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Whitmer Signs Legislation Tightening Regulations on Michigan Election Recounts
Critics Argue New Laws Could Limit Transparency and Increase Costs for Recounts
July 10, 2024
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LANSING, MI — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed a series of bills into law on Monday aimed at tightening regulations on election recounts. The new laws prohibit recounts conducted on the basis of fraud allegations unless the results could impact the election outcome.

Governor Whitmer emphasized the importance of these measures, stating, "This legislation supports fair and free elections, ensuring the winner can take office without unnecessary interference."

 

 

Senate Bill 603 introduces numerous provisions governing election recounts. It clarifies that a recount is not an "investigation or an audit of the conduct of an election," and does not assess the qualifications of voters or the manner in which ballots are issued. Additionally, the law mandates that election boards must refer allegations of fraud to the county prosecuting attorney or the state attorney general, rather than investigating themselves.

The legislation specifies that candidate or ballot question committees can only request recounts for precincts where there is a significant discrepancy between the ballots collected and those issued. This discrepancy must be large enough that reallocating the questioned votes to the losing side could change the election result. Otherwise, a recount cannot be requested.

An analysis by the state House Committee on Elections highlighted past recount requests, such as Green Party candidate Jill Stein's 2016 presidential race recount, despite receiving only 1.07% of the vote. Similarly, in 2022, petitions were filed for recounts of two ballot proposals due to alleged voter fraud, though neither would have impacted the results.

To deter frivolous recounts, the bill increases the fees required to request a recount, ensuring municipalities can conduct them effectively and accurately. By imposing higher costs for larger victory margins, the state aims to discourage unnecessary recount requests for non-competitive races.

State House Republicans, including State Rep. Ann Bollin (R), have expressed opposition to these provisions. Bollin remarked, "I understand the importance of preventing frivolous recounts, but we must also acknowledge the rights of candidates and voters to ensure they have confidence in the results. By making recounts too expensive, we are effectively pricing out local candidates from ensuring the accuracy of election results and diminishing the public’s confidence in the process."

The bill also requires that any recount must be filed within 48 hours after vote certification by the board of county canvassers, preventing prolonged delays in finalizing election results. It establishes that willfully interfering with a recount or its activities is a felony offense, as outlined in Senate Bill 604, which amends state sentencing guidelines to impose penalties of up to five years for such interference.

State Sen. Stephanie Chang (D) praised the reforms, stating, "Today, with the signing of our common-sense recount law reforms, we are strengthening our democracy and ensuring that we reach the most accurate count of the ballots possible during a recount process. These laws achieve critical goals of protecting the security of every vote, modernizing our recount process, and uplifting the voices of Michigan voters."

Governor Whitmer added, "These bills reflect our commitment to ensuring the integrity of our electoral process and upholding the principle of one person, one vote.

B 603 is among several election-related bills promoted by Democrats in Lansing that Republicans said in June are systematically dismantling the ability of election officials to administer fair and accurate elections, Michigan Advance reports."

 

 

 

“Whether you’re an independent, Democrat or Republican, this doesn’t help you,” state Sen. James Runestad (R-White Lake) said. “This kind of stuff is crafted to get an outcome for the people who are not transparent.”

State Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Coldwater) said what Michigan Democrats are doing now is codifying “the ability to manipulate elections in the law,” leaving the door wide enough so they can “pull off the outcome they want in an election.”

“We’ve heard it said over and over, ‘The 2020 election was the most secure election in American history’ — and this is crazy,” Lindsey said. “I think anytime you open the door and leave a possibility for people to cheat, especially in important things, some subset of people are going to do that.” 

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Michigan paid out $14 million in fraudulent food stamps

When criminals attacked Michigan’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in fiscal year 2024, they stole more than $14 million in food assistance benefits, according to a document obtained through a records request.

More than 1.4 million Michiganders receive state-issued Bridge Cards to buy food at more than 10,000 approved retailers. Organized criminal rings target these cards and retailers with fake card readers, known as skimmers, that steal account data and drain benefits, with taxpayers footing the bill.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and federal partners say they’ve fought back by seizing 44 skimmers at gas stations, grocery stores and liquor stores, protecting $16 million in benefits and 76,000 accounts, according to documents obtained through a records request. Click here to read more.

 

Taxpayer-Funded PBS Show Pushes 93% Anti-Trump Bias, Study Finds

A new study released Tuesday found that the taxpayer-funded PBS program “Washington Week with The Atlantic” consistently exhibited a staggering 93% negative bias against Republicans and the Trump administration over the past three months, despite claiming to provide “objective” political coverage.

The study, conducted by the Media Research Center (MRC), analyzed 13 weekly episodes from April through June 2025, finding that panelists devoted 83 minutes to discussing Republicans and the Trump administration with overwhelming negativity.

“The panelists spent 83 minutes opining on Republicans, focusing on Trump and his administration, in 93% negative fashion (77 minutes negative, six minutes positive),” the MRC report reads.

Even topics where the Trump administration demonstrated success, such as the strike on Iran’s nuclear program, received predominantly negative coverage at 82% unfavorable. Click here to read more. Click here to read more.

 

Trial begins for man charged in Washington State mask mandate dispute

ISLAND COUNTY, Wash. — A dispute over a mask mandate is now heading to trial in Island County.

Last fall, two Republican election observers, Tracy Abuhl and Tim Hazelo, were asked to leave the county elections office for refusing to wear a mask. Both are now facing criminal charges.

At the time, the policy was set by the county auditor after half of her staff had previously gotten sick with COVID-19.

Those who did not want to wear a mask were still allowed to observe the election process from the hallway, though Abuhl says her view was obstructed there.

“I was very peaceful, very respectful, but no, this is unconstitutional,” Abuhl said. “I'm there as a volunteer, a citizen. I was a Republican observer, and I couldn't do my job.”

Both Abuhl and Hazelo were asked to leave and hit with criminal charges, including unauthorized access to a voting center, disorderly conduct, and criminal trespass. Click here to read more.

 

The Mamdani Millionaires Supporting the Socialist for NYC Mayor

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In a coffee shop on the ground floor of 85 Broad St. in lower Manhattan, once Goldman Sachs’s headquarters, the democratic socialist made the case that while he would be focused on income inequality, he was also open to working with the city’s business elite.

“He said, ‘Look, I’m not in favor of government taking over your business,’” Wylde said. “He made clear that he’s not anticapitalist in that sense.”

Mamdani’s shocking win in the Democratic primary last month has polarized the business community of the U.S.’s most economically critical city. Inside investment banks and during breakfast meetings, the very mention of Mayor Eric Adams’s potential left-wing successor has set off rancor and fear among the business elite, some of whom say they are considering leaving the city altogether. Click here to read more.

 

What You Need to Know About the Judge Protecting Planned Parenthood’s Funding From One Big, Beautiful Bill

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U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani of the District of Massachusetts imposed a temporary restraining order Monday directing the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure Medicaid funding continues to be disbursed to Planned Parenthood, which sued to restore its funding.

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Planned Parenthood reportedly receives more than one-third of its overall funding from the U.S. government through grants, contracts, and Medicaid reimbursements. Click here to read more.

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Some local and state officials have said that insufficient forecasts from the National Weather Service caught the region off guard. That claim has been amplified by pundits across social media, who say that cuts to the NWS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, its parent organization, inevitably led to the failure in Texas.

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Joining the compact would help solve Illinois’ ongoing nurse shortage. The state has faced this problem for over a decade, in part because of high attrition rates in pre-nursing academic programs. The Health & Medicine Policy Research Group stated the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the situation, as nurses’ increased workload led to burnout, mental health strains and higher resignation rates. Click here to read more.

 

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Over the weekend, Dr. Christina B. Propst , who had been employed by Blue Fish Pediatrics, posted on Facebook in a now-deleted message that she wished for the safety only of people who didn’t vote for MAGA.

“May all visitors, children, non-MAGA voters and pets be safe and dry,” she posted under Facebook user name, Chris Tina. “Kerr County MAGA voted to gut FEMA. They deny climate change. May they get what they voted for. Bless their hearts.”

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Doctor saves Little League umpire’s life after he collapses during game

LOS ANGELES (KCAL/KCBS) - A doctor in the stands at a Little League baseball game helped resuscitate an umpire after he collapsed from a heart attack.

Little League umpire Jeff Hiserodt is still in a lot of pain as he stands on the baseball field in the Ladera Heights neighborhood where his heart stopped beating.

“I feel like I got hit with a baseball bat, and I lost the fight,” Hiserodt said. “I don’t think everybody gets to revisit the spot that they die.”\

The moment the umpire collapsed near home plate during a game was caught on camera. He was having a heart attack. Within seconds, his colleagues and kids surrounded him. He had no pulse, so they yelled out to the people in the bleachers for help.

Jen Poole, a palliative care doctor at Cedars-Sinai, was sitting in the stands when she heard the pleas for help. Resuscitating strangers isn’t exactly her specialty, but she rushed in to help anyway.

“The adrenaline’s going. Your heart’s going. You’re second guessing if you’re doing the right thing, but you just know you have to help,” Poole said. Click here to read more.

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Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard’s task force, charged with carrying out President Donald Trump’s executive orders related to the intelligence community (IC), is interviewing “whistleblowers” who could expose Russian collusion hoaxers, analyzing previous election processes to investigate vulnerabilities, and more as part of the administration’s goal to maximize transparency.

The Director’s Initiatives Group (DIG), established by Gabbard in April, was launched with the mission of “rebuilding trust in the IC,” starting with “investigating weaponization, rooting out deep-seeded politicization, exposing unauthorized disclosures of classified intelligence, and declassifying information that serves a public interest.”

“The DIG is also leading assessments of IC structure, resourcing, and personnel to improve efficiency and eliminate wasteful spending,” Gabbard’s office said at the time. Click here to read more.


I use my Rapid Radios to keep my family safe. They are also great for business and family. Click here to get up to 70% off.

 

Click here to learn more about Rapid Radios and get an extra 70% off.

 

Meteorologists Say the National Weather Service Did Its Job in Texas

At least 27 people, including nine children, are dead in central Texas after flash floods struck suddenly on the morning of the Fourth of July holiday. After a storm in which a month’s worth of rain fell in some regions in just a few hours, officials say they rescued more than 850 people from the floods over Friday and Saturday. A number of people were still missing as of Saturday afternoon, including 27 young campers from a Christian girls’ camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River.

Some local and state officials have said that insufficient forecasts from the National Weather Service caught the region off guard. That claim has been amplified by pundits across social media, who say that cuts to the NWS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, its parent organization, inevitably led to the failure in Texas.

But meteorologists who spoke to WIRED say that the NWS accurately predicted the risk of flooding in Texas and could not have foreseen the extreme severity of the storm. What’s more, they say that what the NWS did forecast this week underscores the need to sustain funding to the crucial agency. Click here to read more.

 

Illinois nurse shortage fix is blocked by unions

Special interests again succeeded in keeping Illinois one of the few states that has not joined the Nurse Licensure Compact – a proven solution to health care staffing challenges and greater freedom for nurses wanting to practice in Illinois.

Nurses need just one license to practice in any state that is a member of the compact. Illinois requires nurses to take a test in the state and obtain a license that only allows them to practice in Illinois – leaving patients with fewer options and longer waits, plus leaving nurses with fewer career options and heavier workloads.

House Bill 1706, sponsored by state Rep. Yolonda Morris, D-Chicago, a certified nurse assistant, would have added Illinois to the Nurse Licensure Compact. It failed to make it out of committee for a full House vote this past legislative session, facing opposition from Illinois nursing unions that see the compact as a threat to their power.

Joining the compact would help solve Illinois’ ongoing nurse shortage. The state has faced this problem for over a decade, in part because of high attrition rates in pre-nursing academic programs. The Health & Medicine Policy Research Group stated the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the situation, as nurses’ increased workload led to burnout, mental health strains and higher resignation rates. Click here to read more.

 

Texas Pediatrician Fired After Saying ‘MAGA’ Flood Victims Got ‘What They Voted For’

The Texas pediatrician who mocked Trump voters after violent Texas floods, posting that victims deserve to “get what they voted for,” no longer works for her pediatric group.

Over the weekend, Dr. Christina B. Propst , who had been employed by Blue Fish Pediatrics, posted on Facebook in a now-deleted message that she wished for the safety only of people who didn’t vote for MAGA.

“May all visitors, children, non-MAGA voters and pets be safe and dry,” she posted under Facebook user name, Chris Tina. “Kerr County MAGA voted to gut FEMA. They deny climate change. May they get what they voted for. Bless their hearts.”

At least 80 people, including 28 children, have been declared dead from the raging flood that struck Central Texas on July 4. 10 girls from the all-girls Camp Mystic are still missing. “Two sisters, 13-year-old Blair and 11-year-old Brooke Harber, were killed in the Texas Hill Country floods and found with rosaries and their ‘hands locked together,’ their family said.” Newsweek reported. Click here to read more.

 

Doctor saves Little League umpire’s life after he collapses during game

LOS ANGELES (KCAL/KCBS) - A doctor in the stands at a Little League baseball game helped resuscitate an umpire after he collapsed from a heart attack.

Little League umpire Jeff Hiserodt is still in a lot of pain as he stands on the baseball field in the Ladera Heights neighborhood where his heart stopped beating.

“I feel like I got hit with a baseball bat, and I lost the fight,” Hiserodt said. “I don’t think everybody gets to revisit the spot that they die.”\

The moment the umpire collapsed near home plate during a game was caught on camera. He was having a heart attack. Within seconds, his colleagues and kids surrounded him. He had no pulse, so they yelled out to the people in the bleachers for help.

Jen Poole, a palliative care doctor at Cedars-Sinai, was sitting in the stands when she heard the pleas for help. Resuscitating strangers isn’t exactly her specialty, but she rushed in to help anyway.

“The adrenaline’s going. Your heart’s going. You’re second guessing if you’re doing the right thing, but you just know you have to help,” Poole said. Click here to read more.

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