a:1:{s:15:"field_news_body";a:1:{i:0;a:2:{s:5:"value";s:8148:"<span style="font-size: large;">YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO STOP THE MEDICAID EXPANSION (OBAMACARE) IN MICHIGAN!<br />
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On Tuesday the Michigan Senate will be holding a critical vote to decide if Medicaid Expansion will take place in Michigan. The Governor and the Lobbyists have been on the road non-stop all summer spinning the &quot;benefits&quot; of the program with the ultimate goal putting pressure on state senators back in their districts to vote for passage.<br />
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As INDIVIDUALS we don't have the money and the influence the Governor and special interests do but we do have a voice and a vote and together we can make a difference. Please read the following analysis of what could happen tomorrow when a vote is taken.<br />
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If you want your voice heard and do what is right for Michigan AND:<br />
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1. CALL&nbsp; OR E-MAIL YOUR STATE SENATOR AND TELL THEN TO VOTE NO ON THE PASSAGE OF MEDCAID EXPANSION (HB 4713)<br />
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2. CALL OR E-MAIL SENATE MAJORITY RANDY RICHARDVILLE AND TELL HIM TO UPHOLD THE &quot;HASTERT RULE&quot; AND FOLLOW THE WISHES OF HIS OWN CAUCUS.<br />
<a href="http://www.senatorrandyrichardville.com/contact/">http://www.senatorrandyrichardville.com/contact/</a><br />
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The following is from </span><span style="font-size: large;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;">CORE PRINCIPLES</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> regarding the upcoming vote on Medicad Expansion in Lansing:<br />
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This week the Senate comes back to Lansing. Number one on the agenda is expansion of Medicaid. Governor Snyder and Lt. Governor Brian Calley are putting on a full-court press. <br />
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Reliable sources tell me there are 17 rock-solid NO votes in the GOP caucus. Let</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">'</span>s do a little math here. There are 38 members in the Senate, 12 are Democrats. We can readily assume all twelve will vote for Medicaid expansion because it helps accomplish what their president wants and it represents an enormous expansion of government.<br />
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Twenty votes are required to pass a bill&hellip;UNLESS there is a 19-19 tie, in which case the Lt. Governor who presides over the Senate, gets to break the tie. We know what Brian Calley will do in the case of a tie. <br />
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So, if 17 Senators are a no, and 12 Senators are a yes, the governor needs to convince seven members of the 9 remaining Republicans to vote with the Democrats. It sounds like he may already have six of those seven in the bag. Where will he find the seventh vote?<br />
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It might be Dave Robertson. He is one who, I believe can be convinced to vote NO based on his historically conservative record and longstanding claim to be a Ronald Reagan conservative. There is a problem, however. The insurance and health care lobby have been heavily investing in Mr. Robertson</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">'</span>s campaign account. A quick perusal of his campaign finance reports shows that Mr. Robertson has received a significant amount of cash from these two groups, (insurance and health care), both of whom stand to gain if Medicaid expansion is successful in Michigan. <br />
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In fact, while not one insurance or health lobby was in the top fifteen contributors to Robertson</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">'</span>s campaign in the 2010 cycle, so far this cycle, those industry groups are number one and two. The top fifteen groups include insurance, health professionals, health services, hospitals and nursing homes.<br />
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Senator Robertson is up for reelection in 2014 in a district that could be close. He spent over $700,000 to win that seat in 2010 and reports less than $80,000 in the campaign account as of his last filing. He is vice-chair of health policy; the health lobby is pressing him hard for his vote. They are raising a lot of money for him. <br />
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Will he yield to the pressure like a ripe melon, or will he stand firm on the conservative credentials that brought him to Lansing and helped him win several elections in Democrat leaning districts? A lot of that depends on you. Please call or email him today. </span><a href="http://www.senatordaverobertson.com/contact/"><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>CLICK HERE</span><span style="font-size: large;">'</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">'</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.senatorrandyrichardville.com/contact/"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></a></span><span style="font-size: large;">to connect to his office now. Remind him that he is a &quot;limited-government conservative.&quot;<br />
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Will Randy Richardville Hold to the </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>Hastert Rule?</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;">'<br />
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Former Speaker of the House in Washington, Denny Hastert, popularized a principle which today bears his name. Under the Hastert Rule, the majority party will not take a vote on the floor unless a majority of the caucus supports the bill in question. <br />
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Majority Leader Randy Richardville has, so far in his time as Leader, held to the Hastert Rule, at times causing frustration to the governor. Because the Michigan senate has 26 Republicans, 14 would have to agree before the Majority Leader would allow a vote. <br />
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My reliable source tells me there are at least 17 Republicans opposed to Medicaid expansion, maybe more. The governor is looking for 9 Republicans to vote with 12 Democrats to pass Medicaid expansion. But, if Leader Richardville sticks to his guns, there will not be a vote to expand Medicaid. Please contact Randy Richardville </span><a href="http://www.senatorrandyrichardville.com/contact/"><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>HERE</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">'</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.senatorrandyrichardville.com/contact/"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">'</span></span></a> to ask him not to allow a vote on Medicaid expansion unless at least 14 Republicans agree. <br />
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All You Really Need to Know About Medicaid Expansion <br />
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The Mackinac Center for Public Policy and their companion publication, &quot;Michigan Capitol Confidential&quot; have done extensive research and reporting on Medicaid expansion in Michigan. Their latest installment, &quot;Waivers are Temporary, Expansion is Forever&quot; encapsulates why we must not allow Medicaid expansion to take place in Michigan. Read it </span><a href="http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19025"><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>HERE</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">'</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19025"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">'</span></span>.</a> It will take less than five minutes.<br />
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