V.P. Biden gets visit from "Occupy" protesters in Grand Rapids
People inspired by the “Occupy Wall Street” protests in New York showed up at a Democratic fundraiser hosted by Vice President Joe Biden Wednesday evening. Biden made stops in Flint and Grand Rapids to promote President Obama’s American Jobs Act before switching to campaign mode. Michigan Radio's Lindsey Smith reports at least 50 protesters marched on the sidewalk outside the $500 per dinner private event. The event raised money for the 2012 presidential election.
Proposed U.S.-Canada bridge still a contentious issue
A proposal to build a second bridge between Detroit and Canada appears to be the cause of a fierce divide among Republicans in the state Senate. The chairman of the committee handling the proposal does not seem to have enough support among Republican colleagues to vote on the issue. State Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville said if that’s the case he will most likely take on the issue in a committee he chairs and move it along quickly.
"We would still take a hard look at it and take some open testimony, but we’re not going to rehash everything that’s been done for the last nine months,” Richardville said.
Secretary of State calls for no-reason absentee voting
Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said Michigan should allow anyone to vote by absentee ballot without having to give a reason why they cannot make it to a polling place on Election Day. It’s one of several election proposals she outlined.
They also include cleaning voter rolls of dead people, those who have moved, and non-citizens. Johnson said people should be allowed to cast absentee ballots without giving a reason why they cannot show up at a polling place on Election Day.
