Rep. Gaffney Gives Update

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="044005a0exvipq.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eastside Republican Club"><U><B>Home</B></U></A><B>  </B><B> </B></FONT><B>  | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><B>Eastside Republican Club</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B>Events</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="eastside_republican_review_summary.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ERC Review"><U><B>ERC Review</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="michigan_s_13th_district.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Congressional District News"><U><B>Congressional District News</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="civic___governmental_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="erc_officers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Rep. Gaffney Gives Update</B></div> <div> <A HREF="link_to_michigan_gop.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michigan Republicans"><U><B><IMG SRC="05358580.gif" border=0 width="88" height="88" ALT="Michigan GOP" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <I><B>Gaffney & District 1 Issues</B></I></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.RegisterRepublicans.com/vr_forms.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.RegisterRepublicans.com/vr_fo"><U><I><B>Voter Registration Forms</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="erc_testimonials.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Theyre Saying About Us"><U><I><B>Read what they've said about us</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B><IMG SRC="81b871f0.gif" border=0 width="135" height="31" ALT=">>Events" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  <A NAME="top_of_page"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><U>State Representative Brings Latest News from Lansing</U></I></div> <div> <B>Ed Gaffney Reflects on Year in Legislature</B></div> <div> <B>Cites Past Accomplishments, Future Priorities</B></div> <div> District 1 <A HREF="http://house.michigan.gov/rep.asp?DIST=001" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://house.michigan.gov/rep.asp?DIST=0"><U>State Representative Ed Gaffney</U></A> addressed the Eastside Republican Club forum on November 18, 2003, at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.<A HREF="http://www.gophouse.com/gaffney.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gophouse.com/gaffney.htm"><U><IMG SRC="aaac0350.jpg" border=0 width="192" height="309" ALT="Rep. Ed Gaffney >>More Gaffney" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="2"></U></A></div> <div> Ed Joseph, ERC chairman, introduced Gaffney. In his introduction, Joseph said, “Ed Gaffney was elected to the Michigan legislature in November 2002. He previously served on the Grosse Pointe Farms city council and as mayor of that community. As a state representative, Gaffney's focus is to promote traffic safety, to improve water quality, and to increase employment opportunities in his district area.”</div> <div> Gaffney expressed appreciation to his supporters in last year's election, saying, “Thank you to all who contributed to my campaign, mailed friend-to-friend cards, put up yard signs, and made telephone calls. A strong network of volunteers is needed to win as State Representative.”</div> <div> He reminded the audience, “Next year is an election year. It will take all of our efforts to make sure President Bush carries the State of Michigan.”</div> <div> Citing accomplishments of the Michigan legislature, he said, “You can be very proud of your Republican-led legislature!” The <A HREF="http://www.gophouse.com/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gophouse.com/index.htm"><U>Republican majority</U></A> in the Michigan House and Senate totals 63 out of 110, and 22 of 38, respectively.</div> <div> Expressing his gratefulness for the opportunity to serve, Gaffney said, “I've been busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's an honor and privilege to serve such a great community as this in the State legislature.” Gaffney currently serves on House standing committees for Regulatory Reform, Criminal Justice, Health Policy, Judiciary, and Transportation.</div> <div> Addressing the necessity of budget cutbacks, Gaffney said, “State offices are being asked to do more with less.” But on the subject of increased taxes, Gaffney flatly stated, “There will be no tax increases.”</div> <div> <B>Ed Gaffney's Top Priorities</B></div> <div> Gaffney said, “There are three things I'm passionate about.” First, he stated, “The time has come for Michigan to stop being the dumping ground for other people's trash. Last year we received 5 million cubic yards from Toronto alone!” He said that although State options are limited in regulating interstate and international commerce, action is being taken to impose a two-year moratorium on new landfill sites.</div> <div> Second, Gaffney said he introduced <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.michiganvotes.org/bill.asp?SessionBillTypeID=31&Number=4784" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.michiganvotes.org/bill.asp?Se"><U>HB 4784</U></A></FONT> to provide a school property tax phase-out for seniors beginning at age 75.</div> <div> Third, he stated that appointed library boards with authority to impose taxes constitute taxation without representation. Gaffney said that to ensure accountability to voters, he favors legislation to require elected library boards.</div> <div> <B>Gaffney's Legislative Mark</B><B> <A NAME="gaffney_s_lelgislation"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> Gaffney briefly outlined some of the legislation he sponsored in his first term.</div> <div> He introduced <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.michiganvotes.org/bill.asp?ID=21933" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.michiganvotes.org/bill.asp?ID"><U>HB 5086</U></A></FONT> to make absentee voting easier for members of the armed services.</div> <div> Gaffney sponsored <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.michiganlegislature.org/mileg.asp?page=getObject&objName=2003-HB-4007" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.michiganlegislature.org/mileg"><U>HB 4007</U></A></FONT> to double fines for water pollution violators.</div> <div> The representative introduced <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.michiganvotes.org/bill.asp?ID=17967" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.michiganvotes.org/bill.asp?ID"><U>HB 4784</U></A></FONT>, offering property tax relief that would permit purchasers of a home to retain the capped value of their existing residence when relocating within the same community.</div> <div> He has introduced <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.michiganvotes.org/bill.asp?ID=17296" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.michiganvotes.org/bill.asp?ID"><U>HB 4600</U></A></FONT> to restrict teen-age drivers to no more than one other, non-related teen in the car during a new driver's first year, probationary license period.</div> <div> Gaffney authored <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.michiganvotes.org/bill.asp?ID=22082" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.michiganvotes.org/bill.asp?ID"><U>HB 5154</U></A></FONT>, requiring school and daycare centers to provide 48 hours advance notice of any planned pesticide application in the facility.</div> <div> <B>Ed Gaffney on the Gov</B></div> <div> When asked during the question and answer session what he thought about the performance of the Governor, Gaffney said he thought she was “behaving well in front of cameras.” He said that beyond the public relations campaign, however, “Gov. Granholm is not even close to former Gov. John Engler in substance.”</div> <div> Gaffney made a point to invite constituents to contact him, saying, “Anytime you have a problem with state government, or a concern you'd like to share, contact my office.” Gaffney's office can be reached at (888) 254-LAW1, or (888) 254-5291.</div> <div> <B>Gaffney's Background</B></div> <div> Representative Gaffney has devoted his career to law and legislative change. Upon graduation from college, he worked in Lansing as a researcher for the Legislative Service Bureau. After graduating from law school, he returned to work in the legal division of the Bureau where he was responsible for drafting legislation.</div> <div> Gaffney left Lansing for a period of time to serve as a legislative analyst for the American Automobile Manufacturing Association. He was subsequently promoted to regional manager, and interacted with state legislators in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Gaffney also has worked for the Michigan Trucking Association, where he managed a fund designed to assist truck drivers learn safety techniques.</div> <div> His education includes a bachelor's degree from Eastern Connecticut University, a master's degree in history from Michigan State University, a law degree from Cooley Law School, and a master's of law from Wayne State University.</div> <div> >><I>More Rep. Ed Gaffney</I>.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#top_of_page" TITLE="Rep. Gaffney Gives Update"><U>back to top</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>