Legal Action, No Confidence Vote, Marital Woes hound Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville

Randy Richardville's action and leadership have many in the State Senate questioning his loyalties. 




Senate Majority Leader
Randy Richardville (R)
Monroe

"On Wednesday, March 14, Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell, introduced Senate Bill 1018. The measure mirrors House Bill 4003, which was designed to stop the "skim" and prevent future forced unionizations. Co-sponsoring Hildenbrand's bill are 21 Senate Republicans. Only 20 votes are needed to pass legislation in the Senate.This should mean there are now 22 GOP Senators leaning toward voting "yes' on HB 4003 and sending it to the Governor. However, they can't vote for the bill if Sen. Richardville refuses to put it up for a vote."

This has resulted in a number of criticisms (well deserved I might add) of the Speaker about him pursuing his own agenda; one that is paid for in some way with union support.

Which leaves many in the state feeling that their "elected voice" has been muffled by the majority leader. Essentially, the words "put a sock in it" is what is coming out of Richardville's office, and has prompted some to place his personal troubles on display:

""We are looking into the possibility that what they did was illegal. It certainly was inappropriate at best. I would just characterize it as disgusting," Amber McCann, Richardville's spokesperson, told Gongwer. "Whatever the intent of the communication was, the result is that the senators have rallied behind their leader. ... Whatever the sender's motivation is, it's had the opposite effect on the caucus."  

The situation became public after Randy  Bishop discussed allegations involving Richardville on a Charlevoix talk radio program. Tea party activists are upset with Richardville because of his reluctance to push right-to-work legislation in the Senate."

The nearly half of the Michigan State Senators who are ready for a vote of no confidence couldn't have a better opportunity to put a stint in the pipes, and allow the blood of reason to flow once again. There is no threat but the threatening tone of reality that you have to listen to. Right To work, and the particular issue of STEALING from the unfortunate to pad the wallets of union friends of the leader are realities.



Senator Roger Kahn (R)
Saginaw

The good news in this is  Michigan senate PASSED SB1018.  Roger Kahn (R) from Saginaw was the dissenting Republican Vote.  Roger Kahn is the Uncle of Randy Richardville.   The bill is identical to HB 4003 so it should be ready to go in a few days. 

More on Randy Richardville's woes:

MIRS CAPITOL CAPSULE, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“These guys are a couple of low-level thugs who, at their core, are pissed at being beat by Randy and (Sen.) Howard WALKER (R-Traverse City) in a primary and nobody will do anything for them on their Right to Work proposal.” said Sen. Jack BRANDENBURG (R-Harrison Twp.) about a pair of Tea Party activists who sent e-mails to Republican senators urging them to remove the Senate Majority Leader Randy RICHARDVILLE by making a personal attack.

R Al Bain response to Senator Jack Brandenburg’s Quote of the Day: “These guys are a couple of low-level thugs”

Those who claim they are being unfairly attacked and respond with personal attacks is an attempt to negate the truth of a claim by pointing out a negative characteristic or belief of the person supporting it.

Caucus Rallies Around Richardville Amid Tea Party Attack
Certain Tea Party activists are urging Republican senators to remove Senate Majority Leader Randy RICHARDVILLE (R-Monroe) from his leadership position for not advancing such issues as Right to Work and the unionization of home health care workers.

On Tuesday, “Trucker” Randy BISHOP, a state Senate candidate in the 37th District in 2010, sent an email to Republican senators that prompted a Senate Republican caucus this morning during which all 26 GOP senators gave Richardville a “standing ovation” in support, sources tell MIRS. There are a total of 26 Republicans in the Senate, so if all 26 Senators stood for the “standing ovation” of support this means that Senator Richardville also participated showing his own personal arrogance in regard to this matter! 

The Bishop correspondence came after one sent by Gene CLEM of the “1st Tea Party Alliance” a couple weeks ago signed by various other Tea Party leaders that also brought up similar issues.
Unlike the Clem correspondence, Bishop forwarded an e-mail that repeated an unverified personal attack against Richardville, which generated an angry response from Senators who felt their leader was being unfairly attacked. This theme against Richardville was repeated during a live broadcast by Charlevoix station WMKT, which Bishop participated in.

Sen. Jack BRANDENBURG (R-Harrison Twp.) said he’s spoke with Bishop and R. Al BAIN, who ran against Richardville in the 2010 Republican primary, earlier this week and was not happy by the tact they are taking.

“These guys are a couple of low-level thugs who, at their core, are pissed at being beat by Randy and (Sen.) Howard WALKER (R-Traverse City) in a primary and nobody will do anything for them on their Right to Work proposal.”

MIRS asked Richardville spokeswoman Amber McCANN about the email Bishop sent to senators. “I don’t think that kind of document deserves acknowledgment or comment,” she said.
A caucus source said that there’s no coalition within the caucus of senators interested in challenging Richardville’s leadership position. Some have been unhappy with Richardville over certain issues, like the New International Trade Crossing (NITC) or the Michigan health care exchange, but not enough to throw in with a couple Tea Party activists.

However, a bill that would help prevent unionization drives like the one under the Michigan Quality Community Care Council (MQCCC), SB 1018 sponsored by Sen. Dave HILDENBRAND (R-Lowell), will see action on Thursday. The bill is expected to move out of the Reform, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee and be passed on the floor.

Leadership discussed the bill last week and the caucus talked about it on Tuesday. McCann said Richardville plans to vote “yes” and said the timing has nothing to do with Bishop’s letter.
Bishop said he sent the e-mail based on “rumors” he heard in Richardville’s home district that he felt the senators should know. He said he “absolutely supports” the Republican caucus voting out Richardville for “not representing the people of the state of Michigan” on issues like Right to Work and the New International Trade Crossing, which he called the “government bridge.”

“He’s not in sync with the majority of Republican citizens and what needs to be done,” Bishop said. “Randy Richardville is a major roadblock in what we feel would truly reinvent Michigan and do a better job of getting Michigan and its people back to work.

“I can’t believe these Senators are going to condone this type of behavior from Randy Richardville,” he said. “That’s astonishing to me.”

Doug SEDENQUIST of the Delta Area Tea Party Group and Bain told MIRS that they, too, believe Richardville needs to go.

“This has nothing to do with sour grapes,” Bain said. “This guy is not a Republican. I don’t care if he’s got an ‘R’ after his name. He’s not a Republican.”

But Joan FABAINO of Tea Party group Grassroots in Michigan said repeating personal attacks against a sitting Senator is “not anything I would approve of whatsoever.”

Fabiano said there is a lot of “angst and distrust” of Richardville and his brand of leadership, this tactic used by Bishop “shows a lack of ethical behavior . . . I would condemn it. “

Tea Party activists across the state had been making racket for weeks about Richardville for his stance on policy issues. Clem said Tea Party activists from Plymouth, Lapeer, Manistee, Ludington and elsewhere were putting pressure on Richardville to move on the MQCCC bills.

“Don’t you think it’d be a better leader than Richardville?” Clem said.
But another Tea Party official told MIRS that many other Tea Party groups are not interested in wasting energy on an inter-caucus fight when U.S. Sen. Debbie STABENOW (D-Lansing) is on the ballot in 2012 and the Democrats are working hard to take back the House at the federal and state level.

Randy Richardville and His Uncle Roger Kahn: Two Peas In A Pod?

An old article dated from Fall of 2010 was sent to the Not So Lame Media.  It makes for interesting reading as you can follow the money.  It should also be noted that Sen Roger Kahn is Randy Richardville's Uncle.   Do we smell nepotism? The Not So Lame Media continues to receive information from its readers on potential corruption. 

From MIRS,

Nofs, Richardville Parting Ways?
Current and future GOP senators came together to sing kumbaya at a fundraiser today, but the race for leadership has already begun in earnest with the results of the Aug. 3 primary providing a clear picture of what the 2011 caucus will look like.

Things appear to have shifted a bit in recent weeks with Sen. Randy RICHARDVILLE (R-Monroe) and Sen. Mike NOFS (R-Battle Creek) emerging as the top prospects for caucus leader with Sen. Mark JANSEN (R-Cutlerville) also meeting presumed future caucus members after appearing out of it several weeks ago.

MIRS has learned that before the primary, Richardville and Nofs had been talking about teaming up, but that's changed, with Richardville wanting to go his own way.

Sources tell MIRS that Richardville has promised Sen. Roger KAHN (R-Saginaw) the Appropriations Committee chair post if he's elected leader, while Jansen has told Sen. John PAPPAGEORGE (R-Troy) that the position is his if he's leader.

Other sources indicate that Jansen may be looking to team up with Richardville, even though such a meeting hasn't taken place. Jansen has to recover after putting money behind losing candidates in races against winning candidates Rep. David HILDENBRAND (R-Lowell) for the 29th District Senate seat and Rep. Phil PAVLOV (R-St. Clair) for the 25th District Senate seat.

Jansen did pick a winner, though, in Rep. Tonya SCHUITMAKER in the 20th District. He gave her $10,000 from his Jansen Legacy Fund. He also gave winner Mike GREEN $2,500 in the 31st, Dave ROBERTSON $2,500 in the 26th, Rep. Arlan MEEKHOF $1,500 in the 30th and Joe HUNE $1,000 in the 22nd. Other leadership candidates put money behind those horses, too.

There's also the history of Jansen's failed leadership bid in the House. Some have compared him to Sen. Jason ALLEN (R-Alanson), who realized too late in 2006 that he didn't have the votes to beat now-Senate Majority Leader Mike BISHOP (R-Rochester) for Majority Leader. Allen teamed up with Sen. Wayne KUIPERS (R-Holland) near the end, but it was too late. The theory is that Jansen wants to build a team earlier.

That said, Jansen appears to be approaching the race as the measured option with no future political ambitions, the person willing to make hard decisions and take the arrows that will come with those decisions without worry about the next rung on the political ladder.

However, Nofs, Kahn and Richardville were all markedly active during the primary, which, sources tell MIRS didn't go unnoticed. Richardville picked a winner in giving Rep. Brian CALLEY $2,500 through his Richardville Leadership Fund, but picked the loser in the 7th by giving $1,000 to Deb WHYMAN. In the past, Richardville also has given to Nofs and Rep. John PROOS.

Kahn's Leadership Fund gave $5,500 to primary loser Rep. Kim MELTZER in the 11th, but did give Rep. Rick JONES $10,000, Schuitmaker $7,000, Green $3,000 and Meekhof $2,000 and $1,000 to Howard WALKER in the 37th. He also gave to Roberston.

Nofs' "Fund For A New Majority" gave to winners Hune $10,000, Schuitmaker $5,000, Robertson $5,500, Calley $2,500, Jones $2,500, Walker $3,000, Hildenbrand $2,500, Pavlov $2,500 and Meekhof $2,000. He played both sides of the fence by giving $2,500 to both Copper RIZZO and Rep. Jim MARLEAU in the 12th.

Proos was on the list of prospective caucus leaders before the election (See "Leadership Races In The Shadows," 8/11/10). But Proos had to devote more time than he planned on his primary race for the 21st Senate District. There's been some speculation that he could team up with Nofs and be his Appropriations Committee chair.

The rumor today was that Richardville was trying to nail down support from House members and was even telling them not to count on any money from him if he didn't. But no incoming senator confirmed that, although several said that it's "way too early" to worry about leadership when Republicans haven't secured the majority yet. ***

More on Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville's Uncle, Senator Roger Kahn:

According to campaign finance reports filed with the Michigan Secretary of State, Sen. Kahn received $2,500 from the SEIU in 2010. However, a review of the reported contributions to his campaign committee, Friends of Roger Kahn for Senate 2010, shows that he has received thousands of dollars from the health care industry. It should be noted that simply because a contribution came from within the health care industry, that doesn't automatically mean that its source supports the forced unionization of home health care workers. It should also be noted that Sen. Kahn is a physician.

Sen. Kahn's campaign finance reports also show that he received multiple contributions from officials at Detroit Medical Center. The top donor in this group was DMC Senior Vice President David Katz, who contributed $2,000 to Sen. Kahn in 2010 and $1,500 in 2009.

"

Joun the Not So Lame Media at http://www.facebook.com/notsolamemedia

Michigan Republican County Chairpersons are Resigning or Being Purged!

Currently there is a split with in the Republican Party of Michigan.  It is a battle between what some call RINOs  (Republican In Name Only) and those that call themselves true conservative Republicans.   The battle has been brewing for a while now but the casualties started coming in as of late last summer.

The first major casualty was when Macomb County Chairman Mike Ennis resigned his post.  He cited, his decision on the internal battles between 10th Congressional District Rep. Candice Miller and 10th Congressional District GOP Chairman Stan Grot. Miller’s allies were tossed out of party leadership positions in late 2010 and early 2011 by a new crop of conservative Republican activists – mostly Tea Party advocates – who were recruited by Grot.  

The following comes from conservative blogger R Al Bain:

Michigan GOP Chairman either Resigning or Purged!
It's no wonder why Alpena County GOP Chair resigns, Macomb County GOP chair quits! At the Monroe County Republican Party's 2008 County Convention the Conservative Chair was purged along with 13 Conservative Members of the Executive Committee for trying to take the Party in a Conservative direction from the Liberal direction it was in and that Liberal direction continues to this day. This was no surprise being as it is the local party of Senate Majority leader and Senator Randy Richardville. It's interesting to note that this local party has been through several chairman since 1999 (first year Richardville elected to office as a state representative) that have either resigned or were purged! Senator Richardville's mother Glenda Kennon, has been first vice chair overseeing this party since Mr. Richardville was first elected to office in 1999.

Also of interest is that an email sent out (Click the PIC below to Read the email) by this first vice chair of this so-called Republican Party by Mr. Richardville's mother Mrs. Kennon
http://www.miteapartynews.com/index.php/archives/107-alpena-county-gop-chair-resigns-over-gop-treatment-of-conservativeshttp://www.miteapartynews.com/index.php/archives/107-alpena-county-gop-chair-resigns-over-gop-treatment-of-conservatives

There is also descent in Monroe County.  Many are dissatisfied with Randy Richardville and his moderate view and his questionable connections to the Michigan movie industry.

In addition to county chairpersons falling, those that are State Party Officials may be out of a job. 

 Many are now calling for the removal of Bobby Schostak, the Michigan State Republican Chairman, in the upcoming convention later this spring. 

Also State National Committeeman, Saul Anuzis is also facing removal from the conservatives that are trying to take back the Republican Party.  

On Facebook, there are now well populated groups such as "Dump Saul Anuzis", "RINO Hunters", "Conservatives for legitimate GOP Leadership", and a renewed interest in "Stop the National Popular Vote". That last BTW, to repudiate the LEFTIST PROGRESSIVE efforts of Anuzis to change the electoral process, something that if effective in 2000 would have given us an Al Gore

Both Saul Anuzis and Bobby Schostak played a key role in the DELE-GATE scandal here in Michigan. 

Author J Gillman of RightMichigan.com writes, "

Bobby can pretend all he wants that he maintains integrity, when the most corrupt actions in current memory is happening right now under his watch. The worst cheating, and an attempt to manipulate the votes of grass roots voters in recent years by officials when THEIR guy didn't show a decisive win continues. Heck, even Mark Brewer is getting jealous about Schostaks new found ability for corruption, and is challenging him to a twitter duel through communications guy Matt Frendewey.

Brewer is mad because he no longer has the monopoly on shady underhandedness in Michigan.
And Schostak and company sold out to the dark side CHEAP."

It will be interesting to see which side wins over the next few months.  Will the Republican Party survive or will conservatives work together to form a new third party?

Rabbit Hole Runs Deep with Randy Richardville, Bob Ficano, and John Rakolta

This rabbit hole runs much deeper than most realize! John Rakolta is one of the "gang of four" wealthy and politically connected businessmen concoct an elaborate scheme, using their checkbooks and relationships, to secure a taxpayer-funded movie studio for their own personal financial gain.

Also allegedly involved are Alfred Taubman, Linden Nelson CEO of Raleigh Michigan Studios, and Ari Emanuel, who just happens to be the brother of former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who introduced his brother to Linden Nelson at political events. Since the movie credits and government funding for the studio were a product of an agreement between Governor Granholm and Rahm Emanuel -- both of whom would soon occupy different roles -- the deal had to include a “poison pill” such that any future governor would think twice about getting rid of the film credits and studio funding. The "poison pill" just happens to be Michigan's own Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville.

This is where it gets interesting. Richardville has been lobbied very hard by Nelson, Rakolta and the other partners. Richardville attended the Emmy’s on a trip arranged by Linden Nelson. He also went to a Red Wings game with Nelson in March. While the majority of Republican legislators oppose further funding of the film credits and are outraged by the way the studio was funded with taxpayer money, Richardville is susceptible to “wooing” and is behind the scenes trying to help Nelson and the Gang of Four. He accomplished this by deceiving his colleges on this issue of film producer subsidies and introducing legislation which passed. The film studio folks have hired a slew of lobbyists to cut a deal with Senator Richardville. John Rakolta is paying Scott Romney and the Honigman law firm substantial money to lobby Governor Snyder and the Republican State Senate.

This is the Republican strategy to keep this Democratic deal alive. Interesting information on John Rakolta Jr. is the CEO of Walbridge (formely known as Walbridge Aldinger). He was also one of the National Finance Chairs for Mitt Romney's 2008 Presidential Campaign. Rakolta's wife Terry Rakolta is the sister of Mitt's former sister-in-law Ronna Romney. He was offered the opportunity to be part of a consortium of five Detroit-area businessmen to provide a loan to Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to convince him to resign so that the scandals he had created would end, but Rakolta declined before it actually happened, so the other four went on with it alone.

Besides his work for the Romney campaign in 2008, Rakolta was a major fundraiser for the Bush campaign in 2004. Most recently he was State Finance Chair for Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan. Rakolta's daughter Lauren Rakolta was also a major figure in Mitt Romney's campaign and previously had worked for Mitt Romney when he was governor of Massachusetts. She is currently the finance director for Rick Snyder's campaign to be governor of Michigan.