New Era for Michigan

<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>New Era for Michigan</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> <A HREF="michigan_s_13th_district.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Congressional District News"><U><I><B>Congressional District News</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="michigan_s_13th_district_koppy.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Congressional District News"><U><I><B>Steele's 'Less Taxing' B'day Gift</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> <div> <I><U>High expectations</U></I></div> <div> <B>Now the Most Challenging Part</B></div> <div> <B>“Fixing Michigan” on a Deadline</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="1a80d8620.jpg" border=0 width="216" height="354" ALT="Senator Michael D.Bishop, Michigan Senate Majority Leader" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="8" VSPACE="6"></FONT></div> <div> Getting elected by the largest margin in more than 50 years was a brilliant feat, but now Rick Snyder faces the real challenge -- living up to voter expectations.</div> <div> Speaking to an overflow crowd at the Eastside Republican Club's November 16 Forum at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, Michigan Senate majority leader Michael D. Bishop (R-Rochester) said he expects voters will permit the new governor only a brief honeymoon in which to press for the bold actions needed to fix what's broken.</div> <div> Bishop said that because of the painful choices he faces, Snyder would need to hit the ground running to take advantage of the momentum built during his successful campaign. In Bishop's view the incoming governor will have about 100 days to push through some of the tough measures needed to corral the out-of-control state budget.</div> <div> After that, citizen impatience, grumbling and politics as usual could present the new governor with fresh problems.</div> <div> “A phenomenal outcome,” Bishop called Snyder's gubernatorial victory that gave him a majority in 79 of 83 counties.</div> <div> Bishop explained, “Snyder won with 250,000 more votes cast for him than Granholm received in her first-term gubernatorial victory.”</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="242" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 343 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1a8af0510.jpg" border=0 width="240" height="337" ALT="Senator Michael D.Bishop, Michigan Senate Majority Leader last spoke to ERC in November 2009" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 340 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1a8bf04e0.jpg" border=0 width="240" height="334" ALT="Andy Walker of Grosse Pointe Woods talks with Senator Bishop after the meeting" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 255 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1a8cf0f90.jpg" border=0 width="240" height="249" ALT="Senator Bishop intently listens to input from Forum guests" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> He added, “Today as we look back, the November victory was just a 'mile marker.' Now the new leadership has the responsibility to make decisions and deliver what they said they'd do.”</div> <div> <I><B>Across-the-board Sweep</B></I></div> <div> Bishop reminded his audience that Michigan voters overwhelmingly declared, “Republicans are better leaders in this environment.”</div> <div> For example, he noted that voters elected all eight Republicans running for the top Michigan education posts.</div> <div> In addition to the Michigan Senate, the House also has a GOP majority.</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="7" CELLSPACING="7" WIDTH="230" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 371 WIDTH="202"><div> <B>Senator Bishop Announcement</B></div> <div> <B>December 10, 2010</B></div> <div> "To all of those who have supported me throughout my years as a public servant, thank you. It is only right that you become the first to know of my decision not to seek the position of State Party Chairman. Although the support and encouragement has been overwhelming, it is with great deference to my family that I have decided to chart a different course.</div> <div> "Although some may be disappointed by my decision not to run, rest assured that my commitment to grassroots activism on behalf of our conservative agenda will continue. By holding our leaders accountable and reminding them of the message voters sent this past November, we all can ensure that our government and party respects the will of those they have the honor to represent.</div> <div> "May all of you enjoy the company of friends and family this Holiday Season. And may we all look forward to the great things this New Year has in store for each and every one of us."</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> “The Senate Republican majority,” he noted, “is the greatest it's been in 60 years!”</div> <div> “Looking at the Senate, 24 of the 26 Republican seats were won by a margin of 10,000 votes or more.”</div> <div> Bishop said that the sweep was breathtaking. “In Michigan, Republican Senators were elected in every senatorial district north of Flint and west of Lansing! This represents 96% of Michigan's land mass,” he said.</div> <div> He admitted, “The GOP had an identity crisis for a while, and the differences were blurred.”</div> <div> “Today,” he said, “there is a clear difference between Republicans and Democrats.”</div> <div> <I><B>Financial Woes</B></I></div> <div> Bishop stressed the magnitude of Michigan's financial woes, citing that the state will face a $1.6 to $2 billion budget shortfall in the coming year.</div> <div> Adding to the impact, he explained that the Federal spigot would be cut off next year as Federal stimulus contributions expire.</div> <div> Michigan's Medicaid pay out is growing sizably-up a whopping 60% since the year 2000, he said.</div> <div> Finally, he said there is that “elephant in the room” that nobody is talking about, state worker pension liability.</div> <div> He flatly stated, “Government budget increases can't continue.”</div> <div> In order to keep taxation and spending in line, Bishop said legislators must ask, “What is the core function of state government, and what are the priorities?”</div> <div> <I><B>Tough Decisions</B></I></div> <div> As some possible alternatives, he calculated that a 5% state worker pay cut could save $1 billion annually.</div> <div> Another $600 million in taxpayer dollars could be trimmed each year if state workers shared the cost of benefits like most other workers.</div> <div> He said that other bold measures could include pursuing a part time legislature, and a reconfiguration of state departments.</div> <div> Bishop said there are also possible efficiencies available from government consolidation statewide, including school districts and at other levels of government.</div> <div> He warned that several states are already on the brink of financial collapse, noting that California and nearby Illinois are two that are closest to becoming bankrupt.</div> <div> In answer to a question from the audience about his own future as a term-limited Senator, Bishop said that he would continue to concentrate on his role in the Senate until the end of the year.</div> <div> Bishop expressed his full support for Snyder, saying he needs to be given time to assemble his staff and lay out his plans.</div> <div> <I><B>Bishop's Background</B></I></div> <div> Bishop, a lifelong Rochester resident, is in his final term representing Michigan's 12th Senate District (northern Oakland). He was nominated by his caucus, and chosen by his peers as Senate majority leader where he directs the agenda, and is spokesman for GOP legislative policies.</div> <div> Since his 1998 election to the House of Representatives, Bishop has been an advocate for smaller, more efficient government. He has consistently championed making government live within its means, whether through introducing legislation to create a part-time legislature, passing public employee healthcare reform, or advocating cuts to state elected official compensation.</div> <div> As an advocate of improved child protection in the digital age, Bishop sponsored legislation to create the Michigan Child Protection Registry (CPR), the first of its kind in the United States. The CPR is a secure database allowing parents and schools to register electronic contact points accessed by children, and prohibiting distributors of tobacco, alcohol, pornography and other adult materials from soliciting children.</div> <div> In 2003, Bishop, authored the Identity Theft Protection Act which established identity theft as a felony. Cognizant of the impact identity theft can have on an individual's life, his legislation also prohibits denying or reducing credit to victims of identity theft.</div> <div> As Senate majority leader, Bishop chairs the Government Operations Committee, which is charged with recommending to the full Senate whether or not to accept the governor's appointments to agencies and commissions.</div> <div> Bishop is recipient of a host of honors, including Credit Union National Association legislator of the year; Small Business Association of Michigan legislator of the year; Dads & Moms of Michigan legislator of the year; Citizens for Traditional Values leadership award; Michigan Bankers Association economic impact award; Michigan Food & Beverage Association and Michigan Business & Professional Association distinguished service award; and in 2006 he was named one of the<I> Crain's</I> ”40 Under 40.“</div> <div> The Senate leader has remained steadfast in his commitment to making the state a more attractive place for families to live and companies to invest. Among his priorities are consolidating and restricting state government to find savings, reducing taxes for families and business, and protecting the state's natural resources.</div> <div> An attorney by trade, Bishop is licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan, the District of Columbia, and before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and received his law degree from Detroit College of Law in 1993. He also has a real estate broker's license and served as president of his own real estate firm.</div> <div> He rates his most important roles as that of husband to his wife, Cristina, and father to their three children, Benjamin, Gabriella and Nathan.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#top_of_page" TITLE="New Era for Michigan"><U>back to top</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>