Michigan dems deserve a do-over

The Flint Journal -mlive

Hey, Michigan voters, anyone else suddenly feel the urge to tell Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton (and the Democratic National Committee, and the state Democratic Party, and ...) to kiss our mitten-shaped petoots? All of a sudden, Michigan and Florida are THE hot states in the Democratic campaign, with party insiders arguing over what role, if any, our currently banned delegates may or may not have at the August convention.

The reason, of course, is the unexpectedly close race, plus a looming worry that enough Michigan dems will be mad enough about the primary debacle to either stay home in November or (gasp!) even turn a blue state red. (God forbid.)

Man, this is delish. Suddenly, Hillary Clinton, who left her name on the ballot but didn't campaign here, is demanding Michigan delegates be seated at the national convention. (Hey, Hill, where were you months ago when the punishment was being doled out?)

Senate butts in, ashes rule on smoking ban

Freep.com:

"Up in smoke, blown away, snuffed out: Pick your cliche' to describe the shelving yet again of legislation to ban smoking in most public places in Michigan.

The state House passed the ban last week; the state Senate effectively said no Tuesday, sending the legislation not to the Health Policy Committee where it belongs but to a bottle-up committee chaired by Senate Republican Majority Leader Mike Bishop of Rochester, who says it's not a priority."

John Edwards: I'd invest billions in Michigan

Battle Creek Enquirer:

"The U.S. government should invest billions to help Michigan become the hub for transforming the nation's energy economy, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said Saturday.

Speaking to more than 1,800 Democrats at the annual Jefferson Jackson dinner at Cobo Center in Detroit, Edwards said he'd like to see Michigan evolve.

'We should put billions of dollars into creation of the new technology and $1 billion should go right to the car companies,' he said. 'I don't want to see the cars of the future built anywhere else.'"

Oh, Did I mention that I am running for President lately?

Michigan revenues show steepest slide in nation

Detroit News:

"Gov. Jennifer Granholm and legislative leaders resumed closed-door state budget talks Thursday, even as a new report showed Michigan's fiscal nosedive is unparalleled across the nation.

This state's revenues are down $556 million, or 2.7 percent compared with last fall's projections.

That's a steeper drop than any other state, a study by the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures shows.

Most states are generating the amount of revenue they expected, and 15 are taking in more than expected.

At least a dozen states are considering tax cuts, the report shows."