Politics & Government

Gov. Rick Snyder is on his way to China on a mission to build stronger business ties between Michigan and Asia’s largest economy.
  
Gov. Snyder and members of his administration say he has two goals – to boost the more than $2 billion a year in goods and services exported to China from Michigan, and to convince Chinese companies to make Michigan their U.S. operational base.
 
“There’s an estimated one trillion dollars of investment that China is looking to make by the end of the decade," said Sarah Wurfel, the governor’s press secretary, "and Michigan is certainly ripe for that.”

The governor’s itinerary covers five cities over 10 days. It includes opening a Michigan business office in Shanghai. The visit coincides with the U.S. filing an unfair trade complaint against China with the World Trade Organization. It includes allegations of protectionist actions that hurt U.S. auto companies.

A plan to relax the state's alcohol rules is meeting resistance from some public health groups, law enforcement, and businesses. 

Governor Rick Snyder’s administration wants to make it easier for businesses like gas stations and farmers markets to sell alcohol. But a coalition opposing the plan says that could lead to more crime and violence.

Bob Stevenson directs the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police. He says police are overburdened enough without expanding the availability of alcohol.

"When all these additional locations are selling alcohol to the motorists that are out there, potentially under-age drivers, we just don’t have the manpower out on the street to adequately police that and make sure they’re following the laws," says Stevenson.

Stevenson’s group also worries about a plan to eliminate fingerprinting for liquor license applicants.

Officials with the Office of Regulatory Reinvention say access to alcohol would not significantly increase under the plan.

Update 5:13 p.m.

A pro-Mitt Romney group will start running ads attacking President Obama’s jobs record in Michigan beginning tomorrow.

Recent polls show the president leading his Republican challenger in Michigan. And the Romney campaign has focused its own TV ad spending elsewhere.

Charlie Spies is co-founder of the Restore Our Future "Super PAC." Super PACS can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions and individuals.

Spies says polls suggest Romney is still competitive in Michigan:

“Right now it shows Michigan with a slight Obama lead, but certainly within the margin that it’s competitive. And we’re very optimistic about the upper Midwest…both Wisconsin and Michigan.”

Spies says recent campaign stops in by Vice President Joe Biden and his wife show the Obama campaign is still worried about losing Michigan.

10:48 a.m.

Michigan Radio's Steve Carmody spoke with Restore Our Future reps this morning.

They confirmed that they will start running a new ad in Michigan markets starting tomorrow.

It's a one million dollar ad buy.

They told Carmody they expect to do a similar ad buy in Michigan next week.

10:09 a.m.

Conservative 'Super PACs' supporting Mitt Romney's presidential run recently pulled their ads out of Michigan.

It was an indication the state wasn't polling well for the Republican candidate.

But Sarah Wheaton over at the NY Times blog "The Caucus" writes some Super PAC money might be coming back.

Despite losing traction in the polls after the nominating conventions, Wheaton says Romney has one clear advantage over President Obama - "outside groups with much more money to spend supporting his candidacy and tactically placing their bets in states where they believe he has a chance to win."

Right now, Michigan appears to be a long shot bet for these groups.

Restore Our Future’s $720,000 investment in Michigan is particularly remarkable. Mr. Romney’s campaign and his other allies seem to have all but given up on the state, even though the candidate grew up there and his father, George Romney, was once governor. The Romney campaign itself, which is running state-specific spots in those states it ostensibly considers to be the most in play, left Michigan off that list.

...But the ability of super PACs to raise and spend freely gives them flexibility to invest in some long shots. And it could also provoke the Obama campaign to spend some precious ad dollars on a state it considers relatively safe.

It remains to be seen how the polls will play out in Michigan after a video of Romney was released of the candidate making some potentially politically damaging comments while talking at a private fundraiser earlier this year. The Romney camp quickly put together a press conference to respond to the video.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson was involved in a serious auto accident on August 9 when a VW Passat turned in front of his Chrysler 300:

Patterson and his driver were not wearing seat belts at the time.

Today, Patterson issued the following statement regarding the civil infraction issued by Auburn Hills Police today for not wearing a seatbelt when he was among victims of a crash caused by a VW Passat that turned in front of his Chrysler 300:

Not wearing a seatbelt was a mistake," Patterson said. "I accept my responsibility and paid the $65 fine this afternoon."

After spending five weeks in the hospital, Patterson was released last Friday and it recuperating at home.