G4G Talking points for 10-13

[SharonRB]

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 (25 Days until Victory 2006)

Dick DeVos again refused to discuss what he will cut to pay for eliminating the single business tax and the business equipment tax, and local leaders are nervous about how they will pay for fire coverage, police officers and schools if DeVos has his way. Read the article below from the Hillsdale News…


During a joint appearance at the Detroit Economic Club yesterday, DeVos attempted to use the tragic crimes committed by Patrick Selepak as well as the death of Ricky Holland to smear Governor Granholm. These ridiculous attacks a clear sign of DeVos’ desperation since he is trailing in the polls despite spending millions more than the Governor on TV.


DeVos announced yesterday that he would be “thrilled” if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Read the details below…


Governor Granholm is attending a rally with Sen. Barack Obama today at 4:30PM in Detroit. Click here for more details…http://www.michigandems.com/obama/

DeVos says he'd be 'thrilled' if Roe v. Wade is overturned
Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos told a Catholic radio program that he'd be "thrilled" if the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding a woman's right to an abortion is overturned and abortion is sharply restricted in Michigan. Before the court issued its decision in Roe v. Wade, Michigan had a law banning abortion except to save the mother's life, a position DeVos shares. The state law was superseded when the court issued its opinion, but it could be enforced again — or a new ban passed — if that decision is overturned by the high court. "As soon as Roe v. Wade is overturned, which I think we all pray that it will be ... we will revert back to Michigan law," DeVos said Thursday in an interview with Al Kresta, host of the syndicated Catholic talk show "Kresta in the Afternoon" on Ave Maria Radio. "We would go back to that standard, and I would be thrilled about it." … Kresta asked DeVos if there was anything in his statement during the debate that represents backing away from "a full pro-life stance." "Not one inch," DeVos said.
Click here to read the full article... http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/politics-0/116071495914240.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

Hillsdale News: DeVos’ tax cut may cost cities
Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos proposes elimination of the personal property taxes businesses and industry pay on equipment and machinery. DeVos made the proposal for the $1.5 billion tax cut during Tuesday night’s debate against Governor Jennifer Granholm. The debate, staged in Grand Rapids, was televised locally. The impact of such a cut would be felt most strongly in comm—unities with heavy concen—trations of industry, such as the City of Hillsdale and the Village of Jonesville. “The City of Hillsdale’s personal property taxes represent 54 percent of our tax roll,” said Deb Sikorski, city assessor. “Losses would look like $8,297,264 for all taxing entities (school, county, city ). The loss to the city alone would be $2,359,218 in operating dollars.” … “The idea has been discussed before this particular race,” said Hayes. “And I would propose caution. When you propose a tax cut, you also have to look at how to replace that revenue, or you can be talking about cutting services.” … “The problem is you still need to pay for local services and infrastructure. If you can’t replace the revenue, you probably can’t make the tax cut work. What this is about, really, this time of year is getting elected,” said Hayes. “After you get elected, then you have to actually do the job.”
Click here to read the full article...http://www.hillsdale.net/stories/101106/news_20061011004.shtml

The Mining Journal: GOP for Granholm?
Gil Ziegler, chairman of “Republicans for Granholm,” is in the Upper Peninsula gathering support from Republicans who feel their party is moving too far to the right. “It wasn’t an easy decision but sometimes you have to check your partisanship at the door and become a citizen,” Ziegler said of his decision to go against his party and support the governor over Republican challenger Dick DeVos. Ziegler, 68, of Charlevoix has extensive Republican ties. He was on former Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus’ campaign committee that tried to defeat Granholm in the 2002 election and he was appointed by former GOP Gov. John Engler in 1992 to the Northern Michigan University Board of Control, serving until 2000. His support for Granholm has more to do with party philosophies than party lines, Ziegler said. “I resent the fact that people describe me as a moderate Republican. I haven’t changed in 40 years, but the party has — it’s gone extreme right,” he said. “With that being said I really feel we need to keep it to the center and I think by far Jennifer Granholm is the best choice.” Ziegler said he did not agree with DeVos’ statements about including “intelligent design” in schools’ science curriculums, his views on school vouchers and his opposition to stem cell research. Michigan needs more programs aimed at re-educating and retraining displaced auto workers, Ziegler said. “There isn’t a magic wand. The job loss started under John Engler. He had more jobs lost in his last two years than in Jennifer Granholm’s total four years,” Ziegler said. “I don’t know anybody that could have run the state for the last four years that could have kept General Motors, Ford, Daimler Chrysler at the employment level they were at. People weren’t buying their cars.” So far, support has been strong for Ziegler’s group. About 1,000 people have signed up on the Web site www.republicansforgranholm.com. The site has had more than 50,000 hits since Oct. 1.
Click here to read the full article..http://www.miningjournal.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=7088