Author Archives: chadphillips

Parody: Rick Snyder vs. The Teacher

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Republicans Pass De Facto “Right to Work” for School Employees

 Today the House and the Senate passed House Bill 4929 which will prohibit the “use of public school resources to assist a labor organization in collecting dues.”  They passed the bill even though the House Fiscal Agency (H.F.A.) said the bill will “have … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Michigan Populist’s Top 5 Threats to Democracy in 2012

1. The Republican Supermajority- Our government was set up to have checks and balances.  When one party, especially if it is lead by an extreme element in that party, takes power of all the branches of Government, there are no checks or … Continue reading

Posted in ALEC, Darwin Booher, Great Lakes Education Project, Mackinac Center | 1 Comment

Fixing Schools: Stop Attacking the Adults and Start Helping the Kids

When teachers push back against Republican school “reforms,” Republicans like to say “this isn’t about the adults.”  Yet all the Republican “reforms” seem to be targeted at teachers (the adults) rather than at the students (the kids).  Taking away a teacher’s job security, by essentially eliminating seniority … Continue reading

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State’s Pension Fix- Cash in on Untimely Deaths!

  Before watching Michael Moore’s Capitalism:  A Love Story, I could not have imagined it would be legal for a company to take out a life insurance policy on their employees.  Even though you and I can not take out insurance … Continue reading

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The Most Ridiculous Report of the Year- ALEC’s Report Card on American Education

My very first blog post was an analysis of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) 15th and 16th Report Card on American Education.  I was inspired to begin blogging after Governor Snyder used ALEC’s faulty metrics to belittle our education system during his … Continue reading

Posted in ALEC, Darwin Booher, Schools | Leave a comment

A Lesson from Levin

I had the pleasure of joining Senator Carl Levin  for breakfast recently.  It was a great honor to be in the presence of the senior Senator from Michigan.  I learned a lot about Washington politics that morning, and I also learned something … Continue reading

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Collective Bargaining Wins on MLK Day

Collective bargaining has been demonized and weakened by Michigan Republicans in the past year.  In fact, Republicans seemed poised to try to kill collective bargaining all together this year with “right-to-work” legislation.  However, collective bargaining continues to prove that it works, and lets … Continue reading

Posted in Schools | 2 Comments

Republicans Use “Guiding Principles” Publication to Slam Teachers Again.

 If you read the House Republican’s Guiding Principles publication, you will see the words “job” or “jobs” fifty-one times.  Republicans claim they are “looking out for the job seeker and the job creator.”  If you move to the education section, the tone changes.  … Continue reading

Posted in Phil Potvin, Schools | Leave a comment

Michigan Needs a Graduated Income Tax

  It is 2012, a new tax year, and in Michigan the beginning of a free ride for two thirds of businesses in Michigan.  Thanks to Governor Snyder, and his fellow business owners, I mean Republicans, only businesses organized as “C” corporations will have to pay … Continue reading

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