Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Sen. Mike Kowall and Rep. Mike McCready named to annual 'watch' list.
Sen. Mike Kowall and Rep. Mike McCready have been named two of six regional "Legislators to Watch" in 2013 by Detroiter Magazine, operated by the Detroit Regional Chamber organization. According to the article, the two fellow former small business owners have what it takes to foster economic growth across the Metro Detroit area. Kowall (R-15th District) a former State Representative who currently chairs the Senate Economic Development Committee, has a "knack" for developing legislation which benefits the business community, according to the article. Representing a "key seat" in the region, McCready (R-40th District) is serving his first term. McCready represents Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township and West Bloomfield Township…
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Here's a look at what Michigan state legislators representing the Greater West Bloomfield area did last year.
Michigan state House Bills that were introduced in 2012 regarding "telemedicine," 16- and 17-year-olds "pre-registering" to vote, and "basic driver improvement" courses had at least one thing in common: they were introduced by legislators representing the Greater West Bloomfield area. The nonpartisan vote-tracking website michiganvotes.org — which compiles the voting histories of lawmakers in the Michigan House and Senate — notes bills introduced by State Reps. Lisa Brown (D-39th District), Gail Haines (R-43rd District) and Chuck Moss (R-40th District) and where the legislation ended up. Similar surveys were taken of the work by State Sens. Mike Kowall (R-15th District) and Jim Marleau (R-12th District). Among the highlights of bills …
Monday, December 31, 2012
Kowall did not miss a single one of the Michigan State Senate's 1,082 roll call votes in 2012, according to a nonpartisan vote-tracking website.
For State Sen. Mike Kowall (R-15th District), 2012 must have been a busy year. The nonpartisan vote-tracking website michiganvotes.org — which compiles the voting histories of lawmakers in the Michigan House and Senate — noted that Kowall did not miss a single one of the Senate's 1,082 roll call votes in 2012. State Reps. Lisa Brown (D-39th District), Gail Haines (R-43rd District) and Chuck Moss (R-40th District) also posted perfect attendance records on the House's 904 roll call votes. State Sen. Jim Marleau (R-12th District) missed 19 of 1,082 votes. Michiganvotes.org notes that missed votes by legislators may be due to illness, family emergencies, or other good reasons. In addition, members of the House and Senate majority and minority…
Thursday, January 19, 2012
White Lake Republican will continue to serve his four-year term in the Michigan Senate.
In a surprise announcement that took place during Gov. Rick Snyder's State of the State address Wednesday night in Lansing, state Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake) said he would immediately cease his campaign for Congress. Kowall wrote, via e-mail: "During the past year, Michigan Republicans have shown what’s possible with principled, conservative leadership. "We’ve eliminated Michigan’s structural budget deficit. We’ve replaced the Michigan Business Tax. We’ve eliminated job-killing regulations and streamlined state government. "Our economy is responding. Unemployment is down. Job creation is up. And our families are beginning to have hope in the future again. "In one year, Michigan Republicans have accomplished a lot to turn our state …
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Lisa Brown did not miss one of the State House's 619 votes in 2011, according to a nonpartisan vote-tracking website.
State Rep. Lisa Brown (D-39) can add perfect attendance to her 2011 accomplishments — or, at least, a perfect voting record. The nonpartisan vote-tracking website michiganvotes.org — which compiles the voting histories of lawmakers in the Michigan House and Senate — noted that Brown did not miss one of the House's 619 votes in 2011. Brown represents Michigan’s 39th District, which includes Commerce Township, West Bloomfield and Wolverine Lake. State representatives are elected for two-year terms and are limited to three terms. Fellow Rep. Gail Haines (R-43) was noted to have missed eight votes, while State Sen. Mike Kowall (R-15) missed one out of a possible 830. Michiganvotes.org notes that missed votes by legislators may be due to …
Friday, December 16, 2011
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake) and supported by other local politicians, the subsidy provides for $50 million to benefit the Ford Wixom plant.
State Reps. Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield) and Gail Haines (R-Waterford) were part of a majority House vote Thursday in support of a Senate bill to provide a $50 million subsidy to benefit the Ford Motors Wixom plant. Senate bill 855, introduced by State Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake) was passed 82-24 in the House. A revised bill with amendments was passed 35-3 that same day. The subsidy to Maryland-based investment firm Townsend Ventures will go to outfitting the closed facility with systems necessary to produce electric car batteries. The subsidy will create 875 direct jobs by 2016, according to materials supplied to the Senate Committee for Economic Development. Those workers will create power stations that can charge electric vehicles…
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The new legislative maps mean new boundaries for House, Senate and Congressional districts in Michigan.
Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday signed legislation that redraws legislative boundaries for the state House and Senate and for congressional districts. In West Bloomfield, that means a new representative in Congress as well as a new state representative. Every decade, states must redraw the boundaries for state House and Senate and U.S. House seats based on U.S. Census results. Under the plan, the 40th district, represented by House Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham) would encompass part of the township. Congressman Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills), meanwhile, would no longer serve in West Bloomfield, as his district has been eliminated. That does not sit well with Peters, whose district is being split into three separate districts. Rep. John …
Monday, July 11, 2011
Kowall says he's forming a committee, will seek Thaddeus McCotter's 11th Congressional seat.
The Oakland Press is reporting that state Senator Mike Kowall from Whilte Lake will be running for Congress in 2012. According to the report, Kowall, a Republican, is forming a committee and plans to run for the seat vacated by Thaddeus McCotter's (R-Livonia) presidential run. Kowall just recently won his state Senate seat in November, vacating his former position as White Lake Township Supervisor. His election win prompted controversy as the township board appointed a new supervisor, Greg Baroni, after weeks of debate. The state Senate term is a 4-year term. According to the Oakland Press article, Kowall won't have to give up his seat in order to run and he said he plans to run the campaign and continue with all of his state Senate duties…
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Republican plan would shrink House Rep. Lisa Brown's area of influence.
Michigan Republicans have laid out their reapportionment plans and if they are approved by lawmakers, the Congressional and state House districts in West Bloomfield Township would see a lot of change. Under the plan, House Rep. Lisa Brown's (D-West Bloomfield) 39th district would occupy a smaller portion of West Bloomfield than what it currently does. Congressman Gary Peters (D-9th District), meanwhile, would no longer serve in West Bloomfield. Mike Kowall would remain the township’s state Senator. Reapportionment happens every 10 years following the release of U.S. Census data; it is a mandate to keep districts equal in population. The state has until Nov. 1 to finalize the district maps. Here's a look at how the proposed reapportionment …
Herb Helzer
3:29 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Sen. Mike Kowall showed a true lack of guts with this move. The stars were aligned in his favor: The redrawn Congressional district includes his entire State Senate district and is far more GOP-friendly than the old 11th (which featured Westland, Garden City, Wayne & Dearborn Heights). The winner this year will have a clear path to reelection through the 2020 cycle, when the next Census occurs. … more ›