Michigan News

Redistricting panel advances 9 Michigan maps for final public comment

Nine maps that could play a starring role in Michigan’s elections for the next decade will advance to 45 days of public comment later this month.

After weeks of marathon meetings, hundreds of public comments and sometimes heated debate, Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission advanced on Thursday the last of its maps for consideration. The final products include three U.S. House, three state House and three state Senate maps that set the district lines for 13 congressional races, 110 House seats and 38 Senate seats.

The maps from the 2018 voter-approved 13-member commission — which includes four Republicans, four Democrats and four non-affiliated members — mark the first time Michigan’s voting maps were redrawn by an independent body. In past redistricting cycles, the maps were drawn by the party in power every 10 years, resulting in maps that were drawn to favor one party over another.

Continue reading over at -> The Detroit News

Whitmer vetoes election bills Michigan GOP says will restore faith in elections

Whitmer had vowed earlier this year to veto Republican-backed election bills

Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed two Republican-backed election bills, arguing they “fail to advance” secure elections.

“How do we provide safe and secure elections in our state if the governor can’t even agree that we should be ensuring dead people aren’t on our voting rolls?” a sponsor of one the bills, Republican state Sen. Michael MacDonald, said in a statement following Whitmer’s vetoes on Friday.

One of the vetoed bills would have revised the administrative process for removing dead people from voter lists and required more frequent checks during the 45-day period before an election.

The bill passed through the state Senate and House with bipartisan support, and some clerks said the change would be welcomed.

Continue reading at Fox News ->

TJ Smith from Dorr, Michigan endorses Donna Brandenburg for Governor

If I could endorse a candidate to lead Michigan’s economy, clean up a fouled education system, stand up to a big government takeover, provide agricultural stability, instill social well-being and display God-fearing faith, then that candidate would be Donna Brandenburg.

Her character traits like, being a fierce competitor for righteousness, off the chart intelligence with a heaping supply of common sense, putting family first, health care system that is true care of the patient not pockets, and lending a helping hand to those on the brink, are traits that are just the tip of her mountain.

A self made business owner, mother of three plus an adopted daughter with special needs, a wife and her staunch Christian faith makes her strong and keeps her from backing down from the opposition. Talk about an “Energizer Bunny,” Donna is endless in drive, energy and passion which makes multi-tasking in major arenas her way of life.

Donna has extensive experience finding the truth, her weapon of choice is research, when exposing The ugliness of human greed, she fiercely pursued to expose child trafficking and supply chains which are the criminal children’s welfare organizations.  Finding a leader who matches all your hopes for now and later will end when you look at Donna Brandenburg for your next Governor.

-TJ Smith
Dorr, Michigan