Delcamp -- Saving the State Money Would be His Passion

Saving money and living within his means has been Jim Delcamp's lifelong mantra. Growing up, he watched his father devise ways to save Ford Motor Co. millions of dollars over a 40-year career. As a result, Delcamp adopted a super-saving mind-set in his own life.

Now Delcamp, a Genoa Township man, wants to bring his passion for saving money to stat government and is making it a cornerstone of his campaign for the 66th House seat.

"I believe in austerity rather than living beyond my means. I will take that passion for thrift to state government. As a token of my passion for frugality, I will accept only half of the regular $80,000 salary paid to a state representative, returning the other half to the state coffers," he said.

"The lifestyle and tastes of my family and I make it possible for us to maintain a comfortable lifestyle on the half that I will keep. In fact, I expect to be able to save part of it towards college for my children."

Delcamp is the only Democrat to file for the House seat. The district includes the townships of Oceola, Marion, Genoa, Brighton, and Green Oak, the city of Brighton, and a portion of the city of Howell in Livingston County and Milford Township in Oakland County.

Delcamp, a resident of the district for 15 years, has a varied background, having worked as an urban planner, an energy efficiency auditor, a computer-assisted designer for the auto industry, a real estate redeveloper, and an author. In 2009, he published, "Zero Cost Living: Exploring Extreme Frugality."

Delcamp demonstrated his own frugality by working as an energy efficiency auditor and designing and building three energy efficient homes.

He said that as a legislator he will make reducing state government’s energy consumption a priority, but would look for savings in all areas of state government, including spending for health care. For example, people who now go to emergency rooms because they can’t pay for their care or have no insurance could at lower cost be treated in outpatient clinics. In Livingston County, for example, the facility cost for an in hospital procedure such as a colonoscopy is $2,500, and as an outpatient procedure $650. Statewide, such savings would be significant, he said.

While Delcamp said he has many more ideas of his own for saving money, "My ears are open and I will listen to and consider any and all ideas that can help solve our complicated, seemingly insoluble economic and financial problems," he said.

He has seen the impact of globalization on the American economy first-hand, watching his CAD career disappear as jobs were out-sourced overseas, but doesn’t believe out-sourcing and corporate cuts mean the end for Michigan jobs. "As a small-scale entrepreneur myself, I believe that Michigan needs to – and can – reignite the entrepreneurial spirit of the people who put America on wheels," he said.

Stabilizing funding for education and law enforcement will be top priorities, he said, adding that Michigan needs to control the costs of state prisons without endangering public safety.

"I will work to assure that all of these institutions operate with the maximum of efficiency while delivering fully to the best of their ability the services and tasks they have been called upon to accomplish," he said.

"I will look carefully to see if it is possible for all of them to do more with less."

Rogers Rambles in OTR Interview

Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Brighton, gave his first interview on WKAR's "Off the Record" recently and had a hard time keeping his story straight.

Rogers was on the show because he is co-chair of the "Freshman Caucus" formed by the 44 new members of the Michigan House. But under questioning from host Tim Skubick and the rest of the crew, Rogers could give no coherent reason for the existence of the caucus. He couldn't say if the first-year lawmakers will band together and vote as a block on legislation. And he claimed they haven't even discussed it, prompting Skubick to say, "Oh, come on, Mr. Rogers," adding he had talked to other first-year lawmakers who said it was discussed.

Rogers would only go so far as to say the caucus was "going to stop partisan bickering."

He waffled on a question about the pace of the Legislature, saying he thought it was too slow, but lawmakers were busy, but he didn't really disagree with Senate Majority Leader and fellow Republican Mike Bishop's desire to wait until a state revenue conference in May to work on major budget bills, except to say that's not the way they did it in Livingston County. So his answer was, "Yes, No, Maybe."

Bill Rogers -- A Man of Few Ideas

When Bill Rogers was running for state rep from Michigan's 66th District during the 2008 campaign, he was a man of few words. In a debate sponsored by the Livingston Press and Argus, for example, he answered one question by saying, "Taxes, deregulation. Fix it and they will come."

Turns out, Rogers is also a man of few ideas. When WHMI radio station asked him about his bill to make sure winners of Republican Party primaries don't have any extra competition in the general election, he responded that he had a chance to introduce only 10 bills and he introduced nine others and that one was the 10th.

So he had nine ideas to improve Michigan and this was the best he could do for the 10th -- a power-grab by local Republicans that Rogers now says was intended to help Democrats, too.

For the record, Democrats didn't ask for this bill and want nothing to do with it. Livingston County Democrats adopted a resolution against it at their Feb. 7 county convention and the resolution was unanimously adopted by the state party at its convention Saturday (Feb. 21, 2009) in Detroit.

So if Bill Rogers can't think of another idea for the state, I guess we'd better help him out by suggesting things he could have introduced.

How about a bill to ban smoking in bars and restaurants? It will save millions in health care costs by eliminating second-hand smoke from work places.

How about a measure restoring the right of Michigan citizens to sue to protect the environment, a right taken away by the Michigan Supreme Court and former Supreme Court Justice Cliff Taylor and the rest of the Gang of Four?

How about a measure supporting WALLY, the commuter train between Howell and Ann Arbor, to cut down on congestion on U.S. 23?

Or maybe a bill to tighten restrictions on using public property for political advertising?

Expanding Michigan's bottle bill to cover non-carbonated beverages such as water, juice, and energy drinks would reduce trash and encourage recycling.

Rogers could have proposed a measure to impose a moratorium on home foreclosures to keep people in their homes and try to stabilize home prices and neighborhoods. States did this during the Great Depression with farm foreclosures.

He could have suggested a ban on new coal-fired power plants. Electrical power demand is flat in the state right now so there is no need to be building more fossil-burning plants.

Rogers might have banned utility shutoffs in the winter time to keep elderly people from freezing to death in their homes.

He could have suggested a bill requiring lawmakers to make personal financial disclosures while in office.

Why not a measure cracking down on steroid abuse, or one giving Michigan workers preference on state-funded projects?

None of these made the grade with Rogers. Only the bill that says Republicans get to veto anybody running as an independent.

Anderson Stars in Detroit Public Television Forum

Bill Rogers ran away from a debate with Democrat Donna Anderson in the race for Michigan's 66th House seat, refusing to appear with her in the Center for Michigan's Great Debates series on Detroit Public Television.

Anderson's performance in a DPTV forum for candidates shows why Rogers refused to show up for a debate with her.

Check out the videos of the forum, sans Rogers, here and here.

It also will be broadcast on Detroit Public Television on Sunday (Oct. 19, 2008) at 3 p.m.

Anderson Lays Out Full Agenda for House

It's common knowledge that Bill Rogers is avoiding a debate with Democrat Donna Anderson in the race for Michigan's 66th House seat. He recently backed out of a debate on Detroit Public Television sponsored by the Center for Michigan on the grounds that he was too busy because he does not have the "luxury" of being unemployed.

But he did have time to show up at WLNS in Lansing to tape a message to the voters, at the invitation of the television station. At least, he had a little time. He taped only a 30-second message.

Anderson, on the other hand, spoke for five minutes about her priorities as a future lawmaker -- education, the environment, job creation, health care, and stem cell research.

You can view Anderson here.

Day 6 Since Bill Rogers Has Refused to Debate Donna Anderson

It is Day 6 since Bill Rogers backed out of the scheduled debate with Democrat Donna Anderson on Detroit Public Television.

He still has not found time to reschedule the session so that voters in House District 66 can learn what the two candidates stand for.

All candidates in the 14 other races featured in the Center for Michigan debate series managed to find time for the voters.

Will Bill?

Bill Rogers Is Running, But Trying to Hide from Voters

Apparently Bill Rogers thinks he can run for office while hiding from the voters.

The Republican candidate for the 66th House District was supposed to debate Democrat Donna Anderson on Tuesday (Sept. 23, 2008) as part of the Center for Michigan's series of debates in 15 House districts.

But he cancelled at the last minute. See the Press and Argus coverage here.

Rogers did poorly in the pre-primary debate sponsored by the Press and Argus, coming off as less prepared than Anderson, less knowledgeable, and less interested in anyone but himself. He probably doesn't want to risk a repeat on statewide television.

Apparently, he's hoping to coast into office on the coattails of his little brother.

Or he is hoping that everybody sees that sign by the firestation and thinks it refers to him.

But don't the voters deserve candidates who are willing to put in a little effort to show what they stand for?

Will Signs Count in 66th House GOP Primary?

If you forecast the results of the Republican primary in the 66th House District based on square footage of signage around the county, Livingston County Commissioner Bill Rogers would win hands down.

But a Lansing political newsletter cautions that signs can be deceiving.

The Livingston Press and Argus for Thursday (July 31, 2008) notes that some Lansing analysts suggest Rogers could be upset by Jason Corosanite.

Word is that Rogers is taking the win for granted. He certainly seemed too casual about matters at the recent Livingston Press and Argus debate. But Rogers is a big name in this county and Corosanite has a steep hill to climb.

Donna Got It Done! Anderson Turns In Stand-Out Performance at Candidate Forum

It was one Democrat against six Republicans -- formidable odds for anyone but Donna Anderson.

But Anderson, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 66th Michigan House seat, stood out from the rest who participated in the Livingston Press and Argus candidates' forum Thursday (July 24, 2008) at the Brighton Performing Arts Center.

The Republican candidates sounded like carbon copies of each other, complaining about government red tape and regulation (also known as consumer protection laws) and proclaiming themselves as opposed to abortion.

But Anderson stood out with her support for alternative energy, for targeted tax credits, for microloans to entrepreneurs, for federal help to take health care off the backs of employers, and for reducing spending on prisons in order to provide more funds for schools.

She also stood out from the rest in her support for banning smoking in restaurants, bars, and casinos, and for her support of stem cell research for life-saving cures. And she was the only candidate to even mention the importance of protecting the environment.

Anderson's most direct competition -- her opponent in the August 5 primary -- did not participate in the forum. Tommy Crawford has unclear ties to the party and has been invited to party events but not attended.

The two candidates vying for the GOP nomination did participate, but they were somewhat underwhelming.

Bill Rogers, brother of incumbent 8th District Rep. Mike Rogers and now a Livingston County Commissioner, came across as unprepared. He talked a lot about himself and the subcommittees he has served on for the county commission. He tried to joke about being in a lip-synch event he appeared in. It just didn't work. In the end, he did not really have much to say about how he would make things better in Michigan.

Rogers' campaign seems to be all signs, no substance.

Jason Corosanite wanted to sell the audience (and viewers on the Press and Argus' live webcast) on his religious fervor, calling himself "first and foremost a Christian." He also called on the other candidates not to accept any PAC money "if elected." Well, what about while they are running now?

The other four participants were vying for the Republican nomination for the 47th House seat. The Democrat, Scott Lucas, is unopposed in the August 5 primary.

Legislative Candidates in the News

Democratic candidates for the 66th House seat, now held by term-limited Chris Ward, made their case to voters in the Livingston Press and Argus in a recent article.

Donna Anderson and Tommy Crawford are competing for the nomination, but Anderson, who has been vice-chair of the party until stepping down to focus on her race, has been a much more visible and active Democrat than Crawford. Crawford does not appear to be registered in the party and did not attend a local party meeting last week to which he was invited.

The Press and Argus article will be available for only a limited time, but here are some portions of it:

"Brighton resident Donna Anderson, who made an unsuccessful bid for the state Senate two years ago, is focusing on investing more in education, increasing the number of jobs and improving the environment in her campaign, while Milford Township resident Tommy Crawford is looking for the state to spend less on oil and to lower taxes for residents."

Anderson also said the state should continue to diversify the economy and expand use and production of alternative energy. She also urged expansion of early childhood education and an examination of whether non-violent offenders could be let out of prison to cut costs without endangering public safety.

According to the Press and Argus:

"Crawford, 21, said the state is relying too much on oil.

"'We could cut spending as far as using less oil and stuff like that,' Crawford said."

The Press and Argus is planning a forum for legislative candidates who have competition in the August primary. We'll post the details.