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SAGINAW, MI Nearly 100 people packed a room on the fourth floor of the Saginaw County Governmental Center Wednesday, Dec. 17, to see Vanessa Guerra sworn in as the area's next state representative.

Guerra, a Democrat,was elected by voters of Michigan's 95th Districton Nov. 4, defeating Republican Jordan Haskins and taking nearly 76 percent of the vote.

The 25-year-old state representative-elect was sworn in by Saginaw County District Judge A.T. Frank, who himself served the area in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1997-2002.

Frank said he remembers hearing about Guerra when she first announced her bid for office. He said it took him back in time, to the point where he made a decision to run for office as a man in his 20s.

"People said, 'You're too young to run,'" Frank said. "But it is that youth that gives us the energy for our state to move forward. And I can think of no one better to advance the cause of our community than Representative-elect Guerra."

After reciting the oath of office, Guerra took a moment Wednesday to say a few words to those gathered to witness the event.

"I see a lot of my friends and my family members and people from this community who I've met in the last few months," she said. "Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for your support, on my good days and especially my bad days. It's that support that keeps me going."

Guerra also thanked Judge Frank, and praised his legacy of service both in the state House and on the bench.

"I hope that one day I will be just as good an example of a true public servant as Judge Frank," she said.

At the end of the year, Guerra will take over for State Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes. The Saginaw Democrat lost her bid for the Michigan Senatein November to Republican Ken Horn.

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Democrat Vanessa Guerra sworn in as Saginaw's next state representative

Liberal DemocratChief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, has written to theConservative and Labour LGA heads - Cllr Gary Porter and Cllr Jim McMahon on the issue of council tax.

Dear Gary/Jim,

As you may be aware, there have been some discussions in the past few weeks regarding the level at which the Council Tax referendum threshold should be set.

While some Conservative colleagues in the Coalition Government favour leaving the cap at the level that it is, other Conservative colleagues have argued in favour of lowering the threshold to 1%. In practice, this would mean that even the smallest rise in Council Tax would result in Local Authorities having to hold a referendum.

As I am sure you know, only one Liberal Democrat authority raised Council Tax at all last year and this level of discipline and protection for Council Tax payers has been a consistent trait of Liberal Democrat councils throughout this Parliament. Many more Labour and Conservative controlled councils chose to increase Council Tax last year.

The Liberal Democrats have long believed in devolving power to the most local level, on the principle that the best decisions tend to be made by those closest to the people those decisions effect. It is for this reason, that the Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government will not support proposals to lower the referendum threshold.

Because of the state of the public finances, we are having to ask a lot of Local Authorities, who, by and large, are rising to the challenge of cutting expenditure while protecting important public services. Lowering the threshold will put unnecessary further pressure on local authorities and the much needed services they provide.

Lowering the threshold is a change of policy that puts an unnecessary further constraint on local authorities. While I would strongly argue for local authorities to protect taxpayers from rises in Council Tax, nevertheless this is a choice that should rightly be made by Local Authorities and not be imposed centrally.

While Conservative and Labour Councils have been quick to increase Council Tax, Lib Dems have not. In the end, these councils should be accountable to their electorates. It is not for central government to impose such constraints.

Yours Sincerely,

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Danny Alexander's letter to LGA heads

Maddow: Full-Of-Himself Teddy "Football" Cruz Completes Long Pass to DEMOCRAT Harry Reid Who Scores!
December 15, 2014, clip from The Rachel Maddow Show where Rachel highlights the antics of Full-Of-Himself Teddy "Football" Cruz, who (please excuse me for using some worn-out sports idioms)...

By: incitebytes

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Maddow: Full-Of-Himself Teddy "Football" Cruz Completes Long Pass to DEMOCRAT Harry Reid Who Scores! - Video

Alpha Houses Omega Moment

WASHINGTON They had packed up their comforters, antacids and Jimi Hendrix records.

Then Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, pointed to a dusty item he did not recognize. Was it a piece of Asian art, he wondered?

Not exactly. In Christian families, that would be called a Christmas tree holder, Representative George Miller, Democrat of California, wryly explained to his Jewish friend.

It was the end of the real Alpha House,' the crumbling gray-blue rowhouse in the shadow of the Capitol where a group of powerful Democratic lawmakers Mr. Miller, Mr. Schumer, Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois and a rotating cast of supporting players have lived for more than three decades.

Mr. Miller, the owner of the two-story two-bedroom house, is retiring after 40 years in Congress and is selling the home that inspired the Amazon web series Alpha House, as well as countless punch lines about the crash pads fraternity-meets-policy seminar vibe.

And so, on a chilly morning last week, the houses final inhabitants Mr. Miller, Mr. Durbin and Mr. Schumer gathered one last time to finish clearing out boxes and say goodbye.

For us, its the end of an era, said Mr. Schumer, the No. 3 Senate Democrat.

Its the end of America as we know it, agreed Mr. Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat.

The surroundings, perhaps, did not suggest the historic import of the occasion. A lamp rested precariously on a stack of hardcover books, an oversize mousetrap remained in wait in the kitchen, and the refrigerator offered a lingering odor and a handful of Bud Lights.

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After Decades, Lawmakers Are Roommates No More

Keith Leslie, The Canadian Press Published Tuesday, December 16, 2014 10:00AM EST Last Updated Tuesday, December 16, 2014 6:46PM EST

TORONTO -- Federal New Democrats were stunned Tuesday when one of their most well-liked and respected caucus members announced he's quitting to join Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne's Liberal team.

Sudbury MP Glen Thibeault's surprise defection capped what's been a dispiriting couple of years for Tom Mulcair's New Democrats, whose claim to be the government-in-waiting has been usurped by Justin Trudeau's revived Liberal party.

In a statement announcing his intention to run for the provincial Liberals in a soon-to-be-called byelection, Thibeault stressed his belief that he can do more for his constituents as a member of the province's governing party.

He didn't mention the NDP but the implication seemed clear: Thibeault doesn't believe the New Democrats are likely to form the government after next year's federal election.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to serve my community for the past six years at the federal level but my time at the federal level has come to an end," Thibeault said.

"I am excited by the opportunity to continue that representation in a new, exciting way. I believe I can make an even greater difference for the constituents of Sudbury as a member of this Ontario Liberal government."

Late on Tuesday, Thibeault told the CBC's Power and Politics that it was no secret among those who know him that he hasn't "been seeing eye to eye on a lot of the things that have been happening at the federal level and with the NDP."

Thibeault said he told Mulcair on Sunday that he was considering some options, but didn't get a chance to tell him of his decision to jump to the Ontario Liberals before the news became public Tuesday morning, at which point he sent Mulcair an email informing him of his move.

Until recently, Thibeault was chair of the NDP caucus, an elected position that reflected his popularity among his fellow New Democrat MPs. He stepped down two weeks ago, citing the need to spend more time with his young children.

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NDP MP Glenn Thibeault jumping into provincial politics