Car Wreck on S. Saginaw St.
Auto insurance reform is a hot issue - and one that politicians can get heated about.
(File Photo)
cGov. John Engler was a master at cajoling, persuading and even threatening lawmakers as he maneuvered to get bills passed. He would call them into what the Capitol press corps affectionately called the woodshed, where he would ply his talents.
For those who refused to play ball he was never bashful about applying the heat.
“You know, Legislator X, you have two choices. You can give me your vote, or you can withhold your vote, but if you withhold, when you run for re-election next year, I will make sure you have a primary opponent who will cost you your job.”
Was that a threat?
It was.
But you seldom caught Engler doing it unless somebody ratted him out, and then you had hell to pay if he found out.
So was what happened last week concerning a Macomb County lawmaker and the Macomb County executive a threat?
At first glance, it sure had all the appearances of a threat, but one of the players labeled it “advice” while the other described it as “inappropriate.” Read on and draw your own conclusion.
Word leaked last week that Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel would be on stage with other political leaders to denounce the latest House GOP reboot of Michigan's auto insurance law, which has no cap on catastrophic coverage - and results in some of the highest rates in the nation.
Related: 10 things to know about auto insurance reform proposal
And when state Rep. Peter Lund of Macomb County got wind of the impending event, he fired off a call to Mr. Hackel’s office.
To place the call in context: Mr. Lund has been thrashing away for almost two years trying to convince his colleagues that auto insurance changes are needed. The thrashing has produced a goose egg, so let’s just say the frustration level must be rising faster than the snow-piles lining your driveway.
Mr. Lund’s conversation with one of Mr. Hackel’s staffers suggested it would be a good idea if Mr. Hackel found something else to do rather than join hands with the county executives from Wayne and Oakland.
Mr. Hackel explains, “He did make some mention that my being there would cause a problem for me getting anything out of Lansing in the future. That was very concerning to me and inappropriate at best.”
Was it a threat?
“I don’t know if it was a threat or not.”
Mr. Lund explains, “It’s not a good idea to come out for an issue like this and expect to be making friends in Lansing … I’m sorry Mark took it the wrong way. It was more of a piece of advice.”
Was it advice?
Rep. Lund does admit he “probably” used the phrase “trouble getting anything out of Lansing” because if you “are going to stick your nose” into stuff like this and then you want your friends to help you, well, you get his drift.
Mr. Lund also suggests the auto insurance reform has nothing to do with Mr. Hackel’s county agenda. Hence no nose-sticking was warranted.
Obviously Mr. Hackel does not concur, because he wanted to show solidarity with Oakland Executive Brooks Patterson and Wayne Executive Bob Ficano, who were fighting for the little guy vs. the big, bad insurance industry.
Interestingly, the new mayor of Detroit was slated to appear with the other three but turned out to be a no-show. And come to find out, Mike Duggan met instead with Mr. Lund's boss,
House GOP Speaker Jase Bolger and the two talked about (what else?) auto insurance reform.
But back to the Lund-Hackel story.
Mr. Hackel says he felt like the lawmaker was “holding something over me.”
Mr. Lund was asked point blank: Was it a threat?
He shot back, “No. Come on.”
Somebody get John Engler on the horn to decide who’s right.
Watch "Off the Record with Tim Skubick" online anytime at video.wkar.org