The Ward hit parade: Bonus Burgers

Politicians always hope things they do early in their terms will be forgotten by the voters when election time rolls around, and that’s what our opponent, Chris Ward is hoping. However, we intend to remind voters of his actions in office, from trying to give away public land to a connected developer to accepting money from the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association in exchange for a law that said you could not buy a bottle of wine direct from a Michigan winery without going through a wholesaler first.

Some Ward supporters and staff members have complained that we are personally attacking Ward on this blog. That’s just not true. We are simply pointing out his record and conduct while in office, and it’s a record of arrogance, representing the lobbyists and special interests instead of voters and self-serving actions. I know of no way to beat an incumbent other than to point out what he has done with the trust the voters have placed in him, and he has squandered that trust.

I not only urge Ward, his staff and his supporters to come here and try to defend his actions; I challenge them to point out a personal attack.

The incident we want to point out to today to the voters who may have forgotten it is an article that appeared in the Nov. 29, 2005 edition if the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus that pointed out over about a two-year period that lobbyists spent $5,899 on free meals for Ward. His defense was “it’s convenient to meet over a burger at lunch.” Man, those are some expensive burgers. I would sure like to taste one of those burgers.

For a little comparison, Ward is the Majority Floor Leader, and he’s responsible for directing activity on the House floor, and he’s the No. 3 man in House leadership. The actual leader of the House had only about $1,800 worth of free meals courtesy of lobbyists. Apparently, Ward’s time is much more valuable than Craig DeRouche’s.

On the Senate side, there are just 38 Senators compared to 110 House members, meaning Senators represent almost three times the amount of constituents a state Representative is responsible for. So it might seem logical that the more powerful Senators would have more money spent on them by lobbyists. Not true.

The Senate Majority Leader only ate $1,170 worth of free meals, and Ward’s direct counterpart in the Senate, the Senate Majority Floor Leader, only scarfed down $1,200 worth of free burgers.

Rich Robinson, Director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, said it’s not so much the free meals but the unfettered and direct access to a state lawmaker that’s important. I can guarantee you this; no constituent ever got that much one-on-one time with Ward, even if they were springing for the burgers, unless they had a check in their hand too.

The article ends with this priceless Ward quote, “They’re certainly not going to buy my vote for a hamburger.” We certainly know that.