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    Jackson County Democrat Griffin breaks campaign pledge with first major vote


    By Nick, Section News
    Posted on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 06:52:32 PM EST

    Well here's an interesting tidbit.  Turns out there was one democrat in the Michigan House today who voted against the repeal of the state's FDA Defense law.

    Jackson County Democrat Marty Griffin represented the sole voice of dissent in the entire Democrat caucus.  

    I'd like to start by applauding the Representative for voting the right way on the trial-lawyer-enhancement-act.  Still, something didn't seem quite right.  It seemed that this had been an issue in his race last fall when he defeated incumbent Rep. Rick Baxter.

    So I did a little digging.  Sure enough... Griffin ran television and radio ads slamming Baxter for taking the same stance on the issue he took today!  One ad states:

    "Baxter voted to give big drug companies immunity when their drugs harm or even kill."

    Now, Griffin has voted the exact same way.  

    Why?

    Could it have something to do with the Jackson Citizen Patriot's Op-Ed slamming his colleague, Rep. Simpson?  To hear Simpson tell it, this vote was 100% about ending drug company immunity.  In fact, he issued a statement on the House Dem website:

    "Michigan is the only state in the nation that gives pharmaceutical companies a free ride when their products harm or kill," said State Representative Mike Simpson (D-Liberty Township), who is the lead sponsor of the bill to repeal drug immunity. "Our residents shouldn't be treated as second-class citizens simply because they live in Michigan. We must give them the power to hold drug companies accountable."

    Would you look at that?  They've even used the same verbage!

    So Griffin complains about his opponent for taking a stance on an issue.  Then he takes the same stance he ran negative campaign ads about.  And he's directly at odds with his caucus and his partner in Jackson County.  So what happened?  

    And who are Jackson County voters supposed to trust?  Who's really looking out for their issues and concerns?  Simpson who introduced and voted for legislation that will drive life science companies out of the state or Griffin who says one thing during a campaign then does the exact opposite as soon as he gets elected?

    One way or another, Marty Griffin's got some explaining to do.
    To read the transcripts of Griffin's ads and view a copy of today's roll call vote, continue below.  To view Griffin's campaign commercial, just click the image above!

    MARTIN GRIFFIN CONTRAST TELEVISION AD #2

    (The words: "Actions speak louder than words" appear on the screen)
    Sometimes actions speaker louder than words
    (Photo of Rick Baxter on left side of screen.  The words: "Hid Illegal Campaign Funds" appear on the right side of screen with two newspaper headlines below)
    Rick Baxter hid illegal campaign contributions.  Money he was later forced to return.
    (Photo of Rick Baxter remains on left side of screen.  Voted against Alternative Fuels
    HRCC Amended Triannual CS 2006 and Journal of the House, 3/15/06 appear below as a citation)
    Then Baxter received thousands of dollars from big oil and voted against expanding the production of alternative fuels.
    (Photo of Rick Baxter remains on left side of screen.  The words: "Immunity for Drug Companies" appear on the right side of the screen.  Journal of the House 3/8/06 appears below as a citation)
    Baxter voted to give big drug companies immunity when their drugs harm or even kill.
    (New screen.  Still of Griffin talking to a person on the street in upper left corner.  Still of Griffin in a factory in the bottom left corner.  Still of Griffin in a factory setting with protective goggles in right side of screen)
    As our next state representative, Martin Griffin will fight to stop job outsourcing.
    (New screen.  Still of windmills with the words E85 on left side of screen and still of Griffin and senior citizen on right side of screen)
    Expand production of alternative energy sources.
    (Still of Griffin on left with smaller stills on right side of screen with Griffin amongst different people)
    And provide interest free loans for college students who stay in Michigan.
    ("Martin Griffin for State Representative" appears on a black screen with the disclaimer at the bottom paid for by Griffin's CTE)
    Martin Griffin.  Independent.  Common sense leadership.

    MARTIN GRIFFIN NEGATIVE TELEVISION AD #3

    (Photo of Rick Baxter in middle of screen.  The words: "From Bad to Worse" appear below)
    Rick Baxter.  It goes from bad to worse.
    (Photo of Rick Baxter moves to left side of screen.  The words: "Hid Illegal Campaign Funds" appears on the right along with headlines from newspapers; "Baxter Donation Prompts Inquiry" & "Baxter returns $ 5,000, fires campaign aide")
    Last election he hid illegal campaign contributions.  Money he was forced to return.
    (Photo of Rick Baxter moves to left side of screen.  Five campaign contributions are shown on the right side of the screen.  "MI Petroleum Jobbers PAC", "Pfizer PAC - Michigan", "Eli Lilly & Company PAC", "Pharmacy Action Council", "MI Petroleum PAC")
    Now Baxter has taken tens of thousands of dollars from big oil and big drug companies laundered through his friends in Lansing.
    (Photo of Rick Baxter remains on left side of screen.  The words: "Voted Against Alternative Fuels" appear on the right side of the screen.  Journal of the House 3/15/06 appears below as a citation)
    Baxter voted against expanding alternative fuels
    (Photo of Rick Baxter remains on left side of screen.  The words: "Immunity for Drug Companies" appear on the right side of the screen.  Journal of the House 3/8/06 appears below as a citation)
    and voted to give drug companies immunity when their products cause harm or even death.
    (Photo of Rick Baxter remains on left side of screen.  A cutout of our TV ad appears to the right with Baxter in factory setting with the words `ZeroZipZilch' overlayed.  The words "Personal Attacks. . ." appear on top of the TV ad cutout.)
    And now personal attacks against Martin Griffin
    (Photo of Rick Baxter moves to center of the screen.  The words: "Rick Baxter - Not On Our Side" appear below.)
    Rick Baxter.  He's not on our side.
    (Paid for by Martin Griffin for State Representative)

    GRIFFIN CONTRAST RADIO AD #1
    (Male voice)
    You're either part of the solution or part of the problem.
    The problem - Rick Baxter.
    He voted against expanding alternative fuels, supporting big oil's record profits over energy independence and creating new jobs.
    Baxter voted six times, SIX TIMES to give the big drug companies' immunity when their drugs harm or even kill.  
    Michigan is the only state in the nation that gives drug companies' complete immunity.
    And Rick Baxter first hid and then was forced to return illegal campaign contributions.
    The solution?  Martin Griffin.
    The Jackson Citizen Patriot called Martin Griffin `fiscally conservative' and a `good watchdog' over city finances.
    As Mayor he worked to create and save more than 3,000 jobs in Jackson.
    And Griffin has a plan to cut prescription drug prices, lowering healthcare costs.
    Martin Griffin.  Independent.  Common sense leadership.
    (Griffin's voice) Paid for by Martin Griffin for State Representative

    < RightMichigan.com EXCLUSIVE: An interview with House GOP Approps head Dan Acciavatti | Ms. Granholm Goes to the NGA >
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    Do you wonder why Pfizer is pullng out of MI? (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dave on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 07:29:39 PM EST
    Between Debbie Stabenow badmouthing "Big Pharmaceutical," the reelection of Gran(never saw a tax I didn't like)holm, and the Dems taking control of the MI House, Pfizer saw the handwriting on the wall, and left for greener pastures! (CT) I analyzed the move here at The Hinzsight Report.

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