Posted inMichigan Government

Hoekstra's ad isn't 'worst,' but distortions used earn foul, says Michigan Truth Squad

MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “Meet the Parents” Who: Hoekstra for Senate What: Internet video Truth Squad call: Foul Questionable statement: “How about that Debbie Stabenow? Never met a tax increase she didn’t like … worst senator Michigan has ever had. “ These are broad generalizations, including a personal attack on Stabenow, that the video and […]

Posted inMichigan Government

Democrats slip up on couple of points about Bolger, Truth Squad rules

MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “End Jase Bolger’s Reign” Who: Michigan Democratic Party What: Web video Truth Squad call: Foul. Michigan Democrats have ramped up attacks on the House Republican speaker since revelation of a secretive scheme between Bolger and Grand Rapids House Democrat Roy Schmidt to have Schmidt file as a Republican minutes before the […]

Posted inMichigan Government

Michigan Democrats get fouls for some 'hits' on Hoekstra, Truth Squad rules

MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “Hoekstra’s Greatest Hits” Who: Michigan Democratic Party What: Internet ad Truth Squad call: Fouls Questionable statement: “Restricting Women’s Access to Health Care … (Pete) Hoekstra wants to ban birth control & allow insurance companies to deny coverage for mammograms & pre-natal tests.” The Michigan Democratic Party ad criticizing Republican U.S. Senate […]

Posted inMichigan Government

Truth Squad calls foul on nonprofit's ad criticizing Stabenow's record

MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “What if Congress got medals?” Who: The American Future Fund What: TV ad Truth Squad call: Foul and technical foul The American Future Fund is a 501(c)4 focusing on issue advocacy “designed to effectively communicate conservative and free market ideals.” A lenghty report from ProPublica earlier this month (http://www.propublica.org/article/how-nonprofits-spend-millions-on-elections-and-call-it-public-welfare) detailed how these 501(c)4s […]

Posted inMichigan Government

'People Should Decide' earns another foul over its claims about Detroit bridge

MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “Get The Facts” Who: The People Should Decide What: Website fact sheet Truth Squad call: Foul This document continues a vigorous — and expensive — campaign to block construction of a bridge between Detroit and Windsor. As of now, the primary commercial crossing is the 83-year-old Ambassador Bridge. The campaign document is […]

Posted inMichigan Government

Pro-bridge video stretches points on Ambassador's life, U.S.-Canada links, Truth Squad finds

MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANAYSIS: “Why the new bridge is so important to Michigan” Who: Lt. Gov. Brian Calley What: Web video Truth Squad call: Warnings In this video, Michigan.gov, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley promotes the proposed bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, a partnership project with Canada pushed by Gov. Rick Snyder, who sees it as […]

Posted inMichigan Government

Land Wars: Senator targets private land conservancies

A state senator who introduced Michigan’s controversial land cap law now wants nonprofit land conservancies to pay property taxes — unless they provide unlimited public access and allow motorized vehicles in privately owned nature preserves. Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, said he has drafted legislation that could ensure public access to tens of thousands of acres […]

Posted inMichigan Government

Senator: 'A primary objective should be to return land to private ownership'

State Sen. Tom Casperson has become a lightning rod for criticism from environmentalists and some conservation groups. The Escanaba Republican wrote the initial land cap legislation. He advocates for increased logging in state forests. And he has championed legislation that would make it easier for people to build in coastal sand dunes. Casperson’s supporters have […]

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