Tim_Skubick's Blog

Everyone craves predictability in their lives which is why trust in relationships is so important.  You want know if you do “x”, that “y” will happen and not “z”.   

Barack Obama would trust Tina Fay err Sarah Palin to put lipstick on his pig.  He would not trust her with the atomic bomb black box.   

The good folks in Lansing are suffering through another bout of lack of trust-ittis…the same malaise that engulfed lawmakers and the governor last year and placed them on a collision course with history…a rare shutdown of state government.      

Here we go again.  Sure the stakes are not nearly as high but the lack of trust still is.      

Last week Gov. Jennifer Granholm confidently told capitol correspondents that a deal on the new energy package was close at hand.    

But her GOP dancing partner was not waltzing to the same tune.  Senator Mike Bishop informed everyone that was “news to me.”  The stark disagreement is nothing new to them.     

This is the same couple that last year, during the contentious and brutal debate over raising taxes, had big time trust issues.  On two occasions, she walked out of negotiations to announce a deal and Bishop went, “What deal?”      

The trust thing is not unique to these two.  It’s all over the joint.  House democrats don’t trust house and senate republicans and vice versa.  House democrats are even a little shaky on predicting what their own governor will do.  On energy for example, some D’s are worried she wants a deal so badly, she will sell them out to get it.       

Lack of trust is pervasive in the lobby corps.  One veteran confides if a lawmaker says he or she will vote yes on a bill, you’re never sure until you see the green light on the voting board.    

And yes, there is even a lack of trust among newshounds who cover this town.  Years ago if the chair of a committee told you a bill would pass, by God it did.  Now you would be foolish to report such a predication because the story changes six ways from Sunday before you get on the air or into print.  

There is this lack of trust, also in part, because House members are up for reelection. A yes vote on the energy thing could end up being used against that lawmaker.      

It’s already happened in Muskegon where the GOP challenger is running ads against the incumbent democrat. The republican says the democrat voted to raise monthly utility bills, which she did, but there is an explanation. Ah but that will never find its way into the commercial.      

The fact is the state will at some point need more energy.  You can buy it from other states like we do with foreign oil or you can make it cheaper in your own backyard but either way the cost will go up.   

It’s an issue ripe for political exploitation and lots of lawmakers are scared their careers will be over.  Once more savings one’s neck trumps doing what may be best for the public.    

Lack of trust is an ugly thing to behold.