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After 2,500 days, Whitmer ignores her open government promise
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is running out of time to keep a campaign promise. During her first gubernatorial run, she pledged to open the governor’s office to the state Freedom of Information Act.
Nov. 4 marked day 2,500 of the Whitmer administration. The governor has yet to keep her promise.
Here’s what Whitmer wrote in 2018: “If the legislature won’t act, I will use the governor’s authority under the Michigan State Constitution to extend FOIA to the Lieutenant Governor and Governor’s Offices.”
This was a significant pledge because Michigan is the only stat in the country whose open records law expressly excuses the governor from following the law.
The Michigan Legislature enacted our public records law in 1976. The law had a simple and compelling purpose: “The people shall be informed so that they may fully participate in the democratic process.” Click here to read more.
Taxpayers pay $23.6M for Chicago Public Schools vacations
Chicago Public Schools employees spent $23.6 million in tax dollars on lavish vacations at 5-star hotels and overseas trips. Much of it was without approval.
Hotel rooms costing $945 per night. Anniversary trips to Las Vegas. South African safaris. Nearly $5,000 for trips to Hawaii.
Grand total: $23.6 million in six years. All at taxpayer expense. All by Chicago Public Schools employees and students.
Much of it was never approved.
While staffers were seeing Hawaii, students were seeing their achievement suffer. Only 2-in-5 CPS students can read at grade level. About 1-in-4 perform math proficiently. Click here to read more.
The House voted 427-1 on Tuesday to force the Justice Department to release Jeffrey Epstein-related files, and the lone “no” came from Republican Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins who says the bill endangers innocent people.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act would require DOJ to publish all unclassified records tied to the Epstein investigations. Congress’ summary says the department could still protect classified material and active probes.
“If enacted in its current form, this type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files, released to a rabid media, will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt,” Higgins wrote Tuesday on X, explaining his vote. He added that he would support a Senate-amended version that better shields victims and uncharged Americans named in the files. Click here to read more.
Yes, Millions Of Illegals Are Receiving Food Stamps
Despite legacy media claims, illegal immigrants do indeed receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, commonly known as food stamps.
In fact, it’s estimated that millions of illegal immigrants are collecting food stamps.
Though SNAP data is hard to come by, seemingly intentionally so, a 2024 Survey of Income and Program Participation that’s been analyzed by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) gives us some insight.
CIS estimates that up to 4.5 million illegals are using SNAP, even though SNAP is restricted to applicants who have legal status.
Notably, only the applicant, in theory, must have legal status in the U.S. Members of households who indirectly benefit from food stamps do not have to disclose legal status.
Moreover, illegal immigrants are already permitted to use WIC, which is another welfare food program, though it’s more restrictive than SNAP. Click here to read more.
Howell Township considers moratorium on data centers amid 1,000+ acre rezoning request
Residents in Livingston County’s Howell Township are expected to pack into Howell High School on Thursday as trustees mull how to address a rezoning request for a 1,000-acre data center.
The township’s board of trustees will consider whether to impose a moratorium on approvals for data centers as they review potential regulations, after local residents came out to voice their opposition at an informational meeting on Monday, MLive reports.
“There are a lot of things that could really go wrong,” Aaron Currie, a local real estate agent who organized the Monday town hall, told the news site. “There are no data centers in Livingston County, so I don’t think you’ll find anyone in the room who doesn’t have fears and concerns about the unknown.”
Developer Randee, LLC, submitted a conditional zoning request for more than 1,077 acres in Howell Township, claiming the $1 billion data center would create 1,000 temporary jobs and “likely generate more tax revenue than many of the largest taxpayers in Livingston County combined,” Planet Detroit reports. Click here to read more.
