Who: Michael Shmina for State Representative, 32nd District What: mailer, robocall Truth Squad calls: Foul, Technical fouls and no foul In a mailer and robocall, challenger Michael Shmina makes various claims about incumbent state Rep. Andrea LaFontaine, whom he faces in the Republican primary for the 32nd House District in Macomb County. Shmina touts himself […]
Michigan Fact Squad
Bridge Michigan’s Fact Squad scrutinizes truthfulness of ads, statements and social media of political candidates for the Nov. 3 election.
Posted inMichigan Government
Special-interest money floods ballot-measure efforts
Voters could see as many as seven proposals to amend the Michigan Constitution or state law on this November’s ballot – or none at all. Bureaucratic and legal reviews continue of the various proposals. Regardless of how they play out, though, Michigan has seen an unprecedented surge of spending to collect signatures and advance ideas […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Ad matches up with reports about Detroit-Windsor span, Truth Squad finds
Gov. Rick Snyder and the government of Canada recently brokered an “interlocal” agreement to proceed with construction of a second bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. That plan has long been opposed by the ownership of the existing Ambassador Bridge between the two communities. Said owners, the Moroun family, have funded numerous media ads decrying […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Truth Squad delves into casino land ownership
A plan to build eight casinos in Michigan moving toward November’s ballot remains almost as sketchy in financial detail as the day it was announced in April. One of the key features of the proposal is to prescribe eight specific casino locations. So, not only is this a simple question of whether voters approve more gambling […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Pro-casino claims go a bit too far, finds the Michigan Truth Squad
What: Citizens for More Michigan Jobs radio interview Who: Emily Palsrok, Citizens for More Michigan Jobs spokeswoman Truth Squad call: Technical foul Backers of a proposal to add eight private casinos in Michigan sell it as a jobs plan for the state. They promise up to 16,000 in construction and casino jobs and $300 million […]
Posted inPhil's Column
Michigan voters could decide casino locales, emergency manager law on 2012 ballot
Sheesh. We’ve already seen a ton of dueling political TV ads already, and we’re not even into summer — which officially begins this year on June 20, the day with the most sunlight in the year. Regardless of the season, you might say we need a little more light shed on our political process. And […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Somewhere, Alaska
John Boehner of Ohio. Mike Castle of Delaware. Jeff Flake and John Shadegg, Arizona. Butch Otter, Idaho. Ron Paul, Texas. Jim Sensenbrenner, Wisconsin. Mac Thornberry, Texas. And C.W. “Bill” Young, Florida. This slender cohort of current and former U.S. representatives, along with nine others who did not vote, can rest easy this campaign season, knowing […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Truth Squad tackles presidential primary ads
Leading up to what could prove a pivotal Michigan Republican presidential primary, the Michigan Truth Squad, another project of the Center for Michigan, is hard at work assessing the claims in various campaign ads and materials from the leading candidates and their political allies. See what fouls have been called on the bids by Mitt […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Truth Squad tackles 'State of State' speech
In Michigan in 2012, there’s really only one issue on the radar: jobs. How does the state get more of them? How do residents fill them? How much do they pay? In the hours leading up to Gov. Rick Snyder’s second State of the State Address, some notable numbers came in: Michigan’s unemployment rate in […]
Posted inMichigan Government
'Flagrant foul' on Moroun
Another arm of the burgeoning Center for Michigan empire — the Michigan Truth Squad — today issued a “flagrant foul” against a TV ad paid for by the Detroit International Bridge Co. against the proposal to build a joint Canada-Michigan crossing between Detroit and Windsor. “This is the third ad from DIBC to blatantly stretch […]