In case you missed it, Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Dennis Lennox, Republican candidate for the State House in the 105th District, was interviewed by The Detroit News on his reaction to the federal health care legislation that’s up for votes today in Congress.

Health care bill draws mixed response in Michigan

Deb Price and Nathan Hurst / Detroit News Washington Bureau

Washington -- Part-time bailiff John Salazar of Ecorse says he hopes the House passes health care reform Sunday because not having insurance has turned his life into a nightmare.

A health clinic recently told Salazar it won't be able to furnish him with free diabetes medication after this month. A truck repair bill and loan has meant he hasn't been able to chip away at a $3,000 debt from last year when he had to go to the hospital emergency room multiple times for an apparent negative reaction to medication.

"I want to say to all those people out there protesting, 'Hey, you are talking about me. I was born and raised in this country and paid my taxes. But I can't get insurance because of this economy. It's not fair,' " the 51-year-old said Sunday morning.

If Congress passes the $940 billion health care legislation, Salazar, depending on how many hours he's able to work and whether he can supplement his income with a second job, would be able to go on Medicaid, and have nearly all his health care bills paid, or receive federal subsidies that would cover most of the cost of buying insurance on an exchange.

But what feels like a lifeline to Salazar feels like theft to Dennis Lennox, a healthy 25-year-old from Topinabee who is trying to build a political career.

The Cheboygan County commissioner has no health insurance -- a choice he's not only comfortable with but passionately believes is his right.

"I don't believe it's constitutional for the federal government to tell me I have to buy health insurance," said Lennox, who said he'd like to be part of litigation challenging any new mandate that nearly all individuals have insurance. He said he'd push Congress to repeal the health care bill, if it passes.

"I should be able to take the risk. I am healthy and take care of myself. At this time in my life, I want to spend my own money on other things."

The bill, in its final laps, would force nearly all Americans to carry health insurance or face fines.

Lennox and Salazar underscore the intense feelings among Michiganians over the health care bill, which if passed by the House must also be approved by the Senate.

The article in its entirety can be read here.

The 105th District spans Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Otsego counties. The seat is currently held by House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer.

In case you missed this news report:

As part of his plan to reform government, Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Dennis Lennox, Republican candidate for the State House, announced he would introduce a constitutional amendment upon taking office to reorganize counties.

Michigan’s 83 counties have stood unchanged since the late nineteenth century.

"The lines were drawn before cars and trains became commonplace," said Lennox, who is running for term-limited House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer's seat in the 105th District. "We need to reform our structure and system to consolidate government while also accommodating the population lost to the Great Diaspora of recent years."

Besides redrawing lines and limiting the number of counties to a maximum of 73, Lennox’s proposal would extend home-rule powers to counties.

"Local communities should be flexible to determine the structure of government that works best for them," said Lennox. "Taxpayers in Keweenaw County — Michigan's smallest county — shouldn’t be required to fund the same structure and the same services as larger counties such as Oakland or Wayne."

The proposal would also allow smaller counties to collaborate with neighbors to share a district prosecutor for each judicial circuit and regionalize departments such as building, planning and zoning.

Lennox has been endorsed by House Republican Whip Kevin Green, former House Speaker Craig DeRoche, former Michigan Republican Party chairman Saul Anuzis, Republicans for Environmental Protection president Rob Sisson and the Dads of Michigan PAC.

The 105th District spans Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Otsego counties.

In case you missed the following news report:

Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Dennis Lennox’s campaign for the State House has been endorsed by Rep. Kevin Green, the Republican whip in the House.

Green joins former House Speaker Craig DeRoche and former Michigan Republican Party chairman Saul Anuzis in endorsing Lennox who is running to replace term-limited House Republican Leader Kevin Elsenheimer in the 105th District.

“I am honored to have the support of Representative Green and other Republican leaders,” said Lennox. “I look forward to their advice and guidance as I campaign to be Northern Michigan’s voice in Lansing.”

As Republican whip, Green is the party’s No. 3 member of the House.

Others endorsing Lennox include Republicans for Environmental Protection president Rob Sisson and the Dads of Michigan PAC.

The 105th District spans Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Otsego counties.

It’s that time of the year again: Local boards of review are meeting to hear appeals on your yearly property assessments, which is why I bring you this Urgent Taxpayer Alert.

This is about the fundamental fairness of our tax system and not the usual political rhetoric. What is fair about keeping our property values at pre-recession levels and causing hardship to families struggling to survive?

If you don’t object in person or in writing, you lose your rights to have the matter heard by an impartial third party.

Despite falling property values, some local governments across aren’t cutting services and restructuring to address the changing economic and budgetary realities.

Please pay careful attention to your assessment notice, which should have arrived in the mail by now.

We all know these are unprecedented times. But our challenges aren’t insurmountable.

Sometimes it takes hard times to realize the changes that need to take place.

Instead of increasing the pay of government employees, expanding and retaining services and passing millage after millage, we need to consolidate and streamline government at all levels with commonsense reforms.

That’s why I encourage you to attend your board of review because reform starts at the local level.

This isn’t about tax assessors, who perform a very difficult and important service. This is about ensuring government lives within its means.

In case you missed this news report from Thursday:

Drain Commissioner Dennis Lennox, Republican candidate for the State House in the 105th District, called on opponent Tim Boyko to apologize for accusing the new Department of Natural Resources and Environment of being communist.

In a posting on his campaign blog late Wednesday, Boyko claimed the state’s newest department — an amalgamation of the Natural Resources and Environmental Quality departments — is using the traditional communist symbol of a hammer and sickle as its official logo.

“This is yet another example of what’s wrong with the dialogue and rhetoric found too often in today’s political climate,” said Lennox. “It is irresponsible to issue a blanket statement accusing a state department of being communist. While I have had my differences with both former departments, I respect the work they do in conserving the Creator’s gift to mankind."

Lennox noted it's ironic that Boyko, who has supported left-wing Green Party candidates over Republican Party nominees, accuses the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of being communist when his blog features the color scheme traditionally associated with communist parties.

"Having worked with opposition leaders in countries governed by communist regimes, I know first-hand the seriousness of my opponent's accusation," said Lennox. "No serious candidate would compare state government with the regimes of Belarus, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam and the former Soviet Union. These reckless statements have no place in the discussion on solutions to Michigan's challenges."

The 105th District seat, held by term-limited House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer (R-Bellaire), consists of Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Otsego counties.

In case you missed this news report:

Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Dennis Lennox, Republican candidate for the State House in the 105th District, has been endorsed by the parental rights Dads of Michigan PAC.

“I welcome the support of family advocates as I continue campaigning to ensure a brighter future for our children and grandchildren,” said Lennox. “Strong families are the solution to the increasingly broken society that’s plaguing too many communities across our great state.”

Dads of Michigan is the state affiliate of the American Coalition for Fathers. It believes that the best parent is both parents.

The 105th District seat is currently held by term-limited House Republican Leader Kevin Elsenheimer and consists of Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Otsego counties.

Lennox has previously been endorsed by former Michigan Republican Party chairman Saul Anuzis and former Speaker of the House Craig DeRoche.