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Jason Allen and the Definition of a Liberal Republican
jenkuznicki.com ^ | 06/13/10 | Jen Kuznicki

Posted on 06/14/2010 7:03:58 AM PDT by jenk

One of the ways that lawmakers in Michigan have been making names for themselves is by employing targeted tax incentives. The practice is both criticized and applauded, depending on if the critic or the one who praises benefits in any way.

The purpose of easing taxes on business to motivate them or encourage them to do business in Michigan seems like a noble thought, after all, Michigan's unemployment rates are the highest in the country, and have been for 4 years now. But one cannot ignore the absolute fact that the only benefit these schemes have is to vault the name of the sponsor in congress, and create an advantage by the recipient against his peers.

According to Jack McHugh at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, the most liberal agent of these targeted tax incentives is Senator Jason Allen.

Since 2001, Allen has introduced at least 60 bills in this category, many of them thinly disguised favors benefiting specific companies. In fact, these bills Allen introduced are clearly red flags, and once again highlight the fact that he is not conservative.

(Excerpt) Read more at jenkuznicki.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Local News; Politics
KEYWORDS: corporatewelfare; elections; jasonallen; mi01; rino
Jason Allen, Republican Senator from Traverse City, Michigan, moved into the First District of Michigan (Alanson) to run for the soon to be vacated seat of Bart Stupak (D) Menominee. He has just gotten the endorsement of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. There are 6 Republicans running for that office, and the primary is on August 3rd. Of the six, 5 are more conservative than Jason Allen, and the sole Democrat running in the general is Gary McDowell, is probably more conservative as well. Jason Allen runs 5 or more slush funds, and is the most prolific fundraiser in Lansing. I'd like to thank Michigan Capitol Confidential and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy for their hard work in making us aware of what is, and what is not conservative.

My pick for the First District is Dan Benishek, a surgeon from Crystal Falls, and a common sense conservative, who've I've spoken to on many occasions.

1 posted on 06/14/2010 7:03:58 AM PDT by jenk
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To: grellis

Michigan Ping!


2 posted on 06/14/2010 7:04:31 AM PDT by jenk (Ain't no party like my Nanna's tea party....)
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To: jenk

who I’ve....


3 posted on 06/14/2010 7:05:08 AM PDT by jenk (Ain't no party like my Nanna's tea party....)
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To: jenk

Michigan’s own version of Scozzafava.


4 posted on 06/14/2010 7:07:47 AM PDT by darkangel82 (I don't have a superiority complex, I'm just better than you.)
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To: Springman; sergeantdave; cyclotic; netmilsmom; RatsDawg; PGalt; FreedomHammer; queenkathy; ...

If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.


5 posted on 06/14/2010 7:14:10 AM PDT by grellis (I am Jill's overwhelming sense of disgust.)
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To: jenk
According to Jack McHugh at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, the most liberal agent of these targeted tax incentives is Senator Jason Allen.

This is where the word "liberal" causes problems. There are multiple definitions of it. The three main ones are 1. dealing with freedom - usually called a classical liberal and rarely used in that form in the US anymore, 2. politically leftist, and 3. generous, possibly with your own money or possibly with someone else's. I don't know enough about him and Michigan politics to know how leftist he is, but it looks like this use of the word "liberal" is from the third definition (and it's not his money).

6 posted on 06/14/2010 7:23:22 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (I am so immune to satire that I ate three Irish children after reading Swift's "A Modest Proposal")
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To: jenk
Total BS, it is nothing more than corruption, if a business operating under the same rules as everyone else cannot make it, let them go broke. This type of activity give true meaning to its not what you know it's who you Blo*.
7 posted on 06/14/2010 7:28:21 AM PDT by org.whodat
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To: jenk

The Mich chamber of commerce has gone off the rails. I see they pulled their endorsement of Walberg and are now endorsing Rooney in the 7th.

I’m voting for Walberg.


8 posted on 06/14/2010 7:29:07 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: KarlInOhio

liberal in this sense is the third definition.


9 posted on 06/14/2010 7:29:50 AM PDT by jenk (Ain't no party like my Nanna's tea party....)
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To: KarlInOhio

Jason Allen introduced the bill that forced the unionization of home care workers.

He chose to wear the SEIU leash and now he can pay for it.


10 posted on 06/14/2010 7:30:49 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: cripplecreek

I still don’t think Allen gets the First District yet, but some of these tax breaks went to the Mackinac/Mackinaw area for tourism.

What he did was introduce legislation to allow Mackinac Island to levy a 2% tax on hotels on the island to fund it’s own tourism department. Been to the island lately? Nearly all the workers are from Jamaica, and most of the tourists are from China. Rooms on the island are 300 bucks a night per person and up.


11 posted on 06/14/2010 7:35:59 AM PDT by jenk (Ain't no party like my Nanna's tea party....)
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To: jenk

I cannot impress on FReepers enough, the importance of listening to Michigan FReepers when it comes to fixing our state. That means supporting the candidates that we who actually live in the districts support.

We don’t need Newt Gingrich to tell us what’s wrong with Michigan and we don’t need to be told how to fix it. We know what’s wrong and we know how to fix it but we could use as much help as possible.

More than anything our Mi FReeper supported candidates need money and we mostly agree on who the candidate in the individual districts should be. The only area of disagreement you’ll find among Michigan FReepers is the governors race but that will shake out on its own.

I feel pretty safe promising two new GOP house seats in Michigan if we can get the money to the candidates. Benishek in the first district and Walberg in the 7th are good men who could use everyone’s support.


12 posted on 06/14/2010 7:51:12 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: cripplecreek

Jason Allen, Brian Rooney, and Rick Snyder are all liberal pukes that should be exposed and driven out of the Republican party!


13 posted on 06/14/2010 9:12:40 AM PDT by Beagle8U (Free Republic -- One stop shopping ....... It's the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
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To: Beagle8U

I don’t know if I’d put Rooney in the liberal category but I do have serious reservations about him starting with moving to the district to run against a true blue conservative.

Nephew of Obama appointed ambassador to Ireland, cousin to PA democrat party chairman. Skipping the right to life banquet to go fundraising with the main street republicans. He wants to emulate Joe Schwarz. His brother (Tom Rooney) is a GOP congressman in Florida but I can find very little about him.


14 posted on 06/14/2010 11:28:09 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: cripplecreek

Rooney’s only record is being a carpetbagger and hanging out with liberal RINOs. Ditto for Snyder, plus the odd cult he belongs to.

Both of them have ties to the eco-twits that are destroying the state.


15 posted on 06/14/2010 11:45:34 AM PDT by Beagle8U (Free Republic -- One stop shopping ....... It's the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; bigheadfred; blueyon; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; ...
Since 2001, Allen has introduced at least 60 bills in this category, many of them thinly disguised favors benefiting specific companies. In fact, these bills Allen introduced are clearly red flags, and once again highlight the fact that he is not conservative.
Granholm, OTOH, opposes a power plant, that's a lot better for the state's economy. Thanks grellis.
16 posted on 06/14/2010 6:32:39 PM PDT by SunkenCiv ("Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others." -- Otto von Bismarck)
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