Posted on 12/08/2003 2:47:47 PM PST by ClintonBeGone
Edited on 05/07/2004 7:09:39 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
LANSING -- Republican state Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema on Monday proposed delaying January's income tax cut until July to help resolve the state's budget deficit.
Sikkema is the first Republican legislative leader to propose delaying next month's scheduled income tax cut and his plan is a departure from the state Republican Party, which is strongly opposed to postponing the cut.
(Excerpt) Read more at detnews.com ...
It died a long time ago. Nick Smith has been increasingly disgusting, and now this:
Schwarz 'inclined' to run for Congress
By ERIC J. GREENE
The Enquirer
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After months of indecision, former state Sen. John Schwarz said Wednesday that he is leaning toward running for Congress next year.
Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, said he's not certain he'll run, but he believes he would be an appealing candidate to many voters in the 7th Congressional District and is qualified for the job, which six-term Rep. Nick Smith is planning to vacate next year.
"My inclination is to get in, but there are some things to work out," said Schwarz, a practicing ear-nose-throat surgeon. "I'm inclined to run, but there are still some unanswered questions and I don't think I have to answer them yesterday."
Rumors about Schwarz running for Congress have circulated for about a year because Schwarz is viewed in some circles as a popular moderate who realistically could win the race.
He would be the only candidate from the Battle Creek area -- one of the population anchors of the district -- and, after spending years in Lansing and running for governor, he has solid name recognition across lower Michigan.
Schwarz was term-limited out of the Michigan Legislature in 2002, then lost the governor's race in the Republican primary in August 2002.
Although the 2004 primary is still eight months away, the open seat is attractive to Republicans and has drawn a lot of interest. Two Republicans, including Anne Norlander of Battle Creek, already have dropped out. Five Republicans and a Democrat remain in the race.
A Schwarz campaign could further shake up the race, said Battle Creek's Mike Troutman, chairman of the Republican Party in the 7th district.
"I think if Joe gets into it, some of the weaker candidates ... might take a look at it and say, 'I don't have a chance.' Based on his experience of representing Eaton County and Calhoun County, that kind of gives him the edge for the population base, definitely."
The hometowns of the other candidates are weighted toward the east end of the seven-county district, which means, potentially, that the other candidates would split the vote on the east side while Schwarz would seal up the vote on the west side.
"He would be the only state senator in the race, so he obviously has the most experience. If he wouldn't be the front-runner, he'd be extremely close to being the front-runner," Troutman said.
Separately, Republican candidates Paul DeWeese and Brad Smith each said recently that Schwarz would have a tough time raising the necessary money and public support because he has chosen to stay out of the race while other candidates have campaigned heavily this year.
Yet observers say Schwarz, a heavy hitter in Michigan politics, wouldn't have a problem.
"If he gets in, I believe he'd be the front runner because of the name recognition, the involvement that he has had in the various counties he'd be running in. I think he's more of a dynamic individual than the other people that are in the race right now," said Brian Kirkham, chairman of the Calhoun County Republican Party.
Kirkham, who would endorse Schwarz if he runs, said he believes it's just a matter of time before Schwarz announces his candidacy.
On the other side of the district, Washtenaw County Republican Party Chairwoman Marlene Chockley said the victorious candidate will be the one that can fire up the most supporters.
Although she is supporting Gene DeRossett, Chockley acknowledged Schwarz may have wider name recognition than other candidates.
"Obviously, in Washtenaw County, Gene's very well-known," Chockley said. "Joe's probably more known because he did try to run for governor, so his name was out there throughout that entire district."
"I can't even guess who's going to come out ahead in the end," Chockley said.
Norlander, who ducked out of the race largely because she believed she couldn't raise enough money to win, said the average open seat in Congress costs $1 million per candidate. Compared to state-level campaigns, congressional campaigns often involve more sophisticated advertising and get-out-the-vote activities that can be expensive.
"Joe's connections through the Legislature, the Senate and his race for governor have shown him the realities of what he's up against, so he doesn't go into this with blinders on," Norlander said.
"He certainly has the experience to do a wonderful job. While I have declined to endorse any candidates in the race, (Schwarz' entry) would add a new dimension and make the race very interesting," she said.
Schwarz said that, assuming he gets into the race, he'd make an announcement in a simple press conference after the first of the year. He said he doesn't feel that he'd be a late entry.
"What's dysfunctional is these endless, endless, endless campaigns where a year-and-a-half or more out before an election and you're out there trying to raise money, trying to gain attention, trying to get some name recognition and people quite correctly don't care," Schwarz said.
"They will get involved and interested in a political campaign probably several months before an election, but probably not much before that."
Eric J. Greene covers politics and legislative issues. He can be reached at 966-0687 or egreene@battlecr.gannett.com
Originally published Thursday, December 4, 2003
Schwarz is vermin who makes Smith look good.
You know that's next. Suddenly he'll agree with Jenny that Proposal A really does need a good tweeking. Unfortunately, it's our back pocket that's going to get tweeked.
Over my dead body!
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