Gov. Rick Snyder Signs Legislation Protecting Michiganders’ Online Privacy

Schools and businesses cannot ask employees for passwords for personal social media accounts.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation on Dec. 28 protecting the online privacy of Michiganders by prohibiting employers and educational institutions from asking applicants, employees and students for passwords and other account information used to access private Internet and email accounts, including social networks like Facebook and Twitter. House Bill 5523, sponsored by state Rep. Aric Nesbitt, also penalizes educational institutions for dismissing or failing to admit a student who does not provide such details. “Cyber security is important to the reinvention of Michigan, and protecting the private Internet accounts of residents is a part of that,” Snyder said. “Potential employees and students should be judged on their skills and…

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Will Right-to-Work Law Lead to Recall of Gov. Snyder?

A political expert said Michigan could be “ground zero for a recall vote” against Snyder in 2013.

Could the sudden passage of the highly controversial right-to-work legislation lead to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's name appearing on a statewide ballot for something other than his re-election campaign? One political expert thinks it's possible. Joshua Spivak, a senior fellow at Wagner College’s Hugh L. Carey Institute for Government Reform, told Politico that Michigan could be “ground zero for a recall vote” against Snyder in 2013. “There doesn’t seem to be a specific goal of going after state legislatures or state governors in any significant way, though that might change in Michigan because of right-to-work (legislation),” Spivak said in the Politico story.  Local recall elections, such as the one voters recently approved against Troy …

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The Newtown Shootings: Patch, State of Michigan, to Take Part in Moment of Silence

Our Patches across the country will take part in a Web Moment of Silence on Friday, and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has requested that state residents pause to remember those lost last week.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has asked for a statewide moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. Friday, and Patches in Michigan and across the country will join in a Web Moment of Silence to mark the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. Snyder said the moment of silence was requested by Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, who issued a proclamation calling on the citizens of Connecticut to observe December 21, 2012, as a day of mourning. Malloy sent a letter to all the nation's governors asking them to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of the fallen. Patch sites across the country will mark the tragedy at 9:30 a.m. EST. Among other sites taking part in the Web Moment of Silence are AOL, Adobe, Foursquare, Hacker News, Duke …

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Snyder Vetoes Bill That Would Have Allowed Guns in Schools

The bill would have allowed concealed weapons in gun-free zones such as schools and sports arenas.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has vetoed a bill that would have allowed concealed weapons into public schools and sports arena, according to a report on Michigan Public Radio. The Michigan Legislature passed Senate Bill 59 late last week that would have allowed concealed weapons in gun-free zones, but in the wake of the school shooting in Newtown, CT, many had called for Snyder to veto the legislation. Legislators for the Grosse Pointes, Senator Bert Johnson (D) and Representative Tim Bledsoe (D) both voted in opposition to Senate Bill 59. David Hecker, Michigan President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) said in a Friday statement, "We’re aghast that this lame duck legislature thinks it’s a good idea to put MORE guns in our schools, …

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What Do You Think? Influential Republicans Disagree with Snyder on Voter Fraud Veto

Leave a comment to join the conversation on the first Red Mitten survey.

Influential Republicans Disagree with Snyder on Voter Fraud Veto

In our first Red Mitten survey, more than half of the respondents say they disagree with Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s decision to veto a GOP-backed bill that requires photo ID for first-time voter registration or to obtain an absentee ballot.

Conservative Michigan insiders disagree with Gov. Rick Snyder’s decision to veto a bill dealing with voter fraud: that’s the finding of this week’s inaugural Red Mitten survey of influential Republicans. Fifty-one conservatives from southeastern Michigan used an automated anonymous survey tool to offer their opinions about voter fraud in the state. Thirty responses were collected. According to Politico.com, Snyder said he vetoed the bill because it could cause "confusion among absentee voters." But some respondents in the Red Mitten survey feel differently. In fact, more than half, 53.3 percent, say they disagree with Snyder’s decision to veto a GOP-backed bill that requires photo ID for first-time voter registration or to obtain an …

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Hundreds Rally Outside Troy Marriott Before Romney Fundraiser Event

The presidential candidate is in town for a private event hosted by Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday night.

A crowd of about 200 people gathered Wednesday afternoon outside the Troy Marriott hotel on Big Beaver Road to rally in protest of visiting Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Romney is in Troy for a private fundraiser hosted by Gov. Rick Snyder at the hotel. Protesters carried signs and waved at motorists along Big Beaver, many of whom were honking as they passed by. "We're here to support Barack Obama," said Jeff Klayo of Mt. Clemens, who attended the rally with two fellow UAW members. "He stands for the little guys... The working class." Liz Ratzloff of Ann Arbor attended the rally and wore the official "Pillamina" mascot costume for Planned Parenthood. "I'm here sporting Pillamina because Romney doesn't support low-cost …

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Dianne Miller

12:33 am on Monday, July 16, 2012

Unsubstantiated claim.   more ›

Video: Michigan Republicans Impressed With Santorum Speech, GOP Event

Republicans praise GOP star-studded Lincoln Day Dinner in Novi.

Michigan Republicans who attended Thursday's Lincoln Day Dinner at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi lauded the star-studded lineup, which included surging GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum. Santorum spoke before 1,400 party supporters, and was joined by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, Ann Romney — wife of presidential candidate Mitt Romney — and other party leaders and political organizers.

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New Child Welfare Workers Sworn In by Gov. Snyder

Gov. Rick Snyder administered the oath of office on May 23 to nearly 300 new child welfare workers who will be assigned to offices in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.

Gov. Rick Snyder swore in 300 new child welfare workers Monday who will be assigned to offices in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne and other Department of Human Services offices across Michigan.  The ceremony at Club Venetian Banquet Hall in Madison Heights follows one of the largest hirings of child welfare workers in the history of the department, and will help reduce the caseload for each worker, officials said. "We have to prioritize what are our most important things, and the most important item we have in our state is our children and we have been failing those children in many respects," said Snyder of the need to provide job and educational opportunities for children along with helping those who are most vulnerable. "All of your jobs are …

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