a:1:{s:15:"field_news_body";a:1:{i:0;a:2:{s:5:"value";s:6450:"<span style="font-size: larger;">Earlier this week a precinct delegate in the county admonished me to basically keep &quot;my opinions and comments to myself</span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;"> regarding controversial issues that might reflect negatively on an elected republican official.<br />
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As the chairman of the Clinton County Republican Party and the person who maintains our county party's website I have been conflicted, at times, when I post articles and take positions on issues that may go against what the political leaders of the republican party are promoting.<br />
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Having worked for the legislature for 32 years in a NON PARTISAN CAPACITY I know how the game is played and the backroom deals that take place every day, with the trading for votes, the influence of the lobbyists, and the Governor's agenda on the legislators.<br />
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With that said you need to know some of the unwritten rules that take place in the legislature regarding legislation.<br />
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THE UNWRITTEN RULE:<br />
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The Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader in the Senate decide what goes before each chamber for a vote in terms of legislation to be acted on by the members. The unwritten rule is that if a majority of the members of your party caucus are not in favor of the legislation you don&rsquo;t put it up for a vote.<br />
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As a point of reference there are currently 59 republicans and 49 democrats in the House. When the vote for the Medicaid expansion bill was taken on the house floor last Thursday </span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;">a majority</span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot; </span><span style="font-size: larger;">of the republicans voted against its passage 30 to 28.<br />
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Speaker Bolger knew what the votes would be before he allowed the vote for passage. As a rule this bill would never have come up for a vote because the MAJORITY OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS WAS AGAINST IT!<br />
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For those of us who are against the UNAFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ACT AND THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAID and know what it will do to our state and country in the future we need to do all we can to stop it from passing in the Senate before it becomes law in Michigan.<br />
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I talked to Clinton County</span><span style="font-size: larger;">'</span><span style="font-size: larger;">s State Senator Judy Emmons and to Senator Rick Jones who will be running to represent Clinton, Eaton, Shiawasse, and part of Ingham County in 2014 at the end of last weeks after it passed the house. They both stated that they WOULD NOT VOTE FOR PASSAGE OF THE BILL as it currently stands when a vote is taken in the this week.<br />
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The republicans have a 26 to 12 majority in the Senate.<br />
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I was told that there are currently around 5 or 6 republican senators who will vote for passage of the bill. That means that the Governor and the lobbyists may only need one more vote to cause a 19 to 19 tie. In the case of a tie Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley would be the deciding vote and I don&rsquo;t have any doubts that he would do what the Governor wanted.<br />
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So the situation is the same in the Senate as it was in the House. The leadership will not have a majority of its caucus that are in favor of the bill but Majority Leader Richardville may still allow the bill to come up for consideration before the Senate if he thinks he has the votes for passage.<br />
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There are currently 7 uncommitted senators that the Governor will be trying to </span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;">convince</span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;"> to vote for passage. We need to do all we can to make sure they hold the line and vote to defeat the bill. The following is a list of the 7 uncommitted Senators.<br />
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Darwin L Booher<br />
Tom Casperson<br />
Bruce Caswell<br />
Goeff Hansen<br />
Dave&nbsp; Hildenbrand<br />
Arlan B Meekhof<br />
Howard Walker<br />
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Governor Snyder has said he wants Medicaid expansion to pass before the legislature adjourns for the summer on June 20, so there will be a big push to get that done.<br />
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As responsible citizens who are informed on the facts about this legislation we need to hold our legislators accountable for their votes.<br />
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Call and let your voices be heard:<br />
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Even though Senator Emmons</span><span style="font-size: larger;">'</span><span style="font-size: larger;"> and Senator Jones</span><span style="font-size: larger;">'</span><span style="font-size: larger;"> names are not on the list as uncommitted if you are in Clinton County you should call and let them know where you stand on the issue.<br />
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CLINTON COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN CALL OR EMAIL THEIR SENATOR AT:<br />
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Senator Judy Emmons<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Phone: (517) 373-3760<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fax:&nbsp; (517) 373-8661<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; email:<br />
http://www.senate.michigan.gov/ima_form.asp?name=comment33&amp;form_path=e:/webforms/rep<br />
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I talked to Senator Emmons Thursday night and as the bill currently stands she will be a </span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;">NO</span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;"> vote.<br />
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Senator Rick Jones<br />
(Will be running to represent Clinton County in 2014)<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Phone:&nbsp; (517) 373-3447<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fax:&nbsp; (517) 373-5849<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Email:&nbsp; SenRJones@senate.michigan.gov.&nbsp; <br />
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I talked to Senator Jones and as the bill currently stands he is a </span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;">NO</span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;"> vote.<br />
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ONLY BY BECOMING ACTIVE CAN YOU HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT YOUR ELECTED LEADERS DO -- MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHERE YOU STAND ON THE ISSUES!<br />
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Steve Willis, Chairman<br />
Clinton County Republican Party<br />
ccrpmich@gmail.com<br />
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www.clinton-countygop.org<br />
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