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Al Pscholka
| Al Pscholka | ||
 | ||
| Michigan House of Representatives District 79 | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| January 1, 2011-Present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| January 1, 2015 | ||
| Years in position | 2 | |
| Party | Republican | |
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $71,685/year | |
| Per diem | $10,800 yearly expense allowance | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 6, 2012 | |
| First elected | November 2, 2010 | |
| Next election | November 4, 2014 | |
| Term limits | 3 terms | |
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | Western Michigan University | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
| Campaign website | ||
 | ||
Contents |
Pscholka is a part time broadcaster, reporting play-by-play of local high school sports. he was part owner of Cosy Broadcasting, which operated two stations in south Haven and Stevensville. is a former vice president of Cornerstone Alliance, where he served for nine years.
Pscholka graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Issues
Campaign themes
Pscholka's website highlights the following campaign themes:[1]
Michigan's Young Professionals
- Excerpt:"In addition to creating a better business climate so our young professionals have jobs and opportunities, we need to make sure our tax policies fit our vision of getting young people back to Michigan."
Michigan's Competitiveness Agenda
- Excerpt:"Going forward, we need to develop University and College - business partnerships, focusing on attracting companies and retaining our talent. Keeping more of our Michigan young people in our State, expanding business incubation and growing the venture capital capabilities."
Education
- Excerpt:"Michigan must continue to utilize its' community colleges for training. Community colleges play a unique role in providing job training and a great opportunity for students to transfer for four year degrees"
Jobs
- Excerpt:"I believe Michigan is a great place to live, work, and play and we can again make Michigan competitive. Let’s talk about a four step plan to put Michigan back to work."
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Pscholka served on the following committees:
| Michigan Committee Assignments, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Appropriations, Vice-chair | ||||
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Pscholka served on these committees:
| Michigan Committee Assignments, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Appropriations | ||||
Elections
2012
Pscholka won re-election in the 2012 election for Michigan House of Representatives District 79. He was unopposed in the August 7 Republican primary and defeated Jim Hahn (D) and Carl G. Oehling (I) in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.[2]
| Michigan House of Representatives, District 79, General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Al Pscholka Incumbent |
52.8% | 21,490 | |
| Democratic | Jim Hahn | 45.7% | 18,630 | |
| Independent | Carl G. Oehling | 1.5% | 613 | |
| Total Votes | 40,733 | |||
2010
Pscholka won election to the District 79 Seat in 2010. He defeated Bruce Gorenflo and Paul Peterson in the August 3 Republican primary. He defeated Mary Brown (D) in the general election on November 2, 2010.
| Michigan House of Representatives, District 77 General election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Al Pscholka (R)
|
17,293 | |||
| Mary Brown (D) | 8,761 | |||
| Carl Oehling (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan) | 908 | |||
Campaign donors
2012
Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.
2010
In 2010, Pscholka raised $54,576 in contributions. [3]
His five largest contributors were:
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association | $1,500 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Michigan | $1,000 |
| Michigan Automobile Dealers Association | $1,000 |
| UPS | $1,000 |
| Michigan Chamber Of Commerce | $1,000 |
Recall efforts
On April 28, 2011 Benton Harbor City Commissioner Dennis Knowles filed language to recall Pscholka from office. It stated the Pscholka should be recalled "for sponsoring and supporting Public Act 4 that has robbed the citizens in District 79, namely the city of Benton Harbor, of their democratic rights...empowering a non elected emergency financial manager...(and) striking local municipal government representation for, of and by the people."[4]
Following the submission's rejection by the Berrien County Election Commission, Knowles submitted new recall language seeking recall on May 11.[5] At a meeting on May 22 the county election commission approved the language. The recall language is valid for 180 days, but Knowles must collect 6,718 signatures within a 90 day period in order to put a recall on the ballot.[6]
In early August, Knowles announced he had collected nearly half of the required signatures and planned to turn in the petitions on September 15.[7]
The recall never made it to the ballot.[8]
Scorecards
Tea Party Scorecard
The Independent Tea Party Patriots, a Michigan Tea Party group, grades the votes of this and every other Michigan legislator on “core tea party issues” in a regularly-updated scorecard. 100% is considered an ideal rating.[9]
January 2011 - March 2012
Al Pscholka received a 79% rating on the January 2011 - March 2012 Tea Party Scorecard.[9]
Personal
Pscholka and his wife Suzanne have one child.
Recent news
This section displays the most recent stories in a google news search for the term Al + Pscholka + Michigan + Legislature
- All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.
Al Pscholka News Feed
- Michigan House and Senate Both Skeptical On Medicaid Expansion - Michigan Capitol Confidential
- Michigan Legislature Starts Passing Budget Plans - CBS Local
- MichiganVotes: House GOP Medicaid Expansion Plan Faces Hurdles - Michigan Capitol Confidential
- Out-of-state student recruiting could be solution to Michigan's talent shortage - Crain's Detroit Business
- May 10, 2013, MichiganVotes.org Weekly Vote Report - Mackinac Center for Public Policy
- Blossomtime Finalists Visit Lansing - WSJM
- House Republicans Roll Out Medicaid Expansion Proposal - WILX-TV
- Editorial: Speaker Jase Bolger is letting his House get out of order - Detroit Free Press
- Michigan House OKs Drug Tests For Welfare Recipients - CBS Local
- Michigan lawmakers back changes to welfare benefits that include drug testing - Detroit Free Press
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
External links
- House website
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2010
References
- ↑ "alforstaterep," Official Campaign Website
- ↑ Associated Press "Michigan - Summary Vote Results," Accessed August 7, 2012
- ↑ 2010 contributions
- ↑ WSJM, "Recall Language Filed Against Pscholka," April 29, 2011
- ↑ WSJM, "New Pscholka Recall Language Filed," May 12, 2011
- ↑ WSJM, "Pscholka Recall Wording Approved," May 23, 2011
- ↑ Michigan Messenger, "Pscholka recall effort nears halfway mark," August 8, 2011
- ↑ Herald Palladium, "Recall effort against Pscholka fails," December 6, 2011
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Michigan Votes, "Tea Party Scorecard Jan 2011-Mar 2012," accessed June 25, 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Proos, IV (R) |
Michigan House of Representatives District 79 2011–present |
Succeeded by NA |
 |
State of Michigan Lansing (capital) |
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