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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">NEW POLL OVERVIEW:</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU STAND ON THE DETROIT BAILOUT CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR AND TELL THEM WHERE&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.5;">WE THE PEOPLE</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;STAND ON THE ISSUE!</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">How Mid Michigan House Members Voted:</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">The bill to send $194.8 million from the state to the city of Detroit is House Bill 5573.&nbsp;</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Segal (D) - 62nd House (Calhoun County)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Shirkey (R) - 65th House (Eaton &amp; Jackson Counties)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Schor (D) - 68th House (Ingham County)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Singh (D) - 69th House (Ingham County)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Glardon (R) - 85th House (Shiawassee &amp; Saginaw Counties)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Leonard (R) - 93rd House (Clinton &amp; Gratiot Counties)</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">NO - Rep. Cochran (D) - 67th House (Ingham County)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">NO - Rep. Abed (D) - 71st House (Eaton County)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">NO - Rep. Kelly (R) - 94th House (Saginaw County)</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">House Bill 5568 originally closed Detroit</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s pension system, shifting new employees into a defined contribution 401(k)-type plan. The bill was changed in committee to defer to the Plan of Adjustment, which does not mandate that the system be closed. Unfunded retiree liabilities were a main reason for the city's financial troubles and a major contributor to its bankruptcy.&nbsp;</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Segal (D) - 62nd House (Calhoun County)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Shirkey (R) - 65th House (Eaton &amp; Jackson Counties)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Cochran (D) - 67th House (Ingham County)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Schor (D) - 68th House (Ingham County)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Singh (D) - 69th House (Ingham County)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Abed (D) - 71st House (Eaton County)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Glardon (R) - 85th House (Shiawassee &amp; Saginaw Counties)</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">YES - Rep. Leonard (R) - 93rd House (Clinton &amp; Gratiot Counties)</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">NO - Rep. Kelly (R) - 94th House (Saginaw County)</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The Michigan House has approved $194.8 million in aid for Detroit pensioners as part of an 11-bill package that imposes post-bankruptcy state oversight of the city for at least 13 years.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Governor Governor Snyder urged the Republican-controlled Senate to act quickly on the package, which is moving through the Legislature as Detroit</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s creditors are weighing whether to approve the city&rsquo;s plan to shed $9 billion in debts.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr warned that the city</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s general retirees could face pension cuts of at least 27 percent if they don</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">t approve tax dollars for a bankruptcy settlement fund.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Detroit Institute of Art (DIA) and the sale of some of its possessions is still an issue of controversy along with whether an millage should continue to be levied to support the DIA.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">SUMMARY OF THE 11 BILL PACKAGE VOTES:</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HB5566: Approved 103-7</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Creates a nine-member Financial Review Commission that would police Detroit&rsquo;s finances for at least three years after the city exists bankruptcy. The commission would go dormant if the city can meet certain fiscal benchmarks.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HB5567: Approved 105-5</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Requires commission to approve the mayor</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s choice for a chief financial officer.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HB5568: Approved 85-25</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Caps city contribution to employee retirement plans at 7 percent of their base pay. Also caps contributions for retiree health insurance savings plans at 2 percent of pay for employees hired after July 1, 2023.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HB5569: Approved 100-10</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Limits city contribution toward employee health insurance plans at 80 percent of premiums costs.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HB5570: Approved 105-5</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Requires Detroit</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s retirement systems to establish new investment committees, which could hire and fire the pension funds</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">&nbsp;chief financial officer. The bill also restricts out-of-state travel by trustees and pension fund staff.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HB5571: Approved 66-44</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Prevents the Detroit Institute of Arts from seeking a 10-year millage renewal in 2022 when its existing 0.2-mill property tax expires.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HB5572: Approved 75-35</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Appropriates $194.8 million from state</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s rainy day fund to Detroit pension funds.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HB5573: Approved 77-33</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Replenishes rainy day fund with $17.5 million in payments from state</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s tobacco settlement fund for 20 years.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HB5574: Approved 74-36</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Transfers state money to Detroit pension funds.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HB5575: Approved 75-35</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Creates new authority to govern transfer of state money.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HB5576: Approved 98-12</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Requires report on police and fire arbitration be sent to oversight commission.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">NEW POLL QUESTION:</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Should the MI Senate pass the&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.5;">Grand Bargain</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;Detroit bailout bill passed by the House and pushed by the Governor?</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yes</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">No</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Undecided</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">TO VOTE IN THIS POLL CLICK ON THIS LINK</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-mi-senate-pass-%E2%80%9Cgrand-bargain%E2%80%9D-detroit-bailout-bill-passed-house-and-pushed-governor">http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-mi-senate-pass-%E2%80%9Cgrand-bargain%E2%80%9D-detroit-bailout-bill-passed-house-and-pushed-governor</a></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">(To enter your comments click on&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.5;">Add new comment</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;after you vote.)</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">PREVIOUS POLL QUESTION:</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Is it time to have the legislature raise taxes to increase the gas tax to fix the roads?</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yes - 30%</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">No - 65%</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Undecided - 5%</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">SIX COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THIS POLL:</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">COMMENT #1</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Support More User Taxes to Fix State Highways and Local Roads</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yes, its high time for the State Legislature to support more user taxes (wholesale gasoline and diesel taxes) to fix our state highways and local roads here in Michigan. Our rough and bumpy highways and roads are in terrible shape and an embarrassment for Michigan. There's no magical tooth fairy that's going to provide the money to fix our highways and roads, we need to pay more for road and highway infrastructure system. All one has to do is travel to Ohio, Indiana or Wisconsin to find better highways and roads and bridges because they invest more in their infrastructure there than we do here.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Also, please obtain facts from the Michigan Legislative Service Bureau which is a non-partisan body which properly researchs issues and reports truthfully rather than those special interest petroleum lobbyists which shade the truth and frankly don't much care for our roads and highways as long as we keep buying their gasoline and diesel fuel!</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Regards,</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Bob Craig</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">St. Johns, MI</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">COMMENT #2</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Increase in gas tax</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am sick and tired of the government taking more from the people when what we already pay is regularly wasted.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">COMMENT #3</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Raise Taxes for Roads</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">We need our roads to be repaired but I am not in favor of increasing taxes,.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">I would favor eliminating Michigan's Prevailing Wage law. Under the Prevailing Wage Act projects financed with state funding require that union wages and benefits be paid by non-union contractors. It has been estimated that the cost of a project is increased from five to fifteen percent under this law. Repeal would give small contractors a chance to bid on projects at a lower cost to the citizens--not just on road projects by school building projects, etc. I believe its time to have our state behave like a mom and pop business--not like the bureaucracy it has become.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">COMMENT #4</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HeXX NO!!!! We are spending</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HeXX NO!!!! We are spending about $850 million a year on crony capitalism - subsidizing far-left film makers and connected special interest corporate welfare. Cut that first. Prevailing wage costs Michigan taxpayers about $400 million a year, $224 million more on just public school construction. Eliminate defined benefits for bureaucrats paid more than twice what their counters in the private sector. The AVERAGE state employee compensation is about $105,000 a year while the average private sector employee gets about $43,000. Georgia has more population, far better roads, and a state budget about $10 BILLION less. In the private sector we get waranties, and more competetive bidding, and the State road prevailing wage is about $10/hr. more than the private sector prevailing wage. the few union companies that can bid on Michigan roads are really stiffing the taxpayers. Indiana pays about the same per mile for roads and their rural roads are rated #1 in the nation while we are #43. It is really disappointing that Republicans in the legislature and Administration have not pursued a zero-based review of all programs and expenditures. We offered to set up a task force to do that, abut the Speaker and Governor never responded. Until we cut the fat, we cannot have more tax increases.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">COMMENT #5</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">new taxes for roads</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Only if the taxes put on anything else for roads is all being used only for roads.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">COMMENT #6</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Cut Out The Waste!</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">All of the taxes paid for gas and diesel need to go to pay for roads, NOT SCHOOLS AND REVENUE SHARING! Whose stupid idea was that??!!! All this talk about light rail and rapid transit bus lines needs to stop! NO MORE GRANTS FOR STUPID PROJECTS THOUGHT UP BY MDOT. Those bureaucrats sit in their offices dreaming of ways to spend money, money we don't have. They need to be FIRED!!! NO MORE MONEY until the taxes we give them are spent with COMMON SENSE. I am sick of everyone in power thinking of stupid ways to spend my money, including the LEGISLATURE, GOVERNOR, DEPARTMENT HEADS.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sheri Harte Willis</span></div>
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