Late night debunking: Truth Squad style...

http://www.granholmforgov.com/site/PageServer?pagename=truthsquad Ad Rebuttal: Vetoed Dick DeVos: “Under Governor Granholm’s administration, you can stay on Welfare as long as you want.” FACT: Dick DeVos is not telling the truth. The State of Michigan follows federal law and our state has a five year time limit on welfare for able-bodied adults. (Source: The Code of Federal Regulations: 45 CFR 264.1) FACT: Let’s be very clear about the difference between Governor Jennifer Granholm and Dick DeVos. Governor Granholm has dedicated her life to helping everyday people. She was a federal prosecutor and the state’s Attorney General. Dick DeVos has instead continued his fight for the fortunate few. Dick DeVos Is Placing Corporations Over Real People: DeVos refuses to offer specifics on how he would make up for the loss of roughly $3 billion through the elimination of the Single Business Tax and the Business Equipment Tax, facing deep cuts in health care, education and public safety. DeVos Will Cut State Services Or Raise Taxes To Make Up The Difference: “This year, those taxes are expected to raise $767 million for the school aid fund, $916 million for local governments and community colleges and $70 million for the state's general fund, according to Scott Schrager, special assistant to state Treasurer Robert Kleine.” (Associated Press, October 11, 2006) Dick DeVos Is Lobbying For The Estate Tax: The DeVos family is one of 18 families who are lobbying for the repeal of the federal estate tax, saving the Amway heirs approximately $1.3 billion. (Public Citizen Report, April 2006) Dick DeVos: “Michigan is one of only two states in the nation that does not have time limits on Welfare.” FACT: Governor Jennifer Granholm changed the welfare system in Michigan. She supported and continues to support stronger consequences for those who are able-bodied and choose not to work. FACT: The Governor’s changes are already part of the Governor's ongoing Jobs Education and Training (JET) program, which went into effect earlier this year. (Source: Public Act 345 of 2006) FACT: The Governor's plan (which includes drug screening) is designed to give people the opportunity to help themselves, become independent and move permanently into the workforce. (Source: Family Automated Screening Tool) Individualized planning with welfare recipients that will identify appropriate skills training. Planning with employers, colleges and other training institutions to assure that education and training meets the economic development needs of the community. Plans under development with community colleges to offer programs that integrate basic remedial skills education into associate's degree programs. (Press Release, Michigan Department of Human Services, October 9, 2006) Dick DeVos: “Unfortunately, Governor Granholm vetoed a legislative bill that would have limited Welfare benefits to four years – allowing someone to sit and exist on Welfare for their entire life.” FACT: When making everyday decisions, Governor Jennifer Granholm looks out for everyone, including Michigan’s children. The Department of Human Services created a new approach to helping kids: DHS has already adopted a new approach to child welfare that focuses on involving families in decision-making, keeping children with birth families whenever safely possible, and when out-of-home placement is necessary to assure the safety of the child, increasing the number of placements with relatives. The department received a federal waiver that allows the use of Title IV-E funds to expand innovative prevention and family support programs. The department is already working with funding sources to determine where flexibility exists to support community-ased initiatives. The department is encouraging relative caregivers to become licensed foster parents to support the placement of children with relatives. (Press Release, Michigan Department of Human Services, September 15, 2006) FACT: Under the Republican plan people who are doing everything right, following all the guidelines, would have been put out on the streets. FACT: Did you know the cash assistance people receive only provides 37% of poverty level wages? That’s about $489 a month for a family of three and less than $6000 a year. (DHS Program Policy Group, Program Reference Table Manual Item 210, FIP Monthly Assistance Payment Standard) Dick DeVos: “Day one, we’re going to get to work fixing the Welfare system in Michigan, Day one, I’m going to get it done.” FACT: Dick DeVos is a major financer for an extreme organization that has called for major cuts to aid for needy families with children. DeVos paid the Mackinac Center for Public Policy over $100,000 from his foundation and joined its board of directors. (Detroit Free Press, September 28, 2006) FACT: The Mackinac Center issued an opinion detailing cuts to essential services, including Medicaid and aid for needy families with children. The organization suggested cutting $240 million. (Mackinac Center for Public Policy, February 28, 2006) FACT: Dick DeVos is trying to divert people from looking at his real record. The truth is clear: Dick DeVos eliminated 1,400 Michigan jobs and invested $200 million in China. “Granholm is referring to the fact that DeVos, as president of Amway Co. parent Alticor, eliminated 1,400 jobs at the main plant in Ada, Mich.’” (Detroit News, September 22, 2006) The Detroit News published a letter from the former Amway President himself. In the letter, Dick DeVos said his company invested $200 million in China. (Dick DeVos, Detroit News, May 17, 2006) If anything in this race has taught us about the Amway Dick it taught us he does three things very well 1. spend money like there's no tomorrow 2. quit everything when things didn't go his way and 3. lie his beady eye butt off. Again the Truth Squad debunks another one of Amway Dick's ad, since Amway Dick has probably given up the idea of watering down the Detroit vote so he has gone the path of all Michigan Republicans have gone down using codes words to fire up the "base" by talking about welfare and how Granholm is basically allowing people (blacks) stay on it as long as they want. This is he's last ditch effort to get anyone out to vote for him and using the tried and true method for Michigan Republicans is in work here, scare the white folks by telling them that you're tax dollars is helping some single BLACK mother in Detroit. sidenote:If there was an award show for bad political attacks ads the Michigan Repuglican party would have cramps in their legs from all the standing up they would have to do. The Michigan Repugs would get the award for least original attack ad they basically copy the two Granholm ads and when I say copy I mean copy how each red line that went under words for they even ended one with the failed plaster on the face. Geez Michigan Republicans do I need to add copycats to racists and corrupt? Another award would be called pull the strings: Would go to Laura Toy who's using her mother's death to justify missing 464 votes in the state senate but Laura getting help her sister is whining about Glenn Anderson in another ad, don't get me wrong I feel for the Toy family but this is a party that had the nerve to wear purple heart band-aids mocking John Kerry service and if the roles were flip and Anderson missed that many votes Laura Toy and the Michigan GOP would run ads telling us from here to there how many votes he missed and the dude could have his whole family wiped out. Playing the I hate darkies card: Well the entire Michigan GOP and Cocker from Tennessee would be on stage for that one.