group in Iowa.</span></span>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Schrock inquired as to whether the IRS question, specifically asked of the Coalition for Life of Iowa of:&nbsp;</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&ldquo;Please detail the content of the members of your organization&rsquo;s prayers,&rdquo;.</span></strong></em></span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">was it appropriate to ask of a 501 c3 applicant?</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the IRS targeting of Christian based groups click on the following story link:</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/2013/05/17/congress-receives-irrefutable-evidence-of-irs-harassment-of-pro-life-organizations/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/2013/05/17/congress-receives-irrefutable-evidence-of-irs-harassment-of-pro-life-organizations/</span></a></p>',2,3274,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3765,3765,'<div><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Clinton County will keep the district court judgeship originally set for elimination in 2011.<br />\r\n</span><br />\r\n&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Snyder on Monday signed Senate Bill 43, which amended a 2011 law eliminating several judgeships across Michigan.&nbsp;</span></div>\r\n<div>&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the legislation that will assure Clinton County a District Court judgeship click on the following story link:</span></div>\r\n<div>&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div><a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2013/05/clinton_county_keeps_district.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2013/05/clinton_county_keeps_district.html</span></a></div>',2,3279,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3766,3766,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If the gubernatorial election for Michigan Governor were held today some of the polls show Republican Governor Rick Snyder would be in a virtual tie with potential Democratic challenger Mark Schauer, according to the results of a new statewide from EPIC-MRA poll.<br />\r\n</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on Governor Snyder&rsquo;s slip in popularity click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/05/poll_michigan_gov_rick_snyder_2.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/05/poll_michigan_gov_rick_snyder_2.html</span></a><br />',2,3280,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3769,3769,'<div class=\"rtecenter\"><img src=\"/sites/default/files/WARREN_1.jpg\" width=\"360\" height=\"283\" alt=\"\" /><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">Senator Rebekah Warren</span></span></strong></p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">Washtenaw County: Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Township, Augusta Township, Chelsea, Dexter Township, Freedom Township, Lima Township, Lyndon Township, Northfield Township, Pittsfield Township, Salem Township, Scio Township, Sharon Township, Superior Township, Sylvan Township, Webster Township, Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township</span>&nbsp;</span><br />\r\n&nbsp;</div>\r\n<p class=\"p1 rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">2013 Senate Bill 223: Give tuition subsidies to all high school grads</span></span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p2 rtecenter\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">&nbsp; &nbsp; Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) has introduced Senate Bill 223 that would give all Michigan high school graduates up to five years of grants covering tuition in a state college or university. Funding would come from repealing $1.8 billion worth of current state tax deductions, exemptions and credits.</p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">&nbsp; &nbsp; This list of so-called &ldquo;tax expenditures&rdquo; from which this money would come includes both corporate welfare tax breaks and subsidies (which are often styled as tax &ldquo;credits&rdquo;), and potential expansions of various taxes paid by individuals (larger items include the 18 mill principle residence property tax exemption, the income tax personal exemption, and the sales tax on food exemption; the list also includes many smaller and more obscure items).&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Do you think this is a good idea?</p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">THE FOLLOWING IS THE CONTENT OF THE BILL AS INTRODUCED:</p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">A bill to establish an educational grant program for eligible resident students who attend public community colleges and universities in this state; to provide for the administration of the program; to create the Michigan higher education grant trust fund; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the &quot;Michigan higher education grant act&quot;.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sec. 3. As used in this act:&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (a) &quot;Academic year&quot; means the period from September 1 of a calendar year to August 31 of the next calendar year.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (b) &quot;Authority&quot; means the Michigan higher education assistance authority created by 1960 PA 77, MCL 390.951 to 390.961.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (c) &quot;Community college&quot; means a community college organized under the community college act of 1966, 1966 PA 331, MCL 389.1 to 389.195, or a federal tribally controlled community college that is recognized under the tribally controlled colleges and universities assistance act of 1978, 25 USC 1801 to 1864, and is determined by the department of education to meet the requirements for accreditation by a recognized regional accrediting body.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (d) &quot;Eligible expenses&quot; means all of the following:&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (i) Tuition and fees charged by a state educational institution.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (ii) A student\'s cost of attendance, expenses for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses, including a reasonable allowance for the documented rental or purchase of a personal computer, as described in 20 USC 1087ll(2), as determined by the authority.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (e) &quot;FAFSA&quot; means the free application for federal student aid developed under 20 USC 1082.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (f) &quot;Fiscal year&quot; means the fiscal year of this state.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (g) &quot;Michigan higher education grant&quot; means a grant awarded by the authority under section 7.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (h) &quot;Public university&quot; means a university described in section 4, 5, or 6 of article VIII of the state constitution of 1963.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (i) &quot;Qualified program&quot; means a bachelor\'s degree, associate\'s degree, or postsecondary vocational training program at a state educational institution.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (j) &quot;State educational institution&quot; means a degree- or certificate-granting public university or community college in this state.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (k) &quot;Trust fund&quot; means the Michigan higher education grant trust fund established in section 11.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sec. 5. (1) The Michigan higher education grant program is established. The authority shall administer the Michigan higher education grant program.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (2) The authority shall do all of the following:&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (a) Award grants to eligible students under this act.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (b) Develop a grant agreement to be entered into by a grant recipient and the authority that contains the terms of a grant made under this act and the rights and obligations of the grant recipient and the authority.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (c) Conduct periodic audits of grant recipients to ensure compliance with the terms of the grant agreement and take necessary steps to enforce the terms of the grant agreement.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (d) Promulgate any rules that it determines are necessary to implement and administer this act under the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sec. 7. Beginning in the 2013-2014 academic year, the authority shall award a grant under this act to an individual if the authority determines that he or she meets all of the following eligibility criteria:&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (a) Continuously resided in this state for the 12 months immediately preceding the date of his or her application and is not a resident of any other state.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (b) Received a high school diploma from a school district, nonpublic school, or home school located in this state or successfully completed the general educational development (GED) test and received a GED certificate from this state.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (c) Received the diploma or GED certificate described in subdivision (b) in the 2-year period preceding the date of the student\'s application to receive Michigan higher education grant money. If the student became a member of the United States armed forces or peace corps during this 2-year period and served for 4 years or less, the authority shall extend the 2-year period by a period equal to the number of days the student served as a member of the United States armed forces or peace corps. The authority may also extend the 2-year period if the authority determines that an extension is warranted because of an illness, disability, or other family emergency of the student or in the student\'s immediate family.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (d) Is enrolled or has been accepted into a qualified program.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (e) Signs a written grant agreement with the authority.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (f) Provides proof satisfactory to the authority that he or she has done both of the following:&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (i) Submitted a FAFSA to the United States department of education to determine his or her eligibility for federal grants or scholarships.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (ii) Applied for any grants or scholarships offered by this state for which he or she is eligible.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (g) If the student received a Michigan higher education grant in the preceding academic year, the student made satisfactory academic progress, as defined by the state educational institution in which the student is enrolled, since receiving the previous Michigan higher education grant.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (h) Is in compliance with this act and the rules promulgated under this act.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (i) Meets any other eligibility criteria established in rules promulgated by the authority under section 5.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sec. 9. All of the following apply to the award of a Michigan higher education grant under this act:&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (a) In the 2013-2014 academic year, the base amount of the grant is an amount equal to the median cost of tuition for a full- time student enrolled at a public university in the 2012-2013 academic year, as determined by the department. For each subsequent academic year, the authority shall adjust the base amount of the grant to reflect the cumulative annual percentage change in the Detroit consumer price index in the preceding 1-year period, as determined by the state treasurer. As used in this subdivision, &quot;Detroit consumer price index&quot; means the most comprehensive index of consumer prices available for the Detroit area by the bureau of labor statistics of the United States department of labor.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (b) The authority shall determine the amount of a student\'s grant for an academic year by subtracting the amount of any other state or federal grants or scholarships he or she is eligible to receive in that academic year from the base amount established under subdivision (a).&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (c) A student shall use the grant money he or she receives in an academic year to pay for his or her tuition and fees at the state educational institution. If the amount of his or her grant exceeds the amount of his or her tuition and fees, the student may use the grant money to pay other eligible expenses related to that academic year. If the amount of his or her grant exceeds the amount of his or her fees and other eligible expenses in an academic year, the student shall return the remaining balance to the authority.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (d) A student attending a state educational institution as a full-time student may not receive a grant in more than 5 academic years. If a student is attending a state educational institution as at least a half-time student but is not a full-time student, the authority shall determine the number of academic years for which the student may receive a grant. A student attending an state educational institution less than half-time shall not receive a grant.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (e) The authority shall disburse a student\'s grant money to the state educational institution in which he or she is enrolled on the student\'s behalf, according to a payment procedure established by the authority by rule.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (f) The annual cost of the total number of grants paid in a fiscal year shall not exceed the amount appropriated by the legislature for Michigan higher education grants in that fiscal year. If there are not sufficient funds appropriated by the legislature to provide each student with a grant in the amount to which those students are eligible in an academic year, the authority shall establish a maximum grant level for that academic year. In any fiscal year, the authority may adjust the amount of a Michigan higher education grant available to eligible students, based upon its determination of available resources and amounts appropriated.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sec. 11. (1) The Michigan higher education grant trust fund is established in the department of treasury. The trust fund shall consist of the following:&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (a) Money allocated to the trust fund as provided by law.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (b) Money appropriated to the trust fund.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (c) Donations of money made to the trust fund from any source.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (d) Interest and earnings from trust fund investments.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (2) Money in the trust fund at the close of a fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund and shall not revert to the general fund.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (3) The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the trust fund.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (4) The department of treasury is the administrator of the trust fund for auditing purposes.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sec. 13. The department of treasury shall establish and administer a restricted account in the general fund for the Michigan higher education grant program. All of the following apply to the account:&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (a) The department of treasury shall credit to the account money appropriated from the trust fund or received from any other source, including, but not limited to, interest and earnings from account investments and any money returned to the authority under section 9(c).&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (b) The department of treasury shall use the money in the account only to provide money to the authority for grants awarded under this act.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (c) Money in the account at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall be carried over in the account to the next fiscal year.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (d) The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the account.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (e) The department of treasury is the administrator of the account for auditing purposes.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sec. 15. By November 1 of each year, the authority shall submit a report on its activities under this act to the senate and house fiscal agencies and the state budget director. The report shall contain at least the number of Michigan higher education grants awarded, the maximum amount of a Michigan higher education grant paid, and the total amount paid out for Michigan higher education grants in the immediately preceding fiscal year.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Enacting section 1. It is the intent of the legislature that the first $1,800,000,000.00 savings realized from the elimination of tax expenditures identified by the legislative tax expenditure review commission described in chapter 7C of the legislative council act, 1986 PA 268, MCL 4.1771 to 4.1772, shall be used to fund the Michigan higher education grant trust fund created in section 11 of this act.</p>\r\n<p class=\"p3\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Enacting section 2. This act does not take effect unless Senate Bill No. 224&nbsp;&nbsp;of the 97th Legislature is enacted into law. &nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p4\">&nbsp;</p>',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3771,3771,'<br />\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The U.S. Senate has voted again to continue sugar subsidies even though a coalition of free-market advocates tried to convince Senators to include an amendment to the farm bill to reduce the subsidies.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The amendment was voted it down 54-45. Currently the federal government makes all the decisions about supply and demand and pricing rather than allowing the free market to set the prices.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more about how the regulation of sugar and its impact on businesses, jobs, the economy and each of us click on the following link:</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/15495-senate-votes-to-continue-sugar-subsidies\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/15495-senate-votes-to-continue-sugar-subsidies</span></a></p>',2,3283,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3773,3773,'It was supposed to be the most transparent administration in history.&nbsp; Obama was going to rise above the political wrangling and bring the country together.&nbsp; We now know this was all just talk, and it looks like it will be difficult, if not impossible, for the president to achieve any of the goals he laid out for his second term.&nbsp; Despite all that, the left will have yet another burden to bear when the electorate goes to the polls for the next election.&nbsp; What else has gone wrong for the progressives?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/05/23/obama_may_survive_but_scandals_a_blow_to_left_118520.html\">www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/05/23/obama_may_survive_but_scandals_a_blow_to_left_118520.html</a><br />',2,3285,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3774,3774,'The Obama administration has clearly shown how strongly it adheres to the idea that the ends justify the means.&nbsp; Nothing, not even the Constitution, stands in the way of this president, who believes he knows better than anyone else what\'s &quot;right&quot; for the country.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/349189/obama-and-law-mona-charen\">www.nationalreview.com/article/349189/obama-and-law-mona-charen</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3776,3776,'Let\'s not confuse the issue with facts!&nbsp; The issue of global warming has proven to be a cash cow for some of its most fervent defenders!&nbsp; But when scientists dare to look at the data objectively, some realize that climate change has been going on for a lot longer than Al Gore\'s lifetime.&nbsp; Get another point of view:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://pjmedia.com/blog/who-are-the-real-climate-deniers/\">pjmedia.com/blog/who-are-the-real-climate-deniers/</a><br />',2,3287,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3780,3780,'They\'re mad as &amp;!*# and they\'re not going to stand for it anymore!&nbsp; An advocacy group in Washington has filed suit on behalf of 25 Tea Party-related groups against the IRS and top officials in the Obama administration.&nbsp; The lawsuit alleges the IRS violated the constitutional rights of their groups when it targeted them for special scrutiny when they applied for tax-exempt status.&nbsp; Why does the government believe it is innocent of any wrongdoing?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/29/aclj-files-lawsuit-on-behalf-25-tea-party-groups-against-holder-lew-and-irs/\">www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/29/aclj-files-lawsuit-on-behalf-25-tea-party-groups-against-holder-lew-and-irs/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3781,3781,'They\'re mad as &amp;!*# and they\'re not going to take it anymore!&nbsp; An advocacy group in Washington has filed suit on behalf of 25 Tea Party-related groups against the IRS and top officials in the Obama administration.&nbsp; The lawsuit alleges the IRS violated the constitutional rights of their groups when it targeted them for special scrutiny when they applied for tax-exempt status.&nbsp; Why does the government believe it is innocent of any wrongdoing?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/29/aclj-files-lawsuit-on-behalf-25-tea-party-groups-against-holder-lew-and-irs/\">www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/29/aclj-files-lawsuit-on-behalf-25-tea-party-groups-against-holder-lew-and-irs/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3783,3783,'Recent polling shows an overwhelming majority of Americans believe a special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate allegations that the IRS inappropriately targeted conservative groups.&nbsp; But how do they feel about the other scandals dogging the White House?&nbsp; See what the people had to say:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/special-prosecutor-r-flap-3-4-americans-yes-112536906.html\">news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/special-prosecutor-r-flap-3-4-americans-yes-112536906.html</a><br />',2,3289,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3784,3784,'Bills that would repeal the existing constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, permit same-sex marriage in Michigan and also recognize same-sex marriages in other states will be introduced in the Michigan Senate next week.&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/senate_democrats_to_propose_re.html\">www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/senate_democrats_to_propose_re.html</a><br />',2,3290,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}');
INSERT INTO `content_type_story` VALUES (3785,3785,'<div class=\"rteleft\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">1. Should the legislature be giving tax breaks to families for child care that we end up footing the bill for? </span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">2. I thought having childern was a choice and that it was the parents responsibility to assume the cost of raising them?</span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">3. And she wants to give a break to people making up to $100,000.00?</span></span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><br />\r\n<img width=\"275\" height=\"189\" src=\"/sites/default/files/slavens.jpg\" alt=\"\" /><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">Rep. Dian Slavens</span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">2013 House Bill 4005: Authorize state child care subsidies and tax breaks </span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rteleft\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Introduced by Rep. Dian Slavens (D) on January 9, 2013, to authorize a &ldquo;refundable&rdquo; state income tax credit (essentially a cash subsidy in many cases) that would be a percentage of a federal income tax child care credit the individual can claim, with the percentage &ldquo;means tested&rdquo; on the basis of gross income (ranging from 110 percent for households with less than $25,000 income to 20 percent for those between $65,000 and $100,000).<br />\r\n<br />\r\nTEXT OF THE PROPOSED BILL: <br />\r\n<br />\r\n&nbsp;Sec. 272a. (1) For tax years that begin after December 31,&nbsp; 2012, a taxpayer may credit against the tax imposed by this act an&nbsp; amount equal to the following specified percentages of the credit&nbsp; the taxpayer is allowed to claim as a credit under section 21 of&nbsp; the internal revenue code for a tax year on a return filed under&nbsp; this act for the same tax year: <br />\r\n<br />\r\n&nbsp;(a) For a taxpayer with an adjusted gross income as defined in&nbsp; the internal revenue code of less than $25,000.00, 110%. <br />\r\n<br />\r\n&nbsp;(b) For a taxpayer with an adjusted gross income as defined in&nbsp; the internal revenue code of $25,000.00 or more but less than&nbsp; $40,000.00, 100%. <br />\r\n<br />\r\n&nbsp;(c) For a taxpayer with an adjusted gross income as defined in&nbsp; the internal revenue code of $40,000.00 or more but less than&nbsp; $65,000.00, 80%. <br />\r\n<br />\r\n&nbsp;(d) For a taxpayer with an adjusted gross income as defined in&nbsp; the internal revenue code of $65,000.00 or more but less than&nbsp; $100,000.00, 20%. <br />\r\n<br />\r\n&nbsp;(2) If the credit allowed by this section exceeds the tax&nbsp; liability of the taxpayer for the tax year, the state treasurer&nbsp; shall refund the excess to the taxpayer without interest, except as&nbsp; provided in section 30 of 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.30. <br />\r\n</span></div>',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3786,3786,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Did you read George Orwell\'s &quot;1984&quot;?&nbsp; If you did, then you know about Big Brother.&nbsp; For those of you unfamiliar with the book, Big Brother is, simply, government surveillance in all aspects of your life.&nbsp; Now, using the Patriot Act as their excuse, a federal judge has ordered Google to turn over customer data to the FBI.&nbsp; What kinds of data are they requesting?&nbsp; Is this specific data they seek or just a fishing expedition for anything they can turn up of &quot;interest&quot;?&nbsp; Most would agree that we are fighting a war on terror, and we should use every tool we have to protect our country from terrorists.&nbsp; But is anyone in the government smart enough to figure out how to fight terror without compromising our constitutionally-protected rights to freedom of speech and privacy?&nbsp; </span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more:&nbsp; </span><a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/06/01/judge-orders-google-to-give-customer-data-to-fbi/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/06/01/judge-orders-google-to-give-customer-data-to-fbi/</span></a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3788,3788,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">You hear it everywhere:&nbsp; The economy is improving! &nbsp; After five years of the Obama economy, we\'re growing at an anemic 2% and more than 4 million workers have been without employment for at least 6 months. Well, how long does it take for employers to slash jobs to the bare minimum and figure out how little inventory they need to show a profit?&nbsp; Sure, companies are showing a profit, but the regulatory burden is discouraging the creation of new businesses and demand for products won\'t increase unless more people have purchasing power.&nbsp; So we\'ve achieved a new, low level economy that many now refer to as the New Normal.&nbsp; Progressives are delighted at the increasing numbers who have become dependent on the govenment.&nbsp; What better way to ensure their continuing victory?&nbsp; So is it any surprise that President Obama doesn\'t even pay lip service to the idea of growth anymore?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; </span><a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/05/28/economy-and-jobs-have-slipped-from-obamas-radar/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">www.humanevents.com/2013/05/28/economy-and-jobs-have-slipped-from-obamas-radar/</span></a><br />',2,3293,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3789,3789,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Three major scandals are brewing at the White House.&nbsp; Investigations may or may not reveal criminal wrongdoing, but one thing is blatantly obvious:&nbsp; the administration and/or its minions have abused their power.&nbsp; What thought processes lead to these abuses?&nbsp; How is the same behavior done by others a serious problem, but, when done yourself,&nbsp; justified?&nbsp; For some insight into these questions, be sure to read the full story:&nbsp; </span><a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/349751/what-scandals-reveal-mario-loyola\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">www.nationalreview.com/article/349751/what-scandals-reveal-mario-loyola</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For another look inside the mind of the Left, don\'t miss this revealing video about a protest against the Koch brothers\' bid for the LA&nbsp;Times:&nbsp; </span><a href=\"http://reason.com/reasontv/2013/05/30/what-we-saw-at-the-anti-koch-save-our-ne\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">reason.com/reasontv/2013/05/30/what-we-saw-at-the-anti-koch-save-our-ne</span></a><br />',2,3294,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3790,3790,'A report released by the Associated Press reveals that top appointees in the Obama administration, including the Department of Health and Human Services, are using secret email accounts for government business.&nbsp; So this is how the most transparent administration in history does business?&nbsp; Get all the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0604/Obama-secret-email-accounts-used-by-political-appointees-report-says\">www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0604/Obama-secret-email-accounts-used-by-political-appointees-report-says</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3792,3792,'In August of 2010, then Governor Jennifer Granholm signed into law a bill that would require those who are involved in the design or redesign of roads to take into account all legal users of the roadway.&nbsp; That means that the needs of bicyclists, pedestrians, etc., would be considered when roads are being designed.&nbsp; Is this legislation that will provide safe and efficient movement of autos, bikes, pedestrians, etc. in the future or just more bureaucratic overreach?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18701\">www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18701</a><br />',2,3296,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3795,3795,'American have learned over the past few days that their government is accessing their personal data and has been for a long time.&nbsp; If you remember the uproar that occurred when the Patriot Act was passed, you would have expected the Obama administration to abolish the whole thing!&nbsp; But it appears the current administration has gone beyond the bounds of protections that were supposedly part of the act.&nbsp; First, it was secret surveillance of reporters, then we learn Verizon (and other carriers?) was ordered to turn over all kinds of telephone information and now many of the biggest internet companies deny they\'ve participated in a govenment program to turn over their users\' data.&nbsp; What else don\'t we know?<br />\r\n<br />\r\nHow are these agencies getting this data without a court order? What possible need is there for any governmental agency to collect large quantities of data about a large group of people?&nbsp;  What are these agencies doing with it?&nbsp; <br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/06/nsa-fbi-secretly-mines-data-from-major-internet-companies/\">dailycaller.com/2013/06/06/nsa-fbi-secretly-mines-data-from-major-internet-companies/</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\nIn response to the public outcry about intrusive goverment surveillance, the Director of National Intelligence is declassifying some details about the programs in question.&nbsp; He claims the surveillance is legal and limited, despite what the leaked documents may reveal.&nbsp; Can we believe anyone?<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://news.yahoo.com/us-declassifies-phone-program-details-uproar-071508507.html\">news.yahoo.com/us-declassifies-phone-program-details-uproar-071508507.html</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\nEven the New York Times is getting in on the act:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/opinion/president-obamas-dragnet.html?hp&amp;_r=0\">www.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/opinion/president-obamas-dragnet.html</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3797,3797,'Now that the bill has been signed into law, we\'re learning what\'s in it!&nbsp; It looks like the Affordable Care Act is going to result in higher insurance premiums.&nbsp; This comes as a surprise to many, but some on the left say everybody knew this all along.&nbsp; Really?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://reason.com/blog/2013/06/05/higher-health-insurance-premiums-the-oba\">reason.com/blog/2013/06/05/higher-health-insurance-premiums-the-oba</a><br />',2,3299,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3804,3804,'<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Actions speak louder than words!</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It wasn&rsquo;t long ago that the most of&nbsp; the republican Michigan house members were vehemently against the Medicaid Expansion that Governor Snyder was pushing.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Now it would appear that even the alternative option proposed in the House is being watered down.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the issue and how the House republicans may have had a &ldquo;change of mind&rdquo; on the Medicaid expansion click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18739\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18739</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,3308,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3806,3806,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Plan B One-Step emergency Contraception.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Kids can&rsquo;t take an aspirin but they will be allowed to take a drug that essentially will abort a fetus and be able to purchase the medication WITHOUT PARENTAL PERMISSION.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the issue click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/11/federal-govermment-to-comply-with-new-york-morning-after-pill-ruling/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/11/federal-govermment-to-comply-with-new-york-morning-after-pill-ruling/</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,3310,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3807,3807,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">We just had a presidential election but the polls are all ready coming out trying to determine who will be the standard bearer for the party in 2016.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The results may shock &ldquo;traditional republicans&rdquo; in that Rand Paul&nbsp; is currently in he lead based in a Public Policy Poll.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the poll results and who the potential contenders are and how they fared click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/early_poll_finds_rand_paul_lea.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/early_poll_finds_rand_paul_lea.html</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3311,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3809,3809,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Some Michigan Tea Party activists are calling on conservatives to &quot;sit out&quot; Republican Gov. Rick Snyder\'s re-election campaign because of his push to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It seems that the old adage about &ldquo;cutting your nose off to spite your face&rdquo; seems appropriate in this case.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Snyder is no conservative but he has to be better than Mark Schauer. Holding ones nose when voting seems to be a much better solution and hope that we can retain the House and Senate for another two years.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Failing that we could see us returning to the Granholm days with Schauer.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on Tea Party&rsquo;s threat to sit out the election click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/tea_party_activists_call_on_co.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/tea_party_activists_call_on_co.html</span></a><br />',2,3313,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3811,3811,'<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">The &ldquo;Medicaid Expansion&rdquo; Battle Isn&rsquo;t Over!</span></strong></span></div>\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">(The following comments may not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Clinton County Republican Party) </span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Snyder experienced a major setback on Thursday regarding Medicaid Expansion in the Michigan Senate.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville,&nbsp; acknowledged the bill would have passed if a vote had been taken with the minimum 20 votes, with 12 Democrats and eight Republicans voting for passage. However, he said he was reluctant to hold a vote without the support of half or 13 of the chamber&rsquo;s 26 Republicans. He also said the bill isn&rsquo;t dead and it would be reviewed over the summer.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Tea party activists have threatened to field primary challengers against Republican senators who vote to expand Medicaid.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Flanked by leaders of state medical and business associations, Governor Snyder said passage of the legislation&nbsp; was vital to get federal approval of proposed changes to the state Medicaid program before a nationwide expansion begins this fall.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">About 26 states are planning to expand Medicaid of which most have Democratic governors. While most Republican governors oppose Medicaid expansion, Snyder is among more than a half-dozen GOP governors who back expansion.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">State Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton, who opposed the Medicaid expansion, said the Michigan Legislature should &ldquo;push back&rdquo; against the Affordable Care Act mandates and direct individuals to private insurers through the health insurance exchanges that will be set up under the federal law.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The bottom line is that the war will continue with the Governor&rsquo;s &ldquo;relentless, positive action!&rdquo;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It just makes you wonder where the Governor&rsquo;s affiliations really are and what his &ldquo;conservative credentials&rdquo; are?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">On this issue the people played a significant part in stopping a bill that should not see the light of day in Michigan.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The &ldquo;people have a voice&rdquo; if they choose to make it heard and they can impact decisions that are made in Lansing!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Steve Willis, Chairman</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Clinton County Republicn Party</span>',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3836,3836,'Economic development sounds liks a good thing. Bringing businesses into the state or expanding existing businesses creates jobs, increases tax revenues and boosts the state\'s economy.&nbsp; So, given that, is it advantageous for the state to subsidize the growth and/or expansion of business?&nbsp; Have economic development programs been effective in the past?&nbsp; Maybe not.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18778\">www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18778</a><br />',2,3335,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3829,3829,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Click on the link below to watch a video to hear why a Louisiana State Senator switched party affiliations and why Republicans should be the party Blacks vote for if they truly want to change their lives:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=n_YQ8560E1w\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=n_YQ8560E1w</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3329,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3831,3831,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">No more White House tours because of sequester but $100,000,000 is OK for a &ldquo;Family Vacation&rdquo;?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read about the excessive waste of money that is being spent on this &ldquo;Family Vacation&rdquo; click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2013/06/19/obama-familys-outrageous-100-million-vacation/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2013/06/19/obama-familys-outrageous-100-million-vacation/</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3331,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3832,3832,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">You would think that a &ldquo;Farm Bill&rdquo; would be primarily be about agriculture and farming. Too bad that isn&rsquo;t the case. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The farm bill currently before the U.S. House seeks to appropriate almost a trillion dollars for &ldquo;Farm&rdquo; program spending. Of that $1,000,000,000.00 Senator Stabenow, the Agriculture Committee Chair, had included $740 billion for food stamps which left only $200 billion for farm related activities.</span></span></strong></em><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana has proposed amendments to the five-year farm bill that would remove food-stamp policy from the rest of the bill, creating what he described as a &ldquo;farm-only&rdquo; farm bill.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read about the &ldquo;Farm Bill&rdquo; and the amendment to remove food stamps from it click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/19/amendments-would-take-food-stamp-funding-out-of-farm-bill/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/19/amendments-would-take-food-stamp-funding-out-of-farm-bill/</span></a>',2,3332,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3837,3837,'In 2004, Michigan voters rejected gay marriage with a 60% majority of the vote.&nbsp; But now, with gay marriage winning approval in some states and a purported shift in the public view of gay marriage, proponents are working to put the issue on the ballot again.&nbsp; How do think it will all turn out?&nbsp; Read Tim Skubick\'s assessment of the situation:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/tim_skubick_heres_gay_marriage.html#incart_river_default\">www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/tim_skubick_heres_gay_marriage.html#incart_river_default</a><br />',2,3336,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3838,3838,'A recent Gallup poll shows that 41% of small businesses have frozen hiring because of Obamacare.&nbsp; On top of that, 38% say they have cut back on expansion plans and 19% have actually reduced their number of employees.&nbsp; Can anyone say train wreck?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/06/21/poll-41-percent-of-small-businesses-have-frozen-hiring-because-of-obamacare/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/06/21/poll-41-percent-of-small-businesses-have-frozen-hiring-because-of-obamacare/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3816,3816,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Senator Lindsay Graham says that the immigration bill will pass with as many as 70 votes in the Senate.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The republicans say they have to vote for the bill or we they will lose the hispanic vote, which they never had, and lose in 2014.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BASING HOW YOU VOTE ON YOUR &ldquo;PRINCIPLES&rdquo;?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The immigration bill is nothing more than a blatant attempt by the progressive democrats to guarantee the 2014 election and the destruction of our republic.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on how everyone who works will be required to have a biometric ID click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/opinion/sobel-id-immigration\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/opinion/sobel-id-immigration</span></a><br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />',2,3317,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3818,3818,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Property rights was one of the most important issues that the founders addressed when they came up with the concept for our new country.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Today U.N. Agenda 21 is a direct threat to those rights all across the country. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It has managed to infiltrate all levels of government throughout our country under the guise of &ldquo;Sustainability&rdquo;, even here in Clinton County by the county commissioners.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on what the legislature has done in the State of Missouri to stop Agnda 21 click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/15344-missouri-legislature-bans-un-agenda-21 \"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/15344-missouri-legislature-bans-un-agenda-21 </span></a><br />',2,3319,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3819,3819,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obamacare was touted to be the end all and be all. It was going to be affordable coverage for everyone.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">But how would we have know. None of the &ldquo;rules&rdquo; and &ldquo;regulations&rdquo; had been formulated yet. But as of March 13 there were already over 20,000 pages of regulations that had already been written.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Now we hear that the Affordable part of the Affordable Health care Act isn&rsquo;t affordable.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on what the real costs will be click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/14/coverage-may-be-unaffordable-for-low-wage-workers-under-obamacare/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/14/coverage-may-be-unaffordable-for-low-wage-workers-under-obamacare/</span></a><br />',2,3320,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3821,3821,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The EPA wants us to live in a &ldquo;TOD&rdquo;,&nbsp; a &quot;transit oriented development&quot;,&nbsp; where people can walk or bike from their (compact) homes to their jobs or the shopping center.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Their concept of the future and how we should live envisions a &quot;compact, mixed-use community&quot; not near a &quot;sensitive area&quot; like a lakeside, riverside, seaside, forest or farm.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The &ldquo;TOD&rdquo; will offer the advantages of,&nbsp; membership in political organizations and community groups, according to an EPA report.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The EPA advocates locating new development away from &quot;sensitive areas,&quot; choosing previously developed sites near transit hubs. It advocates the construction of &quot;compact, mixed-used communities&quot; that are convenient for bicyclists and pedestrians; and the use of &quot;green building&quot; techniques, such as natural lighting to conserve energy.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I am sure we will all be able to find a nice place in downtown Lansing where we will feel safe and secure, where there are cameras everywhere to watch our every move.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Sure sounds like the real version of &ldquo;1984&rdquo; known as U.N. Agenda 21!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on what the EPA has planned for our future click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/epa-offers-smart-development-decisions-next-half-century\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/epa-offers-smart-development-decisions-next-half-century</span></a><br />',2,3322,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3825,3825,'The Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved legislation that could make it more difficult for a minor to end a pregnancy by abortion without parental consent.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nExisting state law prohibits clinics from performing an abortion for a minor without obtaining written consent from a parent or a waiver from a judge. But supporters of the law say it contains a loophole allowing minors to &quot;shop&quot; for a waiver, going to court multiple times until they find a judge willing to provide them with the permission they seek.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nFor an article on the bill that would require parental consent to for minors to receive an abortion click on the following story link:<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/abortion_measure_approved_by_m.html\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/abortion_measure_approved_by_m.html</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\nUS HOUSE PASSES ABORTION BILL:<br />\r\n<br />\r\nThe U.S. House voted Tuesday to impose a nationwide ban on abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy over Democratic objections that the bill represents a dramatic attempt by Republicans to restrict abortion rights.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nWith limited exceptions, the legislation would ban the abortion of a fetus younger than 20 weeks old, or at 22 weeks of pregnancy under a different measuring system. The ban would be backed by possible fines against doctors, as well as prison sentence of as many as five years.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nHowever, the Democratic Senate is not expected to consider it at all and President Obama threatened to veto the measure if it passed both houses of congress.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nFor an article on the bill that would ban late term abortions click on the following story link:<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/306355-house-passes-controversial-late-term-abortion-ban\">http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/306355-house-passes-controversial-late-term-abortion-ban</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,3325,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3840,3840,'Most of the money being sent to the public schools pension system is being gobbled up by a multi-billion dollar unfunded pension and retiree health care liability.&nbsp; How will this impact retirees of this system?&nbsp; What can be done?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18797\">www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18797</a><br />',2,3338,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3843,3843,'Today the Supreme Court struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, citing it as unconsitutional because it relies on 40-year-old data.&nbsp; Liberals are outraged.&nbsp; Do they really want everyone to believe there has been on progress in race relations in 40 years?&nbsp; Isn\'t it time for the federal government to get out of the business of the states?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/06/25/scotus-resets-the-voting-rights-act/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/06/25/scotus-resets-the-voting-rights-act/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3845,3845,'When your administration is drowning in scandals, why not try to change the conversation to something that will shore up the base?&nbsp; Even though President Obama was unable to get a carbon tax proposal through Congress, that hasn\'t stopped him from using the EPA to clamp down on emissions.&nbsp; Now, at a speech at Georgetown University, a basion of left-wing thinking, the president proposes a new war on carbon.&nbsp; Or, as an aide more clearly explained, a war on coal.&nbsp; Apparently the White House hasn\'t been keeping up with the latest findings on climate change.&nbsp; Nevertheless, the President describes climate change as the biggest threat to our nation.&nbsp; Now what?&nbsp; How will this new initiative impact energy costs?&nbsp; Who will pay the price for this desperate attempt to distract the public from the acts of an admistration as corrupt as this one?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/352025/obamas-radical-climate-agenda-editors\">www.nationalreview.com/article/352025/obamas-radical-climate-agenda-editors</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3847,3847,'In a decision on Wednesday, the Supreme Court cleared the way for gay couples to receive federal benefits in states that recognize their marriages. It didn\'t, however, make any changes to laws that exist in many states that prohibit gay marriage.&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/26/court-strikes-down-federal-anti-gay-marriage-law/\">www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/26/court-strikes-down-federal-anti-gay-marriage-law/</a><br />\r\n<div style=\"overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;\">&nbsp;</div>',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3849,3849,'In a 68-32 vote, the Senate passed their version of an immigration reform bill.&nbsp; In order to get the votes needed, it is loaded with pork.&nbsp; The House, however, will go through the regular process to create their own immigration bill, and eventually this legislation will end up in a conference committee for resolution.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nFor information on the passage, see:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/06/27/Senate-passes-amnesty-68-32\">www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/06/27/Senate-passes-amnesty-68-32</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\nTo get details on the pork:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/06/27/Immigration-Bill-Riddled-With-Pork\">www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/06/27/Immigration-Bill-Riddled-With-Pork</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\nFor a discussion on a conservative plan for immigration reform, read Wayne Allyn Root\'s article:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/06/25/the-conservative-plan-for-immigration-reform/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/06/25/the-conservative-plan-for-immigration-reform/</a><br />\r\n<br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3851,3851,'An amendment to the<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:H.R.1960:\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\">National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014, </span></a>offered by Representative Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), would prohibit federal funding for the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty for one year.&nbsp; The amendment passed unanimously in the House.&nbsp; The Senate also passed a measure to prevent the United States from entering into the treaty.&nbsp; Why so much opposition? Read more: &nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/congress/item/15820-house-votes-unanimously-to-ban-funding-for-un-gun-grab\">www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/congress/item/15820-house-votes-unanimously-to-ban-funding-for-un-gun-grab</a>',2,3343,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3854,3854,'Have you heard that Michigan\'s &quot;share&quot; of federal dollars for Medicaid expansion will go to another state if we reject it?&nbsp; Not true!&nbsp; There was a provision tucked into a Supreme Court decision last summer that prevents Congress from coercing states into expanding their Medicaid programs by threatening to withhold federal dollars for their existing Medicaid programs.&nbsp; How would this impact the federal budget if states banded together and rejected the expansion of Medicaid?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323982704578453250970028838?mg=reno64-wsj.html?dsk=y\">online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323982704578453250970028838</a><br />',2,3344,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3855,3855,'Africa was expecting a lot from America\'s first black president whose father was from Kenya.&nbsp; George W. Bush is credited with saving millions of lives with his anti-AIDS work, and Bill Clinton eliminated trade restrictions for thousands of exports to the US.&nbsp; President Obama must walk a fine line.&nbsp; What does the President plan to do for Africa?&nbsp; It\'s an interesting approach coming from a President who engenders dependency in this country.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://washingtonexaminer.com/obama-tries-to-escape-george-w.-bushs-long-shadow-in-africa/article/2532524\">washingtonexaminer.com/obama-tries-to-escape-george-w.-bushs-long-shadow-in-africa/article/2532524</a><br />',2,3345,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3857,3857,'<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\">SEE WHY THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE SHOULD REJECT</span></span></strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\n</span></span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\">GOVERNOR SNYDER&rsquo;S PUSH TO PASS OBAMACARE&rsquo;S MEDICAID EXPANSION</span></span></strong></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\">-------------------------------------------</div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The following is reprinted with permission from The Michigan Center for Public Policy Blog by Jack McHugh on July 1 Regarding Medicaid Expansion in Michigan</span></strong></em></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\">-------------------------------------------</div>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obamacare Medicaid: Facts, Figures, Background</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">What you don&rsquo;t know can hurt you</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><em><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Posted by Jack McHugh on July 1, 2013 at 2:00pm</span></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">(Editor\'s note: Much of the following is derived and in some cases directly quoted from previous Mackinac Center articles, studies and blog posts.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">--&nbsp; According to the &ldquo;official&rdquo; state numbers, starting in <em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\">2020 the Medicaid expansion will impose $300 million in annual costs on Michigan taxpayers.</span></em> That money will have to come from either tax hikes or cuts to current government services. Gov. Snyder proposes placing half of any short-term savings in a lockbox to cover these future cost increases.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br />\r\n<a href=\"http:// http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa/Publications/Issues/MedicaidExpansion/MedicaidExpansionProposal.pdf\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa/Publications/Issues/MedicaidExpansion/MedicaidExpansionProposal.pdf</span></a><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\n--&nbsp; The Mackinac Center has critiqued the simplistic &ldquo;arithmetic&rdquo; approach the official estimates use, because their numbers depend on shaky assumptions, the shakiest being that the feds won&rsquo;t renege on delivering the 90 percent funding share they have promised: <em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\">&ldquo;President Obama has already signaled that increasing states\' Medicaid share is in the administration\'s playbook. He did so by recommending a lower Medicaid &lsquo;blended rate&rsquo; in his last two annual budget recommendations.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span></em>&nbsp;</span><br />\r\n<a href=\"http:// http://www.mackinac.org/18268\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.mackinac.org/18268</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">--&nbsp; Congressman Paul Ryan reinforced this point in a recent interview:</span><em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t matter if Republicans are running Congress or Democrats are running Congress &mdash; there&rsquo;s no way we&rsquo;re going to keep those match rates like that.&rdquo;</span></span></em><br />\r\n<a href=\"http:// http://www.mackinac.org/18561\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.mackinac.org/18561</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">--&nbsp; According to the Heritage Foundation, <em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\">Medicaid will impose $1.3 billion in net costs on Michigan taxpayers through 2022</span></em>. </span><br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mackinac.org/18416\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mackinac.org/18416</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">--&nbsp; Money for the expansion doesn&rsquo;t come from some &ldquo;pool&rdquo; of funds to be divided between the states, but goes right onto the federal government&rsquo;s credit card. </span><em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If Michigan legislators accept the Medicaid expansion, they will be approving an increase in the national debt of $22.5 billion through 2022.</span>&nbsp;</span></em><br />\r\n<a href=\"http:// http://www.mackinac.org/18582\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.mackinac.org/18582</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">--&nbsp; Medicaid is a flawed program that serves recipients poorly. <em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\">According to a 2009 survey, many specialists in metropolitan Detroit refuse to accept Medicaid patients, including: 33 percent of dermatologists, 41 percent of family practitioners, 50 percent of obstetrics-gynecology specialists and 67 percent of orthopedic surgeons.</span></em> </span><br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mackinac.org/archives/2013/s2013-03FINAL.pdf\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mackinac.org/archives/2013/s2013-03FINAL.pdf</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">--&nbsp; According to the most important study of the program, Medicaid &ldquo;generated no significant improvement in measured physical health outcomes.&rdquo; Health care policy expert Avik Roy characterized the findings this way in Forbes:</span><em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &ldquo;If Medicaid were a new medicine applying for approval from the Food and Drug Administration, it would be summarily rejected.&rdquo; </span></span></em><br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/05/02/oregon-study-medicaid-had-no-significant-effect-on-health-outcomes-vs-being-uninsured/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/05/02/oregon-study-medicaid-had-no-significant-effect-on-health-outcomes-vs-being-uninsured/</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">--&nbsp; Medicaid recipients use hospital emergency rooms at twice the rate of people with no health insurance or private insurance.<em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"> &ldquo;The Obama Administration&rsquo;s decision to push insurance coverage through a major expansion of Medicaid ensures a greater number of emergency room visits&hellip; (A)s patients grapple with even more crowded emergency rooms, what will be the negative impact on their access to life-saving care in a real emergency?&rdquo;</span></em>&nbsp;</span><br />\r\n<a href=\"http:// http://www.politico.com/pdf/PPM170_hcr_medicaid.pdf\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.politico.com/pdf/PPM170_hcr_medicaid.pdf</span></a><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\n--&nbsp; Many of those covered by the expansion won&rsquo;t be &ldquo;the uninsured,&rdquo; but will be <em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\">people who previously had private coverage taking advantage of a taxpayer-funded alternative. In some previous expansions, as many as 50 percent of the new beneficiaries dropped private coverage. &ldquo;A conservative estimate (of the proposed expansion) is that Medicaid rolls might have to rise by 1.4 people in order to reduce the uninsured by 1 person &mdash; a crowd-out rate of about 29 percent.&rdquo;</span></em>&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;<br />\r\n<a href=\"http:// http://www.mackinac.org/archives/2013/s2013-03FINAL.pdf\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.mackinac.org/archives/2013/s2013-03FINAL.pdf</span></a><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\n--&nbsp; The Obama administration has essentially forbidden substantive state reforms of the Medicaid program (such as extending an innovative Indiana Health Savings Account alternative). (See Avik Roy, &quot;The Arkansas-Obamacare Medicaid Deal: Far Less Than It First Appeared.&quot;) Expanding Medicaid in the context of implementing Obamacare makes the prospect of real reforms less likely, not more.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">--&nbsp; At this time, <em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\">19 states WILL NOT expand Medicaid, and six are leaning against. (So why do our legislators think they and this state are so unique and special in this area?)</span></em>&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;<br />\r\n<a href=\"http:// http://www.avalerehealth.net/news/spotlight/20130524_Medicaid_Expansion.pdf\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.avalerehealth.net/news/spotlight/20130524_Medicaid_Expansion.pdf</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">--&nbsp; <em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\">Michigan provides medical welfare for children up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Any claims that the expansion is &ldquo;for the children&rdquo; are just demagoguery.</span></em>&nbsp;</span><br />\r\n<a href=\"http:// http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MIChildfullmanual_13163_7.PDF\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MIChildfullmanual_13163_7.PDF</span></a><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\n--&nbsp; Those pushing the expansion claim that Obamacare is a &ldquo;done deal&rdquo; and we all have to just knuckle under and pay up. This is wrong.<em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"> When the law goes into effect in just six months, its complexity, internal contradictions and perverse incentives are expected to inflict tremendous damage on families, employers and the health care system.</span></em> There is a strong probability this could trigger a widespread public revolt, making the law highly vulnerable to being opened up next year for major revisions by Congress, including the Democratic-controlled Reid Senate. Ways in which Obamacare is vulnerable, with evidence for each: </span><br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18723\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18723</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">--&nbsp; Mackinac Center Senior Legislative Analyst Jack McHugh&rsquo;s testimony explaining to a House committee what &quot;vulnerable&quot; means for Michigan families and businesses: </span><br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mackinac.org/18741\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mackinac.org/18741</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">--&nbsp; MichiganVotes.org descriptions of the Medicaid expansion bill, House Bill 4714 (note in particular differences between the bill as &quot;Introduced by Rep. Matt Lori&quot; and as &quot;Passed 76 to 31 in the House&quot;):</span><br />\r\n<a href=\"http:// http://www.michiganvotes.org/2013-HB-4714\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.michiganvotes.org/2013-HB-4714</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Background: Medicaid Expansion and the Obamacare &ldquo;Exchange&rdquo; </span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Roughly speaking, there are three components to the Medicaid expansion population: Able-bodied childless adults under 100 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), people between 100 and 138 percent of FPL, and individuals who are already eligible but are not enrolled (the &ldquo;woodwork&rdquo; population).</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\nWith some exceptions the first group does not get medical welfare benefits now and will continue not getting them if this state does not expand Medicaid. These individuals DO get treatment if they show up at a hospital emergency room. They also receive a bill that most aren&rsquo;t able to pay, so the cost of their care is shifted to everyone else. The magnitude of this problem is greatly exaggerated by the hospitals &mdash; various measures show that uncompensated care constitutes less than 3 percent of total health care costs.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">This is not a new problem, and it would be short-sighted to solve it now at the cost of further entrenching a vulnerable Obamacare. Sen. Bruce Caswell, R-Hillsdale, has introduced a bill to provide coverage to this population without expanding Medicaid. MIRS News reports it would &ldquo;include a limited hospitalization benefit, likely capped between $10,000 and $15,000,&rdquo; and it would also pay for preventive care services. Sen. Caswell told me this approach builds on existing programs and would probably solve 90 percent of the problem, at a cost he claims is not prohibitive. Importantly, Michigan would remain &ldquo;captain of our own ship,&rdquo; not trapped in an expansion roach motel, and not subject the whims of federal bureaucrats.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">This below-100 percent of FPL population is also the largest source of the short-term savings this state will realize with the expansion &mdash; Michigan will be able to transfer $200 million in mental health spending from the state budget onto the federal one.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It is thought that the Obamacare individual mandate will drive many of the second group, the &ldquo;woodwork&rdquo; people, into Medicaid, and without the expansion Michigan taxpayers will have to pay a larger share of the cost than with it. However, according to the Snyder administration this group represents less that 10 percent of the total expansion numbers.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\nThe 100-138 percent of FPL population is more interesting. A Mackinac Center study estimates this population will number 177,516 people in 2014, and that 124,261 of them will actually enroll in Medicaid if the expansion is adopted, costing Michigan state taxpayers $475 million over the next 10 years. Without the expansion, however, people in this group could go into the &ldquo;exchange&rdquo; and get a real health insurance policy at little or no cost to themselves, and at no cost to Michigan state taxpayers.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Bottom Line: The Mackinac Center believes that Obamacare is vulnerable to serious revision next year, and this state should do nothing that reduces the chances of that outcome. This big picture is infinitely more important than &quot;reforms&quot; that essentially amount to marginal changes to a problematic medical welfare program. </span><em><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Legislators and citizens who oppose the expansion on this basis are not &ldquo;bitter enders,&rdquo; but are keeping their eye on what matters most.</span></span></em>',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3858,3858,'Right to Life of Michigan has begun a petition drive to &quot;prohibit public and private health insurance policies from including  abortion coverage unless a woman, her family or her employer purchases  an optional rider.&quot;&nbsp; Their goal is to collect 350,000 signatures in 100 days.&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/07/michigan_abortion_insurance_ba.html\">www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/07/michigan_abortion_insurance_ba.html</a><br />',2,3346,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3859,3859,'Do you remembert the dire predictions about what would happen if the sequester took effect?&nbsp; Now, several months later, we have some real information about how it actually impacted government staff and services.&nbsp; Was it as bad as predicted?&nbsp; Check out the facts:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/they-said-the-sequester-would-be-scary-mostly-they-were-wrong/2013/06/30/73bdbbfc-da7a-11e2-8ed8-7adf8eba6e9a_story.html\">www.washingtonpost.com/politics/they-said-the-sequester-would-be-scary-mostly-they-were-wrong/2013/06/30/73bdbbfc-da7a-11e2-8ed8-7adf8eba6e9a_story.html</a><br />',2,3347,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3860,3860,'Interest rates on federally subsidized student loans double today because Congress was unable to come up with a solution.&nbsp; House Republicans wanted to link the rate to the financial markets instead of letting the Congress set the rate.&nbsp; Senate Democrats wanted to leave the rate at 3.4%.&nbsp; The President proposed a variation on the market-based approach in his budget that was sent to Congress this spring.&nbsp; No agreement was reached before the current rate expired.&nbsp; For further information, see:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/07/01/student-loan-rates-double-as-calendar-turns-to-july/\">www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/07/01/student-loan-rates-double-as-calendar-turns-to-july/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3863,3863,'President Obama announced his intention to address the issue of climate change in a speech given at Georgetown University last week.&nbsp; How does he intend to accomplish his goals?&nbsp; Be sure to see this examination of his proposal:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://reason.com/archives/2013/06/28/obamas-climate-five-year-plan\">reason.com/archives/2013/06/28/obamas-climate-five-year-plan</a><br />\r\n<br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3865,3865,'In another setback to the president\'s health care law, the White House announced Tuesday that the so-called employer mandate will be delayed for one year.&nbsp; This provision would have required employers with 50 or more employees to provide affordable quality insurance or be fined $2000.&nbsp; The delay sets the date for implementation back to 2015, after the 2014 midterm elections.&nbsp; How will this impact the implementation of the act?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-delays-health-care-rule-that-businesses-provide-insurance-to-workers/2013/07/02/f87e7892-e360-11e2-aef3-339619eab080_story_1.html\">www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-delays-health-care-rule-that-businesses-provide-insurance-to-workers/2013/07/02/f87e7892-e360-11e2-aef3-339619eab080_story_1.html</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3867,3867,'Can you imagine what the Founders might be thinking about the country on this Independence Day 2013?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18829\">www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18829</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3869,3869,'Do you remember hearing that Barack Obama was going to improve the standing of the United States in the world?&nbsp; So how has that worked out?&nbsp; Get the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://washingtonexaminer.com/obama-fails-to-improve-us-standing-around-the-world/article/2532517?custom_click=rss\">washingtonexaminer.com/obama-fails-to-improve-us-standing-around-the-world/article/2532517</a><br />',2,3356,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3870,3870,'Everybody wants a robust economy.&nbsp; So good jobs numbers are a welcome bit of news.&nbsp; Aren\'t they?&nbsp; Adding almost 200,000 jobs for the past few months sounds great and would seem to indicate that the economy is getting better.&nbsp; But what do we find when we look a little deeper into the data?&nbsp; Do these jobs numbers really indicate an improving economy?&nbsp; What do you think?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2013/07/05/obamacare-economy-pushes-workers-to-part-time-jobs/\">dailycaller.com/2013/07/05/obamacare-economy-pushes-workers-to-part-time-jobs/</a><br />',2,3357,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3871,3871,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The closer we get to the roll out Obamacare, scheduled for October 1, 2013, the more its proponents want to delay it for a year. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">They are beginning to recognize what the impact is actually going to be and don&rsquo;t want to have its negative impact affect the 2014 mid term elections and the possibility of taking back the House and completing the destruction of our country.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the dem&rsquo;s reticence to have the Obamacare exchanges take effect in October read the following article at www.washingtonpost.com:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/07/01/the-insiders-democrats-are-trying-to-suppress-the-confusion-and-hide-the-cost-of-obamacare/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/07/01/the-insiders-democrats-are-trying-to-suppress-the-confusion-and-hide-the-cost-of-obamacare/</span></a><br />',2,3358,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3875,3875,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Obama administration is waiting to release a host of new environmental regulations that go far beyond the president\'s plans to issue new standards for greenhouse gas emissions from new and existing power plants.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It looks like the &ldquo;Transformation of America&rdquo; is moving full speed ahead and there is nothing that can stop his agenda for bankrupting our country.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on the pending release of the new regulations at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/309397-power-plant-rules-and-more-coming-from-epa-administration\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/309397-power-plant-rules-and-more-coming-from-epa-administration</span></a><br />',2,3360,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3877,3877,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It isn&rsquo;t just our emails, telephones calls, where you travel, and internet searches,&nbsp; that are being tracked -- now they want to know everything you are buying.</span> <br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is spending $20 million collecting, analyzing and storing customer credit card transactions, and cataloging spending your spending habits and other financial data of millions of fellow Americans.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on everything OUR GOVERNMENT is finding out about us as a result of the Dodd-Frank bill at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/5/the-pocketbook-spies/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/5/the-pocketbook-spies/</span></a><br />',2,3362,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3879,3879,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Reports says that Russia and the United States have completed talks in Washington D.C. where the Obama regime has requested at least 15,000 Russian troops trained in disaster relief and &ldquo;crowd functions&rdquo; to be pre-positioned to respond to FEMA Region III during an unspecified &ldquo;upcoming&rdquo; disaster.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read the details on the agreement we have made with the Russians for their assistance in maintaining order in case of emergency at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.eutimes.net/2013/06/obama-requests-15000-russian-troops-for-upcoming-disaster/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.eutimes.net/2013/06/obama-requests-15000-russian-troops-for-upcoming-disaster/</span></a><br />',2,3365,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3882,3882,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Former General Motors engineer Ozzie Zehner says the only &ldquo;green&rdquo; aspect of electric cars is the money some companies make off them!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The former engineer points out the fallacy that the environmentalists are promoting by not telling the whole story of the impacts that are the resultant side effects of the electric cars being produced.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read the whole story at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/15971-former-electric-car-engineer-electric-cars-pollute-more-than-gas\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/15971-former-electric-car-engineer-electric-cars-pollute-more-than-gas</span></a><br />',2,3369,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3885,3885,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Did you know that a federal regulation passed during the Truman administration gives the government the power to control supply and demand for dried grapes and take a percentage of every farmer&rsquo;s raisins without paying for them.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read what one raisin farmer is doing about it in California and what it will cost him in the end at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/07/11/CA-Farmer-Faces-Bankruptcy-Gov-t-Wrath-for-Refusing-to-Contribute-to-National-Raisin-Reserve\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/07/11/CA-Farmer-Faces-Bankruptcy-Gov-t-Wrath-for-Refusing-to-Contribute-to-National-Raisin-Reserve</span></a><br />',2,3370,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3887,3887,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Some of Obama&rsquo;s biggest supporters are crying foul because of the impact that Obamacare will have on their union health care plans.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read the why they are expressing their dissatisfaction with the plan and how it will impact them at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2013/07/11/another-union-decries-obamacares-impact-on-members-healthcare-coverage/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://dailycaller.com/2013/07/11/another-union-decries-obamacares-impact-on-members-healthcare-coverage/</span></a><br />',2,3372,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3889,3889,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Congressman Justin Amash will attempt to derail NSA surveillance by defunding federal programs that have lead to the covert seizure of millions of Americans\' phone records.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on his move to eliminate the funding of NSA surveillance at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/07/rep_justin_amash_will_try_to_d.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/07/rep_justin_amash_will_try_to_d.html</span></a><br />',2,3378,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3892,3892,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Attorney General Holder stated;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;But we must examine laws that take this further by eliminating the common sense and age-old requirement that people who feel threatened have a duty to retreat, outside their home, if they can do so safely,&quot; . . . &quot;By allowing -- and perhaps encouraging -- violent situations to escalate in public, such laws undermine public safety.&quot; </span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on Holders&rsquo; comments and his apparent desire to repeal state laws that allow for personal defense at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/07/16/holder-wades-deeper-into-zimmerman-battle-calls-for-review-stand-your-ground/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/07/16/holder-wades-deeper-into-zimmerman-battle-calls-for-review-stand-your-ground/</span></a><br />',2,3380,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3893,3893,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Documents from the Department of Justice&nbsp; reveal that a little known unit in the DOJ was given the task of assisting community groups in Florida in organizing and running demonstrations in favor of putting George Zimmerman on trial.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To see how AG HOLDER and the DOJ became involved in the Zimmerman Kangaroo Court process click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/07/foia_docs_show_holders_justice_department_aided_zimmerman_protests.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/07/foia_docs_show_holders_justice_department_aided_zimmerman_protests.html</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Now HOLDER and the DOJ appear to be seeking assistance in pursuing &ldquo;Civil Rights Charges&rdquo; against Zimmerman.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Let&rsquo;s move on! </span></strong></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The case should never have gone to trial! </span></strong></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><strong>The Jury found him &ldquo;NOT GUILTY&rdquo;! </strong></span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong>Case closed!</strong></span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To see how AG HOLDER and the DOJ are looking at &ldquo;Civil Rights Charges&rdquo; click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/07/16/DOJ-phone-call-Zimmerman\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/07/16/DOJ-phone-call-Zimmerman</span></a><br />',2,3381,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3895,3895,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">State Representative Tim Kelly was in the middle as the head of a committee meeting on &ldquo;Common Core Standards&rdquo; for Michigan Schools as legislators questioned State Superintendent Mike Flanagan and Michigan Department of Education officials.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more on the committee meeting click on this link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/07/tempers_flare_at_first_common.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/07/tempers_flare_at_first_common.html</span></a><br />',2,3383,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3899,3899,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The governor continues his &ldquo;Relentless, Positive, Action&rdquo; campaign by vilifying the people in his own party by any and all means available.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Maybe he doesn&rsquo;t know and/or understand that his &ldquo;own party&rdquo; is not in favor of what he is pushing. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Hopefully the Senate will hold the line and stay united in their opposition to the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion when it comes up in the senate later this summer. (As of today both Senator Emmons &amp; Senator Jones are still no votes!)</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Additionally, according to an Attorney General spokesperson, Bill Schuette; <br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo; believes that the federal government is not a reliable or steady funder and the long term fiscal costs of government expansion of health care is not sustainable and will result in huge costs to Michigan taxpayers.&quot;</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more on Attorney General Schuette&rsquo;s comments click on this link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18893\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18893</span></a><br />',2,3385,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3903,3903,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">President Obama is closely monitoring Detroit&rsquo;s financial situation and urged the city and creditors to find a solution.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;The president and members of the president&rsquo;s senior team continue to closely monitor the situation in Detroit. While leaders on the ground in Michigan and the city&rsquo;s creditors understand that they must find a solution to Detroit&rsquo;s serious financial challenge, we remain committed to continuing our strong partnership with Detroit as it works to recover and revitalize and maintain its status as one of America\'s great cities,&rdquo; White House spokesman Keith Maley said.</strong></em></span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more on Detroit&rsquo;s bankruptcy and what is being considered for assistance click on this link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130718/METRO01/307180119/President-Obama-keeping-close-eye-Detroit-bankruptcy\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130718/METRO01/307180119/President-Obama-keeping-close-eye-Detroit-bankruptcy</span></a><br />',2,3387,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3905,3905,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Presdident Obama was was doing something unconstitutional when he made recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Imagine that, the Prez doing something unconstitutional!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more on on the court decision taht over ruled his appoinments click on this link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/17/third-court-overturns-obama-recess-appointments/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/17/third-court-overturns-obama-recess-appointments/</span></a><br />',2,3389,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3906,3906,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">State Senator Patrick Colbeck has introduced a \'free market alternative\' in a pair of bills in SB 459 and another bill yet to be released as an alternative to Medicaid expansion.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A special senate committee is currently working on an alternative to House Bill 4714, that the House has already passed, and that the governor is relentlessly beating the drum for the Senate to pass.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Having heard Senator Colbeck give an overview of the proposed legislation I have many questions regarding its feasibility and if it is a viable alternative.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an overview of the \'free market alternative\' from Jack McHugh from the Mackinaw Center read the following article:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18907\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18907</span></a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3908,3908,'According to John Hayward. senior writer for Human Events, Detroit has the highest residential and commercial property taxes and the second highest industrial property tax in the United States.&nbsp; Now that the city has filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy, it has a chance to get out from under the burdens that have brought the city down.&nbsp; How can Detroit attract new business and new jobs?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/07/22/a-kemp-growth-plan-for-detroit/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/07/22/a-kemp-growth-plan-for-detroit/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3910,3910,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It would appear that DeWitt Township is moving forward with their &ldquo;International Property Maintenance Code&rdquo; and they will be holding a public hearing on July 22, 2013 to take public comments.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read the article in the State Journal it sounds like a great deal of work has gone into the process prior to making their decision about the actual content of the &ldquo;Code&rdquo;. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If I were a resident of DeWitt Township I would have serious concerns about anything that has the word &ldquo;International&rdquo; in it as part of its description. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">You know the saying. &ldquo;We need to pass it so we will know what is in it&rdquo;. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Just a little warning &ldquo;Make sure you know what your Township Board is approving before you jump onboard because you will have to live by it!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Ask yourself if more government regulations are better and if your personal property rights are being infringed as a result of this new &ldquo;Code&rdquo;?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read the State Journal article on the issue at this link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20130714/DEWITTBATH01/307140020/DeWitt-Twp-considering-property-maintenance-code?nclick_check=1\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20130714/DEWITTBATH01/307140020/DeWitt-Twp-considering-property-maintenance-code?nclick_check=1</span></a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3911,3911,'Earlier this month, the Obama administration postponed the employer mandate portion of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.&nbsp; Maybe the mandate was delayed because the administration truly needed more time to get it right.&nbsp; Or maybe there really was a political reason having to do with the 2014 midterm elections.&nbsp; Or maybe the administration has realized that some portions of the ACA are unworkable despite its good intentions.&nbsp; That\'s what Andrew Putzer, CEO of CKE Restaurants (Hardee\'s and Carl Jr.\'s) believes.&nbsp; What does he think that?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323309404578613653344566068.html\">online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323309404578613653344566068.html</a><br />',2,3393,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3912,3912,'A second legal decision has been made in favor of Hobby Lobby against the Department of Health &amp; Human Services contraceptive mandate.&nbsp; The mandate requires employers to provide health insurance to their employees that includes free contraception, including abortion-inducing drugs.&nbsp; The company opposes the mandate because it believes that life begins at conception.&nbsp; Get all the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/16042-hobby-lobby-another-major-court-win-against-contraception-mandate\">www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/16042-hobby-lobby-another-major-court-win-against-contraception-mandate</a><br />',2,3394,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3915,3915,'Governor Rick Snyder is pushing for expansion of the Medicaid program in Michigan, which is key to Obamacare implementation.&nbsp; Yet studies do not find that Medicaid expansion has positive effects on health outcomes.&nbsp; Are there better ways to actually improve health care?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18910?utm_source=Mackinac\">www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18910</a><br />',2,3397,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3916,3916,'Under Obamacare, employers with 50 or more full-time employees are required to provide health insurance to their employees or pay a penalty for each employee.&nbsp; This mandate, better known as the employer mandate, has been delayed for one year.&nbsp; The administration claims the delay is necessary to &quot;get it right&quot;.&nbsp; Others, however, believe the delay is just a way to get to a single-payer system, which is what the administration has wanted all along.&nbsp; What do you think?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://medcitynews.com/2013/07/the-employer-mandate-delay-a-path-to-a-single-payer-system/\">medcitynews.com/2013/07/the-employer-mandate-delay-a-path-to-a-single-payer-system/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3918,3918,'Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow have sent a letter to the Obama administration urging them to consider the impact their climate change agenda will have on the Great Lakes.&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/07/sens_carl_levin_debbie_stabeno.html#incart_river_default\">www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/07/sens_carl_levin_debbie_stabeno.html#incart_river_default</a><br />',2,3399,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3919,3919,'After two years of study, the Michigan Council for Educator Effectiveness released its report this week.&nbsp; The report indicates that Michigan needs a strong system for evaluating teacher performance, but that these findings should not be used as a basis for merit pay.&nbsp; How did they come to this conclusion?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/07/pay_for_performance_not_recomm.html#incart_river_default\">www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/07/pay_for_performance_not_recomm.html#incart_river_default</a><br />',2,3400,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3920,3920,'What can we do when the federal goverment keeps reaching into our lives?&nbsp; We can fight back!&nbsp; That\'s what\'s happening in at least 37 states that are introducing legislation at the state level to nullify what is coming out of Washington.&nbsp; There\'s more than one way to stand up against an overreaching federal goverment.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/states-nullification-obama-94826.html\">www.politico.com/story/2013/07/states-nullification-obama-94826.html</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3921,3921,'What can we do when the federal goverment keeps reaching into our lives?&nbsp; We can fight back!&nbsp; That\'s what\'s happening in at least 37 states that are introducing legislation at the state level to nullify what is coming out of Washington.&nbsp; There\'s more than one way to stand up against an overreaching federal goverment.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/states-nullification-obama-94826.html\">www.politico.com/story/2013/07/states-nullification-obama-94826.html</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3925,3925,'Michigan\'s Attorney General, Bill Schuette, will be arguing on behalf of Detroit retirees in their fight to save their pension benefits from Detroit\'s bankruptcy proceeding.&nbsp; Get the AG\'s take on the issue:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/07/attorney_general_bill_schuette_1.html\">www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/07/attorney_general_bill_schuette_1.html</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3927,3927,'Health care costs are a big part of every government\'s budget, and Detroit isn\'t any different.&nbsp; The city is looking for ways to reduce the $5.7 billion it owes in retiree health costs.&nbsp; Will Obamacare provide a solution?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/29/us/detroit-looks-to-health-law-to-ease-costs.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=1&amp;\">www.nytimes.com/2013/07/29/us/detroit-looks-to-health-law-to-ease-costs.html</a><br />',2,3405,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3928,3928,'The president is on traveling around the country talking about the economy... again.&nbsp; The response is mixed; we\'ve hear it all before.&nbsp; But there is something else going on behind the scenes that may actually be a more effective way for Obama to redistribute the wealth:&nbsp; regionalism.&nbsp; What is regionalism?&nbsp; How does it work?&nbsp; What are its goals?&nbsp; Are the wheels of change already turning?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/354734/regionalism-obamas-quiet-anti-suburban-revolution-stanley-kurtz\">www.nationalreview.com/corner/354734/regionalism-obamas-quiet-anti-suburban-revolution-stanley-kurtz</a><br />',2,3406,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3929,3929,'President Obama is willing to &quot;work with Republicans&quot; to bring down corporate tax rates so he can spend the money to create jobs with infrastructure projects.&nbsp; Does this sound familiar?&nbsp; Claiming he is still open to a Grand Bargain, the president makes an offer that isn\'t revenue neutral and doesn\'t offer any spending cuts.&nbsp; This is &quot;working with Republicans&quot;?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/314497-obama-offers-deal-to-cut-corporate-tax-rate-to-28-percent\">thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/314497-obama-offers-deal-to-cut-corporate-tax-rate-to-28-percent</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3931,3931,'Everybody knows the U.S. military has been using drones in combat zones for quite some time.&nbsp; Not only in service for the purposes of spying, they have been used to kill our enemies on foreign soil.&nbsp; But now the devices are being used for spying in hot spots all over the globe.&nbsp; Where are they being deployed?&nbsp;&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-military-drone-surveillance-is-expanding-to-hot-spots-beyond-declared-combat-zones/2013/07/20/0a57fbda-ef1c-11e2-8163-2c7021381a75_story.html\">www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-military-drone-surveillance-is-expanding-to-hot-spots-beyond-declared-combat-zones/2013/07/20/0a57fbda-ef1c-11e2-8163-2c7021381a75_story.html</a><br />',2,3408,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3932,3932,'The GDP calculation is adjusted roughly every five years in an attempt to reflect current components of the economy.&nbsp; The latest revision in this calculation, which will be used to report GDP in July,&nbsp; is significant and will be used to recalculate GDP back to 1929.&nbsp; Critics say the new calculation, that includes among other things books and movies, doesn\'t reflect true production in the economy.&nbsp; And, given that the US&nbsp;is the only country using this measure of GDP so far, the comparisons between nations will be meaningless.&nbsp; Nevertheless, many believe this new method of calculation will lift the US GDP calculation for 2013 to 3%.<br />\r\nBut what\'s really happening in the economy?&nbsp; Even a shift in the method of calculation can\'t hide the fact that the economy barely grew in the second quarter of this year.&nbsp; What\'s really going on in the economy and where is it heading?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://news.yahoo.com/us-economic-growth-likely-weakened-2nd-quarter-053822563.html\">news.yahoo.com/us-economic-growth-likely-weakened-2nd-quarter-053822563.html</a><br />',2,3409,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3933,3933,'Michigan Rep. Dave Camp has indicated that he\'s looking at a run for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Carl Levin.&nbsp; What are people saying about the possibility?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/314607-rep-dave-camp-mulling-senate-run-in-michigan\">thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/314607-rep-dave-camp-mulling-senate-run-in-michigan</a><br />',2,3412,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3934,3934,'Does Obama want to create jobs for American workers or not?&nbsp; It\'s hard to tell when he makes derisive remarks about jobs that would be created by building the Keystone pipeline.&nbsp; After almost five years of so-called recovery, you might think the president would be more accepting of a project that could put thousands of constructions workers back to work.&nbsp; But it appears he may be moving away from approval of the Keystone project.&nbsp; What is he thinking?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/31/obama-changes-course-keystone-stance/\">www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/31/obama-changes-course-keystone-stance/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3936,3936,'Looks like Obamacare is getting more and more unpopular!&nbsp; First the big labor unions started complaining about the law, and now IRS employees want to be exempted as well.&nbsp; Who knew the same people who promoted the passage of Obamacare would want to bail once it went into effect?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/354686/irs-employees-just-say-no-obamacare-deroy-murdock\">www.nationalreview.com/article/354686/irs-employees-just-say-no-obamacare-deroy-murdock</a><br />',2,3414,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3939,3939,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Several political pundits say the Tea Party influence on the GOP is dead or dying, some say that to be competitive the GOP needs to move to the middle, and the conservative evangelicals aren&rsquo;t willing to abandon their stand on moral issues.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The 2016 election is still 3 years off but the potential candidate spectrum is still very fluid. The final choice will depend on what the congress and the president end up doing to destroy &ldquo;THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC&rdquo; in the next three years.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If past history is any indicator the GOP will continue its destructive path and pick another non conservative moderate or center left candidate who the true conservative base will never vote for.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Ultimately, until the republican party finds its identity and goes back to its roots they will continue to lose elections to the party that is at break neck speed moving us to our socialist future. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read an analysis on the issues and the candidates read the following article at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"https://www.nationalreview.com/nrd/articles/353785/presidential-hopes-and-hopefuls\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">https://www.nationalreview.com/nrd/articles/353785/presidential-hopes-and-hopefuls</span></a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3940,3940,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">With talks coming up with the public sector unions for the state it would appear Governor Snyder is taking a serious look at highlighting the disparity between public and private sector wages as part of the negotiations.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As Michigan&rsquo;s CEO/CFO the governor needs to remember, as I am sure he is aware being a bean counter himself that you can make numbers mean whatever you want them to. As MSU economist Ballard has stated, &ldquo;half of all state government employees have college degrees, compared with about 25 percent of employees in the private sector&rdquo;. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Making any blanket conclusions on wage disparities needs to be based on comparing job classifications based on the same criteria in both the public and private sectors.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Additionally, the governor will continue to be focusing on reforming retiree healthcare and other benefits to reduce the state&rsquo;s long-term liability costs.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on what may be ahead for state workers and retirees read the following article:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20130804/NEWS04/308040068/Data-Public-private-wage-gap-widened-Michigan\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20130804/NEWS04/308040068/Data-Public-private-wage-gap-widened-Michigan</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3417,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3942,3942,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Here are just a few of regulations we will be hearing about in the coming months:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">1. Power plant regulations to slow down &ldquo;climate change&rdquo;.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">2. Menu labels at restaurants.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">3. Home care worker minimum wage standard.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">4. Dust levels.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">5. Biofuel additive minimum content for gasoline.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">6. Penalty for not signing up for Obamacare.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">7. Worker/executive pay disparity.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more about the encroachment of government regulations into our everyday lives read the complete article at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/pending-regs/315359-seven-obama-regulations-to-watch\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/pending-regs/315359-seven-obama-regulations-to-watch</span></a><br />',2,3419,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3946,3946,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Only three of Michigan&rsquo;s Republican elected officials (Amash, Bentivolio, and Huizenga) in the U.S. House vote to protect our rights to privacy that are guaranteed in the constitution.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It&rsquo;s sad that we live in a world where fear has allowed our government to convince the people we elected to office to defend our rights to vote to take those same rights away.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on what the government is collecting about each of us and storing click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/16196-other-government-agencies-clamor-for-nsa-surveillance-some-get-it\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/16196-other-government-agencies-clamor-for-nsa-surveillance-some-get-it</span></a><br />',2,3421,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3948,3948,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Why does the legislature allow a &ldquo;PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (MPSC)&rdquo; to force us to have something installed; without our approval or permission; require us to pay for it; when we feel it is an invasion of our privacy; and may well be hazardous to our health?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Because we refuse to have our lives monitored and to protect our health, we will be forced to pay a fee under the guise that it will cost the company to send someone to read a meter on usage. There are other ways to deal with the issue other than to penalize the consumer that would not require the overhead that the utility says they will have to incur. There has actually been legislation introduced in the last two legislative session to address these concerns but neither of the bills ever came out of committee or to the floor for consideration for passage.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">This is where the Michigan Legislature has been negligent in the past, and now, in that they could address the issue legislatively to assure that Michigan citizens are not unfairly treated by the utility companies.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To know why they don&rsquo;t do anything about it all you have to do is &ldquo;follow the money&rdquo; from the energy lobbyists and the energy companies to the legislators who have the power to do something about it. This issue needs to be given consideration and a fair hearing.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read here about the MPSC&rsquo;s decision on consumer opt outs and the cost that will be levied on the consumer because of their desire to protect their rights and health:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/06/those_wanting_to_opt_out_of_th.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/06/those_wanting_to_opt_out_of_th.html</span></a><br />',2,3423,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3950,3950,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It has always been my understanding that an &ldquo;op-ed&rdquo; piece was an opinion and that the news media should always present opinions from all sides of the political spectrum to allow for discussion and an honest dialog.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">But in our day and age, any opinions that are not of the progressive ilk are suppressed by the main stream media to gain approval and favor from those in power i.e., the progressive politicians.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To see the latest suppression of opinions, other than those that meet the &ldquo;acceptable standards&rdquo; set by the liberal left media, click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/16187-tennessee-newspaper-editor-fired-for-op-ed-critical-of-obama\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/16187-tennessee-newspaper-editor-fired-for-op-ed-critical-of-obama</span></a><br />',2,3426,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3951,3951,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Tim Skubick has penned a piece on the potential face off between Congressman Dave Camp and former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land in the August 2014 primary for the open U.S. Senate seat by the retirement of Carl Levin.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I know Mister Skubick thinks he is &ldquo;truly unbiased&rdquo; in his analysis on issues and people -- but come on, everyone know he is a die hard lib.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I just wonder what his end game is in his latest piece. Is he pushing Camp as the better candidate because he thinks that Peters could more easily beat him, or is he dissing Land because he despises anything related to the &ldquo;Tea Party&rdquo;?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For me I just want someone on the ticket to represent the republican party that is a &ldquo;Real Conservative&rdquo; and that will vote that way on the issues! </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read Tim Skubick&rsquo;s analysis on the candidates click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/08/post_91.html#incart_river_default\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/08/post_91.html#incart_river_default</span></a><br />',2,3427,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3953,3953,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">There is a move by the &ldquo;Tea Party&rdquo; faction of the Michigan Republican Party to replace current Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley with a more conservative candidate at the 2014 state convention.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The argument for replacing Calley is that it would bring a &ldquo;balanced perspective&rdquo; to the top of the ticket.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more on a potential challenge to </span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Lieutenant </span> Brian Calley at the 2014 GOP convention click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20130805/NEWS01/308050004/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20130805/NEWS01/308050004/</span></a><br />',2,3428,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3955,3955,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As if we didn&rsquo;t have enough &ldquo;government oversight&rdquo; in our lives!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Now a &ldquo;federally funded&rdquo; group has come out with recommendations on what steps should be taken to address the issue of obesity by the &ldquo;government&rdquo;!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I can&rsquo;t wait to see what it will all cost.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read what there recommendations are here:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/govt-advisory-group-recommends-community-level-obesity-watch\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/govt-advisory-group-recommends-community-level-obesity-watch</span></a><br />',2,3430,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3956,3956,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If only we had real investigative media like we did in the Nixon days of Watergate.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As the Benghazi details become more well known, the Associated Press/James Rosen monitoring situation becomes more clear, the IRS corruption scandal grows, the NSA surveillance becomes more detailed, and Fast and Furious becomes even more widespread in its scope the media still finds itself ignoring each of these stories to curry favor with Obama administration.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Any one of these&nbsp; scandals should have brought at a minimum a grand jury or congressional investigation.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an in depth story on all of the issues that the president has failed to address with any level of detail click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/355157/obamas-watergates-victor-davis-hanson\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.nationalreview.com/article/355157/obamas-watergates-victor-davis-hanson</span></a><br />',2,3434,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3958,3958,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">At recent public hearing held by the Michigan House on &ldquo;Common Core Standards&rdquo; in education for Michigan the focus of the hearing became an issue of race.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As so often is the case the progressive democrats will do anything to change the subject so that the truth is ignored through the subterfuge. That was the case as Representative David Knezek, D-Dearborn Heights interrupted, as Larry Arnn, President of Hillsdale College was giving his presentation on why Common Core is bad for Michigan Schools.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the hearing and the truth about Hillsdale College and their policy regarding ethnicity click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130806/OPINION01/308060008/The-smearing-Hillsdale-s-president?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130806/OPINION01/308060008/The-smearing-Hillsdale-s-president?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s</span></a><br />',2,3435,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3960,3960,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The IRS is preparing to make sure you are complying with the Obamacare mandate of having insurance in 2014.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The forms are ready and the agents are ready to go after any violators of the new Draconian Law forcing us to purchase a service we may not want.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on the IRS andwhat the future holds for 2014 at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/30/get-ready-to-fill-out-obamacares-individual-mandate-tax-form/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/30/get-ready-to-fill-out-obamacares-individual-mandate-tax-form/</span></a><br />',2,3437,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3964,3964,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The car that would transform the auto world has pretty much remained invisible.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">After three years of incentives, rebates and tax credits the VOLT is still an abysmal failure sales wise.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The latest promotion is to reduce the sticker &ldquo;base&rdquo; price by $5,000 bringing it down to $34,995. What a deal at $34,995, plus options and tax. With all that you still end up with an upscale golf cart costing around $40,000 that you can drive around and show your &ldquo;green friends&rdquo; what you are doing for the environment.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The 2014 models are coming out soon so GM has cut the prices on the 2012 models still in stock by $5,000 and the 2013 models still in stock by $4,000.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If you are GM wouldn&rsquo;t you begin to wonder about your products viability when you still have two year old cars in inventory.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read about the VOLT&rsquo;S abysmal sales history here:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130806/AUTO0103/308060026/GM-cuts-plug-Volt-s-price-by-5-000?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130806/AUTO0103/308060026/GM-cuts-plug-Volt-s-price-by-5-000?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p</span></a><br />',2,3440,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3965,3965,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obama and the EPA are moving us at break neck speed back into the dark ages.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">With new EPA regulations scheduled to go into effect that will close between 207 and 285 coal fired plants in the U.S. there are real concerns about higher electricity prices, and potential brownouts and blackouts.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the war on coal and the possible ramifications of closing over 200 coal plants click on the following story link.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/energy/item/16250-obama-epa-war-on-coal-to-shut-200-coal-fired-plants-devastate-economy\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/energy/item/16250-obama-epa-war-on-coal-to-shut-200-coal-fired-plants-devastate-economy</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,3442,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3970,3970,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A three-judge panel unanimously agreed with Judge Draganchuk that changes to state employee compensation, including pension benefits, are to be made by the state Civil Service Commission not the Legislature.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the details on the hearing read the rest of the story:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20130814/NEWS04/308140023/Appeals-court-Michigan-law-requiring-state-employees-pay-4-pension-plan-violates-constitution\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20130814/NEWS04/308140023/Appeals-court-Michigan-law-requiring-state-employees-pay-4-pension-plan-violates-constitution</span></a><br />',2,3445,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3971,3971,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A Michigan House Subcommittee listened to almost six hours in a public hearing regarding Common Core educational standards for Michigan&rsquo;s schools.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Comments for and against the standards where presented to the committee for consideration. One more hearing date is set for August 28 before a final decision is made.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For details of the committee hearing click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/08/marathon_hearing_on_common_cor.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/08/marathon_hearing_on_common_cor.html</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For and additional article on Common Core from the New York Times click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<a href=\"http:// http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/16/education/new-education-standards-face-growing-opposition.html?_r=0\"><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/16/education/new-education-standards-face-growing-opposition.html?_r=0</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3446,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3973,3973,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Snyder has a vision of a 924 mile path through Michigan&rsquo;s upper and lower peninsulas for biking and hiking.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the details of the trail as it crosses Michigan click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/08/governor_dedicates_trailhead_f.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/08/governor_dedicates_trailhead_f.html</span></a><br />',2,3448,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3976,3976,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">While Congressman Camp contemplates whether he will throw his hat into the ring to run for the U.S. Senate, Gary Peters, the de facto Democratic nominee will have time to get his message out there uncontested.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Let&rsquo;s hope that we don&rsquo;t wait to long to get a quality candidate out there showing why we need a republican in the U.S. Senate.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article from The Wall Street Journal on whether Congressman Camp will enter the race click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424127887324823804579014763340734726-lMyQjAxMTAzMDEwNjExNDYyWj.html?mod=wsj_valetbottom_email\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424127887324823804579014763340734726-lMyQjAxMTAzMDEwNjExNDYyWj.html?mod=wsj_valetbottom_email</span></a><br />',2,3449,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3978,3978,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Under Michigan law land banks aren&rsquo;t suppose to buy reverted property until after market buyers have had a chance to purchase them at tax auctions. However the law allows local governments to purchase delinquent and abandoned properties before the the tax auctions.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It would appear local governmental units have used he law to bend its original intent.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the practice that some governmental entities have gotten into click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18990\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/18990</span></a><br />',2,3451,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3980,3980,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Congressman Dave Camp has announced he will not run for the Senate seat to be vacated by retiring Senator Carl Levin in 2014.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Currently that only leaves Terri Lynn Land as the only declared candidate on the republican side of the ticket.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For more on the new regarding Congressman Camp&rsquo;s decision not to run click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/08/dave_camp_to_not_run_for_us_se.html#incart_river\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/08/dave_camp_to_not_run_for_us_se.html#incart_river</span></a><br />',2,3453,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3982,3982,'<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&ldquo;If you care about your email correspondents&rsquo; privacy don&rsquo;t use Gmail.&rdquo; That&rsquo;s the advice given by Consumer Watchdog&rsquo;s Privacy Project director, John M. Simpson.</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For more on the Google&rsquo;s assertion that you have no right to privacy in your e-mail communications click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/16322-google-claims-right-to-rifle-through-all-gmail-messages\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/16322-google-claims-right-to-rifle-through-all-gmail-messages</span></a><br />',2,3455,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3984,3984,'As many have been speculating, Sen. Harry Reid has confirmed that Obamacare is intended to be a path to a single-payer, government-run health care system.&nbsp; Is anyone really surprised?&nbsp; It has been the goal all along for the federal government to take over the health care system. For the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/08/10/sen-harry-reid-obamacare-absolutely-a-step-toward-a-single-payer-system/\">www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/08/10/sen-harry-reid-obamacare-absolutely-a-step-toward-a-single-payer-system/</a><br />',2,3457,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3985,3985,'The fees that the major utility companies have been charging for green energy are disappearing!&nbsp; The Public Service Commission has reported that the government mandate to increase green energy sources has brought in $1.8 billion in energy investment.&nbsp; How is this development impacting energy creation in the state?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013308170038\">www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3988,3988,'Health care reform mandates are like trying to regulate burger types!&nbsp; So claims Rep. Justin Amash when he appeared on CNN\'s &quot;State of the Union&quot; on Sunday.&nbsp; What else did he have to say?&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/08/obamacare_is_americans_no_1_co.html\">www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/08/obamacare_is_americans_no_1_co.html</a><br />',2,3458,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3989,3989,'Al Jazeera America, a new cable and satellite channel, will go on the air on Tuesday.&nbsp; In a news conference last week, the channel\'s acting chief executive said they will be airing &quot;fact-based, unbiased and in-depth news&quot;.&nbsp; What can we expect from this latest news channel?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/19/business/media/al-jazeera-america-promises-a-more-sober-look-at-the-news.html?hp&amp;_r=0\">www.nytimes.com/2013/08/19/business/media/al-jazeera-america-promises-a-more-sober-look-at-the-news.html</a><br />',2,3459,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3992,3992,'The executive branch keeps reaching farther and farther into all aspects of our lives.&nbsp; When faced with opposition to its policies, this administration advances its goals through the back door, using regulations rather than working within the legislative process.&nbsp; Once these regulations get on the books will they ever come off?&nbsp; What is this costing our nation?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/administration/317485-regulation-nation-obama-expands-the-regulatory-state\">thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/administration/317485-regulation-nation-obama-expands-the-regulatory-state</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3994,3994,'President &quot;Obama mentions the poor less than any president in decades&quot;, says Mark M. Gray, a researcher at Georgetown University.&nbsp; In a series of speeches Obama gave recently, he characterizes himself as a champion of the middle class. But evidence shows the Obama economy doesn\'t offer much for those on the lower end of the scale.&nbsp; Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute and author of &quot;The Road to Freedom&quot;, writes this article in the Wall Street Journal examining the policies put forth by the adminstration that are supposed to be helping people move up the economic ladder.&nbsp; Why is it so difficult for people to move themselves into the middle class?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324809004578638393310868974.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop\">online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324809004578638393310868974.html</a><br />',2,3462,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(3995,3995,'A new study of mid- to large-size companies finds that many are looking at changing their health insurance offerings because the pricier plans will carry an excise tax under Obamacare.&nbsp; Some companies are also looking to the health care exchanges as a possible way to control costs in the future, although most say they will not discontinue health care coverage for 2014 and 2015.&nbsp; What else are employers thinking about as they look to the future of health care?&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/100975973\">www.cnbc.com/id/100975973</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(3997,3997,'&quot;Smart guns&quot; are weapons that can be turned off and rendered useless by the manufacturer and the federal government.&nbsp; Proponents say smart guns will prevent unauthorized people from using firearms that belong to someone else.&nbsp; But opponents believe they will allow the government to disarm law-abiding citizens.&nbsp; What do you think?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/16357-improved-rfid-technology-in-smart-guns-threatens-second-amendment\">www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/16357-improved-rfid-technology-in-smart-guns-threatens-second-amendment</a><br />',2,3464,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4000,4000,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Our socialist president has found a new cause that he can stick his nose into.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">He wants to make federal aid to universities dependent upon whether the colleges and universities meet the demands of the federal government.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">One of the questions to ask is whether colleges and universities have to conform to these&nbsp; new requirements and will these rankings affect what is taught, how it is taught, to whom it is taught&mdash;and we will have arrived at central planning?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article from a economists perspective&nbsp; and his concerns read this story:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://blogs.detroitnews.com/politics/2013/08/23/obama-more-federal-intrusion-into-higher-ed/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://blogs.detroitnews.com/politics/2013/08/23/obama-more-federal-intrusion-into-higher-ed/</span></a><br />',2,3466,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4002,4002,'<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&ldquo;if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor!&rdquo; -- Remember that quote? </span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">In the very near future, as the Obamacare &ldquo;Trojan Horse&rdquo; becomes the single payer option, another private enterprise will disappear and be replaced with an inefficient, ineffective, substandard system of state controlled health care that will be fraught with fraud and abuse.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on the eventual destruction of the best health care system in with world that is doomed to extinction:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/16389-obamacare-will-lead-to-insurance-death-spiral-study-says\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/16389-obamacare-will-lead-to-insurance-death-spiral-study-says</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,3468,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4004,4004,'<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\">&ldquo;Joe Wilson Day!&rdquo; </span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Take a look back at the last four years at the pathological liar we have in the White House and his litany of lies.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://spectator.org/archives/2013/08/22/joe-wilson-was-so-right\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">http://spectator.org/archives/2013/08/22/joe-wilson-was-so-right</span></a><br />',2,3470,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4005,4005,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Eighty congressional Republicans has signed and sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, and Majority Leader Eric Cantor, stating that the Affordable Care Act, leads to job losses, coverage changes and other negative effects.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Signing the letter from Michigan were five of the nine GOP representatives including Congressmen <span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\">Justin Amash, Dan Benishek, Kerry Bentivolio, Bill Huizenga,</span> and <span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\">Tim Walberg</span>.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Four of Michigan&rsquo;s nine GOP representatives DID NOT sign the letter including Congressmen <span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\">Dave Camp, Candice Miller, Mike Rogers,</span>&nbsp; and<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"> Fred Upton</span>.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><em><strong>Not a single member of GOP leadership signed the letter, however, nor did any major committee chairmen, which could signal that the effort has yet to gain traction.</strong></em></span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on Michigan&rsquo;s GOP congressmen and the decision to sign or not sign the letter to defund Obamacare click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/appropriations/318299-80-house-republicans-join-obamacare-defunding-fight\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/appropriations/318299-80-house-republicans-join-obamacare-defunding-fight</span></a><br />',2,3471,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4010,4010,'A new super PAC has announced its official registration with the Elections Commission.&nbsp; Women Lead PAC is run by women and its mission is to get more Republican women elected to office.&nbsp; Their goal is to provide support for those women who are willing to step up and run for office.&nbsp; Will this bring more women into the Republican Party?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2013/08/26/new-super-pac-aims-to-get-more-republican-women-elected/\">dailycaller.com/2013/08/26/new-super-pac-aims-to-get-more-republican-women-elected/</a><br />',2,3475,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4011,4011,'Climate change advocates have been unable to move any legislation through the Congress that addresses their concerns about global warming,&nbsp; use of fossil fuels, CO2 emission and the like.&nbsp; But there\'s more than one way to skin a cat!&nbsp; President Obama intends to advance his climate-change agenda through imposing new emissions standards by EPA regulation rather than going through the legislative process.&nbsp; Where do opponents go from here?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/administration/318599-regulation-nation-obama-pins-climate-hopes-on-bypassing-congress\">thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/administration/318599-regulation-nation-obama-pins-climate-hopes-on-bypassing-congress</a><br />',2,3476,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4012,4012,'Seems President Obama just can\'t make up his mind.&nbsp; Maybe if he ignores it long enough, it will go away... <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/08/27/keystone-pipeline-postponedagain/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/08/27/keystone-pipeline-postponedagain/</a><br />',2,3478,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4013,4013,'What\'s more important?&nbsp; Only one year later, some school districts are dropping out of the National School Lunch Program that focused on providing healthier lunches to schoolchildren.&nbsp; In some districts, so many children skipped the lunches that the schools are losing too much money to continue with the program.&nbsp; Isn\'t there any way to provide healthy lunches that kids will eat?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/some-school-districts-quit-healthier-lunch-program\">www.cnsnews.com/news/article/some-school-districts-quit-healthier-lunch-program</a><br />',2,3479,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4014,4014,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">After several months of a constant barrage by Governor Snyder and the special interests the Michigan Senate has managed to &ldquo;buy in&rdquo; to Obamacare.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The sad truth is there will be winners and losers and Michigan and its taxpaying citizens will be the losers because the Governor chose to pad the pockets of the lobbyists and the special interests by hitching our future to another entitlement program that we will ultimately be paying for when the federal dollars stop coming in.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">With a last minute switch of his vote, from a &quot;no&quot; to a &quot;yes&quot;, Senator Casperson sealed the deal for the Governor. We can only guess why he chose to change his vote to a &quot;yes&quot;. As always I am sure last minute back room politics was part of the final &quot;negotiations&quot; to get his vote.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The bottom line is that there will be a battle to determine what the republican party stands for and who should sit in the seats in the House and Senate based on their votes on &ldquo;many&rdquo; issues that have come before the House and Senate in the last 4 years.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an analysis on the final vote for passage and for comments from the senators and why the voted the way they did click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19070\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19070</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3487,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4018,4018,'Eric Holder thinks it\'s more important to keep kids in failing schools than it is to allow them to choose a better school that might not be segregated enough. The law he\'s trying to uphold is over 50 years old!&nbsp; Does anyone wonder how Mr. Holder decides which laws he chooses to uphold?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/08/27/justice-dept-blocks-school-choice-in-louisiana/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/08/27/justice-dept-blocks-school-choice-in-louisiana/</a><br />',2,3490,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4019,4019,'On the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King\'s &quot;I Have a Dream&quot; speech, Dr. Ben Carson makes some comments regarding the state of the Black community in 2013.&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/ben-carson-king-dream/2013/08/28/id/522664\">www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/ben-carson-king-dream/2013/08/28/id/522664</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4021,4021,'If a gay couple is married legally, they will be able to file federal income taxes as a married couple, regardless of their current state of residence.&nbsp; Individual states that do not recognize marriage between same-sex couples will have to determine how they will deal with state income taxes.&nbsp; Some see this as just another example of the monarchy imposing their wishes on everyone.&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://news.yahoo.com/treasury-grants-wide-tax-recognition-same-sex-couples-182041850.html\">news.yahoo.com/treasury-grants-wide-tax-recognition-same-sex-couples-182041850.html</a><br />',2,3492,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4025,4025,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">President assured all of us that we would be able to keep our insurance if we liked it when he said\'</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&quot;If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period!&quot;</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Now America\'s third largest health insurer, Aetna Inc., has announced it will not sell insurance on New York\'s Obamacare health insurance exchange. It&rsquo;s the fifth state the company has pulled out of in the last few weeks.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Will this be the trend as we see insurance companies refuse to be part of Obamacare\'s exhanges because they will be unable to be economically viable?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the details on Aetna&rsquo;s decision to not be part of the exchange click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/08/30/Aetna-Pulls-Out-of-Another-Obamacare-Health-Exchange\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/08/30/Aetna-Pulls-Out-of-Another-Obamacare-Health-Exchange</span></a><br />',2,3496,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4027,4027,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Chris Christie has signed a law against conversion therapy directed at counseling teens experiencing homoerotic feelings.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">By putting the law into effect he expressly forbade conversion from the prevailing progressive religion, whose chief doctrine is that sexual behavior, including the homoerotic behavior of some children, is a sacred, infallible, and therefore unchangeable indicator of what human identity entails.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an analysis of the decision and the other important aspects regarding the decision click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/08/m-conversion_therapy_law_threatens_christians.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/08/m-conversion_therapy_law_threatens_christians.html</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3498,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4028,4028,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Supreme court justices are appointed to the Supreme Court because of their adherence to the rule of law and they are sworn to uphold the constitution. Part of that responsibility includes making decisions based on that same constitution and not make decisions based on their personal opinion and or bias.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Ginsburg has a history of making derogatory comments regarding our constitution and how she has shown her blatant bias toward same sex marriage.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">How do you think she will vote when the issue of same sex marriage comes up for a vote by the Supreme Court?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on Justice Ginsburg and her decision to perform same sex marriages and how she feels about the issue click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/16451-supreme-court-justice-ginsburg-performs-gay-wedding\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/16451-supreme-court-justice-ginsburg-performs-gay-wedding</span></a><br />',2,3500,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4030,4030,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obama Drew The Line In The Sand!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It appears that Assad didn&rsquo;t care! </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Now our emasculated president doesn&rsquo;t know what to do! He knows the U.N. will never pass a resolution, the U.K. has said no, and it is questionable whether he will get approval from congress even though McCain, Graham, and Boehner, Cantor have said they are on board.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">In the end we will once again make the mistake of determining that we are the world&rsquo;s policeman and put more money we don&rsquo;t have down the rat hole.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I think Sarah Palin had it right when she said &ldquo;Let Allah take care of it&rdquo;!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article what the possible outcome might be if Obama decides to get involved click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/09/03/Rush-to-war-Boehner-Cantor-Pelosi\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/09/03/Rush-to-war-Boehner-Cantor-Pelosi</span></a><br />',2,3502,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4032,4032,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Congressman Camp has been working with Senator Max Baucus to &ldquo;clean up&rdquo; the tax code that has seen more than 4,000 changes in the last decade alone.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on how they are attempting to streamline the tax code click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/opinion/saginaw/index.ssf/2013/09/guest_view_of_us_rep_dave_camp_1.html#incart_river\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/opinion/saginaw/index.ssf/2013/09/guest_view_of_us_rep_dave_camp_1.html#incart_river</span></a><br />',2,3506,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4035,4035,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Thanks to a group called Campus Reform, a conservative organization that &ldquo;exposes bias, abuse, waste, and fraud on the nation\'s college campuses, a video was posted on YouTube and Twitter that shows the blatant liberal bias that exists on College campuses.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">An MSU creative writing professor was videotaped by a student in a rant against Republicans in his classroom. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The result of the YouTube post and Twitter activity of the video saw the website video record nearly 90,000 views as of Thursday.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Because of all of the negative responses Mr. Penn has been reassigned for now. The better result would have been being fired -- but you know the tenure rules. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Praise goes to Campus Reform for their actions. Maybe this will be a wake up call to all college professors that they should keep their opinions to themselves and just teach what they are getting&nbsp; paid to teach!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For a story on the action the university took in this case click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20130905/NEWS06/309050033/MSU-professor-reassigned-after-attack-on-Republicans\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20130905/NEWS06/309050033/MSU-professor-reassigned-after-attack-on-Republicans</span></a><br />',2,3508,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4038,4038,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">There is no question that the &ldquo;Pure Michigan&rdquo; ads are a fantastic promotional tool to get people, both within and outside of Michigan, to come and visit our state for vacations.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">But the question is whether the State (Taxpayers) should be using our money to offer free golf to the people who are invited to go on the tour of these world class golf courses.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It seems that this is &ldquo;free advertising&rdquo; at our cost when these golf venues should be footing the bill for this promotion.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For a story on the &quot;Golf Writer Familiarization Tour&quot; click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19114\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19114</span></a><br />',2,3509,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4039,4039,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Secretary of State John Kerry stated that President Bashar al-Assad has one week to hand over his entire stock of chemical weapons to avoid a military attack.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">His comments were followed up by the US state department stressing that Kerry was making a rhetorical argument about the one-week deadline.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Also as part of his remarks he stated that the attacks would be &quot;unbelievably small&quot;, whatever that means. Maybe he will give the details regarding date, time, and locations of the &quot;unbelievably small&quot; bombings later at one of his press conferences.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For a story on the Kerry&rsquo;s remards click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/09/us-syria-chemical-weapons-attack-john-kerry\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/09/us-syria-chemical-weapons-attack-john-kerry</span></a><br />',2,3510,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4041,4041,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The NSA is able to crack protective measures on iPhones, BlackBerry and Android devices, giving it access to users\' data on all major smartphones, according to a report Sunday in German news weekly Der Spiegel.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The data included contacts, call lists, SMS traffic, notes and location information. The documents don\'t indicate that the NSA is conducting mass surveillance of phone users but rather that these techniques are used to eavesdrop on specific individuals.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The article printed several slides said to have come from an NSA presentation referencing the film &quot;1984,&quot; based on a totalitarian surveillance state. The slides show stills from the film with former Apple CEO Steve Jobs holding an iPhone, and iPhone buyers celebrating their purchase. The slide was&nbsp; captioned: &quot;Who knew in 1984...that this would be big brother...and the zombies would be paying customers?&quot;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For a story on the NSA&rsquo;s spying on SmartPhone users click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/09/08/nsa-can-access-most-smartphone-data-report-says/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/09/08/nsa-can-access-most-smartphone-data-report-says/</span></a><br />',2,3512,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4042,4042,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">According to a story from livinstondaily.com based on a recent survey where state GOP delegates were polled regarding Governor Snyder and Lt. Governor Calley it appears that there is a significant part of the republican party base that is unhappy with both the Governor and the Lt. Governor.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read the full story click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20130906/NEWS01/309060016/GOP-poll-says-Livingston-County-s-Nakagiri-has-shot-state-s-No-2-post-2014\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20130906/NEWS01/309060016/GOP-poll-says-Livingston-County-s-Nakagiri-has-shot-state-s-No-2-post-2014</span></a><br />',2,3513,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4044,4044,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Has Jeb Bush lost his mind? </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Liberty Medal - are you serious? </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read the full story on the presentation of the medal click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/09/09/Jeb-Bush-To-Award-Hillary-Clinton-Liberty-Medal\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/09/09/Jeb-Bush-To-Award-Hillary-Clinton-Liberty-Medal</span></a><br />',2,3516,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4048,4048,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">YES&nbsp;VOTES:<br />\r\nSenator Carl Levin, D - Yes</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Senator Debbie Stabenow, D - Yes</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">  <span>Rep. Mike Rogers, R - Yes</span></span><br />\r\n<span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Rep. Sander Levin, D -Yes</span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">NO&nbsp;VOTES:<br />\r\nRep. Dan Benishek, R - No</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Rep. Justin Amash, R - No</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Rep. Candice Miller, R - No</span></span></span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"> <span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Rep. Kerry Bentivolio, R - No</span></span></span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\">  <span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Rep. Tim Walberg, R - No</span></span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\n</span></span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">UNDECIDED:<br />\r\n</span><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Rep. Dave Camp, R - Undecided</span></span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"> <span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Rep. Daniel Kildee, D - Undecided</span></span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Rep. Fred Upton, R - Leaning No</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Rep. John Dingell, D - Undecided</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Rep. Gary Peters, D - Undecided</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">NO&nbsp;RESPONSE:<br />\r\nRep. John Conyers Jr., D - No response</span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read the full article with comments on where Michigan&rsquo;s elected officials stand on the issue click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/09/where_the_michigan_delegation.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/09/where_the_michigan_delegation.html</span></a><br />',2,3517,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4050,4050,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Now that we are nearing the end of 2013 the predictions of an &quot;ice-free Arctic in 2013&quot; seem to be unfounded.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">With around 1,000,000 more square miles of ice being added to the arctic in the last year those predictions seem to have been more of the hysteria from the &ldquo;climate change Nazis&rdquo;.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">But I know that they will just say the additional ice clearly shows that it is happening and that now we have gone in to a &ldquo;global cooling cycle&rdquo;.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read the complete article on what is happening with the earths climate by clicking on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/09/09/arctic-sea-ice-up-60-percent-in-2013/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/09/09/arctic-sea-ice-up-60-percent-in-2013/</span></a><br />',2,3519,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4052,4052,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Support for Obama&rsquo;s proposed military action in Syria in the House are minimal but that hasn&rsquo;t stopped Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor from working to get votes to support the president&rsquo;s plan.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on what is happening behind closed doors to change the votes by clicking on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/357937/tallying-house-vote-syria-robert-costa\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.nationalreview.com/article/357937/tallying-house-vote-syria-robert-costa</span></a><br />',2,3521,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4053,4053,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">These are the people who the Democrats and Obama support. What a travesty!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on what is happening in Egypt and Syria by clicking on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/09/11/Muslim-Bro-Egypt-jizya\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/09/11/Muslim-Bro-Egypt-jizya</span></a><br />',2,3522,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4054,4054,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Michigan&rsquo;s recovery from the Granholm years has been a mixed bag!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on Michigan&rsquo;s recovery and where we stand in comparison to the other states by clicking on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/new_michigan_scorecard_five_ye.html#incart_river\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/new_michigan_scorecard_five_ye.html#incart_river</span></a><br />',2,3523,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4056,4056,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A vote on a bill to continue government spending after September 30 offered by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor&nbsp; scheduled for Thursday was abruptly cancelled when it was clear that it would fail. Some Tea Party conservatives referred to it as a &ldquo;trick&rdquo; on the part of the GOP leadership.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Currently around 80 House members have signed a letter demanding that any bill offered defund major parts of ObamaCare before the law takes effect on October 1.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on the battle to defund Obamacare as part of the continuing resolution to keep the government running by clicking on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/16529-house-gop-leadership-thwarted-by-tea-party-conservatives-over-defunding-obamacare\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/16529-house-gop-leadership-thwarted-by-tea-party-conservatives-over-defunding-obamacare</span></a><br />',2,3525,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4058,4058,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If you lived in Germany you could be experiencing that reality today. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The reason their bills have double is because their new&nbsp; &ldquo;Green Energy&rdquo; law requires that they have 20% renewable energy by 2020.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">With people unable to pay their bills and having their power turned off the people are having second thoughts as to whether it was a good idea or not.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Just think we could be in the same situation today in Michigan if we would have passed the &ldquo;Green Energy&rdquo; ballot proposal at the last election.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more on Germany&rsquo;s new &ldquo;Energy Crisis&rdquo; for the consumer by clicking on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/ken_braun_german-style_green_e.html#incart_river\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/ken_braun_german-style_green_e.html#incart_river</span></a><br />',2,3528,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4061,4061,'There\'s always somebody or something that just prevents the president from doing all the great things he wants to do for this country.&nbsp; Almost makes you feel sorry for him, doesn\'t it?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/video/sunday-shows/322311-obama-says-he-has-power-to-fight-economic-inequality-but-gop-blocking-efforts-\">thehill.com/video/sunday-shows/322311-obama-says-he-has-power-to-fight-economic-inequality-but-gop-blocking-efforts-</a><br />',2,3529,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4062,4062,'The Detroit Free Press did an in-depth analysis of Detroit\'s economic history back to the 1950\'s.&nbsp; In its lengthy, but informative, study the reporters look at all the factors that contributed to Detroit\'s demise.&nbsp; Any of it sound familiar?&nbsp; For the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.freep.com/article/20130915/NEWS01/130801004/Detroit-Bankruptcy-history-1950-debt-pension-revenue\">www.freep.com/article/20130915/NEWS01/130801004/Detroit-Bankruptcy-history-1950-debt-pension-revenue</a><br />',2,3530,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4063,4063,'If Obamacare is such a great deal, why is the Congress going to such great lengths to exempt themselves?&nbsp; It\'s turning into a nasty fight.&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/358550/congresss-exemption-obamacare-john-fund\">www.nationalreview.com/article/358550/congresss-exemption-obamacare-john-fund</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4065,4065,'There used to be something called confidentiality that was applied to conversations an individual would have with his or her doctor.&nbsp; Not anymore!&nbsp; The new health care law requires all doctors to maintain electronic records.&nbsp; And part of that process will involve questioning all patients about personal aspects of their lives, whether or not the information is necessary for the kind of medical care needed.&nbsp; And to top it off, security measures are being sacrificed to meet deadlines.&nbsp; Yes, folks, Big Brother (and anybody who hacks into the system) is watching!&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/09/16/obamacare-monitors-your-sex-life/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/09/16/obamacare-monitors-your-sex-life/</a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3534,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4070,4070,'The CBO has come out with its latest, long-term budget projection, just in time for the debt ceiling debate.&nbsp; When the government\'s non-partisan budget office looks into our economic future, what does it see?&nbsp;&nbsp; Is anyone on Capitol Hill listening?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://reason.com/blog/2013/09/17/9-takeaways-from-the-cbos-new-budget-rep\">reason.com/blog/2013/09/17/9-takeaways-from-the-cbos-new-budget-rep</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\nFor additional information about the report, see:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-17/cbo-says-short-term-deficit-cut-won-t-avert-fiscal-crisis.html\">www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-17/cbo-says-short-term-deficit-cut-won-t-avert-fiscal-crisis.html</a><br />\r\n<br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4072,4072,'At a press conference today, &quot;The American Health Care Reform Act&quot; will be unveiled to the public.&nbsp; This legislation repeals Obamacare and replaces it with an alternative plan for health care proposed by the Republican Study Committee.&nbsp; Key provisions of the bill are explained here:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2013/09/18/republican-study-committee-to-release-obamacare-alternative/\">dailycaller.com/2013/09/18/republican-study-committee-to-release-obamacare-alternative/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4076,4076,'A bill has begun moving through the Michigan Legislature that would require welfare recipients to perform community service to receive benefits.&nbsp; Another bill has been voted out of committee in the House that would deny benefits to those who refuse to take a drug test.&nbsp; Republicans say these are common sense measures.&nbsp; Democrats say they are intended to target low-income people for political purposes.&nbsp; What do you think?&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.freep.com/article/20130918/NEWS06/309180135/food-stamps-welfare-community-service-drug\">www.freep.com/article/20130918/NEWS06/309180135/food-stamps-welfare-community-service-drug</a><br />',2,3538,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4080,4080,'Regardless of all the evidence to the contrary, the UN assures us that the issue of climate change is still very serious.&nbsp; So serious, in fact, that we must abandon accepted practices of scientific method because there isn\'t time to establish whether or not climate change is real!&nbsp; Where will that kind of thinking lead?&nbsp; Read more: &nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/09/20/un-report-takes-the-steam-out-of-climate-change/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/09/20/un-report-takes-the-steam-out-of-climate-change/</a> <br />',2,3547,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4081,4081,'Freedom of the press.&nbsp; This constitutional guarantee carries a critically important responsiblity for all members of the media. But when the media becomes obsessed with a particular point of view and gives up its objectivity and professionalism, the price the country pays can be enormous.&nbsp; Can we afford the media\'s derelition of duty?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/09/media_dereliction.html\">www.americanthinker.com/2013/09/media_dereliction.html</a><br />',2,3548,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4082,4082,'Nothing short of complete confiscation of all guns in the country would have stood in the way of the horrific rampage that occurred at the Navy Yard in Washington last week.&nbsp; Nor would anything less than a ban on sales of all weapons prevented Aaron Alexis from getting the shotgun he used in the attack.&nbsp; What more will it take for this country to come around to a national conversation about the real issue: &nbsp; mental illness?&nbsp; Guns don\'t kill people.&nbsp; Some mentally ill people become mass murderers.&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/359016/impossibility-gun-control-rich-lowry\">www.nationalreview.com/article/359016/impossibility-gun-control-rich-lowry</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4088,4088,'With less than a week to go before the health insurance exchanges are slated to open, the Department of Health and Human Services has released the costs for the insurance plans that will be available.&nbsp; How much the insurance will cost depends on a variety of factors such as where you live and how much you make, among other things.&nbsp; As you might expect, the system won\'t be simple and straight forward.&nbsp; For more information, see:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/25/premiums-unveiled-health-overhaul-plans/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&amp;utm_medium=RSS\">www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/25/premiums-unveiled-health-overhaul-plans/</a><br />',2,3551,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4089,4089,'According to the Treasury Secretary, the US has money to fund the government until October 17.&nbsp; House Republicans are working on a plan that will tie their votes to increase the debt limit with some other provisions that they to enact.&nbsp; What is on the GOP wish list?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/324491-house-set-to-unveil-debt-ceiling-bill\">thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/324491-house-set-to-unveil-debt-ceiling-bill</a><br />',2,3552,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4093,4093,'On Wednesday, Secretary of State John Kerry signed the United Nations Small Arms Trade Treaty on behalf of the President of the United States.&nbsp; Kerry claims the treaty will not interfere with American rights protected by the Second Amendment, but some believe the treaty\'s provisions interfere with Congressional authority and the US Constitution.&nbsp; What do you think?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/09/25/kerry-signs-un-arms-trade-treaty-despite-objections/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/09/25/kerry-signs-un-arms-trade-treaty-despite-objections/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4095,4095,'With defunding of Obamacare off the table, Republicans in the House are looking for ways to chip away at the program.&nbsp; There are many provisions that could be repealed or changed that would have an impact.&nbsp; What is the GOP focusing on now?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/09/26/house-gop-considers-smaller-achievable-steps-against-obamacare/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/09/26/house-gop-considers-smaller-achievable-steps-against-obamacare/</a><br />',2,3554,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4096,4096,'Some in Detroit believe the federal government should step in and take care of the city\'s financial woes.&nbsp; The Obama administration keeps saying that they won\'t provide a bailout for Detroit, but they\'ve managed to find $100 million for more police and firefighters.&nbsp; Where is this all going?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://news.yahoo.com/ahead-talks-feds-100m-broke-detroit-052219826.html\">news.yahoo.com/ahead-talks-feds-100m-broke-detroit-052219826.html</a><br />',2,3555,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4097,4097,'<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&ldquo;If you like your Insurance you can keep it!&rdquo;</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\">&ldquo;There are no such things as &lsquo;Death Panels&rsquo;&rdquo;.</span></span></strong></em><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Just a couple of the lies the President has been spreading about his socialist healthcare program.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the facts on expected cost increases over current insurance plans and the possibility you may not even be able to keep your existing plan read on:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505144_162-57604782/study-insurance-costs-to-soar-under-obamacare/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505144_162-57604782/study-insurance-costs-to-soar-under-obamacare/</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,3556,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4099,4099,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Once again the federal government in their efforts to &ldquo;protect our best interests&rdquo; has cost us in the pocket book.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the facts on how the USDA has wasted our tax dollars again read on:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.rollcall.com/news/sugar_to_ethanol_subsidies_are_a_sweet_deal_for_producers_not_consumers-227507-1.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.rollcall.com/news/sugar_to_ethanol_subsidies_are_a_sweet_deal_for_producers_not_consumers-227507-1.html</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,3558,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4100,4100,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Under Obamacare health insurance exchanges, being married can cost you a lot.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Getting divorced or just avoiding getting married could save couples who are unmarried $7,230 per year if you are a fairly typical 40-year-old couple with kids.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For the facts on how Obamacare will be penalizing couples who choose to be married but won&rsquo;t be able to afford it read on:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/hans-bader/obamacare-provides-7200-divorce-incentive-11000-older-couples\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/hans-bader/obamacare-provides-7200-divorce-incentive-11000-older-couples</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,3559,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4105,4105,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Michigan House has been debating Common Core Standards for Michigan Schools every since the legislative session began and at times with heated debate.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Last week the house committee presented a resolution to outline what they feel needs to be done going forward.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For a discussion from both side read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19183\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19183</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3561,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4107,4107,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">President Obama declared earlier this month that, &ldquo;This is the United States of America, we&rsquo;re not some banana republic&rdquo;, to a group in Missouri.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">He continued with, &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t run out on our tab.&rdquo; Maybe so! But we don&rsquo;t pay it off either. We just keep running it higher and higher. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on President Obama&rsquo;s &ldquo;Fundamental Transformation of &lsquo;Our Country&rsquo; &rdquo; read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/359148/american-banana-republic-mark-steyn\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.nationalreview.com/article/359148/american-banana-republic-mark-steyn</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3563,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4110,4110,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Snyder has announced his appointments to a nine-member board that will decide how to spend up to $1.56 billion to benefit the health and wellness in Michigan, particularly for seniors and children.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The money comes from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan who is required to contribute the money over 18 years to the Michigan Health Endowment Fund as part of the agreement that allowed the company to transition to a nonprofit mutual insurer.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the board appointees, what the money could be used for, and Attorney general Schuette&rsquo;s concerns read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/10/michigan_youth_seniors_focus_o.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/10/michigan_youth_seniors_focus_o.html</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3566,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4111,4111,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">DTE Energy has joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy that says the federal agency has collected nearly $37 billion for the disposal of used fuel from nuclear power plants but not disposed of the waste.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The lawsuit asks that the DOE stop collecting money to do a job it has neglected to do. The federal government has been collecting the disposal money since 1982, according to the lawsuit.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on why the feds haven&rsquo;t done anything with the money and what is happening with the spent fuel from the nuculear facilities read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19191\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19191</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3567,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4112,4112,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">House Republicans are intimating Speaker John Boehner wants to craft a &ldquo;grand bargain&rdquo; on fiscal issues as part of the debt-limit deliberations and he urging his colleagues to stick with him.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Boehner&rsquo;s chief goal is to achieve conference unity as the debt limit nears, and he&rsquo;s looking at potentially blending a government-spending deal and debt-limit agreement into a larger budget package.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee Congressman Camp will be playing a key role in this process. Let&rsquo;s hope they hold the line on fiscal responsibility and protecting the constitution.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on what the house republicans may be doing to solve the impasse read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://nationalreview.com/corner/360234/boehner-gop-grand-bargain-works-robert-costa#!\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://nationalreview.com/corner/360234/boehner-gop-grand-bargain-works-robert-costa#!</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3568,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4116,4116,'<em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&ldquo;Millions of people are getting letters from their employers or insurance companies warning of the seismic changes Obamacare is wreaking on the private insurance market.&rdquo; </span></span></strong></em><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an opinion by Nolan Finley on Obamacare and its demise read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013310030002\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013310030002</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3570,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4118,4118,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Representative Steve King (R-Iowa) has offered an amendment to the farm bill that would significantly reduce the sovereignty of states by consolidating power in favor of the federal government.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on his amendment that would nullify a large number of state and local laws read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/16667-king-amendment-to-the-farm-bill-gives-feds-power-over-state-regs\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/16667-king-amendment-to-the-farm-bill-gives-feds-power-over-state-regs</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3572,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4119,4119,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A bill has been introduced in the Michigan Senate (SB 247) that would allow bars and restaurants in certain downtown areas in Michigan to serve alcohol until 4:00 a.m.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the bill and it&rsquo;s pros and cons read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/10/4_am_last_call_for_alcohol_mic.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/10/4_am_last_call_for_alcohol_mic.html</span></a><br />',2,3573,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4120,4120,'<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\"><span style=\"font-size: larger; \">Michigan&rsquo;s economy continues to get better and the causal effect of that is a increase in personal incomes.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\"><span style=\"font-size: larger; \">To see how Michigan&rsquo;s economy is coming back read on at:</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\"><span style=\"font-size: larger; \"><a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19194 \">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19194</a></span></p>',2,3575,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4121,4121,'<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\"><em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \">&ldquo;Right to Life of Michigan says it has turned in enough signatures to send to the state Legislature a bill that would prohibit insurers from including abortion coverage as a standard option in health plans sold here.&quot;</span></strong></em></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">To see what the next step is in amending the law read on at:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\"><a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/right_to_life_of_michigan_turn.html\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/right_to_life_of_michigan_turn.html</a></p>',2,3576,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4124,4124,'<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\"><font class=\"Apple-style-span\" color=\"#222222\" face=\"georgia, serif\" size=\"3\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;\"><font class=\"Apple-style-span\" color=\"#363636\" face=\"Georgia\" size=\"4\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;\">\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\">Right to Life of Michigan is counting on the Michigan Legislature will take up its abortion insurance bill this fall, but Republican leadership has not yet pledged to do so.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\">The legislature could make the legislation law without Governor Snyder&rsquo;s signature if both chambers pass it because it is a &ldquo;citizens initiative&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\">The problem is that once the petition signatures have been certificated the legislature needs to act on it within 40 days. If no action is taken it will go on the ballot in 2014 for the people to decide.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\">As usual, politics will have an impact on what the legislators will do because voting for against passage will impact their reelection in 2014.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\">For a detailed article on what is in play read on at:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\"><a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/richardville_right_to_life_of.html#incart_river \">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/richardville_right_to_life_of.html#incart_river</a></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia; color: #363636; min-height: 19.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n</span></font></span></font></p>',2,3579,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4128,4128,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&ldquo;King Obama&rdquo; threatens that unless he gets the authority to borrow a few extra trillion dollars by Oct. 17, the sky will fall. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">He trying to get the financial markets to react to his dire predictions and to seek political advantage. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The treasury secretary says he will not prioritize payments if there is a shutdown even though he has that authority.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obama will and the dems will own whatever the result of their intransigence is.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As our &ldquo;Socialist President&rdquo; believes; &ldquo;You never let a crisis go to waste&rdquo;. We all know his end game here is to win the House back in 2014 and finish his &ldquo;Fundamental Transition&rdquo; of America!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For a story on the true impact of a shutdown and Obama&rsquo;s predictions click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/8/editorial-obama-and-chicken-little/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/8/editorial-obama-and-chicken-little/</span></a><br />',2,3581,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4130,4130,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Medicaid is now mostly a middle-class entitlement for nursing homes. Almost two-thirds of Medicaid spending flows to the elderly, and 60% of people in long-term care institutions are on the program.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Medicaid also covers more than 20% Americans and pays for 40% births in the United States.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For a story on &ldquo;Obamacaid&rdquo; and its cost drivers click on the following story link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303442004579121953701256822.html?KEYWORDS=obamacaid\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303442004579121953701256822.html?KEYWORDS=obamacaid</span></a><br />',2,3583,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4132,4132,'<span style=\"font-size: large; \"><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \">MI SENATE BILL 349 -- (Guns/Gun Control</span></strong></span><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \"><span style=\"font-size: x-large; \">)</span></span></strong>\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: large; \">Allow access to your private medical records and expands State Police\'s authority to deny or take away your guns.<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \"><em><strong><br />\r\n</strong></em></span></span></div>\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: large; \"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \"><em><strong>Call or contact your State Senator and let them know how you feel about their efforts to limit your Second Amendment Rights!</strong></em></span>\r\n<div><em><strong>\r\n<div>&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>Contact Your Senator at:&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div><a href=\"http://www.senate.michigan.gov/senatorinfo.html\">http://www.senate.michigan.gov/senatorinfo.html</a></div>\r\n<br type=\"_moz\" />\r\n</strong></em></div>\r\n<div><em><strong>Senate Judiciary Committee:&nbsp;</strong></em></div>\r\n<div><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \">Chair: Senator Rick Jones&nbsp;</span></strong></div>\r\n<div><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \">Vice Chair: Senator Tonya Schuitmaker&nbsp;</span></strong></div>\r\n<div><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255); \"><strong><a href=\"http://www.misenategop.com/senators/Jones.asp?District=24\">http://www.misenategop.com/senators/Jones.asp?District=24</a><br type=\"_moz\" />\r\n</strong></span></div>\r\n<div><b><br type=\"_moz\" />\r\n</b></div>\r\n<em><strong><a href=\"http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/billintroduced/Senate/htm/2013-SIB-0349.htm\">LINK TO TEXT OF THE BILL (CLICK HERE):</a></strong></em><br />\r\n</span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\">&nbsp;<img width=\"666\" height=\"1131\" alt=\"\" src=\"/sites/default/files/RAINES.jpg\" /></div>',2,3584,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4133,4133,'<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: x-large; \">&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: large; \">MI SENATE BILL 213 -- (Guns/Gun Control)</span><br />\r\n</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: large; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \">Seizes control of our local gun boards, eliminating balance of powers, turning local gun boards over to huge bureaucracy outside our local area, State Police, under a gun-control advocate. This bill also subjects &quot;shall issue&quot; to &quot;state police decide&quot;! It also gives state government unwarranted access to ALL of your private medical records.<br />\r\n<span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \"><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: italic; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \"><br />\r\n</strong></em></span></span></div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: large; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \"><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: italic; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \">Call or contact your State Senator and let them know how you feel about their efforts to limit your Second Amendment Rights!</strong></em></span>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: italic; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \">\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \">&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \">Contact Your Senator at:&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><a style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); text-decoration: none; \" href=\"http://www.senate.michigan.gov/senatorinfo.html\">http://www.senate.michigan.gov/senatorinfo.html</a></div>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><br type=\"_moz\" />\r\n&nbsp;</p>\r\n</strong></em></div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: italic; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \">Senate Natural Resources, Environment and Great Lakes Committee:&nbsp;</strong></em></div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \"><span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \">Chair: Tom Casperson&nbsp;</span></strong></div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \"><span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \">Vice Chair: Senator Phil Pavlov&nbsp;</span></strong></div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \"><a href=\"http://www.misenategop.com/senators/casperson.asp?District=38\">http://www.misenategop.com/senators/casperson.asp?District=38</a><br type=\"_moz\" />\r\n<br />\r\n</strong></span></div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><b><br type=\"_moz\" />\r\n<br />\r\n</b></div>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: italic; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \"><a href=\"http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/billintroduced/Senate/htm/2013-SIB-0213.htm\">LINK TO TEXT OF THE BILL (CLICK HERE):</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<img width=\"666\" height=\"1131\" alt=\"\" src=\"/sites/default/files/RAINES.jpg\" /><br />\r\n</strong></em></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: italic; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \"><a href=\"http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/billintroduced/Senate/htm/2013-SIB-0213.htm\"><br type=\"_moz\" />\r\n</a></strong></em></p>\r\n</span></div>',2,3586,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4134,4134,'<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: large; \">&nbsp;MI Senate Bill 112 -- (Guns/Gun Control)<br />\r\n</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium; \">&quot;An act to regulate and license the selling, purchasing, possessing, and carrying of certain firearms, gas ejecting devices, and electro-muscular disruption devices; to prohibit the buying, selling, or carrying of certain firearms, gas ejecting devices, and electro-muscular disruption devices without a license or other authorization; to provide for the forfeiture of firearms and electro muscular disruption devices under certain circumstances; to provide for penalties and remedies; to provide immunity from civil liability under certain circumstances; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies; to prohibit certain conduct against individuals who apply for or receive a license to carry a concealed pistol; to make appropriations; to prescribe certain conditions for the appropriations; and to repeal all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act.&quot;</span></div>\r\n<div>&nbsp;</div>\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \"><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: italic; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \">Call or contact your State Senator and let them know how you feel about their efforts to limit your Second Amendment Rights!</strong></em></span>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: italic; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \">\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \">&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \">Contact Your Senator at:&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><a style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); text-decoration: none; \" href=\"http://www.senate.michigan.gov/senatorinfo.html\">http://www.senate.michigan.gov/senatorinfo.html</a></div>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><br type=\"_moz\" />\r\n&nbsp;</p>\r\n</strong></em></div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: italic; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \">Senate Judiciary Committee:&nbsp;</strong></em></div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \"><span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \">Chair: Senator Rick Jones&nbsp;</span></strong></div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \"><span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \">Vice Chair: Senator Tonya Schuitmaker&nbsp;</span></strong></div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><span style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \"><a style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); text-decoration: none; \" href=\"http://www.misenategop.com/senators/Jones.asp?District=24\">http://www.misenategop.com/senators/Jones.asp?District=24</a><br type=\"_moz\" />\r\n<br />\r\n</strong></span></div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><b><br type=\"_moz\" />\r\n<br />\r\n</b></div>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: italic; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; \"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold; \"><a href=\"http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/billintroduced/Senate/htm/2013-SIB-0112.htm\">LINK TO TEXT OF THE BILL (CLICK HERE)</a>:<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<img width=\"666\" height=\"1131\" alt=\"\" src=\"/sites/default/files/RAINES.jpg\" /><br />\r\n<br type=\"_moz\" />\r\n</strong></em></p>',2,3587,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4136,4136,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Congress is debating the farm bill this week but they are ignoring the fact they could potentially be saving the taxpayers billions of dollars in money that is padding farmers pockets.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Here are some statistics relating to Michigan&rsquo;s direct payments to farmers from 1995 through 2012.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Michigan ranks 22nd out of 50 States in subsidies received including:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $3.02 billion in commodity subsidies.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $952 million in crop insurance subsidies.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $536 million in conservation subsidies.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $359 million in disaster subsidies.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 59 percent of farms in Michigan DID NOT collect subsidy payments according to USDA.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 10 percent collected 71 percent of all subsidies amounting to $2.79 billion over 18 years.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For a website where you can view subsidies from all over the country by state, county, and even down to the zip code level click on this link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://farm.ewg.org/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://farm.ewg.org/</span></a><br />',2,3588,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4138,4138,'<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">MI HOUSE BILL 4315 -- (SmartMeters)</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&quot;An act to provide for the regulation and control of public and certain private utilities and other services affected with a public interest within this state; to provide for alternative energy suppliers; to provide for licensing; to include municipally owned utilities and other providers of energy under certain provisions of this act; to create a public service commission and to prescribe and define its powers and duties; to abolish the Michigan public utilities commission and to confer the powers and duties vested by law on the public service commission; to provide for the continuance, transfer, and completion of certain matters and proceedings; to abolish automatic adjustment clauses; to prohibit certain rate increases without notice and hearing; to qualify residential energy conservation programs permitted under state law for certain federal exemption; to create a fund; to provide for a restructuring of the manner in which energy is provided in this state; to encourage the utilization of resource recovery facilities; to prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of energy; to allow for the securitization of stranded costs; to reduce rates; to provide for appeals; to provide appropriations; to declare the effect and purpose of this act; to prescribe remedies and penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,&quot;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Call or contact your State Representative and let them know how you feel about being forced to have an electric metering device replaced or installed at your residence that will be an invasion of your constitutional right to privacy and possibly hazardous to your physical well being:</span><br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">SMART METER INFORMATION WEBSITES</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=872\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=872</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/health-hazards-linked-to-utility-meters/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/health-hazards-linked-to-utility-meters/</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.takebackyourpower.net/news/2013/05/19/british-mps-told-of-smart-meter-risks-uk-rollout-delayed-by-year/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.takebackyourpower.net/news/2013/05/19/british-mps-told-of-smart-meter-risks-uk-rollout-delayed-by-year/</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://michiganstopsmartmeters.com/wireless-or-not-smart-meters-harm-your-health/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://michiganstopsmartmeters.com/wireless-or-not-smart-meters-harm-your-health/</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><strong>Contact Your State Representative at: </strong></span></span><br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.senate.michigan.gov/senatorinfo.html\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.senate.michigan.gov/senatorinfo.html</span></strong></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">House Energy &amp; Technology Committee: </span></strong><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Chair: Representative Aric Nesbitt&nbsp; </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">email:&nbsp; AricNesbitt@house.mi.gov</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Vice Chair: Representative Mike Shirkey </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/billintroduced/House/htm/2013-HIB-4315.htm\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">LINK TO TEXT OF THE BILL (CLICK HERE):</span></strong></em></span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Energy &amp; Technology Committee Members:</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Aric Nesbitt (R) Committee Chair, 66th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Mike Shirkey (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 65th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Jeff Farrington (R) 30th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Ray Franz (R) 101st District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Bradford Jacobsen (R) 46th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Rick Outman (R) 70th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Peter Pettalia (R) 106th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Amanda Price (R) 89th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Wayne Schmidt (R) 104th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Dale Zorn (R) 56th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Joseph Graves (R) 51st District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Dan Lauwers (R) 81st District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Thomas Stallworth (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 7th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Rudy Hobbs (D) 35th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">David Nathan (D) 8th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Bill LaVoy (D) 17th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Marilyn Lane (D) 31st District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Charles Brunner (D) 96th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Henry Yanez (D) 25th District</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Collene Lamonte (D) 91st District </span><br />\r\n<br />',2,3590,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4139,4139,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Senator Roger Kahn (R - Saginaw &amp; Gratiot Counties) doesn\'t believe that it\'s his job just to represent his party or the people who voted for him.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Kahn helped lead the controversial Medicaid Expansion through the Michigan Senate while more than half of his fellow Republicans in the Senate voted against it. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on Senator Kahn and his political reasoning on who he represents read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/republicans_obamacare_roger_ka.html#incart_river\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/republicans_obamacare_roger_ka.html#incart_river</span></a><br />',2,3591,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4140,4140,'Did you grow up believing that a college education was the path to the American dream?&nbsp; Many of us did, and many people still believe the kids have to go to college.&nbsp; But in a post-2008 sluggish economy with many college graduates unable to find employment in their fields, or in some cases, any field, some are questioning the real value of a college degree.&nbsp; The cost is high.&nbsp; Are the results worth the cost?&nbsp; What is the reality today\'s college graduates face?&nbsp; Read on:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/10/14/the-new-vicious-cycle-of-student-loan-debt/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/10/14/the-new-vicious-cycle-of-student-loan-debt/</a><br />',2,3592,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4143,4143,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">In 2006, Michigan voters approved a Constitutional amendment that prohibited race and  gender-based affirmative action in public employment, public education  and public contracting.&nbsp; The amendment was opposed by both political parties, unions, corporations, most political candidates and others, yet it solidly passed with a 58 percent majority.&nbsp; <br />\r\n<br />\r\nOpponents challenged the law.&nbsp; In 2012. the U.S 6<sup>th</sup> Circuit Court ruled the law unconstitutional.&nbsp; Now it is going before the US Supreme Court.&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; </span><a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19222\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19222</span></a><br />',2,3593,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4144,4144,'At the Values Voters Summit in Washington DC last week, Dr. Ben Carson warned that socialized medicine is a &ldquo;keystone  to the establishment of a socialist state.&rdquo;&nbsp; How does he come to that conclusion?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://m.cnsnews.com/news/article/james-beattie-and-michael-w-chapman/ben-carson-warns-socialized-medicine-keystone\">m.cnsnews.com/news/article/james-beattie-and-michael-w-chapman/ben-carson-warns-socialized-medicine-keystone</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4147,4147,'If Medicare reimbursement rates are being cut and the new &quot;Affordable&quot; Care Act requires reduction in the growth of Medicare spending, what\'s a hospital to do?&nbsp; Cut job!!&nbsp; What a surprise!!&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/361102/sick-job-market-health-care-kevin-d-williamson\">www.nationalreview.com/article/361102/sick-job-market-health-care-kevin-d-williamson</a><br />',2,3597,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4148,4148,'If wind power was such a great renewable energy source, don\'t you think somebody would have picked it up and cashed in on it by now?&nbsp; That\'s usually what happens when an idea bubbles up and it has merit.&nbsp; This is still a free market, capitalist society... sort of.&nbsp; Anyway... the windmills keep going up, but, according to a study done at Texas Tech, so does the cost of wind energy.&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2013/10/15/study-wind-power-costs-taxpayers-billions-of-dollars-n1724189?utm_source=thdailypm&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=nl_pm\">townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2013/10/15/study-wind-power-costs-taxpayers-billions-of-dollars-n1724189</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4150,4150,'Chicken Little has cried, &quot;The sky is falling&quot; one time too many.&nbsp; Despite all the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth about the debt ceiling &quot;crisis&quot;, Wall Street continued on its merry way.&nbsp; And counter to the administration\'s best efforts, the stock market chugged along through the entire mess, ending higher than it was when the shutdown started.&nbsp; But what happens when Wall Street responds to the real economy?&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/101118107\">www.cnbc.com/id/101118107</a><br />',2,3599,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4151,4151,'The Congress has kicked the can down the road again.&nbsp; In case you were wondering, this article gives Michigan\'s congressional members the opportunity to explain why they voted the way they did on the bill.&nbsp; Read their comments:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/10/why_michigans_delegation_voted.html\">www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/10/why_michigans_delegation_voted.html</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4155,4155,'During the first week of the Obamacare website rollout, the administration claimed the problems were caused by so many people&nbsp; trying to access the sitet.&nbsp; But after an 88% dropoff in hits during the second week, the performance isn\'t much better.&nbsp; USA&nbsp;Today is reporting that the site was built on 10-year-old technology!&nbsp; Sounds like the problems are more than just bug fixes or &quot;glitches&quot;.&nbsp; Design flaws can\'t be fixed with a few lines of code.&nbsp; How will this lousy, user-unfriendly introduction to Obamacare impact its success?&nbsp; Many are wondering if we should keep working to dismantle the legislation or just let the system collapse under its own weight.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2013/10/18/obamacare-trainwreck-latest-n1726571\">townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2013/10/18/obamacare-trainwreck-latest-n1726571</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4157,4157,'It\'s almost impossible to listen to or read about anything going on in the country today without hearing about the polling on the subject.&nbsp; There\'s a poll for everything, it seems.&nbsp; How accurate are these polls?&nbsp; Do people answer poll questions honestly?&nbsp; Are the poll questions biased?&nbsp; Are we seeing behavior that reflects the opinions the pollsters are reporting?&nbsp; What\'s going on?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/10/18/stop-lying-to-us-america/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/10/18/stop-lying-to-us-america/</a><br />',2,3602,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4160,4160,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The President says his number one priority right now is Immigration reform and that he wants action on it &quot;this year.&quot; But the Republicans\' number one priority could well be to block what Obama wants..</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on immigration reform passage and its likelyhood of passage click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/10/could-immigration-reform-still-happen/70705/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/10/could-immigration-reform-still-happen/70705/</span></a><br />',2,3603,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4161,4161,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Snyder&rsquo;s administration is lobbying communities to back a statewide ballot issue that would phase out a billion-dollar tax burden on businesses and change how municipalities fund their services.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Michigan voters will decide in August 2014 whether to shift part of the revenue from the state&rsquo;s use tax to communities to make up for the gradual end of the personal property tax, a key source of municipal funding.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">For a detailed article on the tax shift plan click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131021/POLITICS02/310210023/Gov-lobbies-tax-revenue-shift?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131021/POLITICS02/310210023/Gov-lobbies-tax-revenue-shift?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p</span></a><br />',2,3605,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4162,4162,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA) has seen her bank account grow by at least $294,245.00 since 1998. She has been loaning her congressional campaign money at interest rates of up to 18% during that time. The scheme&nbsp; managed to funnel campaign contributions&nbsp; directly into her personal bank account.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">When will the voters demand accountability from their elected officials?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article the congresswoman&rsquo;s money generating scheme read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/21/Congresswoman-Funneled-294245-In-Campaign-Cash-to-Herself-Blames-Discrimination\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/21/Congresswoman-Funneled-294245-In-Campaign-Cash-to-Herself-Blames-Discrimination</span></a><br />',2,3606,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4164,4164,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Michigan\'s Public Service Commission regulates electric and gas prices in Michigan. Currently Consumers Energy or Detroit Edison provide about 90 percent of Michigan energy needs.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Michigan once had one of the most successful electricity competition laws and policies in the country, and electricity customers received clear and measurable benefits from this competition while it lasted.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on why all that has changed over the years read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19246?utm_source=Mackinac+Center+Publications&amp;utm_campaign=a795209484-TWAM_10_22_2013&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_4fe5eae3c7-a795209484-259524753\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19246?utm_source=Mackinac+Center+Publications&amp;utm_campaign=a795209484-TWAM_10_22_2013&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_4fe5eae3c7-a795209484-259524753</span></a><br />',2,3608,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4165,4165,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Ohio Governor and previous U.S. Congressman John Kasich has taken a page from President Obama&rsquo;s &ldquo;Alinsky Playbook&rdquo; by overruling the Ohio Legislature to sign the state of Ohio up for Medicaid Expansion.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on John Kasich&rsquo;s decision to disregard the will of the people of Ohio read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702303448104579151631504257034-lMyQjAxMTAzMDIwMzEyNDMyWj?tesla=y\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702303448104579151631504257034-lMyQjAxMTAzMDIwMzEyNDMyWj?tesla=y</span></a><br />',2,3610,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4167,4167,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Delta Township Board of Commissioners, by a unanimous vote on Monday night, passed an ordinance that prevents discrimination and specifically protects people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The issue in Delta Township had generated controversy on both sides of the issue in regard to fairness and a Christian\'s constitutional right of free speech and religious expression.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the vote and the issues related to it read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.wlns.com/story/23751277/anti-discriminatory-ordinance-passes-in-delta-township\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.wlns.com/story/23751277/anti-discriminatory-ordinance-passes-in-delta-township</span></a><br />',2,3612,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4168,4168,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Michigan Senate on Tuesday approved legislation seeking to block Bridge Card holders from withdrawing cash from ATMs located in strip clubs, liquor stores or horse racing tracks.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The six-bill package, introduced by Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, would require the Department of Human Services to work with ATM service providers to develop and implement a program to block cash benefits at those locations.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For details on the 6 bill package to put greater controls on Bridge Cards read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/michigan_senate_approves_bridg.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/michigan_senate_approves_bridg.html</span></a><br />',2,3613,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4174,4174,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Snyder thanked legislators for affirming the state\'s adoption of the Common Core standards.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">With the help of the lobbyists and special interest groups Governor Snyder won another battle against the conservative elements of his &ldquo;own party&rdquo; with the approval of Common Core in both the House and Senate.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The issue isn&rsquo;t just about the curriculum but about the whole educational process including educator responsibilities, tenure, teacher accountability, and parental involvement.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the State Board of Education&rsquo;s step to move Common Core agenda forward click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/10/work_on_common_core_resuming_i.html#incart_river\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/10/work_on_common_core_resuming_i.html#incart_river</span></a><br />',2,3618,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4175,4175,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It seems that you can&rsquo;t watch any of the traditional broadcast TV channels without the inclusion of at least one LGBT character in it.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">From the prevalence of the Gay invasion on the TV medium you would think that being part of the &ldquo;LGBT&rdquo; community was the new normal.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I hold no malice or feel any ill will toward any of these individuals but I do resent their in my face attitude when it infringes on my constitutional rights to free speech and to practice my religious beliefs.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As our country continues down its social &ldquo;evolution&rdquo; or &ldquo;de-evolution&rdquo; path I will continue to pray from my country and our future -- even when it is no longer legal in the eyes of the government.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the TV media and the LGBT influence click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/l-brent-bozell-iii/tv-has-be-least-42-percent-gay\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/l-brent-bozell-iii/tv-has-be-least-42-percent-gay</span></a><br />',2,3619,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4176,4176,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Americans receiving governmental benefits in 2011 outnumbered year-round full-time workers, according to data released by the Census Bureau.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on all of the groups that receive government assistance click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/census-bureau-means-tested-govt-benefit-recipients-outnumber-full\">http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/census-bureau-means-tested-govt-benefit-recipients-outnumber-full</a><br />',2,3620,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4180,4180,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Leaders of Black organizations and human rights advocates are asking tough questions regarding the goals of the Gate&rsquo;s Foundation for their funding and promoting of a new form of the controversial contraceptive Depo Provera. This new form of the contraceptive drug is specifically aimed at women in Africa and other developing countries. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article that raises more questions than answers on the goals of the Gates Foundation click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/16799-gates-foundation-pushing-dangerous-contraceptives-on-black-populations\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/16799-gates-foundation-pushing-dangerous-contraceptives-on-black-populations</span></a><br />',2,3622,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4182,4182,'Since the right to work law passed, many Michigan teachers have opted out of membership in the Michigan Education Association (MEA) teachers\' union.&nbsp; Many have complained that, because those teachers who do not pay union due still receive the same compensation and benefits as the union members, those teachers are freeloading on the teachers who remain in the union.&nbsp; How are union dues spent?&nbsp; Is the teachers\' union really spending a majority of the dues they collect bargaining on behalf of teachers?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19288\">www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19288</a><br />',2,3624,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4183,4183,'At this point, is anyone surprised to hear about another scheme to squeeze more tax revenue from the general public?&nbsp; How about having a black box in everyone\'s car so the government can track every mile you drive (and maybe everyWHERE you drive) and then writing up a tax bill for you?&nbsp; We need the money to fix the roads and bridges!!&nbsp; Sounds like a great plan, doesn\'t it?&nbsp; Don\'t laugh!&nbsp; This could be coming to a dealership near you!&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-77943192/\">touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-77943192/</a><br />',2,3625,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4184,4184,'Now that the bill has been passed and we\'re finding out what\'s in it, some of us are not happy.&nbsp; Looks like there are going to be thousands of people who will lose their current health insurance coverage, despite the fact that the president vowed and declared it would not happen.&nbsp; Period.&nbsp; If you were listening closely, however, and saw the thousands pages of regulations that resulted from the passage of the bill, you might have started to wonder if what they were saying was true.&nbsp; And, apparently, not only were they telling some tall tales, they knew it all along!&nbsp; Just imagine what would have happened if George Bush did something like this!&nbsp; Read on:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/28/21213547-obama-admin-knew-millions-could-not-keep-their-health-insurance?lite\">investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/28/21213547-obama-admin-knew-millions-could-not-keep-their-health-insurance</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4186,4186,'<ul>\r\n    <li>Despite the abysmal failure of the federal Obamacare website, the administration is touting success at the state level.&nbsp; Really!&nbsp; Who is signing up on the state exchanges?&nbsp; Are these the folks that the feds need to make Obamacare a success?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://reason.com/blog/2013/10/26/obamacares-medicaid-problem#comment\">reason.com/blog/2013/10/26/obamacares-medicaid-problem#comment</a></li>\r\n</ul>',2,3627,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4187,4187,'With taxpayers now owning only 7% of GM, down from the original 60.8% share that was purchased to bailout the company, the US Treasury reports that we have lost $9.7 billion on the deal.&nbsp; Whenever the government gets involved in private industry, it picks the winners and the losers.&nbsp; In this case, the taxpayer is the loser.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131029/AUTO0103/310290032/Feds-report-9-7B-loss-GM-shares\">www.detroitnews.com/article/20131029/AUTO0103/310290032/Feds-report-9-7B-loss-GM-shares</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4189,4189,'Another twist in the Obamacare drama may just be coming to light for many:&nbsp; their local doctors and/or hospitals do not accept the policies offered through the exchanges.&nbsp; Get the details: <a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/30/CNN-ObamaCare-already-hurting-coverage\">www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/30/CNN-ObamaCare-already-hurting-coverage</a><br />',2,3630,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4192,4192,'In 2009, the economic stimulus package provided a temporary boost in food stamps.&nbsp; This additional benefit has contributed to the doubling in cost of the program since 2008.&nbsp; But now the temporary benefits have run out.&nbsp; What happens now?&nbsp; The federal government has given... and now it is taking away.&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://news.yahoo.com/food-stamp-cuts-kick-congress-debates-more-051207441--politics.html\">news.yahoo.com/food-stamp-cuts-kick-congress-debates-more-051207441--politics.html</a><br />',2,3635,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4193,4193,'Last November, Michigan voters rejected by a 64 percent margin an effort to increase the renewable energy mandate to 25 percent.&nbsp; Nevertheless, wind energy activists are pushing to increase the it anyway.&nbsp; Is wind energy a viable alternative to fossil fuel?&nbsp; Have promises of job creation in the renewable energy arena come to pass?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19310\">www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19310</a><br />',2,3636,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4194,4194,'Now that many have learned they can\'t keep the health insurance they had, we\'re learning that their shiny, new and improved health care policies might not be accepted at their local hospitals.&nbsp; What else don\'t we know?&nbsp; Read this:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://nation.foxnews.com/2013/10/31/top-hospitals-opt-out-obamacare\">nation.foxnews.com/2013/10/31/top-hospitals-opt-out-obamacare</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4197,4197,'Let\'s not confuse the issue with facts.&nbsp; Despite scientific data that shows the planet is not warming, Obama issues another executive order that insists it is.&nbsp; And we have to spend more money, introduce more regulations and take away the authority of the states to prevent the cataclysm that is about to befall us... or something along those lines.&nbsp; You can\'t fool Mother Nature, Mr. President!&nbsp; This song and dance is getting old.&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/1/obama-orders-government-prep-global-warming/\">www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/1/obama-orders-government-prep-global-warming/</a><br />',2,3639,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4198,4198,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A federal appeals court on Friday struck down the birth control mandate in ObamaCare.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Washington D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 in favor of business owners who are fighting the requirement&nbsp; they provide their employees with health insurance that covers birth control.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the court decision that may ultimately end up in the Supreme Court click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/court-battles/188983-appeals-court-rules-against-birth-control-mandate\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/court-battles/188983-appeals-court-rules-against-birth-control-mandate</span></a><br />',2,3640,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4199,4199,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&ldquo;Cash for Clunkers&rdquo; led to a minimal increase in employment of roughly 2,050 additional job-years from June 2009 through May 2010, and the program created 0.7 jobs for each million dollars of program cost, resulting in a cost of $1.4 million per job year created.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the abysmal failure of the &ldquo;Cash For Clunkers&rdquo; program click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/economy/economics/item/16852-liberal-brookings-institution-admits-cash-for-clunkers-a-failure\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/economy/economics/item/16852-liberal-brookings-institution-admits-cash-for-clunkers-a-failure</span></a><br />',2,3641,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4201,4201,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Adding sexual orientation to a city anti-discrimination law in Holland Michigan has become an election year issue as both sides seek to defend their positions after the city council voted 5-4 in 2011 to not add language to make gays a protected class.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Gay rights groups across the state believe a victory&nbsp; in such a conservative community as Holland could be a turning point in their movement.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the battle in Holland on Gay rights click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131102/METRO06/311020034/Gay-rights-bitter-divide-Holland-election?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131102/METRO06/311020034/Gay-rights-bitter-divide-Holland-election?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p</span></a><br />',2,3643,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4205,4205,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Last time I checked there were just two sexes, &ldquo;Male&rdquo; and &ldquo;Female&rdquo; and it was easy to make that determination by checking the individual&rsquo;s plumbing.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Now that politicians and governmental entities have become involved they are considering the issue and&nbsp; may want to define additional sex classes to make sure no one is offended or discriminated against.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The U.S. Senate is currently considering &ldquo;The Employment Non-Discrimination Act&rdquo; that will mandate that employers in the United States permit men to dress as women at work and women to dress as men as long as they otherwise adhere to &ldquo;reasonable dress or grooming standards.&rdquo;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The U.S. Senate appears to be taking a trip down the &quot;Alice In Wonderland Rabbit Hole&quot; in attempting to legislate sexuality and what is acceptable, moral, legal, or logical.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">But who believes that anything that is done in Washington is acceptable, moral, legal, or logical?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on what the Senate is considering as part of the The Employment Non-Discrimination Act click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/senate-bill-bans-discrimination-against-cross-dressers\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/senate-bill-bans-discrimination-against-cross-dressers</span></a><br />',2,3647,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4207,4207,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Leave it to the Hollywood progressives to interject their political agenda into serial TV programs&nbsp; regarding Obamacare. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The California Endowment Foundation is spending $500,000 to promote Obamacare through a grant to TV writers and producers to sneak Obamacare promotions into their programs.&nbsp; &quot;The aim is to produce compelling prime-time narratives that encourage Americans to enroll, especially the young and healthy, Hispanics and other key demographic groups needed to make the overhaul a success.&quot;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As the truth about Obamacare becomes more obvious everyday the socialist Hollywood elite are pulling out all the stops to brainwash the low information public that sit before their TVs and watch their favorite shows and confuse fiction with reality.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the efforts to brainwash TV viewers about Obamacare click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2013/11/05/Hollywood-Receives-Grant-to-Promote-Obamacare-on-TV-Shows\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2013/11/05/Hollywood-Receives-Grant-to-Promote-Obamacare-on-TV-Shows</span></a><br />',2,3649,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4208,4208,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be taing action in closing the last lead smelting facility in the United States that will will affect the right to keep and bear arms, as well, by substantially impacting the production of ammunition.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The EPA said the company &ldquo;made a business decision&rdquo; to shut down the smelter instead of installing pollution control technologies needed to reduce sulfur dioxide and lead emissions as required by the Clean Air Act.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For details on the plant closure and how it will impact the ammunition supply read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/16881-epa-closure-of-last-lead-smelting-plant-to-impact-ammunition-production\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/16881-epa-closure-of-last-lead-smelting-plant-to-impact-ammunition-production</span></a><br />',2,3650,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4209,4209,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Virginia gubernatorial candidate Kenneth Cuccinelli may well have won his race Governor&rsquo;s race in Virginia if it hadn&rsquo;t been for RINO republicans crossing party lines, dirty tricks by the progressive democrats in funding a third party Libertarian candidate, and blatant lies about Cuccinelli.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If republicans ever expect to win again the need to unite around their candidates even though they may have ideological differences in some areas.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Giving the election to someone of Terry McAuliffe&rsquo;s ilk is unconscionable.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For details on the abandonment of&nbsp; Cuccinelli and his campaign read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/11/05/Eric-Cantor-s-ex-chief-of-staff-helped-Terry-McAuliffe-beat-Ken-Cuccinelli\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/11/05/Eric-Cantor-s-ex-chief-of-staff-helped-Terry-McAuliffe-beat-Ken-Cuccinelli</span></a><br />',2,3651,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4211,4211,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">With the New Jersey Gubernatorial race in the rearview mirror Chris Christie may already be laying out his plans for a run for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2016.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">His voter demographic showed an increase in his share of the female vote by 11 percent from 2009, the black vote by 12 percent and the Hispanic vote by 13 percent.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">There is no questions he is a dynamic personality and can get a cross section of the voter base.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The big question will we be getting another progressive RINO like, McCain &amp; Romney.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If that is the case the REAL CONSERVATIVES OF THE GOP may opt for that 3rd party option.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For details on reelection and his potential nomination for president read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/189381-christies-presidential-path-just-beginning\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/189381-christies-presidential-path-just-beginning</span></a><br />',2,3653,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4215,4215,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obama and the progressive democrats are looking to shut down the businesses that choose to take care of their own insurance plans by paying the costs themselves for their employees medical expenses.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Employers currently still have a this option to escape many of the taxes and mandates of Obamacare and the Democrats are looking to put an end to those loophole.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on Obama&rsquo;s plans to tighten the noose around private health care click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/11/obama_and_dems_looking_to_close_obamacare_escape_hatch_for_businesses.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/11/obama_and_dems_looking_to_close_obamacare_escape_hatch_for_businesses.html</span></a><br />',2,3655,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4221,4221,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Michigan State Senate wants to extend an $845 million dollar program and has overwhelmingly passed a bill to do that through and economic development program despite the legislators not knowing how well the program was performing because of a lack of transparency.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The bill would extend funding for the 21st Century Jobs Fund for an additional four years even though it was supposed to end in 2015.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For details on the program that was created under Jennifer Granholm and that the legislature is seeking to continue under pressure form Governor Snyder click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19328\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19328</span></a><br />',2,3660,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4222,4222,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Michigan Senate has introduced Senate Bill 640 that would specify that land banks can purchase delinquent and abandoned property before free market buyers get a chance at public auction.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For details on the bill and how it would reverse the current practice and put Land Banks ahead of private buyers click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19328\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19328</span></a><br />',2,3661,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4223,4223,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">No only did President Obama promise to fundamentally transform our country it would appear that he is fundamentally transforming our military..</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For details on the transformation of our military click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://frontpagemag.com/2013/matthew-vadum/purging-and-transforming-our-military/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://frontpagemag.com/2013/matthew-vadum/purging-and-transforming-our-military/</span></a>',2,3662,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4226,4226,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Environmentalists, with the assistance of the federal government and the EPA, in their quest to save the world have actually harmed the environment more than they have helped it.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the consequences of the ethanol mandate for pas click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131112/NATION/311120035/Ethanol-push-takes-toll-environment?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131112/NATION/311120035/Ethanol-push-takes-toll-environment?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE</span></a><br />',2,3665,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4228,4228,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Deputy Chief Information Officer at the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) stated that he was surprised and &ldquo;disturbed&rdquo; that he had not been included on a memo noting potential security flaws on HealthCare.Gov.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">He indicated in his testimony before the House Oversight Committee that he was never in the loop about the potential flaws on the website and that he should have been included in the decision making regarding its implementation.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the security issues related to the Obamacare website click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/11/top-official-for-obamacare-exchanges-calls-withheld-security-concerns/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/11/top-official-for-obamacare-exchanges-calls-withheld-security-concerns/</span></a><br />',2,3668,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4229,4229,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">West Michigan business leaders are plotting to take down Rep. Justin Amash as part of a broader effort to punish some &ldquo;Tea Party&rdquo; type lawmakers over the government shutdown.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Prominent Michigan donors have requested financial backing for Amash&rsquo;s primary challenger including seven individuals, including Michigan businessmen Mark Bissell, J.C. Huizenga and Mike Jandernoa. They argue Amash and others have effectively crippled the Republican majority in the U.S. House.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the efforts by some in the business community to defeat Amash in the republican primary next November click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/189768-donors-plot-against-gop-rebel\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/189768-donors-plot-against-gop-rebel</span></a><br />',2,3669,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4231,4231,'<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Arial; min-height: 21.0px\">Obamacare continues to flounder with continuing failures of its website and the president continues to hold the line and not being willing to compromise.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Arial; min-height: 21.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Arial\">We hear Obamacare&rsquo;s proponents say we wouldn&rsquo;t have this problem if it was a single payer system like they wanted.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Arial; min-height: 21.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Arial\">As we approach the December 1 deadline on the evaluation of the website the democrats who voted for it are beginning to jump ship and look to do whatever they can to keep their jobs when the 2014 elections roll around.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Arial; min-height: 21.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Arial\">For details on the dismal performance of the website and other issues related to the future of Obamacare click on the following link:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Arial; min-height: 21.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Arial\"><a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013311130070 \">http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013311130070</a></p>',2,3671,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4233,4233,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Senate Bill 408 was reported out of Committee this week that&nbsp; would allow graduates of Michigan\'s public and private colleges and universities a tax credit equal to 50 percent of their student loan payments for each tax year if they live and work in the state.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For details on the proposed legislation and how it would impact state revenues click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/11/student_loans_eligible_for_mic.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/11/student_loans_eligible_for_mic.html</span></a><br />',2,3673,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4235,4235,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I read an article last year about a pilot program the federal government had been testing and that they were using driver license photos, supplied by the State of Michigan, as part of that program.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I talked to the Secretary of States office about it and they stated that they didn&rsquo;t know anything about it but they would check into it.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As it turned out the Secretary of States office did not release the photo images from our drivers licenses, but the Michigan State Police did.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I don&rsquo;t know about you but I have concerns about who has jurisdiction of those images and that they are willing to give the images to the federal government.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For details on the facial recognition program and concerns about our privacy click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.usatoday.com/story/nation/2013/11/12/facial-recognition-software-iarpa-upgrade/3506157/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.usatoday.com/story/nation/2013/11/12/facial-recognition-software-iarpa-upgrade/3506157/</span></a><br />',2,3674,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4238,4238,'<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">Jonah Goldberg comments on the unraveling of the Affordable Care Act and looks for a word to describe the snake oil salesman that insists that it is good for all of us and says - TRUST ME!</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">For an interpretation of the Obamacare failure and Obama&rsquo;s narcissism read on at:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\"><a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/363907/obamacare-schadenfreudarama-jonah-goldberg\">http://www.nationalreview.com/article/363907/obamacare-schadenfreudarama-jonah-goldberg</a></p>',2,3676,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4239,4239,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Professor William Penn will be back in the classroom teaching (indoctrinating/badgering) at MSU again spring term 2014.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I guess the administration at MSU didn&rsquo;t see a big problem with his teaching methods and comments like, &quot;I am a college professor. If I found out you are a closet racist, I am coming after you.&quot;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on what has transpired in regard to Professor Penn and his suspension and what MSU is doing to address the issue read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19374\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19374</span></a><br />',2,3678,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4240,4240,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The 7th&nbsp; U.S. Court of Appeals wrote that Michigan\'s in-state renewable energy mandate violates the Commerce Clause and is therefore unconstitutional. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Judge Posner\'s statement does not have the weight of law because the issue wasn\'t directly before him.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The final verdict is yet to come on the mandate but pending court cases in other states may end up nullifying the mandate in the future.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an opinion on the final outcome regarding the mandate read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19373\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19373</span></a><br />',2,3679,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4241,4241,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A lawsuit&nbsp; has been filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by the attorneys general for Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont, that is directed against currently unregulated &ldquo;indoor and outdoor wood boilers,&rdquo;.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The suits are seeking to have the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to force the federal agency to impose stringent new regulations on residential wood-burning heaters, which they claim &ldquo;can increase particle pollution to levels that cause significant health concerns.&rdquo;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on a move to further limit the way we choose to lead our lives read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/barbara-hollingsworth/seven-states-sue-epa-crack-down-residential-wood-burning\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/barbara-hollingsworth/seven-states-sue-epa-crack-down-residential-wood-burning</span></a><br />',2,3680,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4245,4245,'Could it have been anything less than incredible hubris that led the president to promise a lie over and over again?&nbsp; It is astounding the lengths to which this president will go to advance his agenda.&nbsp; Now that the truth about his health care law is coming to light, President Obama makes it his right to cherry pick the provisions of the law he chooses to uphold.&nbsp; He even met with key insurers to tell them they didn\'t have to follow the law either.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nSo, let\'s apply the Bush test:&nbsp; what did Senator Obama say when George Bush circumvented the warrant requirement to eavesdrop on suspected foreign terrorists after 9/11?&nbsp; Was there any support on the left to overhaul the existing law in the face of a very real threat to the security of the country?&nbsp; None whatsoever.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nNow, President Obama directs the insurance companies to circumvent HIS law to give political cover to the Democrats up for re-election in 2014 and to shift the blame for the mess we call Obamacare to the insurers.&nbsp; What a guy!&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://m.nationalreview.com/article/364117/lawlessness-fix-andrew-c-mccarthy#comments\">m.nationalreview.com/article/364117/lawlessness-fix-andrew-c-mccarthy#comments</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4247,4247,'Some interesting reading... who are these guys, anyway?&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/15/goodbye-blue-a-post-obama-democratic-doctrine.html\">www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/15/goodbye-blue-a-post-obama-democratic-doctrine.html</a><br />',2,3683,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4248,4248,'The \'blendwall\' is the point at which the maximum amount of ethanol can safely be blended into the fuel supply.&nbsp; Refiners welcome the pull back by the EPA that avoids reaching this maximum level, but what prevents it from mandating a level that breaches this maximum in the future?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://dailycaller.com/2013/11/15/epa-scales-back-ethanol-mandate/\">dailycaller.com/2013/11/15/epa-scales-back-ethanol-mandate/</a><br />',2,3684,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4249,4249,'The federal government is receiving record amounts of tax dollars this year, yet the Congress hasn\'t produced a budget in five years and basic needs of the country, such as a well maintained highway system, are going unmet.&nbsp; Our federal deficit has reach $17 trillion.&nbsp; And although the budget deficit this year is lower than it has been in recent years, the Democrats insist the government still needs more revenue.&nbsp; The tax code is muddled, complicated and unweildy, yet the Congress isn\'t motivated to streamline the rules.&nbsp; How do citizens react? &nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/101202754\">www.cnbc.com/id/101202754</a><br />',2,3685,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4250,4250,'Several Head Start programs were suspended when the federal government shut down on October 1.&nbsp; The wailing and gnashing of teeth was heard across the country.&nbsp; How could those nasty Republicans deprive these low-income children of a chance for a better life?&nbsp; But is that what Head Start is doing?&nbsp; The federal goverment is spending billions on this program, but do the results justify the cost?&nbsp; Has anyone ever considered writing a follow-up, program evaluation process into these laws?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://reason.com/archives/2013/11/18/head-start-and-other-federal-failures\">reason.com/archives/2013/11/18/head-start-and-other-federal-failures</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4252,4252,'Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Shauer has proposed an increase in Michigan\'s minimum wage by&nbsp;$1.85 over three years.&nbsp; What does Governor Synder have to say about that?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/11/gov_rick_snyders_office_raisin.html#incart_2box\">www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/11/gov_rick_snyders_office_raisin.html#incart_2box</a><br />',2,3687,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4256,4256,'The Michigan Department of Education is considering setting a science standard that would teach school children that global warming is real and man made.&nbsp; Wouldn\'t you expect an educational institution to teach children that there are many sides to an issue, and they should examine all the evidence before coming to a conclusion?&nbsp; Get the whole story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19381\">www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19381</a><br />',2,3694,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4257,4257,'The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in favor of firing a teacher for insubordination because he refused to remove \'religious materials\' from his classroom.&nbsp; No evidence was presented that indicated whether or not he tried to teach his religous beliefs, and based on students\' test scores, he was a very effective teacher.&nbsp; Is this just another example of Christianity coming under attack?&nbsp; Who filed this complaint in the first place?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/11/19/Court-Okays-Firing-Teacher-for-Keeping-Religious-Materials-in-Classroom\">www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/11/19/Court-Okays-Firing-Teacher-for-Keeping-Religious-Materials-in-Classroom</a><br />',2,3695,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4258,4258,'As we rapidly approach the November 30 deadline, on Tuesday we learned that the healthcare.gov website is only 60-70% complete.&nbsp; But, no need for concern.&nbsp; The parts that aren\'t finished are the &quot;back office&quot; functions, such as accounting and payment to insurance companies.&nbsp; The front end stuff that allows users to select a health plan should be up and running (even though it crashed during Kathleen Sebelius\'s visit to website navigators in Florida).&nbsp; And security?&nbsp; Well, we think it\'s OK.&nbsp; Don\'t you wonder how the administration is going to spin this one?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/healthcare/190760-federal-insurance-market-only-60-percent-done\">thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/healthcare/190760-federal-insurance-market-only-60-percent-done</a><br />',2,3696,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4259,4259,'With the holidays just around the corner, the clock is running on a budget deal due by mid-January.&nbsp; How are the negotiations going?&nbsp; For more info, see:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/11/20/budget-talks-inch-along/\">blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/11/20/budget-talks-inch-along/</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\nThe Dems, however, aren\'t missing an opportunity to bash the GOP during the process:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/homenews/house/190751-dems-hammer-ryan-gop-over-budget-talks\">thehill.com/homenews/house/190751-dems-hammer-ryan-gop-over-budget-talks</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4261,4261,'In a surprise move, the Justice Department has quietly dropped a lawsuit against Louisiana\'s school voucher program.&nbsp; The program, which gives students the chance to escape failing schools, was based on ancient desegregation rules.&nbsp; Yet in practice, almost 90% of the beneficiaries are minority students!&nbsp; Governor Bobby Jindal isn\'t convinced that the fight is over, though.&nbsp; Will the Justice Department continue to dog Louisiana over this very popular program?&nbsp; How and why?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/11/20/administration-drops-lawsuit-against-louisiana-school-voucher-program/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/11/20/administration-drops-lawsuit-against-louisiana-school-voucher-program/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4263,4263,'In a free society, wouldn\'t you expect the press to have access to the President and White House events and public duties?&nbsp; So wouldn\'t you expect the &quot;most transparent administration&quot; ever to invite journalists to record the events of the Obama administration as a matter of course?&nbsp; That doesn\'t seem to be the case.&nbsp; How is the press reacting to the limits the White House imposes on them?&nbsp; What do they plan to do about it?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013311220055\">www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4265,4265,'Rather than comply with the President\'s directive to reinstate for one year cancelled insurance plans that do not meet the basic requirements of Obamacare, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan has decided not to reinstate those plans.&nbsp; They say that they have been working to eliminate the non-compliant plans and will continue to transition consumers to the new plans.&nbsp; This decision affects about 140,000 Michigan residents.&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/11/blue_cross_michigan_obamacare.html\">www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/11/blue_cross_michigan_obamacare.html</a><br />',2,3700,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4268,4268,'<h2><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said on ABC\'s <em>This Week</em> yesterday that the Democrats all knew the truth about Obamacare and people losing their insurance plans all along.&nbsp; What else did she have to say?&nbsp; See the story: &nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/11/17/Gillibrand-we-all-knew\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/11/17/Gillibrand-we-all-knew</span></a></h2>',2,3702,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4269,4269,'The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review the mandate in Obamacare that requires employers to provide insurance coverage for contraceptives.&nbsp; Some businesses object to the mandate on religious grounds.&nbsp; This will be the first time the court has addressed the issues of religous freedom and equality for female workers under the law.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-to-review-contraceptive-coverage-mandate/2013/11/26/e9627f5a-56bc-11e3-8304-caf30787c0a9_story.html\">www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-to-review-contraceptive-coverage-mandate/2013/11/26/e9627f5a-56bc-11e3-8304-caf30787c0a9_story.html</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4275,4275,'Only a few days after an agreement was announced between Iran, the United States and other world leaders, Iran is claiming that the White House is misleading the American public about the terms of the deal.&nbsp; What seems to be the problem?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://freebeacon.com/iran-white-house-lying-about-details-of-nuke-deal/\">freebeacon.com/iran-white-house-lying-about-details-of-nuke-deal/</a><br />',2,3708,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4274,4274,'The IRS and the Justice Department are considering creating regulations that will prohibit certain tax-exempt groups from &quot;candidate-related political activity&quot;.&nbsp; Do you suppose these regulations will apply to both liberal and conservative groups?&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://news.yahoo.com/irs-pushes-rein-tax-exempt-political-groups-203634659--election.html\">news.yahoo.com/irs-pushes-rein-tax-exempt-political-groups-203634659--election.html</a><br />',2,3706,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4276,4276,'So far, about a third of the states, Michigan included, have accepted the expansion of Medicaid under the provisions of Obamacare.&nbsp; The federal government has promised to pay 100% of the additional Medicaid costs for the next three years, then lower the reimbursement rate to 90%.&nbsp; But what good will an expanions of Medicaid do if there are no doctors to take on these new patients?&nbsp; Will there be enough doctors willing to accept the low reimbursement rates and red tape associated with Medicaid?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/29/us/lack-of-doctors-may-worsen-as-millions-join-medicaid-rolls.html?ref=todayspaper&amp;_r=0\">www.nytimes.com/2013/11/29/us/lack-of-doctors-may-worsen-as-millions-join-medicaid-rolls.html</a><br />',2,3709,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4277,4277,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">State Representative Bob Genetski, R-Saugatuck, introduced House Bill 5172, which demands that assessors, <br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;shall not enter any structure, dwelling unit, or other improvement &hellip; without written permission of the owner.&quot; </span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The bill also prohibits assessors from increasing assessed value if denied entry.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the details of the bill read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19395\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19395</span></a><br />',2,3710,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4278,4278,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">According to Project Veritaa &ldquo;Enroll America&rdquo; personnel may have been using data illegally obtained by Obamacare &ldquo;Navigators&rdquo; for pro-democrat political purposes.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the potential violations and what the ramifications could be read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/17044-sting-exposes-potential-crimes-by-obamacare-operatives\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/17044-sting-exposes-potential-crimes-by-obamacare-operatives</span></a><br />',2,3711,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4280,4280,'<em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;In an attempt to salvage the failed launch of the healthcare law, President Obama is planning an event at the White House in which he will ask hand-picked Americans to go on display to illustrate the alleged benefits of the healthcare law. And in case that does not do a sufficient job of undoing the damage that the healthcare law has done to Obama&rsquo;s reputation, the White House is laying out plans to bail out insurance companies to help offset the loss of revenue and profit that the industry is experiencing under ObamaCare.&rdquo;</span><br />\r\n</span></strong></em><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read the rest of the article outlining a potential bailout we will all pay for click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/17076-healthcare-bailout-on-the-way\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/17076-healthcare-bailout-on-the-way</span></a><br />',2,3714,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4282,4282,'<em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;Muslims groups around the world are crying Islamophobia and playing the victim card as horrific Islamic-motivated crimes, such as grooming and rape-gangs, rage on with impunity throughout the Western world, especially in Europe. Rape or grooming gangs, which are almost entirely Muslim, are committing a crime that is religiously mandated in Islamic doctrine.&rdquo;</span></span></strong></em><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read about this alarming practice that is common place in Europe and has come to the United States click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/12/grooming_gangs_and_sharia.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/12/grooming_gangs_and_sharia.html</span></a><br />',2,3716,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4283,4283,'<em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;The president plans to deliver an address Wednesday to argue his case that income inequality and wage stagnation are threatening upward mobility and retirement security. The speech comes amid growing national and international attention to economic disparities &mdash; from the writings of Pope Francis to the protests of fast-food workers in the U.S.&rdquo;</span></span></strong></em><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read about Obama&rsquo;s new push to complete the socialization of America click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131204/POLITICS03/312040063/Obama-speech-focus-income-disparities?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131204/POLITICS03/312040063/Obama-speech-focus-income-disparities?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p</span></a><br />',2,3717,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4285,4285,'<em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;I&rsquo;m probably the most pro-immigration governor in the country and I&rsquo;m proud of that,&rdquo; </span></span></strong></em><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Governor Rick Snyder</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read about Governor Snyder&rsquo;s position on immigration and why he feels he is \'the most pro-immigration governor in the country\' click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2013/12/gov_rick_snyder_pledges_suppor.html#incart_m-rpt-2\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2013/12/gov_rick_snyder_pledges_suppor.html#incart_m-rpt-2</span></a><br />',2,3719,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4286,4286,'<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;On November 23, China declared a new &lsquo;air defense identification zone&rsquo; that extends to the north close to South Korea, to the south within miles of Taiwan, and to the east to encompass the Senkaku Islands, a short chain of uninhabitable islands off southern Japan that the Japanese have claimed ownership of since 1895.&rdquo;</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read about all of the potential ramifications of this territorial claim by China and how it may impact the world click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://spectator.org/articles/56914/coming-oil-wars\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://spectator.org/articles/56914/coming-oil-wars</span></a><br />',2,3720,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4290,4290,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">On Wednesday Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore. along with organized labor representatives, and business and transportation leaders proposed the raising of the federal gas tax from 18.4-cents-per-gallon to 33.4 cents over the next three years.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article the proposed gas tax read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/12/04/210512/oregons-blumenauer-proposes-nearly.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/12/04/210512/oregons-blumenauer-proposes-nearly.html</span></a><br />',2,3722,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4291,4291,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No one wants to talk about the other option to stop President Obama&rsquo;s onslaught constitutional of the constitution but it might be time to consider it as an option.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;Article II of the United States Constitution (Section 4) states that &quot;The President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors.&quot; </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The House of Representatives has the sole power of impeaching, while the United States Senate has the sole power to try all impeachments. The removal of impeached officials is automatic upon conviction in the Senate. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read about the reasons it should be considered, the process, and the possibilities of it taking place click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://m.nationalreview.com/article/365566/i-word-jonathan-strong\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://m.nationalreview.com/article/365566/i-word-jonathan-strong</span></a><br />',2,3723,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4295,4295,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A bill (House Bill 5159) has been introduced in the Michigan House that would allow restaurants to allow smoking in outdoor open areas.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the proposed legislation read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19423\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19423</span></a><br />',2,3725,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4296,4296,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">By a vote of 31 to 4 Senate Bill 636 has passed the Michigan Senate and has moved to the House for consideration. The controversial legislation would allow phone companies to discontinue traditional landline service&nbsp; beginning in 2017.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the proposed legislation and the potential impact on current land line users read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/12/landline_phone_bill_passes_mic.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/12/landline_phone_bill_passes_mic.html</span></a><br />',2,3726,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4297,4297,'<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Tahoma; min-height: 22px; \"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); \">The Michigan Lottery is moving forward with plans to offer online ticket sales despite opposition from some state lawmakers and the attorney general.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(255, 50, 169); min-height: 22px; \"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); \"><br />\r\n</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(255, 50, 169); \"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); \">Two vendors heve already been chosen to implement the new &quot;iLottery&quot; system which could include online, mobile and tablet applications for sales of instant and draw games. The additional services should be available by the fourth quarter of 2014.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(255, 50, 169); min-height: 22px; \"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); \"><br />\r\n</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(255, 50, 169); \"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); \">For an article on Governor Snyder&rsquo;s decision to move ahead with and &ldquo;iLottery&rdquo; without legislative approval and opposition from his own party read on at:</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(255, 50, 169); min-height: 22px; \"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); \"><br />\r\n</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Tahoma; \"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); \"><a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/11/michigan_lottery_online_ticket.html\">http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/11/michigan_lottery_online_ticket.html</a></span></p>',2,3727,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4300,4300,'<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">The State Board of Canvassers has unanimously certified an initiative petition that would make people purchase an &ldquo;abortion rider&rdquo; on insurance policies rather than offer it as a standard option to all policy holders.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; \">For an article on the abortion rider and its likelihood of passage read on at:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; \"><a href=\"http://www.freep.com/article/20131202/NEWS06/312020045/abortion-insurance-michigan-proposal\">http://www.freep.com/article/20131202/NEWS06/312020045/abortion-insurance-michigan-proposal</a></p>',2,3729,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4303,4303,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">In 2008 the federal government ended its financial support of many passenger rail routes including those in Michigan. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Michigan Legislature has graciously picked up that tab in their 2013-2014 budget.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on what this decision by the legislature will cost each of us per rider that uses Amtrak read on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://&ldquo;Your&rdquo; Subsidy To Amtrak Riders!\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19430</span></a><br />',2,3732,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4304,4304,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Imagine that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius dictating directly to doctors which services they could and could not provide to their senior patients including what individual tests they could conduct, which treatments they could offer, and medicines they could prescribe. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">If you think that is absurd then you need to read&nbsp; what congress will be considering as early as this week in Washington D.C. on at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702303293604579251951156481492-lMyQjAxMTAzMDEwMjExNDIyWj\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702303293604579251951156481492-lMyQjAxMTAzMDEwMjExNDIyWj</span></a><br />',2,3733,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4306,4306,'<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">The budget deal proposed Tuesday by Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray passed in the House and is on the way to the Senate for approval. The leadership it touting the &ldquo;bipartisan&rdquo; passage of the bill but in reality it is just another trip down the road to bankruptcy.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; \">For an article on the bill and the spending vs. reductions ratio read on at:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; \"><a href=\"http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/12/house-pushes-through-ryan-murray-budget-deal/\">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/12/house-pushes-through-ryan-murray-budget-deal/</a></p>',2,3735,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4308,4308,'<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&ldquo;The Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday approved a voter-initiated law that would prohibit basic health insurance plans from covering abortions and avoid a veto by Gov. Rick Snyder.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; \">Read more about the bills passage and the possible efforts by pro choice advocates to overturn it in the future at:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; \"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; \"><a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013312110101 \">http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013312110101</a></span></p>\r\n<div><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; \"><br />\r\n</span></div>',2,3737,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4310,4310,'<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">When will the bullying stop from the LGBT community toward people who believe that their lifestyle goes against the religious tenets of business owners?</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; \">It has gotten to the point of absurdity. You have made your point go to a LGBT baker for your service. I am sure they would appreciate the business.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; \">Read more about the bakery that lost its law suit to a gay couple in Colorado because they refused to make their wedding cake because of their beliefs on homosexuality at:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; \"><a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/17122-colorado-baker-ordered-to-make-cakes-for-same-sex-couples\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/17122-colorado-baker-ordered-to-make-cakes-for-same-sex-couples</a></p>',2,3739,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4314,4314,'<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&ldquo;On April 1, area residents filed a lawsuit claiming noise, vibrations and flickering lights generated by the 56 turbine facility are adversely impacting their health. Dizziness, sleeplessness and headaches are among the symptoms noted in the lawsuit.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; \">Read more about the suit filed in Mason county by residents who say their health has been negatively impacted by the windmills and the corners Consumers Energy cut to get the windmills online at:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; min-height: 21px; \">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; \"><a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19446\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19446</a></p>',2,3751,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4315,4315,'Michigan right-to-work law went into effect last spring.&nbsp; But the teachers\' union began fighting the loss of membership even before the law took effect.&nbsp; Many contract were renegotiated in advance of the law and opt-out windows were extremely small.&nbsp; And those weren\'t the only obstacles thrown in the way.&nbsp; Clearly the Michigan Education Association isn\'t going to give up with a fight... fair or not.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/366117/michigan-teachers-locked-jillian-kay-melchior\">www.nationalreview.com/article/366117/michigan-teachers-locked-jillian-kay-melchior</a><br />',2,3753,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4317,4317,'Is it within the scope of duties for a state board of education member to get involved with a local dispute between a charter school and a union?&nbsp; Does this create a conflict of interest?&nbsp; Some think so.&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19461\">www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19461</a><br />',2,3755,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4318,4318,'With the disastrous rollout of the Obamacare website, Republicans appear to be reaping the benefits of the president\'s failed policy.&nbsp; Yet, the infighting going on between the Tea Party and the so-called GOP establishment may end up destroying whatever chances the Republicans have of gaining seats in the mid-terms.&nbsp; Can these factions find common ground?&nbsp; Get a Tea Party perspective:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/12/17/establishment-gop-biting-its-feeding-hand/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/12/17/establishment-gop-biting-its-feeding-hand/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4320,4320,'In another attempt to turn focus away from the Obamacare disaster, President Obama now says economic inequality will be the centerpiece of his remaining time in office.&nbsp; Many believe there is a better way to achieve income equality than redistribution of existing wealth.&nbsp; What do you think?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/366599/inequality-does-not-matter-kevin-d-williamson\">www.nationalreview.com/article/366599/inequality-does-not-matter-kevin-d-williamson</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4322,4322,'The budget deal that passed the House last week is expected to pass in the Senate with bipartisan support.&nbsp; An attempt by Sen. Jeff Sessions to amend the bill to save $6 billion in cuts to military retirement benefits over 10 years failed.&nbsp; The bill is expected to come up for final passage late on Wednesday.&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/193486-senate-stands-ready-to-pass-budget-deal-with-bipartisan-support\">thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/193486-senate-stands-ready-to-pass-budget-deal-with-bipartisan-support</a><br />',2,3758,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4323,4323,'The Obama administration has come up with another workaround for those who lost their health insurance plans because they didn\'t meet minimum requirements of Obamacare.&nbsp; Now, those individuals will be able to claim a &quot;hardship exemption&quot; and purchase a <br />\r\n&quot;catastrophe plan&quot; without any penalty.&nbsp; Is there anybody left to be exempted from this law?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/white-house-obamacare-affordable-care-act-canceled-plans-101355.html\">www.politico.com/story/2013/12/white-house-obamacare-affordable-care-act-canceled-plans-101355.html</a><br />',2,3759,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4324,4324,'Young people, the 18-24 age group, were a significant voting block that helped put Obama in office.&nbsp; And now, five years later, the impact of the president\'s policies on the future of that group is coming to light.&nbsp; What\'s in the cards for this generation\'s future?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/366668/obamacare-generation-victor-davis-hanson\">www.nationalreview.com/article/366668/obamacare-generation-victor-davis-hanson</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4326,4326,'There were a lot of dire predictions about what right-to-work legislation would do to Michigan\'s workers and its economy.&nbsp; Now, one year later, we can look at what has actually happened to determine which, if any, of the devastating predictions have come to pass.&nbsp; Get the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19429\">www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19429</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4328,4328,'The Mackinac Center is creating a convenient way for Michigan residents to be notified about votes coming up in the legislature and the opportunity to voice their opinions to their legislators.&nbsp; Can\'t wait!&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19472<br />',2,3762,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4329,4329,'Federal law requires a corporation to report a security breach to customers, as we\'ve seen over the past several days with the breach that occurred at Target stores over the Thanksgiving weekend.&nbsp; So wouldn\'t you expect the same requirements for HealthCare.gov?&nbsp; Maybe not.&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://m.nationalreview.com/article/366964/hiding-hacking-healthcaregov-john-fund\">m.nationalreview.com/article/366964/hiding-hacking-healthcaregov-john-fund</a><br />',2,3763,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4330,4330,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Detroit that was once one&nbsp; of the most successful cities in the U.S. has now become a sightseeing tour of abandoned buildings, factories, schools, and churches.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Decades of progressive democrat leadership and liberal policies and programs have resulted in a city in ruin.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more about the people coming to see the remains of a once bustling city online at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/12/26/Detroit-Demise-Spurs-Tourist-Attraction-of-Ruin-Porn\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/12/26/Detroit-Demise-Spurs-Tourist-Attraction-of-Ruin-Porn</span></a><br />',2,3765,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4331,4331,'Been wondering what our representatives in Washington have been doing this year?&nbsp; Here\'s a recap:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/the_michigan_delegation_a_look.html\">www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/the_michigan_delegation_a_look.html</a><br />',2,3767,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4334,4334,'Now that it\'s the law, we\'re finding out what\'s in the Obamacare legislation.&nbsp; Would anyone be surprised to hear that it\'s chock full of new taxes?&nbsp; Probably not!&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2013/12/27/here-comes-the-obamacare-tax-avalanche/\">www.humanevents.com/2013/12/27/here-comes-the-obamacare-tax-avalanche/</a><br />\r\n<br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4336,4336,'Because Congress allowed extended jobless benefits to expire, 1.3 million unemployed will lose their benefits on December 28.&nbsp; Democrats are pushing for a three-month extension while GOP lawmakers think the focus should be on creating more jobs.&nbsp; What do you think?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/economy/194061-jobless-aid-expires-for-1.3M-people\">thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/economy/194061-jobless-aid-expires-for-1.3M-people</a><br />',2,3769,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4338,4338,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Some time in 2014 the federal government will require that vending machines operators post the calorie count of the items in the machines costing them $25.8 million initially, and then $24 million annually after that.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the new vending machine rules and how it will affect the business owners click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.examiner.com/article/vending-machines-must-have-calorie-counts-posted-for-each-item\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.examiner.com/article/vending-machines-must-have-calorie-counts-posted-for-each-item</span></a><br />',2,3770,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4339,4339,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Progress Michigan has come out with a new video portraying Governor Snyder as being non committal on &ldquo;hot button&rdquo; issues.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Liberals and conservatives alike are continually frustrated by the governors evasive responses on these issues that are of concern to party faithful on both sides of the aisle.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on Governor Snyder&rsquo;s continual unresponsiveness in addressing anything political click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/tim_skubick_progress_michigan_1.html#incart_river\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/tim_skubick_progress_michigan_1.html#incart_river</span></a><br />',2,3771,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4341,4341,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Mortgage interest deductions on our income taxes is a &ldquo;sacred cow&rdquo; to homeowners and politicians steer as far away as the can from the issue to protect their livelihood.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The truth is that it may be time to reconsider whether it needs to be reconsidered for removal.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an eye opening article on the mortgage interest deduction and who it benefits click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/mortgage_welfare_is_the_worst.html#incart_riverr\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/mortgage_welfare_is_the_worst.html#incart_riverr</span></a><br />',2,3773,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4342,4342,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">An anti-TEA Party GOP PAC called the &ldquo;Republican Main Street Partnership&rdquo; has the stated goal of making sure moderate republicans are reelected in 2014 and to defeat conservative &ldquo;Tea Party&rdquo; minded candidates in the August 2014 primaries whether they are incumbents or not.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Members from Michigan&rsquo;s Congressional delegation to this group who are seeking to defeat Tea Party candidates in 2014 are Congressman Dave Camp and Congressman Fred Upton.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the groups goals and what other liberal organizations are helping them achieve their goals and who the congressional members of this special republican group are click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://drrichswier.com/2013/12/31/anti-tea-party-gop-pac-funded-by-labor-unions/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://drrichswier.com/2013/12/31/anti-tea-party-gop-pac-funded-by-labor-unions/</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To see all of the members of congress that are part of this group click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.republicanmainstreet.org/members/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.republicanmainstreet.org/members/</span></a><br />',2,3775,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4344,4344,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I distinctly remember the representative from Consumers Energy at one of our monthly meetings making the statement that Smart Meters were wonderful and would be a benefit to us if our power went out. He also assured us that they would be polling our energy usage only &ldquo;once a day&rdquo;.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">I should have known he was speaking out of both sides of his mouth when he said he had previously worked for a congressman.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The truth be known there are bigger plans for us and our electric energy usage, what we can and can&rsquo;t do within our own homes, and how much it will cost us -- soon to come down the pike.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the &ldquo;Smart Grid&rdquo; and &ldquo;Smart Meters&rdquo; and what our government has in store for us click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/smart-grid-technology-now-spreading-across-us-will-raise-energy-prices\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/smart-grid-technology-now-spreading-across-us-will-raise-energy-prices</span></a><br />',2,3777,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4346,4346,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Hours before Obamacare was to take effect Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor blocked implementation of part of President Barack Obama&rsquo;s health care law that would have forced some religion-affiliated organizations to provide health insurance for employees that includes birth control.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on Justice Sonia Sotomayor&rsquo;s decision to delay the implementation of Obamacare regarding the birth control mandate click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131231/POLITICS03/312310099/1022/POLITICS/Justice-delays-health-law-s-birth-control-mandate\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131231/POLITICS03/312310099/1022/POLITICS/Justice-delays-health-law-s-birth-control-mandate</span></a><br />',2,3779,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4348,4348,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Some of Michigan&rsquo;s Republican leaders have formed a conservative renewable group aimed at promoting renewable energy in Michigan.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The newly formed Michigan Conservative Energy Forum will be pushing to reduce dependence on coal and increase renewable energy and energy efficiency.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article this groups push to become part of the progressive environmental movement click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/12/michigan_conservatives_launch.html#incart_river\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/12/michigan_conservatives_launch.html#incart_river</span></a><br />',2,3781,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4349,4349,'<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">Happy New Year! </span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">This years Rose Bowl parade is being co-opted by the LGBT community as they are having their debut with two guys getting hitched while they traverse the parade route.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Let&rsquo;s get beyond the LGBT hype and on with reality of life and just enjoy the event and get off the political agenda of a fringe element of our society. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the Rose Bowl Parade and the gay float controversy click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/red-alert/2013/dec/31/rose-parade-or-gay-pride-parade/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/red-alert/2013/dec/31/rose-parade-or-gay-pride-parade/</span></a><br />',2,3782,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4352,4352,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the government&rsquo;s right to be able to search laptops, cellphones and other devices at U.S. border checkpoints.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the governments invasion of our rights and the constitutional guarantee against unreasonable search and seizure click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/194200-court-upholds-border-laptop-searches\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/194200-court-upholds-border-laptop-searches</span></a><br />',2,3783,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4353,4353,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">An excerpt from www.online.wsj.com on how family owned farms are being targeted by OSHA:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 102);\"><em><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&quot;Since the 1970s, annual federal appropriations bills have explicitly prohibited the federal workplace overseer from descending on small family farms. Specifically, OSHA does not have jurisdiction over &quot;farming operations&quot; with 10 or fewer employees.</span></em>&quot;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 102);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><em>&quot;But OSHA officials have found a novel way to circumvent this statutory restraint. The regulators have simply claimed the authority to rewrite the definition of farming. A remarkable 2011 memo from OSHA\'s enforcement chief to regional administrators at first acknowledges that the law prevents the agency from regulating small farms engaged in growing and harvesting crops and any &quot;related activities.&quot; But then the memo proceeds to instruct employees on how to re-categorize small farms as commercial grain handlers. So OSHA inspectors have recently begun to descend on family farms, claiming the authority to regulate their grain storage bins.</em></span>&quot;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read about how OSHA is violating the law by going after family farms.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303799404579284611071783686\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303799404579284611071783686</span></a><br />',2,3785,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4355,4355,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Judicial Watch (JW) has released its list of Washington&rsquo;s &ldquo;Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians&rdquo; for 2013, and it&rsquo;s bipartisan in nature.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To see why these politicians have made the worst of the worst list click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/02/Judicial-Watch-s-Ten-Most-Wanted-Corrupt-Politicians-for-2013\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/02/Judicial-Watch-s-Ten-Most-Wanted-Corrupt-Politicians-for-2013</a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3786,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4357,4357,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">In 2010 the voters of Missouri passed the initiative referendum &ldquo;Health Care Freedom Act&rdquo; by an over 70% of the voters.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Now Missouri State Senator John Lamping has will be introducting Senate Bill 546, a revision of the Health Care Freedom Act.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The legislation will negate any &ldquo;law or rule&rdquo; that would &ldquo;compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system.&rdquo;</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To see the steps that Missouri is taking to nuliffy Obamacare click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/17318-missouri-state-senator-proposes-anti-obamacare-bill\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/17318-missouri-state-senator-proposes-anti-obamacare-bill</span></a><br />',2,3788,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4361,4361,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The U.S. Supreme Court has put same-sex marriages on hold in Utah while a federal appeals court considers the issue. The court issued a brief order blocking any new same-sex unions in the state.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The order grants an emergency appeal by the state following the Dec. 20 ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby that the state\'s ban on same-sex marriage violates gay and lesbian couples\' constitutional rights.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more on the decision and the background of the issue in heavily Mormon populated Utah click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/supreme-court-puts-utah-sex-marriage-hold-21432884\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/supreme-court-puts-utah-sex-marriage-hold-21432884</span></a><br />',2,3790,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4363,4363,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">President Obama&rsquo;s push to tighten gun control laws has had a &ldquo;significant&rdquo; effect on gun sales -- there was a 8% increase in sales over 2012.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more about how our &ldquo;tough&rdquo; talking president has impacted gun sales click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/6/gun-sales-2013-break-all-records-due-obamas-gun-co/\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/6/gun-sales-2013-break-all-records-due-obamas-gun-co/</span></a><br />',2,3792,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4364,4364,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The new Fed chief, just approved by the Senate, will be getting &ldquo;tough&rdquo; when she takes the helm on February 1 of this year.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">She will only be allowing our children and grand children to assume $85,000,000,000 from the previous $95,000,000,000 per month to their future debt. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As they say what&rsquo;s another 100 billion or so per month when your kids will pick up the tab later when we are all dead and gone.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more about the new Fed Chief and what the future may hold with her new policies click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/yellen-faces-challenges-fed-trims-bond-buys\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/yellen-faces-challenges-fed-trims-bond-buys</span></a><br />',2,3793,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4365,4365,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said he tried to sign up his son through the Kentucky healthcare exchange. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As it turned out the &ldquo;simple task&rdquo; of using Obamacare exchanges became a maze of government red tape with results that were unexpected. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more about Rand Pauls Obamacare experience in enrolling his son click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/06/Kentucky-Healthcare-Exchange-Botches-Rand-Paul-Enrollment\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/06/Kentucky-Healthcare-Exchange-Botches-Rand-Paul-Enrollment</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">sw</span><br />',2,3794,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4366,4366,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Senator Carl Levin has made it clear that &ldquo;Child Tax Credits&rdquo; for illegal immigrants are more important than restoring military retiree benefits.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">In the Senate it&rsquo;s business as usual with no compromise in sight for a solution. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">To read more about the Senate&rsquo;s inability to restore military retiree benefits and what other solutions are being considered click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/budget-appropriations/194631-levin-backs-ayotte-bill-to-repeal-military-pension\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/budget-appropriations/194631-levin-backs-ayotte-bill-to-repeal-military-pension</span></a><br />',2,3795,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4368,4368,'<span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong>Merry Christmas Michigan! </strong></em></span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">It would appear the state has and EXTRA $1,000,000,000.00 in the Treasury left over after they paid the bills WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The question now becomes what are they going to do with that FOUND MONEY?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on what&rsquo;s under consideration for that extra money click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140108/POLITICS02/301080030/Michigan-lawmakers-split-plans-budget-surplus?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140108/POLITICS02/301080030/Michigan-lawmakers-split-plans-budget-surplus?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE</span></a><br />',2,3797,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4374,4374,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Michigan&rsquo;s Senator Stabenow is working hard to get her Farm Bill passed before the end of this month. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">She just needs a little cooperation, compromise, and tweaking and then she feels they can pass it.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The truth this <span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong>$1,000,000,000,000.00+</strong></em></span></span> Pig needs a serious overhaul.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">This is who the bill really benefits:</span><br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Food stamp recipients are up 70 percent since 2008. (47,800,000 people)</span></strong></em><br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Eighty percent of the bill&rsquo;s spending is spent on food stamps.</span></strong></em><br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - The other 20 percent of the bill contains subsidies and price supports that transfer money to wealthy farmers while raising grocery and tax bills.</span></strong></em><br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -&nbsp; The average farm household earns 53 percent more than the average U.S. household.</span></strong></em><br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Of $17.5 billion paid to farmers annually, 80 percent of that goes to the wealthiest 15 to 20 percent of farmers.</span></strong></em><br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Americans pay twice the amount that world consumers pay for sugar due to agricultural price supports.</span></strong></em><br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Taxpayers pay $1.1 billion in loans to sugar producers annually.</span></strong></em><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp; The bottom line is that congress needs to get serious about the farm bill and start from scratch. Welfare and subsidies need to be addressed realistically.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on Stabenow&rsquo;s perspective on the Farm Bill click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/agriculture/195023-stabenow-urges-dairy-compromise-for-farm-bill\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/agriculture/195023-stabenow-urges-dairy-compromise-for-farm-bill</span></a><br />',2,3801,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4376,4376,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">You can\'t make this stuff up!<br />\r\n<br />\r\nThe federal government has given a grant of $224,863 to test custom-fitted condoms and validate a self-reporting penis measurement system for commercial use.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">And we wonder why the federal government is going bankrupt. This kind of corporate welfare has to stop.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on who is receiving these funds and the rationale behind the decision click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/eric-scheiner/feds-fund-validation-penis-measuring-tool-custom-fit-condoms\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/eric-scheiner/feds-fund-validation-penis-measuring-tool-custom-fit-condoms</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,3803,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4379,4379,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">What If I were to tell you that Veterans&rsquo; benefits and jobless benefits could be funded and that illegal immigrant fraud could all be stopped and that the democrats would vote against it.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Would you believe they were that stupid?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on just that click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://washingtonexaminer.com/what-if-you-could-restore-veterans-pensions-fund-jobless-benefits-and-stop-illegal-immigrant-fraud-all-at-once-democrats-would-block-it./article/2541931\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://washingtonexaminer.com/what-if-you-could-restore-veterans-pensions-fund-jobless-benefits-and-stop-illegal-immigrant-fraud-all-at-once-democrats-would-block-it./article/2541931</span></a><br />',2,3804,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4384,4384,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The U.S. Supreme Court refused to revive an Arizona law that had been ruled unconstitutional by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The law would have generally banned abortions once a woman&rsquo;s pregnancy reached the 20-week point.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The decision to not hear the appeal could put Michigan&rsquo;s recently enacted 20 week abortion law, that was approved by citizen initiated petitions and passed by the legislature, in jeopardy.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The question becomes, do &ldquo;State Rights&rdquo; as defined in the constitution have relevance any more or are we just slaves to the federal bureaucracy? If the will of the people is no longer honored by the government why do we even have a constitution?</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more about the decision and what the future might be for Michigan&rsquo;s law online at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-13/abortion-foes-rebuffed-as-court-won-t-revive-20-week-ban.html\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-13/abortion-foes-rebuffed-as-court-won-t-revive-20-week-ban.html</span></a><br />',2,3807,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4386,4386,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Obama with his global warming cabal continue to double down on the energy producers by making decisions that will negatively impact every home and the economy.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">How can anyone believe that Obama&rsquo;s promise to &ldquo;fundamentally transform America&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t turning us into a third world Socialist country.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more Global Warming fact or fiction and make your own decision on what to believe online at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/17377-global-warming-alarmists-looking-ridiculous-double-down\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/17377-global-warming-alarmists-looking-ridiculous-double-down</span></a><br />',2,3809,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4388,4388,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The Governor and legislators on both sides of the aisle are lobbying for their own special interests to spend the almost 1 billion dollar surplus that was left over after paying last years bills.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more about how the state ended up with this surplus and what the process will be moving forward to disburse it online at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/where_did_michigans_971m_budge.html#incart_river\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/where_did_michigans_971m_budge.html#incart_river</span></a><br />',2,3811,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4389,4389,'Early in 2012, President Obama made several appointments to the National Labor Relations Board, based on his constitutional right to make recess appointments.&nbsp; The constitutional requires, however, that these appointments be made only if the Senate is in recess.&nbsp; Was the Senate actually in recess when the appointments were made?&nbsp; The Supreme Court will decide.&nbsp; Get the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://townhall.com/tipsheet/sarahjeanseman/2014/01/13/supreme-court-weighs-constitutionality-of-obamas-recess-appointments-n1778170?utm_source=thdailypm&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=nl_pm\">townhall.com/tipsheet/sarahjeanseman/2014/01/13/supreme-court-weighs-constitutionality-of-obamas-recess-appointments-n1778170</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4391,4391,'To hear the Democrats tell it, Republicans are heartless and uncaring because they want the Congress to pay for another &quot;emergency&quot; extension to unemployment benefits.&nbsp; Now, after getting six Republican Senators to vote to bring the bill before the Senate,&nbsp; Sen. Harry Reid won\'t allow Republicans to offer amendments to pay for the benefits.&nbsp; He does this a lot.&nbsp; And if the bill fails, he can blame those nasty, stingy Republicans for taking food off the tables of the unemployed.&nbsp; What\'s going on here?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.humanevents.com/2014/01/10/harry-reid-works-to-kill-the-unemployment-insurance-bill/\">www.humanevents.com/2014/01/10/harry-reid-works-to-kill-the-unemployment-insurance-bill/</a><br />',2,3813,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4392,4392,'President Obama came into office on a wave of enthusiasm from young voters.&nbsp; But now, after five years of policies that aren\'t providing jobs and a new health care system that is counting on them to float the medical expenses of an aging population,&nbsp; young people might be taking another look at the liberal agenda they thought they wanted.&nbsp; What gives?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.nationalreview.com/article/368236/millennials-are-tiring-liberal-failures-chris-beach-alison-howard\">www.nationalreview.com/article/368236/millennials-are-tiring-liberal-failures-chris-beach-alison-howard</a><br />',2,3814,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4393,4393,'What possible reason could the White House have for refusing to release the text of the deal made with the Iranians about their nuclear program?&nbsp; The Congress isn\'t happy about it.&nbsp; Yet the White House refuses to disclose the full text of the agreement.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://freebeacon.com/congress-pressures-white-house-to-release-iran-nuke-deal-text/\">freebeacon.com/congress-pressures-white-house-to-release-iran-nuke-deal-text/</a><br />',2,3815,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4394,4394,'Sen. John Thune (R- SD) has a plan to provide incentives to employers to give the long-term unemployed a job, rather than just extend unemployment benefits for three months.&nbsp; He says his proposal is aimed at targeting the root causes of unemployment and would be more effective than extending benefits.&nbsp; What does he have in mind?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/194650-gop-senator-proposes-ui-amendment-with-new-obamacare-exemption\">thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/194650-gop-senator-proposes-ui-amendment-with-new-obamacare-exemption</a><br />',2,3816,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4398,4398,'No wonder we\'re not winning the war on drugs!&nbsp; Woudn\'t you think someone would realize this strategy isn\'t working?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-government-and-the-sinaloa-cartel-2014-1\">www.businessinsider.com/the-us-government-and-the-sinaloa-cartel-2014-1</a><br />',2,3817,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4399,4399,'Federal subsidies for wind energy projects,&quot; along with other renewable energy benefits&quot;, expired at the end of 2013.&nbsp; The Congress refused to renew the subsidies that have been in place since 1992.&nbsp; With the proliferation of wind farms, and many states making their own renewable energy targets, wind energy has gained some traction.&nbsp; Has the flow of federal dollars to wind energy project actually ended?&nbsp; Will wind be a viable alternative to other sources of electricity?&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/15/Blown-away--US-suspends-wind-power-subsidies--for-now\">www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/15/Blown-away--US-suspends-wind-power-subsidies--for-now</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4401,4401,'We have learned over the past few months that Big Brother is indeed watching.&nbsp; The revelations that the National Security Agency (NSA) was collecting telephone call information for practically everyone in the US along with others around the world has brought the issue of our right to privacy to the forefront.&nbsp; Now, President Obama has directed intelligence officials to obtain approval for searches of telephone data.&nbsp; Does this ensure privacy?&nbsp; Will it impact our ability to find terrorists?&nbsp; Where do we draw the line?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304603704579326333792513314?mod=rss_Politics_And_Policy&amp;mg=reno64-wsj&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304603704579326333792513314.html%3Fmod%3Drss_Politics_And_Policy\">online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304603704579326333792513314</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\nThere are still many unanswered questions:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/01/17/obamas-plan-leaves-unanswered-questions/?mod=Politics_and_Policy_newsreel_2\">blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/01/17/obamas-plan-leaves-unanswered-questions/</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4403,4403,'Numbers were released this week showing only 24% of those who have enrolled in Obamacare so far are in the 18-34 demographic so important for the success of the program.&nbsp; Administration officials claim there will be a surge of enrollments within this age group before the enrollment deadline, but what if they\'re wrong?&nbsp; Will it really make economic sense for those who are young and healthy to buy health insurance?&nbsp; Learn more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/101343022\">www.cnbc.com/id/101343022</a><br />',2,3821,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4404,4404,'<span style=\"font-size: small;\">Wikipedia defines </span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">he <b>Common Core State Standards Initiative</b> as &quot;an education  initiative in the United States that details what K-12 students should  know in English language arts and mathematics at the end of each grade.&quot;&nbsp; </span><span style=\"font-size: smaller;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">That sounds pretty reasonable, doesn\'t it?&nbsp; But things aren\'t always what they appear to be.&nbsp; So says Dr. Sandra Stotsky, a member of the Common Core Validation Committee.&nbsp; What is her take on the Common Core?&nbsp; Get the details:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/14/Expert-Dr-Sandra-Stotsky-On-Common-Core-We-Are-A-Very-Naive-People\">www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/14/Expert-Dr-Sandra-Stotsky-On-Common-Core-We-Are-A-Very-Naive-People</a></span><br />\r\n</span>\r\n<h1 id=\"content_0_headlineimage_0_h1Headline\">&nbsp;</h1>',2,3822,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4408,4408,'<div class=\"rtecenter\">\r\n<div class=\"rteleft\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">CCRP TO SPONSOR STUDENT STATESMANSHIP<br />\r\n</span></strong> </span></strong></div>\r\n<div class=\"rteleft\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\">ATTENDEES FOR 2014 SUMMER SESSION<br />\r\n</span></strong></div>\r\n<div class=\"rteleft\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><img width=\"610\" height=\"335\" src=\"/sites/default/files/ssi_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" /><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span></strong></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"rteleft\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">CLINTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY TO SPONSOR STUDENT STATESMANSHIP ATTENDEES FOR 2014 SUMMER SESSIONS<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nFor a second year,&nbsp; the Clinton County Republican Party (CCRP) will be sponsoring several Clinton County high school students to attend the Student Statesmanship Institutes this summer,&nbsp; in Lansing.<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nThe Student Statesmanship Institute (SSI) was established by the Foundation for Traditional Values (FTV) in the mid-1990s after receiving requests from parents, teachers, and pastors who attended &ldquo;The Greatest Story Never Told&rdquo; seminars. SSI has grown to include three separate week-long summer experiences featuring eight leadership tracks and serving more than 300 students each year, a traveling two-day Onsite Program for Christian, public and home-school students, and an effective one-year practicum for SSI alumni called the Ambassador League.<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nThe SSI Summer Program can be a life-transforming week featuring authentic leadership simulations in the legislative, media, judicial, campaign and business fields under the direction of Christian professionals from each field.   During this real-world experience,&nbsp; young people learn valuable life skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, strategic planning, and effective communications. While being engaged in high-level leadership roles, they are also inspired to apply Biblical and moral principles in their own life and the world around them.<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nThe CCRP believes SSI affords a perfect opportunity for our young people to immerse themselves in a Biblical-based environment,&nbsp; while integrating the various career tracks and their corresponding principles offered as part of the program.&nbsp;&nbsp; Students entering their first year of high school through those entering their first year of college are accepted to the program.&nbsp; Alumni up to age 19 are accepted, as long as they are eligible to participate in one of the advanced tracks.<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nWe believe the lessons and skills acquired during the Student Statesmanship Institute will be invaluable to the attendees throughout their lives.<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nThe CCRP has allocated $1,500.00 this year to sponsor the attendees. We feel it is important that the attendees be invested in the process by paying for a portion of the total cost for attendance.<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nThe cost for a one-week session is $379.00,&nbsp; if paid by March 14, 2014.&nbsp; After that the cost will be $399.00.<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nEach CCRP-sponsored attendee will be asked to pay the $50.00 minimum deposit upon registration.&nbsp; The CCRP will make up the additional $329.00.&nbsp; If registration is not completed before the early deadline of March 14, 2014,&nbsp; the attendee will have to cover the additional cost of $20.00.<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nThe CCRP Student Statesmanship Committee will select eligible participants, residing in Clinton County, for the $329.00 sponsorship.&nbsp; Selected participants will be notified by March 1, 2014, so that they can complete the registration process and submit the $50.00 registration fee to SSI,&nbsp; prior to the early deadline of March 14, 2014. <br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nRegistration with SSI is available online for an additional $5.00 online registration fee.&nbsp; The six-page registration form can also be mailed to SSI, after printing a copy from the website at SSIonline.org or requesting a copy by calling SSI at (517)321-6233.<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nStudent Statesmanship Institutes are available during the weeks of June 8-13, June 22-27, and July 6-11, 2014.&nbsp; Students are housed at Great Lakes Christian College, Lansing, Michigan and transported to relevant venues, such as the House Chambers in the Capitol Building.&nbsp; All expenses are included.<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nFor detailed information, including an impressive list of former speakers, visit the Student Statesmanship Institute at http://SSIonline.org/.<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\nIf you are a high school student residing in Clinton County and you have an interest in being a sponsored attendee, or if you know of any high school student residing in Clinton County who would be interested in attending SSI with a Clinton County Republican Party sponsorship, please contact Janet Dennings, chair of the selection committee, at (989)862-5852 or jdennings@denningsai.com.<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\n&nbsp;<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.clinton-countygop.com/content/2014studentstatesman\">http://www.clinton-countygop.com/content/2014studentstatesman</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span><a href=\"http://ssionline.org/\"></a></div>',2,3827,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4409,4409,'Dave Agema, a Repulican Committeeman from Michigan, has made some controversial remarks lately disparaging gays and Muslims that have some in the GOP up in arms.&nbsp; At a time when Republicans see an opening to increase their majority on Capitol Hill, divisiveness within the Party isn\'t going to help.&nbsp; Betsy DeVos has taken a stand against the remarks and is calling on Agema to step down.&nbsp; Agema says he has no intention of doing so.&nbsp; What do you think he should do?&nbsp; <br />\r\n<br />\r\nFor a story on Agema\'s behavior, see:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.freep.com/article/20140119/NEWS06/301190063/Dave-Agema-GOP-s-uncomfortably-candid-committeeman-from-Michigan\">www.freep.com/article/20140119/NEWS06/301190063/Dave-Agema-GOP-s-uncomfortably-candid-committeeman-from-Michigan</a><br />\r\nFor Mrs. DeVos\'s comments, read:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140119/OPINION01/301190003\">www.detroitnews.com/article/20140119/OPINION01/301190003</a><br />\r\n<br />\r\nThere is no doubt that the Democrats are watching the infighting with glee.&nbsp; <br />',2,3829,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4410,4410,'<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">ARTICLE&nbsp;FROM POWERLINE<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span></span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">For additional articles go to http://www.powerlineblog.com<br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span></div>\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">Posted on </span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">www.powerlineblog.com </span>January 17, 2014 <br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"> by John Hinderaker</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We often hear that Washington is </span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\'</span></span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\'</span></span>broken,</span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\'</span></span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\'</span></span></span> that Congress is </span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\'</span></span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\'</span></span></span>gridlocked,</span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\'</span></span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\'</span></span></span> and so on. While such complaints are usually imprecise and sometimes misguided, the sense that Congress is not functioning as intended is correct. Yesterday Senator Jeff Sessions delivered an important speech in which he decried the decline of the Senate under the leadership of Harry Reid. The extent to which the Senate&rsquo;s traditions have been undermined to the detriment of all Americans is not generally appreciated, but the issue is a vital one. Senator Sessions said:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;The Senate is where the great issues of our time are supposed to be examined, reviewed, and discussed before the whole nation. Yet, in the last few years, we have witnessed the dramatic erosion of Senators&rsquo; rights and the dismantling of the open legislative process.<br />\r\n</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;</span>We fund the government through massive omnibus bills that no one has had the time to read or analyze. Senators are stripped of their right to offer amendments. Bills are rushed through under threat of panic, crisis, or shutdown. Secret deals rule the day, and millions of Americans are essentially robbed of their ability to participate in the legislative process.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;</span>Under the tenure of Majority Leader Reid, the Senate is rapidly losing its historic role as a great deliberative body. If this continues, America will have lost something very precious.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;</span>One of the tactics by which Majority Leader Reid has suppressed Senators&rsquo; rights and blocked open debate has been a technique called &ldquo;filling the tree.&rdquo; What this means, basically, is that when a bill comes to the floor, the Leader will use his right of first recognition to fill all of the available amendment slots on a bill and block any other Senator from offering amendments. One man stands in the way of his 99 colleagues. But, not alone really. His power exists only as long as his majority concurs and supports his actions. This prevents the body from working its will, it prevents legislation from being improved, and it prevents Senators from being held accountable by their votes on the great issues of the day. That is, of course, why it&rsquo;s done.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Our Majority Leader has used this tactic&mdash;filling the tree&mdash;80 times. To put this in perspective, the six previous Majority Leaders filled the tree 49 times&mdash;combined. Senator Reid has filled the tree on 30 more occasions than all of the six previous Majority Leaders did cumulatively over their tenures.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">In so doing, the Leader denies the citizens of each state their equal representation in the Senate. Majority Leader Reid, in his effort to protect his conference from casting difficult votes&mdash;in order to shield his Majority from accountability&mdash;has essentially closed the amendment process. He has shut down one of the most important functions that Senators exercise to represent the interests of their constituents.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Recently, this tactic manifested itself in a dramatic way. To the surprise and shock of many, the December spending agreement contained a provision that cut the lifetime pension payments of current and future military retirees&mdash;including wounded warriors&mdash;by as much as $120,000. I and other Senators had many ideas for how to fix this problem, but we were blocked from offering them by the Majority Leader. I tried to offer an amendment to replace the cuts by closing a fraud loophole used by illegal immigrants (and cited by the Department of the Treasury) to claim billions in free tax credits. But Reid&mdash;and all his conference members save one&mdash;stood together to block my amendment.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span>So I would ask my colleagues: Are you comfortable with this? Do you like having to beg and plead for the right to offer an amendment? Do you believe the Senate should operate according to the power of just one man?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span>The omnibus bill, though it restores pensions for our heroic wounded warriors, leaves more than 90% of the cuts in place. Shouldn&rsquo;t we be allowed to offer amendments to provide a fair fix for all of our nation&rsquo;s veterans?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span>But blocking amendments is only one of the many abuses that have occurred.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span>The erosion of the Senate has also been front and center in the budgeting process. We are now in our fifth year without adopting a congressional budget resolution. Instead, taxpayer dollars are spent through a series of backroom deals and last-minute negotiations. Then we face a massive omnibus that is rushed to passage without amendment or meaningful review. The American people have no real ability to know what&rsquo;s in it or hold us, their elected representatives, accountable. This, of course, is the reason it is done this way.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span>Now, the House and Senate are considering another catch-all omnibus spending bill&mdash;one that will spend more than a trillion dollars&mdash;with thousands of items of government spending crammed into a single legislative proposal. This bill will be sped through under threat of a government shutdown, with very little debate, and no ability to amend. It is another &ldquo;pass it to find out what&rsquo;s in it&rdquo; moment.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My staff and I have had less than 48 hours to digest this behemoth, but already we&rsquo;ve found provisions that would not survive if considered under regular order.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; How is the process supposed to work? Each year, Congress is supposed to adopt a budget resolution. Then, based on spending levels contained in the budget resolution, individual committees report out authorization bills based on the expertise and experience of the members serving on those committees. Then, the 12 subcommittees of the Appropriations Committee produce appropriations bill for their area of the budget&mdash;such as Defense, or Homeland Security, or Agriculture&mdash;which are individually considered, debated, and amended on the Senator floor.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">This gives each member&mdash;and their constituents&mdash;a chance to review and analyze each part of the budget and offer suggestions for saving money, improving efficiency, and better serving taxpayers.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But under the tenure of Majority Leader Reid, the budgeting process has been totally mismanaged. We have ceased consideration of appropriations bills altogether, relying more and more on autopilot resolutions and catch-all behemoth spending packages. In fiscal year 2006, for example, every single appropriations bill was debated, amended, and passed in the Senate. In 2013, none were.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In my first year as a Senator, we passed every appropriation bill as we should&mdash;we marked up a bill in committee, debated and amended the bill on the floor, went to conference with the House to settle our disagreements, and then sent a bill to the President for his signature. Over time, however, that&rsquo;s happened less and less frequently to the point where nowadays, we don&rsquo;t debate appropriation bills at all.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A more ominous development, however, is how the breakdown of the appropriations process in the Senate is now infecting the House of Representatives, and spreading like the plague. In the first year of their majority, the Republican-led House marked up six appropriation bills and sent them to the Senate. The Senate didn&rsquo;t consider a single one. Last year, the House passed eight appropriation bills and sent them to the Senate. Again the Senate didn&rsquo;t act. This year, the futility of the House efforts began to show as the House passed only four bills. But why should they? Why should the House expose their members to politically tough votes when they know the Senate won&rsquo;t?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All of us, both parties, have a responsibility to stop and reverse these trends. It&rsquo;s in the national interest. It&rsquo;s the right thing to do. All of us have a responsibility to return to regular order. All of us owe our constituents an open, deliberative process where the great issues of the day are debated in full and open public view. Each Senator must stand and be counted&mdash;not hide under the table.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The democratic process is messy, sometimes contentious, and often difficult. But it is precisely this legislative tug of war, this back and forth, which forges national consensus. While secret deals may keep the trains running on time, they often keep them running in the wrong direction. Secret deals rushed through without public involvement only deepen our divisions, delay progress, increase distrust, and make it harder to achieve the kinds of real reforms the American people have been thirsting for.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Having to cast many votes on tough issues clarifies those issues and the differences. I believe that process, openly conducted, can lay the groundwork for progress. It will clarify facts, and then lead to the finding of common ground. Only through an open legislative process can we create the kind of dialogue, the kind of debate, and ultimately, the kind of change necessary to put this country back on the right track.</span><br />\r\n<br />',2,3828,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4412,4412,'Many believe the disastrous rollout of Obamacare is the result of incompetence at the highest levels.&nbsp; But some have believed all along that it is intentional and just part of the plan to get to the Democrats dream:&nbsp; a single-payer health care system.&nbsp; How would one thing lead to another?&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/01/m-sliding_toward_single_payer.html\">www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/01/m-sliding_toward_single_payer.html</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4416,4416,'The old saying &ldquo;the enemy of my enemy is my friend&rdquo; might be an apt description of the state of affairs in today&rsquo;s Republican politics. Certain Republican political action committees, unhappy with the influence and popularity of Tea Party conservative legislators and candidates in their own party, are apparently accepting donations from unions to help fund the defeat of their more conservative party members in the upcoming 2014 elections. <br />\r\n<br />\r\nhttp://www.nationaljournal.com/hotline-on-call/guess-who-s-funding-the-republican-civil-war-20131209<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />',2,3834,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4419,4419,'The Founding Fathers set up a system of representative government, the theory being that elected representatives would act on behalf of the peoplewho elected them across all levels of government.&nbsp; What happens to that idea of representative government when the President chooses to act unilaterally to advance his agenda because he can\'t get approval from the people\'s representatives?&nbsp; We may find out, if the Obama administration decides to use its executive authority to advance his climate change agenda, end-running around the Congress.&nbsp; Read more:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/196056-clean-energy-experts-obama-can-advance-climate-agenda-without-congress\">thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/196056-clean-energy-experts-obama-can-advance-climate-agenda-without-congress</a><br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4421,4421,'Target employees working less than 30 hours a week will not be offered company health insurance coverage as of April 1.&nbsp; The company claims those employees might prefer policies offered on the health care exchanges, and offering them company coverage might disqualify them from receiving federal subsidies.&nbsp; Obamacare strikes again!&nbsp; Read the full story:&nbsp; <a href=\"http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/target-drops-health-parttimers/2014/01/21/id/548269\">www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/target-drops-health-parttimers/2014/01/21/id/548269</a><br />',2,3836,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4422,4422,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Sndyer is trying to broker a deal with various other groups to &ldquo;Reinvent Detroit&rdquo;. You have to give the Governor credit for his &ldquo;positive, relentless action&rdquo; approach, but the question is can the city be rehabilitated. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">After 40 years of progressive policies by Democrat mayors the city needs be responsible for its own future and I don&rsquo;t think they know how to do that.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The bigger question should the taxpayers of Michigan bail them out?</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more from the www.online.wsj.com on the issues and pitfalls facing any efforts to address Detroit massive infrastructure issues online at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702303465004579325222553286380-lMyQjAxMTA0MDIwMzEyNDMyWj\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702303465004579325222553286380-lMyQjAxMTA0MDIwMzEyNDMyWj</span></a><br />',2,3838,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4424,4424,'<span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">According the Mr. Gore the POLAR ICE CAPS WOULD BE GONE IN 2013!</span></strong></em></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The &ldquo;Global Warming/Climate Change&rdquo; oracle must be perplexed by the fact that the polar ice has reached the highest level that has ever been attained before in recorded history. According the Mr. Gore the POLAR ICE CAPS WOULD BE GONE BY 2013!</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">But just to be safe NASA &amp; NOAA are calling it a &ldquo;PAUSE&rdquo; in anticipation that &ldquo;Gorebal Warming&rdquo; will soon come back with a vengeance.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article the NASA and NOAA report on the ice levels click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/17470-nasa-data-global-warming-still-on-pause-sea-ice-hit-record\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/17470-nasa-data-global-warming-still-on-pause-sea-ice-hit-record</span></a><br />',2,3840,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4426,4426,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">An independent federal privacy watchdog has concluded that the National Security Agency&rsquo;s program to collect bulk phone call records has provided only &ldquo;minimal&rdquo; benefits in counter-terrorism efforts and is illegal and should be shut down.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As usual Obama will continue to ignore any challenges to what he terms are essential to all of his causes.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">As controversy continues related to numerous scandals linked to the president we can only hope that a special commission or prosecutor will called to look into these various allegations.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For an article on the federal panels findings related to the illegal data collection click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/us/politics/watchdog-report-says-nsa-program-is-illegal-and-should-end.html?_r=2\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/us/politics/watchdog-report-says-nsa-program-is-illegal-and-should-end.html?_r=2</span></a><br />',2,3842,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4428,4428,'<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><img width=\"597\" height=\"43\" alt=\"\" src=\"/sites/default/files/dinner_text.jpg\" /><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">with<br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span></span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"> </span></span><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\">  Keynote Speaker</span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><br />\r\n</span></span><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"> <br />\r\nAttorney General Bill Schuette</span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\"><br />\r\n</span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><br />\r\n<img width=\"468\" height=\"391\" alt=\"\" src=\"/sites/default/files/schuette.jpg\" /><br />\r\n</span></span><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><br />\r\n</span><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">HAWK HOLLOW GOLF CLUB</span></span></strong><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><br />\r\nThursday, April 24, 2014 </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">  BATH, MI 48808</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> <br />\r\nReception starts at 5:30 p.m&nbsp; --&nbsp; Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.<br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span></div>\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The 2014 Lincoln Day Dinner will feature two speakers well versed  in Constitutional Law who believe in protecting our rights as defined by  the U.S. Constitution.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We are excited to announce Attorney General Bill Schuette as our keynote speaker for 2014.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> He  was elected as Michigan\'s 53rd Attorney General in November 2010 and  will be completing his first term at the end of 2014. He has extensive  experience at both the federal and state government levels and has  served Michigan in the executive, legislative and judicial branches for  three decades including:</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Election to the U.S. House in 1984 (at the age of 31)</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Named Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture in 1991.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Elected to the Michigan Senate, representing the 35th Senate District in 1994.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2002.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Served as Senior Counsel at the law firm of Warner, Norcross &amp; Judd (2009 to 2010).</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Elected Attorney General for the State of Michigan in 2010.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bill  is native of Midland Michigan where he resides with his wife, Cynthia  Grebe, and their two children Heidi and Billy. He graduated cum laude  from Georgetown University in 1976, where he received a Bachelor of  Science in the Foreign Service. In 1979 he earned his law degree from  the University of San Francisco.</span><br />\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\">______________</span><br />\r\n&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">We Are Also Pleased To Have As A Speaker</span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">Constitutional Attorney &amp; Teacher KrisAnne Hall<br />\r\n</span></strong></span><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"> jfskljkfslj</span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<img width=\"216\" height=\"227\" alt=\"\" src=\"/sites/default/files/ka_hall.jpg\" /><br />\r\n</span></strong></span></div>\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She is a  disabled veteran of the U.S. Army, a former prosecutor. She currently  travels the country and teaches the Constitution and the history that  gave us our founding documents.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; KrisAnne does not just teach the  Constitution, she lays out its foundation that shows how reliable and  relevant our founding documents are today. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; KrisAnne was born and  raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She received her undergraduate degree in  Bio-Chemistry from Blackburn College and her J.D. from the University  of Florida, Levin College of Law and is a former Russian Linguist for  the US Army. KrisAnne worked for several years as a state prosecutor and  two years with a prominent law firm defending religious liberty and  first amendment rights. KrisAnne now resides in North Florida with her  husband Chris (a pastor and former foreign language instructor for the  US Navy) with her adopted son Colton.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was awarded the Freedom  Fighter award by Americans for Prosperity, the Certificate of  Achievement from the Sons of the Revolution for her defense of Liberty,  and Congressman James Blair Award for Defending the Constitution.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For more information on KrisAnne click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http:// http://www.krisannehall.com/index.php/bio\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.krisannehall.com/index.php/bio</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  In times like these when our Constitutional rights are being threatened  every day it is truly an honor and privilege to have both Attorney  General Bill Schuette and KrisAnne Hall as our featured speakers.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We anticipate this event will be a highly attended event so early registration is recommended.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The cost for this year\'s dinner and reception will be:<br />\r\n</span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Dinner &amp; Reception</span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Dinner &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &amp; Rec</span>(With Photo Opportunities)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Dinner Only</span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp; -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp; Couple&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $125.00&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $75.00</span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp; Single&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $65.00&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $40.00</span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><em><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> (Registrations and payments are due on or before Friday, April 4, 2014)</span></span></strong></em><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\n</span></span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\"> <strong>LINCOLN DAY DINNER REGISTRATION</strong></span></span><br />\r\n</span></div>\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\n</span></span></strong>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> Download &amp; print a REGISTRATION FORM (Select the following link):</span></span></strong></div>\r\n<a href=\"/sites/default/files/LDD_form_with_text_1.pdf\"> <span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> 2014 LDD REGISTRATION &amp; MEAL SELECTION FORM (DOWNLOAD, PRINT &amp; RETURN)</span></strong></span></a><br />\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> </span></strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\n</span></strong></span>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> REGISTER ONLINE (Select the following link):</span></strong></span></div>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/2014-lincoln-day-dinner-attorney-general-bill-schuette\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/2014-lincoln-day-dinner-attorney-general-bill-schuette</span></strong></span></a><br />\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><br />\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> Please send a check payable to the Clinton County Republican Party to:</span></strong></em></span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> Sheri Harte Willis</span></strong></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> 4789 Drumheller Road</span></strong></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> Bath, MI 48808</span></strong></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;(Payments are due on or before April 4, 2014)</span></strong></em></span></div>\r\n<br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> If  you have any questions  regarding the 2014 Lincoln Day Dinner please  feel free to call Sheri  Harte Willis at 517-281-6212 or e-mail her at:  shwillis1959@gmail.com.</span></strong></em><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><br />\r\n</span><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><br />\r\n_____________________________________________</span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><strong><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\"><br />\r\nOTHER SUPPORT&nbsp;OPTIONS</span><br />\r\n</strong></span></span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><br />\r\n</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><strong><br />\r\n</strong></span></span></span></strong><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/club-sponsor-2014\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"> 2014 CCRP CLUB&nbsp;SPONSORSHIP OPTIONS (Click Here To View)</span></a><br />\r\n</strong></span></span></span></span></span><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">_____________________________________________</span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><strong><br />\r\n</strong></span></span></span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><a href=\"http://clinton-countygop.org/content/2014lddsponsoropts\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><strong><br />\r\n</strong></span></span></span> </strong><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><strong> LINCOLN DAY DINNER EVENT SPONSOR OPTIONS (Click Here To View)</strong></span></span></a></span></span><br />\r\n</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"> _____________________________________________</span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><strong><br />\r\n</strong></span></span></span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><a href=\"http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/2014lddadopts\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong> LINCOLN DAY PROGRAM ADVERTISTING OPTIONS (Click Here To View)</strong></span></span></a></div>\r\n<br />\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"> _____________________________________________<br />\r\n</span>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><strong> <a href=\"http://clinton-countygop.org/content/2014silentauctiondonation\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><br />\r\nLINCOLN DAY SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS (Click Here To View)</span></a></strong></span></span></div>\r\n<br />\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"> _____________________________________________</span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><strong><br />\r\n</strong></span></span></span></div>\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> </span></strong></em></span><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><br />\r\n</span><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><strong><br />\r\n</strong></span></span></span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> <br />\r\nPlease send a check payable to the Clinton County Republican Party to:</span></strong></em></span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> Sheri Harte Willis</span></strong></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> 4789 Drumheller Road</span></strong></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> Bath, MI 48808</span></strong></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;(Payments are due on or before April 4, 2014)</span></strong></em></span></div>\r\n<br />\r\n<em><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> If  you have any questions regarding the 2014 Lincoln Day Dinner please  feel free to call Sheri Harte Willis at 517-281-6212 or e-mail her at:  shwillis1959@gmail.com.</span></strong></em><br />\r\n<br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4429,4429,'<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Helvetica; min-height: 22.0px\">If it was the Presidents plan to destroy the U.S. economy Obamacare could well be the vehicle to do it.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">Last week Moody&rsquo;s downgraded ALL Health Insurers because of the implementation of Obamacare.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">For an article on the negative impact on health insurers and the econony click on the following link:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\"><a href=\"http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/17480-moody-s-cites-obamacare-uncertainty-for-its-downgrade-of-health-insurers\">http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/17480-moody-s-cites-obamacare-uncertainty-for-its-downgrade-of-health-insurers</a></p>',2,3852,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4430,4430,'<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Helvetica; min-height: 22.0px\">New York Senator Chuck Schummer last week stated that the tea party\'s influence is &quot;undeniable,&quot; and that &ldquo;it must be crushed for the good of the nation&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">In his statement he suggested an IRS crackdown on funding for tea party groups, and went on to say, &quot;We have to look at electoral reform,&quot;.<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger; \"><br />\r\n</span><span style=\"font-size: large; \">It is so sad that both the republicans and the democrats vilify the people who truly believe in what this country was founded upon and are trying to save it by restoring responsible government.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">For an article on Senator Schummer&rsquo;s comments click on the following link:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\"><a href=\"http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/schumer-suggests-electoral-reform-way-lessen-grip-tea-party\">http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/schumer-suggests-electoral-reform-way-lessen-grip-tea-party</a></p>',2,3853,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4434,4434,'<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Helvetica\">Governor Snyder has come out in support of comprehensive immigration reform and implied that enforcement of the current immigration laws were &quot;dumb&quot; at an event with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">Snyder&rsquo;s venture in to the immigration quagmire with his opinions on what needs to be done seem a little brash.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">Maybe when he becomes President in 2016 he can issue an executive order to make it happen.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">For an article on Governor Snyder&rsquo;s remarks regarding immigration reform click on the following link:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\"><a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/26/Michigan-Gov-Current-Immigration-Laws-Dumb\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/26/Michigan-Gov-Current-Immigration-Laws-Dumb</a></p>',2,3855,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4435,4435,'<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Helvetica; min-height: 22.0px\">The International Bridge to Windsor project has been put on hold.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">The project was originally pushed through by the Governor, without legislative approval, with the use of an &ldquo;Interlocal Agreement&rdquo; authorized under the Michigan Constitution.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">Bridge construction now has been stopped because someone forgot to figure out who wold pay for cost of the &ldquo;Bridge Plaza&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">Canada who is &ldquo;giving&rdquo; Michigan the new bridge for &ldquo;FREE&rdquo;, and you know the old adage on that, won&rsquo;t pay for the plaza and the federal government hasn&rsquo;t allocated any money for it either.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">That leaves a $250,000,000 shortfall for someone to pick up. The legislature could do that but they wouldn&rsquo;t vote for it in the first place when it was a bill.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">So now begins the &ldquo;positive, relentless, lobbying&rdquo; to see if the Governor can get somebody to pony up the money.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">Any bets on the outcome?</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">For an article on article on the bridge impasse click on the following link:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\"><a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/tim_skubick_detroit-windsor_br_1.htm\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/tim_skubick_detroit-windsor_br_1.htm</a></p>',2,3856,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4437,4437,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Mason County has determined that the Lake Winds industrial wind plant, a 56-turbine facility south of Ludington, is not in compliance with the County&rsquo;s noise ordinance and now Consumers Energy has run to the courts in an effort to halt the enforcement of the county ordinance.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more about the controversy and what the ramifications of the court decision might be online at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19620\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19620</span></a><br />',2,3857,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4438,4438,'<div class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><img width=\"597\" height=\"43\" src=\"/sites/default/files/dinner_text.jpg\" alt=\"\" /><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">with<br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span></span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"> </span></span><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\">  Keynote Speaker</span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><br />\r\n</span></span><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"> <br />\r\nAttorney General Bill Schuette</span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\"><br />\r\n</span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><br />\r\n<img width=\"468\" height=\"391\" src=\"/sites/default/files/schuette.jpg\" alt=\"\" /><br />\r\n</span></span><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><br />\r\n</span><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 51, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">HAWK HOLLOW GOLF CLUB</span></span></strong><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\"><br />\r\nThursday, April 24, 2014 </span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">  BATH, MI 48808</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> <br />\r\nReception starts at 5:30 p.m&nbsp; --&nbsp; Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.<br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span></div>\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The 2014 Lincoln Day Dinner will  feature two speakers well versed  in Constitutional Law who believe in  protecting our rights as defined by  the U.S. Constitution.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We are excited to announce Attorney General Bill Schuette as our keynote speaker for 2014.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> He  was elected as Michigan\'s 53rd  Attorney General in November 2010 and  will be completing his first term  at the end of 2014. He has extensive  experience at both the federal  and state government levels and has  served Michigan in the executive,  legislative and judicial branches for  three decades including:</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Election to the U.S. House in 1984 (at the age of 31)</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Named Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture in 1991.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Elected to the Michigan Senate, representing the 35th Senate District in 1994.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2002.</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Served as Senior Counsel at the law firm of Warner, Norcross &amp; Judd (2009 to 2010).</span><br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Elected Attorney General for the State of Michigan in 2010.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bill  is native of Midland  Michigan where he resides with his wife, Cynthia  Grebe, and their two  children Heidi and Billy. He graduated cum laude  from Georgetown  University in 1976, where he received a Bachelor of  Science in the  Foreign Service. In 1979 he earned his law degree from  the University  of San Francisco.</span><br />\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\">______________</span><br />\r\n&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">We Are Also Pleased To Have As A Speaker</span><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><br />\r\n<br />\r\n</span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">Constitutional Attorney &amp; Teacher KrisAnne Hall<br />\r\n</span></strong></span><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"> jfskljkfslj</span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<br />\r\n<img width=\"216\" height=\"227\" src=\"/sites/default/files/ka_hall.jpg\" alt=\"\" /><br />\r\n</span></strong></span></div>\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She is a  disabled veteran of the  U.S. Army, a former prosecutor. She currently  travels the country and  teaches the Constitution and the history that  gave us our founding  documents.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; KrisAnne does not just teach the   Constitution, she lays out its foundation that shows how reliable and   relevant our founding documents are today. </span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; KrisAnne was born and  raised in  St. Louis, Missouri. She received her undergraduate degree in   Bio-Chemistry from Blackburn College and her J.D. from the University   of Florida, Levin College of Law and is a former Russian Linguist for   the US Army. KrisAnne worked for several years as a state prosecutor and   two years with a prominent law firm defending religious liberty and   first amendment rights. KrisAnne now resides in North Florida with her   husband Chris (a pastor and former foreign language instructor for the   US Navy) with her adopted son Colton.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She was awarded the Freedom   Fighter award by Americans for Prosperity, the Certificate of   Achievement from the Sons of the Revolution for her defense of Liberty,   and Congressman James Blair Award for Defending the Constitution.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">For more information on KrisAnne click on the following link:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http:// http://www.krisannehall.com/index.php/bio\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> http://www.krisannehall.com/index.php/bio</span></a><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  In times like these when our  Constitutional rights are being threatened  every day it is truly an  honor and privilege to have both Attorney  General Bill Schuette and  KrisAnne Hall as our featured speakers.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong>FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CLUB SPONSORSHIPS and/or TO&nbsp;SIGN&nbsp;UP CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK:</strong></span></span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/club-sponsor-2014\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/club-sponsor-2014</span></a><br />\r\n<br />',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4439,4439,'<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><strong>LINCOLN DAY DINNER EVENT SPONSOR OPTIONS<br />\r\n<br />\r\n</strong></span></span><br />\r\n</span></div>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> </span>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><strong> ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN EVENT SPONSOR?</strong></span></span><span style=\"color: rgb(51, 153, 102);\"><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"> <strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> Download &amp; Print an EVENT SPONSOR FORM (Click the following to downlaod):</span></strong></span><br />\r\n<a href=\"/sites/default/files/event_promo_2014.pdf\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> 2014 LDD EVENT SPONSOR FORM (DOWNLOAD, PRINT&nbsp;&amp; RETURN)</span></strong></span></a><br />\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> <br />\r\n</span><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 255);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> For more information on&nbsp; EVENT SPONSORSHIPS (Click on the follwoing link):</span></span></strong><br />\r\n<span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"> <strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> </span></strong></span><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><a href=\"http://www.clinton-countygop.com/content/2014lddeventsponsorwebform\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\">http://www.clinton-countygop.com/content/2014lddeventsponsorwebform</span></a></span></strong><br />\r\n</span></div>',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4441,4441,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">President Obama is constantly beating the immigration drum to push through what he feels all of the Illegal, undocumented, people in our country are &ldquo;ENTITLED TO&rdquo;, which is a path to citizenship or complete amnesty.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The GOP Establishment, big business, conservatives, the grassroots, and various elements of the Republican Party are beginning to think&nbsp; immigration reform needs to happen to win the next election in 2014.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">The truth is they have probably bought into the progressive mantra that the republican party will die if they don&rsquo;t do something to try to get the Latino vote in 2014 and beyond. However what they don&rsquo;t recognize is that only 3% of the American people see immigration reform as a critical issue.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more about the immigration reform issue and what the republicans will probably do to address the issue online at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2014/01/27/scarborough-passing-immigration-reorm-one-thing-could-derail-GOP%20senate\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2014/01/27/scarborough-passing-immigration-reorm-one-thing-could-derail-GOP%20senate</span></a><br />',2,3858,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4440,4440,'<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"> LINCOLN DAY PROGRAM ADVERTISTING OPTIONS</span></strong></span></div>\r\n<div class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 0, 255);\"><br />\r\nARE YOU INTERESTED IN RUNNING AN AD IN OUR EVENT PROGRAM?</span></strong></span></div>\r\n<p class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> Download &amp; Print an ADVERTISING REQUEST FORM (Click on the following link):</span></span></strong></p>\r\n<p class=\"rtecenter\"><a href=\"http://www.clinton-countygop.org/sites/default/files/ad_LDD_promo_2014.pdf\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> 2014 LDD ADVERTISING SUBMISSION FORM (DOWNLOAD, PRINT &amp; RETURN)</span></strong></span></a><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\"> <br />\r\n</span></span></strong></p>\r\n<p class=\"rtecenter\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0);\">For additional information on ADVERTISING IN THE PROGRAM BOOK <br />\r\n(Click on the following link):</span></span></strong></p>\r\n<p class=\"rtecenter\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\"> <strong><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"> </span></strong></span><strong><span style=\"color: rgb(153, 0, 255);\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\"><a href=\"http://clinton-countygop.org/content/lddadsubmissionwebform\"><span style=\"color: rgb(255, 0, 0);\">http://clinton-countygop.org/content/lddadsubmissionwebform</span></a></span></span></strong></p>',2,NULL,NULL,NULL),(4443,4443,'<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Governor Snyder\'s proposal to aid Detroit retiree pensions with state funding is &quot;troubling&quot; according to Fitch Ratings.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Fitch Ratings, one of the country\'s top agencies, criticized Governor Snyder&rsquo;s &quot;us versus them&quot; tone and said prioritizing pensions over bondholders may &quot;establish a troubling precedent&quot; in Michigan and beyond.</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<span style=\"font-size: larger;\">Read more about comments from Fitch Ratings about the Governor&rsquo;s plan to bailout the Detroit pension system online at:</span><br />\r\n<br />\r\n<a href=\"http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/fitch_ratings_michigan_gov_ric.html#incart_river\"><span style=\"font-size: larger;\">http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/fitch_ratings_michigan_gov_ric.html#incart_river</span></a><br />',2,3861,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),(4444,4444,'<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Helvetica; min-height: 22.0px\">The Republican National Committee passed a resolution Friday demanding an investigation into what it called the &ldquo;gross infringement&rdquo; of Americans&rsquo; civil rights by the National Security Agency.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\"><span style=\"color: rgb(128, 0, 0); \"><em>The Bill of Rights expressly prohibits blanket searches by law enforcement and affirms the rights of individual citizens to privacy: &ldquo;The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated...&rdquo; Further, the amendment is explicit about when and how searches may be conducted: &ldquo;&hellip;and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.&rdquo; Clearly, what the NSA blithely calls &ldquo;bulk collection&rdquo;&mdash;the warrantless interception and data mining of emails and phone calls&mdash;is unconstitutional and unlawful.</em></span></p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\">For an article on the RNC resolution and a perspective on NSA domestic spying from a former intelligence analyst click on the following link:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma; min-height: 22.0px\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma\"><a href=\"http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/28/Speaking-Against-a-Domestic-Enemy\">http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/28/Speaking-Against-a-Domestic-Enemy</a></p>',2,3862,1,'a:3:{s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:3:\"alt\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"title\";s:0:\"\";}'),