8/9/19 Oakland Co. Executive L. Brooks Patterson dies at age 80, provoking battle to replace him. Not many races in MI’s primary election, which produces few surprises, little campaign spending, and skimpy voter turnout. Dems mount recall campaign against beleaguered state Rep. Larry Inman, but if it appears petitioners may gather enough signatures, might state […]
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“BIBLE OF AMERICAN POLITICS” NOW ON SALE AT DISCOUNT
Just a quick note to let everyone know that copies of the Almanac of American Politics 2020 are now officially back from the printer! You can get a 10% discount on your order by ordering at https://www.thealmanacofamericanpolitics.com/ and using the discount code LOUISANDFRIENDS. THE BALLENGER REPORT has no skin in the game on this offer, just […]
PUBLIC COMMENT: BENSON SKIMPS ON DIVERSITY IN HER APPLICATION FORM FOR NEW REDISTRICTING COMMISSION
It appears the late conservative icon William F. Buckley is about to get validation, from an unexpected source, of one of his most famous “bon mots.” Buckley said he’d rather be governed by people picked at random from the Boston telephone book than by the Harvard University faculty. There is good reason to believe Michigan’s […]
WHITMER MIDDLE-OF-THE-PACK IN RANKINGS OF U.S. FRESHMEN GOVERNORS
Michigan’s rookie Democratic Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, is rated in the “surviving” category with seven other just-elected governors, according to Lou Jacobson, writing in GOVERNING magazine. Jacobson writes about Whitmer as well as the history of Michigan politics and government in the about-to-be-released 2020 edition of the Almanac of American Politics. The Almanac has long been […]
DETROIT NEWS: Patterson a Racist? Not Even Close, says Ballenger
Brooks Patterson, longtime Oakland County executive, dies at 80 Mike Martindale, The Detroit News Aug. 3, 2019 Lewis Brooks Patterson, a polarizing figure who dominated Oakland County politics and government in a career that spanned nearly half a century, died Saturday after battling pancreatic cancer for several months. The long-time Oakland County executive was 80. Patterson, in […]
MICHIGAN TALK NETWORK: The Political Insider #62 — Democratic Presidential Debates, Interviews with WSU Law Professor John Mogk & MIRS Reporter Jack Spencer
PODCAST: Presidential Palaver/Headlee Hallucinations/Budget Brouhaha
8/2/19 Democratic presidential candidates conclude two nights of debates at Detroit’s Fox Theater. MI Court of Appeals rules state government has “breached its duty” in reporting its unfunded mandates in revenue sharing with local governments. MI Supreme Court recesses without issuing opinion on “adopt and amend” petition drive legislation enacted by Legislature in last year’s […]
MICHIGAN TALK NETWORK: The Political Insider #61 — Upcoming Democratic Presidential Debates, with Analysis by Mark Grebner (D-E. Lansing) and PR Maven Jen Eyer
PODCAST: Mitchell Mash-up/Postponing Pension Debt Payoff/Turnout Turbulence
7/26/19 U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-MI 10) announces he won’t run for a third term. Gov. Whitmer says she’s willing to consider Republicans’ ideas about postponing retirement of teacher pension debt for 5-10 years to raise more money to “Fix the Damn Roads.” NAACP National Convention in Detroit hears from most major Dem. presidential candidates […]