Behind the Headlines

But not today.

By Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

I should be in Lansing right now, but alas, am not. I had the whole day set aside to hang out with State Reps. Kate Ebli and Kathy Angerer.

First it was the weather - I had been driving home from Holland on Sunday and whew - it was the most treacherous I have seen it in awhile on 94; I’m still a little gunshy after all those accidents. After driving in to work at 6:30 on somewhat slick roads and hearing a plea from my mom not to go, I was a little apprehensive.

I called a few people in Lansing to see how the weather was there and left a round of messages. I was all wimpy this morning and told the photographer who was going to shoot the assignment that we wouldn’t go.

Then Kate Ebli called back and said it was slow, but passable. So, I said to Photographer Kim, let’s just go. It will be fine. I’ll drive. She then has to move her car and I drive over to pick her up. In the meantime, I keep getting conflicting reports. What - it’s snowing all crazy there, said one person. It’s fine, said another. The forecast is clear, said one. The clouds and snow are rolling in and not going anywhere, with a 90 percent chance of snow all day, said another.

As I’m picking Kim up at her now-moved car, my cell rings and it’s a representative from Kathy Angerer’s office. Since we would be arriving later than planned and because her plans changed - the people she was meeting with all morning/afternoon asked that press not be present - asked if we could reschedule.

Said Kim: Something is telling us to stay right here. I can agree with that. We’ll save our trip for another day. The story I wanted to do, by the way, is a day in the life of a legislator. I’ve heard often and loudly that people don’t know what it is legislators do all day, all week, all term. I thought we could shed some light on that. But for now, it will remain a mystery.

Stephanie Ariganello;
stephaniea@monroenews.com

Tuesday was the state of the state and since I had the opportunity to be there in person, I went. Obviously it was different than watching it on TV. Here are some of my general observations.

Randy Richardville - Apparently our Senator is a rock star in Lansing. Everyone, and I’m talking everyone, had to say hello, grip his hand, talk about tool and die legislation, about getting “the core” together next week, etc. He knew all of the staff members working security, the tour guides, the communications people, and had former staffers coming up to him to let them know where they are now. He even managed to get a plug in about a feature film on the War of 1812 to a film company lobbyist who approached him. From what I understand, the scene was similar over at Rep. Kathy Angerer’s camp. Everyone clammering for a handshake and a chance to say hello.
Rumor was that Sen. Richardville was going to be mentioned in the Gov’s speech. Her people called his people and asked if it would be alright to mention him when talking about working across the aisle and bipartisan cooperation. Well, if you listened to or read the address, you’ll notice he was not mentioned. Apparently, he was in the initial draft, but at some point was taken out. While he was fairly jovial about the situation, he did point out that all of the Republicans the Gov mentioned were term-limited and therefore not really contested seats, like giving a boost to someone as they retire. I haven’t had time to check on this so I’m not sure if it’s true.

(In full disclosure: I was invited to be Sen. Richardville’s guest along with Walt Wilburn, Bedford Township Supervisor, and Larry Rutledge, LaSalle Township Supervisor. Larry and Walt couldn’t make it because of the weather. The offer was also extended through the House Democrats, but because they’re up for re-election this year, my editor and I thought this might be less political. Also, since Sen. Richardville is Republican, it could be an interesting counterpoint to the SOTS.)

On the floor: It had been a long time since I’d been to the state capitol. I haven’t been for any assignments or visits since coming to Monroe and I hadn’t lived in state for a few years before that. I’m sure I must have been a wee little school girl the last time I went. Anyway, the chambers were smaller than I remember. The speech was held in the House of Representatives room. There were desks of course, then the various chairs scattered about and standing room only in the galleries and balconies. The event started at about 6:30 p.m. Each time fancy people were to arrive, like the chief justices of the state, they had a whole routine. The speaker had to ask for a special committee to be selected to escort whatever group of people was next. After awhile the doors would open, everyone would stand up and wait and then the group would come through. This went on for 30 minutes or more before the Gov was introduced. There was so much standing and sitting, repeatedly, that it was like an extended church service.

On their computers: I’ve always wondered what the legislators had on their computers as they sat there. Last night, several of them had The Drudge Report called up, awaiting the Florida primary results presumably. One had Real Clear Politics, a different web page on his screen while one was checking out weather on Yahoo.com. Others sat and emailed through the address or worked on their responses to what the Gov was saying. Another allowed their pre-teen daughter to instant message from the floor.

During the speech: It was probably more about where I was sitting - next to some Republicans - but occasionally when the Gov would make a point and others would cheer there would be some pretty negative comments or sarcastic remarks about the sincerity of her statement. Another guy kept snickering over the fact that the Gov was basing part of the economic boost on alternative energies, particularly when she mentioned wind turbines. Despite the sarcasm, there was a general feeling of optimism.

Overall: It just seemed like a giant social mixer, for the most part. Kind of like a Rotary or other such group meeting. I’m sure these are the places where more things get done, friendships are forged, deals are set up. Overall, it was very clear that these people are legislators and they are powerful in that they dictate what could be happening in our lives, but overwhelmingly - they’re people first and foremost.

If I think of anything else, I’ll post it.

By Stephanie Ariganello;
stephaniea@monroenews.com

State of the State by the numbers
Local legislators met with: 3 out of 3
Prayers said in the House of Representative Chambers: 2 (whatever happened to separation of church and state?)
Pledge of allegiances said: 2
Handshakes: 1.7 million (an approximate figure)
Legislators with “The Drudge Report” pulled up on their computer screens: 4
People fanning themselves with old school hand-held feather fans: 1
Depictions of gilded stags: 4
Times I wished I had a breath mint: 16
Standing ovations: 1,265 (really it was more like 32, but come on…)
Legislators that made a joke to the affect of “I stay out of politics”: 3, at least these are all I could hear. I imagine this plays out all over the floor (not made by any of our locals).
Overheard jokes about drunk driving: 6 (not made by any of our locals)
Times it felt like a weird rock concert: 4
Times I felt emotional surge in response to speech: 1 - when Granholm had the servicewoman who lost her leg stand up and the whole crowd erupted in long-lasting applause and hooting (Damn them and their research on emotional responses).

By Stephanie Ariganello;
stephaniea@monroenews.com

Hey everybody, I’ll be working on a local response to the President’s State of the Union speech tonight. It’s set for all major basic channels, 9 p.m.
Are you planning on watching it? I’d like to talk to you after the speech if you are, just to get your impressions.
So, please contact me and let me know if you’d be willing to chat via phone or email. That’d be great. Thanks.

Call me at 734-240-5773 or email the aforementioned email address. I would post it hyperlinked, but would rather not be swarmed with spamtastic spam.
And if you think watching the state of the union is a snooze, check out http://www.drinkinggame.us/ where even presidential policy can be turned into boozing and prankery. While I don’t particularly advocate getting wasted while watching government addresses, if it gets you involved, more power to ya. Just be responsible about it, please and thank you.

By Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

I think it was something that was sent by accident, but I received a copy of the newly hashed out contract between the Drain Commissioner Office and the Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO local. On the spreadsheet showing the wages, there are two columns that identify workers will receive a “Sinning Bonus”.

Apparently, the UAW and the Drain Commission worked out a deal for sinning. In 2008, in addition to the hourly rate, employees from the operations manager to water meter reader to utility clerk will receive an additional $1,935.48 for sinning.

In 2009, the sinning bonus drops to $927.89.

Of course, I do realize that it’s most likely a typo and should read “Signing Bonus” - but hey, who knows what goes on in those negotiations.

Casting a spell on you: you will vote for my candidate

By Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

Babs is ready for change - just like me.

“I’m like you — I’m ready for change,” she writes.

I’ve been trying to keep up with all this political hullabaloo, and as such, have signed up for multiple email newsletters from presidential hopefuls. Ms. Streisand, as the email indicates, is ready to support Hillary Clinton in her presidential bid. And apparently wanting it more than she has ever wanted anything before in her life.

Last month, I received an email from former president Bill Clinton, inviting me to have a sandwich. When I pronounced this to my coworkers, one suggested that he mistook me for an intern.

Mitt Romney - he’s all over the clever campaign tie-ins using his name. Like making it the “Ulti-MITT Holiday” this season or making the full ComMITTment to his campaign.

Ron Paul, it would seem, doesn’t need to send out invites from fancy people or come up with clever things since his supporters do it for him. It’s very man-behind-the-curtain-esque.

What I’m wondering is - do these things work? It’s like a commercial for classic advertising techniques: celebrity endorsements, plain folk testimonials, authoritative stance, etc. Does Barbra identifying with you make you want to vote for her candidate or does it just appear forced? Maybe they should try a more yentle approach. (I think I meant gentle.)

Obviously I’m not the target audience for email newsletters aimed at supporters, but what say you? What do you like to know or hear about from your candidates?

By Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

I came across this while googling something completely different.

Here’s the list as posted in the WP forums online:
“Upon reading these quotes you may wonder, “Did they really say that?!”… the answer is yes…unfortunately, they really did. Let me know if you agree with my personal picks and feel free to share your own favorites (because there really is no shortage of embarrassing comments made by politicians).

10. “I don’t care what people are saying Uptown or wherever they are. This city will be chocolate at the end of the day.” Ray Nagin (2006) (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/smn.01.html)

9. “When I was in England I experimented with marijuana a time or two, and I didn’t like it and didn’t inhale and never tried it again.” Bill Clinton (1992) (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0312/29/lol.08.html)

8. “Reports that say that something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don’t know we don’t know.” Donald Rumsfeld (2002) (http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=2636)

7. “I think with a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, you can’t play, you know, hide the salami, or whatever it’s called.” Howard Dean (2005)
(http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2005/10/dean_pops_off.html

6. “I’m a fairly wide guy.” Larry Craig (2007)
(http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/30/craig.transcript/index.html)

5.“Too many OB/GYNs aren’t able to practice their love with women all across this country.” George W. Bush (2004)
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/09/20040906-4.html)

4.“To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don’t be economic girlie men.” Arnold Schwarzenegger (2004)
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7203-2004Oct4.html)

3.“I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.” John Kerry (2004)
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/debatereferee/debate_1008.html)

2.“I have a record in office, as well. And all Americans have seen that record. September the 4th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. It’s a day I will never forget.” George W. Bush (2004)
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/10/20041018-11.html)

1. “During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet.” Al Gore (1999)
(http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/03/09/president.2000/transcript.gore/ ”

It made me think, does Monroe County have any quotes from politicos or other public figures that stand out as so cringe-inducing or ironic? I couldn’t come up with any immediately, but I’m sure, given time, anyone could come up with at least one.

What about you? Do you remember being appalled, shocked or amazed at something a local public figure said?

By Stephanie Ariganello;
stephaniea@monroenews.com

Ah the fresh smell of democracy in the morning. I was just at one of the polls in the City of Monroe. There was a steady flow of traffic, a few people here and there, always someone voting.

The new I.D. requirement didn’t seem to be tripping anyone up. I heard from a couple of people that usually there is a line when they hit their polling place, but they didn’t encounter that this morning.

Less people voting? Maybe. Or maybe things are more streamlined, or people know who they want to vote for going in, or a million other things. What has your experience been? Did you vote - or consciously not vote?

By Charles Slat
ctslat@monroenews.com
He was sitting under a canopy set up on the tarmac at Custer Airport, his white hair shielded from the heat of a late July day.
Members of the Young Marines scampered to and fro, seemingly oblivious to the historical figure that sat at a table behind a couple stacks of books.
I guess I expected a long line in front of Ret. Gen. Paul Tibbets when I showed up at one of the airport’s “Living History” days in 2001. There were only a few queued before him.
I introduced myself and Tibbets, the man who piloted the Enola Gay, the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, invited me to sit down.
Before I arrived, I had wondered if I even would be able to speak with him and, if so, what would I ask a guy who was responsible for the instantaneous deaths of hundreds of thousands of people – grandmas, moms, children and babies among them — innocently going about their lives on Aug. 6, 1945.
Tibbets was in his mid-80s when I met him, sharp and articulate.
I asked an obvious and probably hackneyed question – one that he probably had been asked thousands of times.
“Any regrets?”
“Why would I have regrets?” he replied without hesitation. “I was just a soldier doing my job.”
Clearly, this wasn’t just a rehearsed response. It was his belief.
Tibbets, who died Thursday at 92, didn’t ask to drop the bomb on Hiroshima, he didn’t want to be in a war with Japan. But he was in the Air Force, he was given a mission, and he carried it out.
At the Living History day, he was selling his memoir, “Return of the Enola Gay.” It isn’t just a chronicle of his career and the bombing. It’s a history lesson.
The lesson is this: Throughout history, good soldiers follow orders. It is their duty and most do it unwaveringly. How well they do it often is the difference in who wins and who’s vanquished.
Here’s how Tibbets put it in his book: “Fact is, in 1945, I was simply an airman, a pilot. Wearing the uniform of the U.S. Army Air Forces, I was – as I has sworn to do – following the orders of my Commander in Chief. To the best of my abilities and the limits of my strength and endurance, I was doing what I could to bring the war to an expeditious and victorious conclusion. There was nothing heinous or monstrous about that.”
I talked with Tibbets for about an hour on that July day and my thoughts occasionally would race back to the scenes at the Hiroshima Peace Park, which I visited on an early spring morning in 1986. The park is a solemn place, a lasting memorial so that no one forgets.
Tibbets, I realized, never forgot.
“It is a sobering thought that our two bombs, feeble by today’s standards, were the curtain-raiser on what many view as the supreme human tragedy,” he wrote in his book. “Mankind’s best hope is that the prologue was so frightening that the main show will be canceled.”
If that is Tibbets’ legacy, generations to come will owe him a debt of gratitude.

Here is the final information on the Hawaii pension board trip. I’ve tried to post this several times, but had run into technical glitches each time.

Let’s see if this works: Bah!

Let’s try that again :

—- Here’s a look at the expenses by the numbers:
—- Conference registration fees
—- City: $2,670.00
—- County: $8,010.00
—- Total: $10,980.00
—-
—- Hotel fees
—- City: $7,187.26
—- County: $12,014.80
—- Total: $19,202.06
—- Average hotel cost per person: $1,920.21
—- All county pension board members paid: $1,716.40 per attendee (with the exception of William Sisk and Henry Lievens who paid their own hotel, air and expenses.)
—- City pension members costs:
—- Kansier: $3,123.68
—- Paisley: $1,961.54
—- Pinchoff: $2,102.04
—-
—- Airfare
—- City Total $2,220.76
—- County Total $4,731.82
—- Grand Total $6,952.58
—- Average: $695.26
—-
—- Kansier: $794.66
—- Paisley: $703.04
—- Pinchoff: $723.06
—- Charron: $705.10
—- Colpaert: $643.73
—- Elmore: $661.09
—- Jones: $690.60
—- Londo: $691.10
—- Morgan: $670.10
—- Thompson: $670.10
—-
—- Food, valet and parking
—- City total: $454.73
—- County total: $546.05
—- Grand total: $1,000.78
—- Average expense: $125.10
—-
—- Kansier $109.74
—- Paisley $297.59
—- Pinchoff $47.40
—- Colpaert $69.36
—- Elmore $208.76
—- Jones $39.25
—- Londo $151.25
—- Thompson $77.43
—- Charron, Sisk, Lievens and Morgan submitted no expense report.
—-
—- Additional expenses; (tips, mileage)
—- City total: $100
—- County total: $0
—- Kansier $66.00
—- Paisley $7.00
—- Pinchoff $27.00
—-
—- Related charges on city credit card (not already included in total)
—- City of Monroe Employee Retirement System Comerica credit card: $834.78
—-
—- Back to the city - spouse fees (already taken out of totals)
—- Total: $441.00
—- Kansier $200
—- Paisley $100
—- Pinchoff $141
—-
—- Amount reimbursed to attendee
—- Total: $8,426.11
—- Kansier $2,796.38
—- Paisley $2,697.63
—- Pinchoff $2,932.10

I’m still clarifying some of the information, but a story should be coming in the next few days.

From: www.mcsweeneys.net
BY BENJAMIN SUMLIN
- - - - * Texas shows up to the party already drunk with the girlfriend nobody likes.
* Texas partied too late, asks to copy homework.
* Texas asks if it would be “cool to hook up with your ex.”
* Texas has a habit of spending more time than needed in the bathroom.
* Texas bogarts the remote just before Lost.
* Texas demonstrates little respect for “personal space.”
* Texas finds and eats the little snack cakes you’ve been hiding in the back of the pantry.
* Texas needs you to cover rent “just until I get back on my feet, man, I swear.”
* Texas brings up an anecdote about his recent colonoscopy.

I came across this while investigating potentially awkward situations for a story I’m working on. I’ve been a longtime fan of McSweeneys. When I saw this I just had to share it.

Here are the 2007 NCPERS Conference expenses, as obtained through a FOIA to the Monroe County Employee Pension Board. There is an information request in for the City Pension Board expenses also.
The information was provided by Deb Elmore, retirement specialist and the person in charge of expense reports. Each of the attendees had a $890 registration fee for the conference. Hotel costs were $1,716.40 for each participant (7 nights at $245.20 a night).
The costs that varied were airline - ranging from $643.73 to $705.10. And the rest of the money reportedly spent on meals, shuttles and airport parking.
Clayton Charron, total cost: $3,311.50 - Mr. Charron’s expenses include only registration, airfare of $705.10 and hotel. He did not put in for any additional reimbursements.

Nancy Colpaert, total cost: $3,319.49 - airfare $643.73; meals $69.36.

Deb Elmore, total cost $3,476.25 - airfare $661.09; meals $134.76; airport parking $56; and airport shuttle $18.

Pamela Jones, total cost $3,336.25 - airfare $690.60; meals $0; mileage to airport 50 miles at 48.5 cents for $24.25; shuttle from airport $15.00.

Henry Lievens, total cost $890 - paid for own airfare, hotel and meals; reimbursed only for cost of registration.

Charles Londo, total cost $3,448.75 - airfare $691.10; meals 133.25; shuttle $18.00.

James Morgan, total cost $3,276.50 - Mr. Morgan’s expenses include only airfare of $670.10, hotel and registration fee. He did not put in for any additional reimbursements.

William Sisk, total cost of $890 - Mr. Sisk reimbursed the retirement system for airfare and hotel on 7/20/07. Paid for meals; he was reimbursed only for cost of registration.

David Thompson, total cost $3,353.93 - airfare $670.10; meals $77.43.

Grand total for county: $25,302.67

Last night, I was a visitor to the Monroe Public Schools Board of Education meeting. Since my “beat” is now the Community Page, it’s been about four years since I attended a local government meeting as a reporter and six years since I attended one as a member of the public.

So I can definitely relate to the confusion that a first-time visitor has during a government meeting! When I did cover government meetings as a reporter, I found it took me about three meetings to get used to the format and procedures for a particular board or council. Here are some things I’ve noticed over the years:

• Are all visitors asked to sign in? Do they have to sign in if they intend to speak to the board or council?
• Who leads the Pledge of Allegiance? Sometimes they all chime in, sometimes there’s a lead administrator, sometimes a visitor is asked to do it.
• Do visitors who wish to speak raise their hands to be recognized from their seats, or do they have to “walk up to the microphone, state your name and address…”
• Is there an overall time limit or individual time limit on comments from the public?
• How long is this meeting expected to take? If the agenda lists a specific closing or end time for the meeting, does the board stick to that schedule?
• Can the board vote on first reading and under what circumstances are the second and third readings required?
• When a motion is made, is the next response “I second” or “I support”?
• When the board is allowed to meet behind closed doors, do they call that procedure “executive session” or “closed session”?
• Will there be a break during the meeting? (One of the village councils I covered in Ohio allowed a cigarette break at the mayor’s discretion. The mayor didn’t smoke, but many of the other elected officials did!)
• Where do the reporters sit? In many cases, the reporters sit among the audience. But some boards designate a “press table” where reporters have room to spread out paperwork or set up recording equipment.

One thing I did notice at the Monroe school board meeting is that the board members and administrators were very considerate of their visitors. One agenda item was rearranged to the first topic of discussion, because several people in the audience were representing that issue. After that topic was done, and also after the topic I came to watch was done, us visitors who were interested in those agenda items were told “you can go now, you don’t have to stay for the entire meeting!”

By Charles Slat ctslat@monroenews.com

Who says Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on major issues?

Last week, during the War of 1812 bicentennial committee kickoff event at the Monroe County Historical Museum, State Sen.-elect Randy Richardville, a Republican, crossed the room to shake hands with John Dingell, the veteran Democratic Congressman.

They both congratulated one another on their recent election victories and vowed to work together to make a War of 1812 park in Monroe a reality.

Mr. Dingell then told Mr. Richardville, “That wife of yours is a real asset.”

“I married up,” Mr. Richardville responded, adding, “Your wife is an asset.”

“We both married up,” Mr. Dingell replied.

Mr. Dingell had a lot more to say to The Evening News about his reinstallation as chairman of the House’s Committee on Energy and Commerce. You can read more about that in The Monroe Sunday News.

By Adam Bennett adam@monroenews.com

The Monroe City Council decided to seek a road millage after a lengthy debate earlier this week on how to fix the condition of the city’s crumbling streets.
Officials said that short funding in past years has left the road system too far behind in terms of restoration work. Some of the streets have not been reconstructed for decades, going far beyond their useful life. But the issue is how to pay for it. Already cash-strapped, city leaders say not enough money is available for the additional $1 million needed each year and tapping other sources may not be an option. They opted to put it to the voters to decide on the ballot. That’s a method that some cities prefer, taxing all residents for the improvements. I once lived in a community where homeowners were tagged with special assessments to pay for the improvements on their streets. What do you think is the best way of doing this?