Political insider

Poll: Voters lack faith in politicians

The reputation of Lansing lawmakers among the populace is getting clobbered these days, with the continued budget impasse and state government shutting down twice in the past three years.

A poll by the Inside Michigan Politics newsletter and conducted by Marketing Resource Group of Lansing this week indicates Michigan voters believe that today's politicians have less integrity, are a little less intelligent and don't work as hard for their constituents compared to their predecessors of 40 or 50 years ago.

The poll of 600 likely Michigan voters taken Sept. 12-20 found that 55 percent say state politicos have less integrity while 7 percent say they have more integrity than politicians of yesteryear.

On work ethic, 52 percent say past politicians worked harder, compared to 10 percent who say modern office holders are more assiduous.

On the intelligence question, 24 percent said old-time politicians are smarter, 18 percent said today's politicians are smarter and 49 percent said they are about the same.

The news doesn't get any better: A Gallup poll finds trust in state governments is down for the first time in five years.

The Governance Poll found slightly more than half of Americans -- 51 percent -- have a "great deal" or "fair amount" of trust that state leaders across the country can solve problems. It's the lowest reading in the poll since it was started in the early 1970s.

Trust among citizens is down in every region, declining 11 percentage points in the Midwest to 50 percent.

Local leaders fared better: 69 percent of respondents said they have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in them.

The poll of 1,026 adults nationwide -- including 26 in Michigan -- was conducted from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.

Rep. Hoekstra regarded as hero to taxpayers

Rep. Pete Hoekstra is a Taxpayer Hero, according to a watchdog group.

Hoekstra was the only member of the Michigan delegation to win that title handed out by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste. The group said its 2008 congressional ratings showed he voted 81 percent of the time against taxes, what the group saw as wasteful programs (such as the auto bailout) and pork-barrel spending that was contained in 48 bills.

The rating comes at an opportune time for the Republican from Holland who has launched a run for governor of Michigan. Behind Hoekstra was Rep. Dave Camp , R-Midland, at 70 percent and Rep. Mike Rogers , R-Brighton, at 69 percent. At that level, Camp and Rogers are classified as "Friendly" to taxpayer advocates.

In the Senate, Carl Levin , D-Detroit, never cast a vote that dovetails with the group's stand on 42 bills, while Debbie Stabenow , D-Lansing, voted favorably just 2 percent of the time.

Looking up

Lt. Gov. Cherry leads Cox in at least one poll

While some recent polls show Lt. Gov. John Cherry trailing in a head-to-head matchup in the 2010 governor's race against Attorney General Mike Cox , the Cherry camp has sent out a fund-raising letter to Democrats citing a poll in which he is ahead.

The survey was conducted by the Mellman Group, a Washington, D.C.-based Democrat-oriented firm. It shows Cherry leading Cox 37 percent to 30 percent, with 32 percent of respondents undecided. The frontrunner for the Democratic nomination also leads Rep. Pete Hoekstra, 38 percent to 26 percent, with 36 percent undecided, according to the poll.

"In short, John Cherry, as our Democratic nominee, goes into the 2010 election in a strong position," says the letter sent by Jason Ellenburg , Cherry campaign manager.

Cherry does trail Cox on the favorability scale, however. Cox gets a 35 percent favorable to 16 percent unfavorable, compared to Cherry's 30 percent to 14 percent.

The Mellman survey was not commissioned by the Cherry campaign, Ellenburg notes.

License to yell

Republicans expecting a wild debate in Warren

It'll be a knock down, drag out debate.

And that's just among the Republican candidates for secretary of state.

The Macomb County Republicans are expecting a wild event at 7:15 p.m. Monday at The Gazebo in Warren between Calhoun County Clerk Anne Norlander , Sens. Michelle McManus and Cameron Brown and Rep. Paul Scott .

Democrats so far have only one candidate in the race: Jocelyn Benson , a Wayne State University assistant professor of election law and attorney, who announced her run Monday. She'll have to argue against herself.

Debate No. 1

Detroit council candidates to debate in Greektown

Set your TiVo.

Starting Oct. 15, you'll be able to watch every twitch and hear every word by candidates for Detroit City Council.

WADL-TV (Channel 38) will broadcast from the Greektown Casino Grand Ballroom the first of its three debates beginning at 8 p.m.

Eighteen candidates are vying for nine council seats.

The second debate will be Oct. 22 at the Museum of African American History and the final one will be Oct. 28 at the Detroit Public Library.

4M and counting

Rep. Mike Rogers' speech is a hit on YouTube

On the Top 10 video hits chart, Rep. Mike Rogers ' anti-health reform speech would be listed at No. 4 with a bullet.

His YouTube video has had nearly 4.1 million hits. Just three weeks ago, it had 3 million hits.

And what would such an announcement be without a partisan slap at the opposition? According to Rogers' staff, only three of President Barack Obama 's videos have more hits than the one by the Brighton Republican. Way, way down the list is a video of cats roaming the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , which is her most viewed video at nearly 400,000 hits. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid 's most popular video has only 2,400 hits, Rogers' folks say.

Lawmaker honors MSU's State News

Another laurel for MSU: Much less noticed than the Spartans' gridiron win over U-M this past Saturday was U.S. House approval of a resolution by Rep. Mike Rogers honoring the university newspaper's 100th year of rolling off the presses. "The State News serves as a voice for students and as a watchdog for the East Lansing and campus community," said Rogers, who represents the East Lansing area.

National exposure

Clark-Coleman named to leadership role of national group

State Sen. Irma Clark-Coleman , D-Detroit, has been selected state director of Michigan for the National Foundation for Women Legislators.

The group is the nation's oldest organization dealing with the needs of elected women in government.

"I am ... eager to reach out to all of the elected women who serve in Michigan," Clark-Coleman said.

Group President and CEO Robin Read said: "Senator Clark-Coleman is an articulate and impassioned leader. Her leadership will be an asset to the Foundation."

Contributing: Mark Hornbeck and Detroit News wire reports. News tips? nassendelft@detnews.com