Local Democrats Plan to Take Control in 2012

Planning to take control control of the state legistature from the Republicans,   the Oakland County Democratic Commissioners Caucus met at Via Nove restaurant Thursday night to raise donations for "Victory in 2012."

"It is critical to the success of politicians," said Mayor Dave Coulter. "Raising money is the entrance fee to being in politics, and raising money to get your ideas out there is a necessity in our political system. Those flyers and signs don't pay for themselves."

"This is a good group," said County Commissioner Craig Covey of the 10 commissioners up for reelection in 2012.

As the Democratic commissioners plan for 2012, Ferndale's state Rep. Ellen Cogen-Lipton gave updates what she calls a "scary" situation.

"The plan is to make Michigan more appealing to businesses," said Cogen-Lipton about the Republican agenda. "(Business) tax cuts don't create jobs. You create jobs when you have demand."

Even as businesses receive tax cuts in hopes they will expand and create more jobs, there is no guarantee that they will want to expand in the midst of this economy, explained Cogen-Lipton referring to the expansion belief as a "myth." And this myth, she said, will be paid for by the working class through one of the biggest taxes on an individual in the history of Michigan.

She said as business tax plans to be cut by about 87 percent, personal income tax will rise about 32 percent and is expected to generate more than $600 billion from pension taxes and the elimination of the earned income tax credit.

Elimination of the Medicare Clothing Allowance, cuts to graduate medical education funding and cuts to healthy Michigan funding are all made in the name of business expansion, she said.

"Where's the fairness in that?" asked Cogen-Lipton. "There are faces behind each number and each cut."  

On the heels of national political consultant Dick Morris calling Gov. Rick Snyder to be more Republican, 21st District County Commissioner Janet Jackson said if he was not a Republican before, he certainly was not a Democrat.

"We are the party for the people," said Jackson. "The Democrats have never controlled Oakland County. Just think of all the cool things we could do if we took control of the county."

Do the Democrats have a chance? Some say "yes."

"I think the Republicans are going to have a hard time next year, especially with what the Republican field looks like," said local resident Jason Wade, who came to the fundraiser to support like-minded politicians. "Our caucus has always stood for progressive values."