MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, August 17, 2015

Why has Rep. Todd Courser and Rep. Cindy Gamrat opted against resignation despite the urgings of conservatives, Tea Party activists and constituents in their districts? MIRS explores these subjects with political consultant David Forsmark, who Courser accused as being behind a blackmailing scheme to get him to resign or details of the affair would become public.

Forsmark talks about his friendship with Courser's staffers and gives his insights into the Courser-Gamrat affair.

Rep. Cindy Gamrat Press Conference 8/14/15

The following is Rep. Cindy Gamrat's first press conference after news of her extra-martial affair with Rep. Todd Courser and botched cover up was first reported a week ago. The event took place at the Abood Law Firm in East Lansing.

MIRS Monday, August 10, 2015

John Truscott of Truscott Rossman breaks down Rep. Todd Courser's response to The Detroit News story. Is there any saving his political career? Should Rep. Cindy Gamrat resign, as well, over the sex scandal and the corresponding gay prostitute email designed to "inoculate the herd?"

Also, listen to what Courser told a MIRS reporter a few weeks ago about sending out false emails. This and Truscott declares a winner to the Thursday night debate in this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Aug. 3, 2015

John Kasich supporter Jeff Timmer of Two Rivers Public Affairs predicts his favored presidential candidate will appear on the Fox News debate stage Thursday. Timmer gives his personal views on the Republican field to date. Who is exceeding expectations? Who is falling short of expectations?

Also, Jake Davison (12:52) makes his MIRS Monday podcast debut to talk about his candidacy in the 82nd House District, currently represented by first-term incumbent Todd Courser. Davison describes himself as a Tea Party conservative, but does vary from Courser on at least one major social issue. 

MIRS Monday, July 27, 2015

What proposal is the most likely to make it in front of voters on the November 2016 ballot? Adrian Hemond from Grassroots Midwest gives his opinion. Hemond also suggests a new idea that's being floated around Lansing that would shrink the size of the Legislature from 110 House members to 80 and 38 senators to 25. Listen to some details on that.

Also, Sen. Mike Green (R-Mayville) talks about the potential of a runaway constitutional convention if the states agree to hold such a meeting regarding a federal balanced budget amendment.

MIRS Monday, July 20, 2015

Would House Speaker Jase Bolger have voted for the current Senate roads plan if it were offered to him in lame duck 2014? How much General Fund revenue did he ask the Governor to dedicate to roads as part of a roads package in 2014? And how important, politically, is it that the House Republicans pass a road-funding plan this term?

Bolger, the current advisor for the West Michigan Policy Forum, answers these questions and more. Also, listen to the first half of last week's House Democrats' press conference on their road-funding plan (16:55-29:32).

MIRS Monday, July 13, 2015

As road funding discussions go behind closed doors in the state legislature, former Sen. Gretchen Whitmer questions how much power Gov. Rick Snyder will exert into the process after he was "beat" on the issue by then-Speaker Jase Bolger last year. Whitmer also talks about what issue she wants to see on the ballot next year, if she's interested in running for office in the future and more.

Also, hear raw audio from presidential candidate Rand Paul's press availability in Holland on Sunday (18:00) and pre-press conference thoughts from Paul supporter U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (15:58).

MIRS Monday, July 6, 2015

Senate President Pro Tem Tonya Schuitmaker has been increasing her visibility across the state. Why is that? Where is she on prison reform and what criteria does she use in determining whether to raise taxes?

Also, does Lon Johnson's candidacy in the 1^st Congressional District hurt state Rep. Gretchen Driskell's in the 7^th? Who is being talked about for Attorney General in 2018? Is the House Republicans' campaign operation in disarray? And why did state Sen. Virgil Smith vote with the Republicans on their gas tax hike proposal? Ed Sarpolus from Target Insyght tackles these questions and more in this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, June 29, 2015

Tom Shields of the Marketing Resource Group assisted in the defeat of Lon Johnson during his 2012 state House race and the re-election of U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek in 2014. What does he see as Johnson's biggest weaknesses? Shields also breaks down the presidential field, along with Stephanie McLean of GMT Strategies.

McLean also talks about the political implications of last week's gay marriage ruling and how it affects political candidates in 2016.

Attorney General Bill Schuette Press Conference 6/26/15

Attorney General Bill Schuette reacts to today's U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows same-sex couples to wed, despite state constitutional or legislative restrictions. Schuette also takes questions from reporters. The following is raw audio and the press conference in its entirety.