May 28, 2012: The Bay County Bulletin

MEMORIAL DAY. ". . . that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth." —Abraham Lincoln


Thank you to all our veterans past and present. We are the great nation we are because of you.

SNYDER, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AGREE TO INCOME TAX CUT, MORE EDUCATION FUNDING: Michiganians can expect individual tax relief this year as part of an agreement on the state budget hammered out late Wednesday that also includes more money for education, roads and film tax credits. The state will use $90 million in one-time money to reduce personal income taxes by one-tenth of a percent through either a reduction in the rate, a personal exemption or a combination of both, according to Gov. Rick Snyder's office. He and Republican legislative leaders have still to work out the details. http://bit.ly/KNFmgQ

Dems’ bid for House majority is not simple math: Just 25 seats separate Democrats from the House majority. It seems like a reasonable enough goal, except for one catch: The magic number for Democrats is actually a lot higher than that. In reality, Democrats probably will have to win 35 to 40 Republican-held seats to wrest the speaker’s gavel from John Boehner. Not only that, the party would need to defy an electoral pattern that’s held for almost half a century. http://politi.co/KDOUe8

McCOTTER MAY NOT MAKE AUGUST BALLOT: Representative Thad McCotter's re-election bid may be in jeopardy over questions about the number of petition signatures he submitted to appear on the August ballot. The Livonia Republican and former presidential candidate said late Friday he's been informed by state officials that his campaign may not have enough signatures to appear on the August G.O.P. primary ballot. The Secretary of State's website said McCotter submitted 2,000 signatures, double the number necessary to qualify, by the May 15 deadline. But an agency spokeswoman late Friday said a preliminary review suggests McCotter "will not have the needed 1,000 or more valid signatures," said secretary of state communications director Gisgie Gendreau. http://bit.ly/LmchYY

Ford regains logo with investment status upgrade: Ford Motor Co. reclaimed its Blue Oval when it received its long-awaited second investment-grade rating Tuesday, the final step it needed to get back the assets it mortgaged six years ago. Moody's Corp. upgraded Ford's debt from junk status, one month after Fitch Ratings did the same. The automaker needed two investment-grade ratings to reclaim the logo, Glass House, plants and machinery it pledged in 2006 to secure the $23.5 billion loan that kept the automaker afloat during the recession. "The Ford Blue Oval is back where it belongs with the Ford family of 166,000 employees around the world," said Chairman Bill Ford Jr. http://bit.ly/Lpm7Fb

CBO WARNS OF 2013 RECESSION: What would happen if a deadlocked Congress did nothing?If the expiring Bush tax rates are allowed to lapse and the automatic spending cuts kick in next year, it could hurl the U.S. economy back into a recession, the Congressional Budget Office warned in a report released Tuesday. http://politi.co/Ll9ej9

Democrats limp to finish line in Wisconsin: What seemed a few months ago like an unstoppable crusade to oust Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker now has the look of a marathon runner pulling up limp in the last mile. Two weeks from Election Day, Democrats face the real prospect of defeat: The last three public polls of the race show the first-term Republican up between 4 and 9 points. Local Democrats are seething that the national party has been MIA from their recall effort. The state’s largest newspaper argued over the weekend that whatever Walker’s sins, he doesn’t deserve to be booted from office. http://politi.co/K6iDLA

BIRTHWEEK: Monday. Rudy Giuliani, Kirk Gibson, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). Tuesday. Bob Hope, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). Thursday. Clint Eastwood. Friday. Andy Griffith, Tony Snow. Saturday. Martha Washington, C.S. Mott. Sunday. Ransom E. Olds.

PERSONAL ANNOUNCEMENT:As many of you know, I recently accepted a job in State Representative Phil Potvin's office in Lansing as a legislative assistant. At this time, I intend to commute to the capital daily (possibly staying with family or friends overnight every so often to save a bit of gas). I intend to continue my duties as chairman as much as I can and do not intend to abandon the Party during this critical part of the 2012 election cycle. I remain as committed as ever to earning a majority on the Bay County Board of Commissioners, helping Mitt Romney kick Barack Obama out of the White House, take back the U.S. Senate, and achieve Republican victories right down the ballot.