Conservative Republican says lobbyists control Michigan Legislature

For those of you who attended or watched the live broadcast of the Hamburg Township Board meeting Tuesday night witnessed a very interesting debate on the request by Livingston County to increase the surcharge on telephones to fund 911 Central Dispatch. But even more interesting was Livingston County Commissioner Dave Domas slamming the do-nothing-Michigan Legislature, saying the Legislature has a “habit of doing nothing.”

Former Commissioner David Hamilton, chair of the Livingston County Taxpayers Association, and Domas, the former chair of the Commission when Hamilton was on the Board, took opposite sides.

I have a lot of respect for both of these conservative Republicans, and frankly, I’m now not sure how I’m going to vote on Aug. 8.

If approved, the monthly fee for landline phones would increase from $3 to $4 a month. But here’s the interesting part. Because cell phones are becoming so popular, many people are dropping their landlines, meaning there’s less money available. Cell phones only pay 29 cents a month. 29 cents! The obvious thing would be to increase that fee to level the playing field and have everyone pay their fair share for a public safety service that has saved lots of lives.

Not so fast. The legislature must increase that fee, and apparently they have a strong lobby. Also, people who use phone cards or Vonage or phone over the Internet pay nothing.

Domas said it would not change because it’s an election year, and the lobbyists, who elected them, will not allow it.

Apparently Domas knows Chris Ward and the rest of the House leadership all too well.
We need to elect people who represent the district and not the lobbyists and special interest, and that person is Mike McGonegal.