Free Republic

Amid a nationwide firestorm over so-called religious freedom bills, Michigan’s Republican governor is taking cover. Rick Snyder told the Detroit Free Press on Thursday that he would veto a bill like Indiana’s if it made its way through the state Legislature. “Given all the events that are happening in Indiana, I thought it would be good to clarify my position,” he told the Detroit paper. “I would veto RFRA legislation in Michigan if it is a standalone piece of legislation.” Though state Religious Freedom Restoration Act bills are not as controversial when the state also has anti-discrimination laws that include...

Governor Rick Snyder has signed the concealed carry reform bills into law. Governor Snyder, who vetoed virtually the same bills only six weeks ago, signed them just hours ago.  Senate Bills 34 and 35 are now Public acts 3 and 4 of 2015.    The bills had passed with strong, veto proof majorities in both the House and Senate. County gun boards are eliminated by the bills, with a number of other reasonable reforms.   The gun boards were put in place in 1927.   In 1925, a black man, Dr. Ossian Sweet, had used a handgun to defend his family...

By Michael Snyder July 2nd, 2014 July 4th, the United States will celebrate Independence Day once again. But who in the world are we trying to kid? Our founders intended to create a society where freedom and liberty would be maximized, but that is not what America looks like today. Instead, we live in a country that literally has millions of laws, rules and regulations. We have a government that is obsessed with spying on the entire planet and that tries to watch, monitor, track and record as much information about all of us as it possibly can. A “Big...

Former FCC chairman Reed Hundt is suggesting the FCC may want to strip Redskins owner Dan Snyder of his radio station licenses if he does not change the name of the team. According to an interview on Indian Country Today Media Network, Hundt said that the FCC should "reevaluate" whether Snyder is fit to be a licensee, by which Hundt meant "a person of appropriate character," he said. “The FCC should consider whether Mr. Snyder is fit to own radio station licenses given that he uses radio stations to broadcast an ethnic slur,” he said. “These licenses are owned by...

Most of us don’t completely trust the government. We certainly don’t want government to be able to prevent us from getting information we want or need. We are against governments suppressing information…unless it is stuff that we personally want suppressed. Then that’s different, of course. I thought of that this week when Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation that prevents the press or public from being able to get gun records. From now on, we will be unable to find out who owns guns, and who has permits and licenses to have them. Well, conservatives and gun lovers are thrilled about...

Silverio Lopez and his son Antonio run their Tequila Cabresto brand out of their house in Southwest Detroit. They say about 60 restaurants in and around the city carry their brand of small batch, craft tequila. They also own a rim and tire shop just down the street. In total, they employ close to ten people. Silverio emigrated from Mexico in the early ‘80s. He says there were many reasons for settling down and starting a business in Detroit. “The properties were cheap, the rent was cheaper, plus we had family here already,” he said through Antonio, who translated from...

On March 18, an immigration forum, “Free Market Approaches to Immigration Reform,” was held in Lansing. The three speakers– Helen Krieble, Alex Nowrasteh, and Bing Goei — embraced an ‘open borders’ mindset and the debunked notion that immigrants are two times more entrepreneurial than Americans. The forum not only pushed Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s plan to import more foreign workers (which would lower the wages of American workers), it seemed to be part of a national effort to promote comprehensive immigration reform (vs. immigration enforcement) on a state-by-state basis. Helen Krieble, founder of the Vernon K. Krieble Foundation and amnesty...

Gov. Rick Snyder says Michigan won't recognize more than 300 same-sex marriages performed last weekend. The marriages were performed Saturday before a federal appeals court suspended a decision that overturned the state's ban on gay marriage. Snyder's announcement Wednesday closes the door to certain benefits granted to Michigan married couples. The move comes after a day after an appeals court indefinitely stopped any additional same-sex marriages.

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder released a statement late Monday night announcing that despite widespread calls for the team to change its name, the name and logo would remain the same. But in lieu of a name change, Snyder has created the “Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation,” with hopes to “provide meaningful and measurable resources that provide genuine opportunities for tribal communities.”

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder has faced  intense criticism that the name of his National Football League team is insensitive to Native Americans. He is now responding. In a letter published on the Washington Redskins' website, Snyder pledged Monday he would create a foundation aimed at helping Native Americans.Since last season, debate has surrounded the Redskins name; Oneida Indian Nation officials call the name offensive and a racial slur. Several publications have stopped using the word "Redskins" and even President Obama has chimed in on what he would do if he were Snyder.In a letter addressed to the Redskins Nation Monday, Snyder said he has traveled...

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said he will follow however a federal judge rules on the legality of same-sex marriages in his state, and insisted he has never taken a public position on the issue.Snyder made the comments at a Bloomberg View forum with reporters in Manhattan on Monday, as gay couples who married in the last few days awaited clarity after a federal judge put a temporary hold on a ruling overturning Michigan’s ban on gay marriage.

Just because the President has advised the Redskins to change their name and just because two members of Congress recently scolded the NFL for keeping the name, team owner Daniel Snyder has not been compelled to change it (he's been anything but, actually). But with his colleagues -- and his commissioner -- still seemingly on his side (for now, at least), Snyder has taken a step to ingratiate himself into the Native American community. In a letter released Monday, Snyder announced that he would create a Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation that, in Snyder's words, will "provide meaningful and measurable...

LANSING, MI -- Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is urging residents to exercise great caution as dangerous winter weather sweeps across the state. "The heavy snowfall and expected 20-year low subzero temperatures and high winds are creating – or have the potential to create – hazardous conditions across most of the state," Snyder said in a release Sunday afternoon. "We want everyone to be safe. Let's all pull together by taking care of ourselves and each other, which includes checking in on friends and neighbors who may need our help. It’s times like this when Michiganders are at their best." The...

President Barack Obama won reelection last year warning voters about what he called an extreme Republican agenda that would roll back the social and economic victories of the previous years. But that agenda is on the move in the states, and on the ballot in next year’s most competitive governors’ races — all of them in places he won in both 2008 and 2012: Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Maine and Michigan. The White House has committed to its first Democratic Governors Association fundraising event of the cycle and pledged to help candidates next year, people familiar with the discussions confirmed...

To Everyone in our Washington Redskins Nation: As loyal fans, you deserve to know that everyone in the Washington Redskins organization -- our players, coaches and staff -- are truly privileged to represent this team and everything it stands for. We are relentlessly committed to our fans and to the sustained long-term success of this franchise. That’s why I want to reach out to you --our fans -- about a topic I wish to address directly: the team name, “Washington Redskins.” While our focus is firmly on the playing field, it is important that you hear straight from me on...

The Talk Shows July 21st, 2013 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Kevyn Orr, Detroit's emergency manager; Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md.; Ben Carson, a pediatric neurosurgeon and Washington Times columnist.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Gov. Rick Snyder, R-Mich.; Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio; Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League.FACE THE NATION (CBS): House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio; Gov. Rick Snyder, R-Mich.THIS WEEK (ABC): Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Detroit Mayor Dave Bing.STATE OF THE UNION (CNN): Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Reps. Cedric Richmond, D-La., and Xavier Becerra, D-Calif.; Sherrilyn Ifill, president and...

DETROIT (AP) -- Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says some Detroit creditors are not sure they will be repaid. Snyder was speaking Friday, a day after Emergency Financial Manager Kevyn Orr made Detroit the biggest ever U.S. city to file for bankruptcy.

It was reported in the Detroit News yesterday that Gov. Snyder will make a decision on Medicaid expansion THIS THURSDAY! “Lansing — Gov. Rick Snyder will fire the first shot in the next health care skirmish Thursday when he recommends in his budget presentation to the Legislature whether Michigan should open Medicaid to as many as half a million more residents.“ Medicaid is a VOLUNTARY program Medicaid Expansion is VOLUNTARY Medicaid expansion WAS being forced by on the states by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) until the Supreme Court Ruling on ObamaCare. They ruled that the expansion was unconstitutional.Therefor,the Federal...

The Michigan State of the State airs live on most Michigan public television and radio stations and many commercial stations. Web stream live at http://wkar.org Program starts at 7:00PM Archive copy will be available tomorrow (01/17) at: http://video.wkar.org

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has been busy working his way through the 282 bills passed by the Legislature during the final weeks of the 2012 session. The governor's office said he signed 53 bills on Friday and vetoed four. He has acted on a total of 186 bills and 95 are pending review.