DOES MARK FISK HAVE AN IRON FIST?
By
Tim Beck
Although BF calls themselves 'non-partisan,' the company has deep roots in the Michigan Democratic Party.
In 2008 Byrum and Fisk first began serving as the communications and public relations arm of Prop.1, the statewide ballot initiative which legalized medical marijuana in Michigan.
Now, MCMA represents the biggest cannabis businesses in Michigan. The goal of big businesses who pay B & F bills is to essentially legislate medical marijuana caregivers out of existence; in essence, sacrificing micro-growers in order to maximize profits for larger clients.
Mr. Fiske, and maybe Ms. Byrum, will now be fighting to euthanize the small business /caregiver system which they thoughtfully promoted and initiated into law.
To date, the MCMA has failed, for almost two years, to get the votes they need to eliminate the caregiver system. In part this is due to fierce resistance from caregiver supporters and the fact that MCMA leaders Steve Linder and Shelly Edgerton have strong connections to the Republican Party.
Capitol insiders believe bringing a Democrat power player like Fiske into the picture, will give MCMA the partisan "balance" needed to put them over the top.
So who is Mark Fiske?
A respectful request by MM Report for an interview to better understand his vision was denied. However, there is plenty of information to be found about him online.
According to the BF website, Fiske's "hard nosed approach to campaigns, relentless drive and desire to win led him to be nicknamed the "Iron Fiske" and won him respect from both parties."
Fiske first surfaced on the Michigan political scene in 2002, when he served in media relations for the ill-fated campaigns of Democrats Gary Peters for attorney general and Congressman David Bonior for governor of Michigan.
Prior to 2002, Fiske was a journalist writing in various capacities for the Oakland Press, Herald Palladium, Kalamazoo Gazette, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press and the Philadelphia Inquirer. From there he moved on to the Michigan House Democratic Caucus as political and communications director. In 2007, he teamed up with State Representative Dianne Byrum, who had been Democrat House Minority leader, and they created Byrum & Fiske.
BF's first big contract was with the "Marijuana Policy Project" (MPP) to head up public relations and communications for the ballot initiative, which ultimately legalized medical marijuana in Michigan. I worked closely with MPP to lay the groundwork for Prop. 1 and, in a strange twist of fate, played a key role in recommending BF for the MPP contract: it paid around $10K per month plus expenses.
In Lansing ethics, all lobbying is fair game if it fits through “the Overton Window.” Joe Overton defined this window as “the range of policies politically acceptable to the mainstream population at a given time.” In 2007 marijuana legalization issues were not politically acceptable. It was considered radical thinking.
When all was said and done, BF was the sole winner for the MPP contract.
Fast forwarding to the here and now, I spoke with pro-cannabis activists who expressed shock and surprise that Byrum & Fiske were now working to destroy their earlier creation.
While Fiskes' recent move may seem unnatural to some, it is nothing new in the Lansing soup kitchen. This has nothing to do with altruism or the nuances of theologically perfect behavior. It's just about business and maximizing profit margins. If the pro-caregiver side had gotten there first, with some hard currency, there is practically no doubt in anyone's mind that BF would be fighting hard for caregivers--rather than the big marijuana companies represented by the MCMA.
Will the "Iron Fiske" be able to punch through opposition on the Democratic Party side of the aisle and muster the 3/4 majority needed to change the law to benefit MCMA's clients over caregiver rights? That remains to be seen.
Fiske or no Fiske, a 3/4 supermajority vote of the Legislature is needed to change the law and this is a very high and slippery slope to climb. Linder and Edgerton's “putsch” last September to pass their law did not make the cut. Principled Democrats and Republicans, were sickened by the idea of using a government fiat to eliminate the competition for these already very rich corporations. Legislators of conscience in both parties stood their ground and said “no”.
Unless the MCMA can negotiate in good faith and come up with something better than their current model bills; the road ahead for these people should be dark.
