Rob Portman Set to Defend Ohio's Open GOP Senate Seat

By Tyler Gaastra | 11/20/09

In 2010, Republicans across the country are going to be thinking about playing offense—looking to pick up seats in both houses of Congress from today’s majority Democrats. There is one important seat in Ohio, however, which we need to defend. The Republican comeback in 2010 requires a strong slate of Republican candidates for every office. Ohio is setting the example with U.S. Senate Candidate Rob Portman. In a bid for an open seat... read more »

Granholm and College Students Rally for Subsidy

By Tyler Gaastra | 11/19/09

  Thankfully for the jobless in Michigan, Governor Granholm was able to spend her day with Democrats’ favorite constituency, excluding organized labor, college students.  Today was a rally day at GVSU and other state colleges to garner emotional responses from college students in support of the Michigan Promise Scholarship. The great sin: a cash strapped state is cutting a $4,000 subsidy to college students.   Watching the... read more »

Abortion Matters: Bart Stupak and Health Care Reform

By Tyler Gaastra | 11/11/09

A Michigan Democrat in the U.S. House handed the GOP a glowing opportunity to gain credibility on pro-life issues and divided the Democratic Caucus in the Senate, jeopardizing the entire health care overhaul. The Stupak (D-MI) Amendment “mirrors the existing federal policy known as the Hyde Amendment,” as it “prohibits the use of federal funding for abortion under the public health insurance option and prohibits the use of... read more »

Kent County's Defender of Liberty: State Rep. Justin Amash

By Tyler Gaastra | 11/05/09

While at a Kent County Republican Party event in 2008, I noticed the Justin Amash campaign for State House. I was very impressed with the commitment to liberty that was expressed by the Amash campaign. As 2009 draws to a close, I am able to confidently assert that Kent County has no better advocate of basic liberty, restrained government, and economic freedom than Representative Amash.  For example, Rep. Amash introduced a Bill that... read more »

Grand Rapids City Commission Gets a Voice of Reason

By Tyler Gaastra | 11/04/09

Amidst the buzz over the encouraging elections on the East Coast, it was easy to overlook the Grand Rapids City Commission election. However, Grand Rapidians finally get a voice of reason for the City Commission. Last night, Dave Shaffer staged an upset victory over the union apostle James Jendrasiak. Shaffer polled second in the primary election back in August, setting up a general election face-off against Jendrasiak. In an excruciatingly... read more »

Michigan Senate Kills Doctor Tax

By Tyler Gaastra | 10/29/09

As I reported earlier here, Governor Granholm and the Democratic-controlled house wanted to tax Michigan's doctors to pay for a mere slice of the budget deficit. Physicians from across the state and medical lobbying groups vehemently opposed the plan, which would have amounted to a tax on revenue in exchange for federal Medicaid dollars. Thankfully, the Republican-controlled Senate overwhelmingly voted down the proposal. Senate Leader Mike... read more »

Counter-Point: Uproar Over Carly's Web Remarks are Much Ado about Nothing

By Tyler Gaastra | 10/28/09

After watching Carly Fiorina’s comments on the regulation of the internet, I must conclude that the broad attacks on her are unfair and largely unwarranted. During an interview last week, she made a couple of quick points regarding the regulation of the internet: (1) the web should not continue to be considered a “sphere apart” from reality; (2) the anything goes “wild wild west” character of the internet cannot... read more »

New EPIC-MRA Poll Shows Leading GOP Candidates Beating John Cherry

By Tyler Gaastra | 10/21/09

The Associated Press is reporting that a new poll released by EPIC-MRA shows the GOP beating Lieutenant Governor John Cherry, regardless of who will win the primary. The poll breaks down like this: Mike Cox receives support of 45% of those surveyed with Cherry receiving 30%.  Mike Bouchard is leading 39% to 31%. Pete Hoekstra is leading 40% to 33%. The poll is listed as having a margin of error of 4%. EPIC-MRA has a decidedly mixed... read more »

Soviet-Style Health Care: Will Kent County get the Short Straw?

By Tyler Gaastra | 10/14/09

             Grand Rapids is a burgeoning medical center, with the new Michigan State University College of Human Medicine serving as the latest evidence. However, the current plans in Congress will seriously alter our future development in this area. West Michigan’s conservative streak may have consequences.            Today, on a conference call,... read more »

A Physician Tax on the Middle Class is Not a Solution

By Tyler Gaastra | 10/08/09

  The Michigan Senate should summarily vote down “Michigan Health Care Rebate Law.” The law, already passed by the house, is a misleading tax on physicians. The “Michigan Health Care Rebate Law” raises two very substantial issues. First, it represents another tax on the middle class. Second, the tax is a result of Michigan’s efforts to comply with conditions placed on receiving federal money. As to the first... read more »