Tim Skubick

Finally. Something most of you can agree upon.

In a state known for its cantankerous strong divisions based on geography (think Yoopers vs. the rest of us) political beliefs, and fill in the blank, now comes a question from pollster Richard Czuba.

Should lawmakers vote based on what their political party stands for or should they compromise and seek bi-partisan cooperation instead?

Now before you answer, here’s a stab in the dark on what the two sides are thinking.

Look if I voted R or D because I believe in what my party stands for. If we don’t stand up for what we believe, what kind of Democracy is that? We might as well have a king to tell us what to do.

Or, neither political party has all the right answers for this issue or that. There may be certain issues that you won’t abandon but most of the stuff they debate in Lansing is not black and white. Elected officials should look for common/middle ground and basically compromise is not a four-letter word.

The envelope please, Mr. Czuba.

“70% want leaders to compromise. 19% want them to stand up for the party.”

The 19 percenters may not like this but anytime you get 70% of a state to agree on anything, that’s not only an “aha moment” — it should have an impact on what they do in the state capitol since a vast majority want it.

Which brings us to two examples: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders.

Gov. Whitmer, during a speech to a business conference on the island last week, mentioned Gov. Bill Milliken. “I was in the audience back then when he called for bipartisanship,” she told the group, and it’s safe to say that ever since, (because she was getting the same message growing up around parents who were as B-P as could be) she has tried to practice it, including showing up in the Oval Office with a president from the opposite party.

By now if you haven’t heard about the flak that was piled on her from hardcore Democrats and maybe even some jealous Republicans, go back to sleep.

Suffice it to say, there were some unkind remarks, but she responded that the voters of Michigan hired her to get things done and if working with a GOP president who did not share many of her deeply felt principles, than so be it.

And in case you were asleep, as a result she got a jet fighter wing for Selfrige air base in Macomb County from President Trump after failing miserably with Democratic Presidents Biden and Obama on the same request. The jets were in addition to Mr. Trump signing off on a gizmo to keep the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Her bi-partisanship is two for two and counting with other “gets” in the works?

While the good government-types were glowing about her stand up performance, there are no smiles for the current state of non-cooperation among legislative leaders over the state budget, fixing the roads and related issues.

Peace is not a hand … or foot.

During that same island conference last week, the four legislature leaders, two D’s and two R’s, sat on a panel discussion. The fact they agreed to appear together was in itself a revelation as up to that point, the finger pointing was conducted via news conferences and press releases. Now, for the first time, the audience in the Grand Hotel witnessed a not-so-grand display of political bickering that did not produce a standing ovation.

Not since GOP candidates Rick Snyder and Mike Cox got into a downright ugly exchange over who was lecturing whom on morals and ethics during a governor’s debate, has this audience been “treated” to such a display of unfriendliness/rancor.

Senate Democratic leader Winnie Brinks and House GOP Speaker Matt Hall, who know how to compromise, must have left that baggage at the boat dock before heading up to the hotel.

Time does not permit a blow-by-blow description, but suffice it to say, there was no hint that these two were going to find middle ground on anything although they both know they must or else.

Or else the state budget doesn’t get done on time and a government shutdown results and none of the fallout from that is good unless you enjoy national headlines, “Michigan Government Closed for Business.”

Giving the two combatants the benefit of the doubt, maybe some of the negative stuff was part of the budget dance and eventually they will reach a compromise.

But as they move toward that, perhaps they should keep two numbers in mind: 70 vs 19.