posted Feb 16, 2012 1:16 PM by chair 2010
From the Michigan Democratic Party:
Friends,
State and
Federal Republicans are determined to continue their assault against the
middle class and working families. Last year, they cut public education in
Michigan by $1 billion, raised taxes on seniors, middle class families, and the
poor - all so they could pay for a $1.8 billion tax break for big corporations
and wealthy CEOs. Then, State Republicans slashed unemployment benefits
from 26 weeks to 20 - the fewest of any state in the nation.
Now,
Congressional Republicans are attacking unemployment benefits again and the
assault is being led by Michigan Congressmen Dave Camp and Fred Upton.
Their plan
would cut more than half of the total number of benefit weeks that are
currently provided by the Federal UI programs, reducing the maximum number of
federally-funded weeks from 73 to 33 in high unemployment states. Because
Republicans in Michigan last year slashed the state unemployment program to 20
weeks the reductions would be more severe, limiting the overall number of
weeks in Michigan to just 46. Help us stop them. Sign our online petition against these cuts right now.
Overall, 2.8
million Americans would lose unemployment insurance benefits earlier than they
would have otherwise, including more than 79,000 in Michigan.
Don’t let
Camp and Upton continue the assault on middle class families and the
unemployed. Sign our online petition today and share with at least 10 of
your friends. Let's show Camp, Upton, and the Republicans that we won’t
stand for any more cuts to unemployment benefits.
Sincerely, Mark Brewer, Chair Michigan Democratic Party This material was not reviewed by the Clinton County Democratic Party.
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posted Feb 3, 2012 12:28 PM by chair 2010
A local commemoration of the World Day of Social Justice brought to the tri-county community by Capital Area Progressives. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
When
Saturday, February 18, 2012 Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. Program begins at 2:00 p.m.
Where
Hannah
Community Center
819 Abbott Road,
East Lansing; Executive
Conference Room (second floor, south end)
Pre-registration is preferred but not necessary. Light
refreshments will be served. Everybody Reads will have a table at which relevant books
may be purchased. There will also be handout materials available.
What
Part 1 – Start here: Get
the facts
A talk by Tom Weisskopf, Professor
Emeritus of Economics, University of Michigan.
The Great Recession, the collapse
of the housing market, the failure of financial services giants, the
unrelenting climb in income inequality – none of these were accidental or
necessary. They are the result of political, ideological, and other human
decisions. The history of the policies that fed financial excesses, engineered
inequality, and enabled the collapse reaches back as far as the Great
Depression. Professor Weisskopf will tell the eye-opening story of what
happened to the American economy and why, and point a way forward.
A moderated question and answer period will follow the talk.
Break
Part 2 – Now it’s
your turn: Put the facts to work
A workshop on engagement
facilitated by Jocelyn Benson, Associate Professor of Law and Associate
Director of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, Wayne State University,
founder and director of the Michigan Center for Election Law and
Administration, and Democratic candidate for Secretary of State in 2010.
This session will have something for you whether you are a
person who can talk public policy in your sleep or a person who has never
expressed your views to a local, state or national elected official, in a
letter to the editor or in a discussion among voters.
Take home facts
Everybody Reads bookstore will have a table with hot books
like Economic Collapse, Economic Change,
Winner-Take-All Politics, and The Darwin
Economy. You may find a resource to dive into for more learning at home.
See the facts
Posters around the room will display the facts graphically.
Graphs will show, for example, the steady climb of income inequality in the U.S. over 30
years in which the average income of the bottom 90% stayed flat while that of
the top 1% grew astronomically. The graphs will show, too, how the rise in
income inequality correlated with the decline in levels of unionization. Participants
will also see that, among the world’s rich nations, the greater the degree of
income inequality, the poorer is population health and the poorer is population
mental health.
Why February 18?
In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed
February 20 to be the World Day of Social Justice to be celebrated annually. In
making this proclamation, the United Nations reaffirmed its “commitment…to full
and productive employment and decent work for all…as a central objective of
relevant national and international policies as well as national development
strategies,” and stated, among other things, “that broad-based and sustained economic
growth in the context of sustainable development is necessary to sustain social
development and social justice.”
Volunteers will be
needed for registering people at the door, staffing the refreshment table,
set-up (including charts on easels, video & mike equipment), clean-up, and
distributing and collecting question cards from audience. If anyone has
videotaping capability, we would appreciate their help.
Publicity: We need everyone to get the word out on this—to
their union, their neighbors, their workplace, their church, their bookclub,
their Facebook page: everywhere!
Contacts for information or registration: Melany Mack
(669-6017) or Ellen Link (651-2005 / elink153@yahoo.com)
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posted Feb 1, 2012 7:11 AM by chair 2010
[
updated Feb 1, 2012 7:12 AM
]
Please join us February 2nd at 6:30 P.M. as we welcome two guests, Bridget Mary McCormack and State Representative Mark Meadows.
Bridget Mary McCormack is a professor at the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor, Michigan and also serves as Michigan Law School's associate dean of clinical affairs. She is seeking the Democratic nomination for a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court.
Representative Meadows serves the 69th House District and is the current Assistant Leader of the Michigan State House of Representatives. He will be speaking about the upcoming elections.
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posted Jan 17, 2012 9:03 AM by chair 2010
[
updated Jan 17, 2012 9:05 AM
]
Occupy Lansing is mid-Michigan's local Occupy movement. Below is taken from an email:
Dear friends,
Members of Occupy Lansing
have been going door-to-door spreading the word that Michigan is in a dire
state, and we need honesty and real leadership to get us out of this mess we’re
in.
Nearly all of us have been left scratching our heads wondering if any of our elected officials have considered what the future holds on this path of political fast-talking with no real solutions. That is why so many of you have expressed interest in joining us at the State Capitol this Wednesday, January 18, at 7:30 pm, with our very own State of Your State. Feel free to come early at 6:30 to help us set up.
To read more, click here
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posted Dec 10, 2011 6:34 AM by chair 2010
[
updated Dec 10, 2011 6:36 AM
]
It is with a deep sense of sorrow
that the Township is issuing the following notice: on December 8, 2011
Bath Township Supervisor Tom Schneider passed away unexpectedly of
natural causes. He was 69. Mr. Schneider served the Bath community
since he was elected Supervisor in November of 2008. He is survived by
his wife Becky (Schwarz), sons; Gabriel (Amy) Schneider, Noah (Amanda)
Schneider, and Ben Schneider, and one grand-daughter, Olivia.
Visitation is Sunday, December 11th
from 2-4 p.m. & 6-8 p.m. at Gorsline Runciman East Chapel, 1730 East
Grand River, East Lansing. The funeral service is at St. Johns Student
Parish in East Lansing on Monday, December 12th at 2:00 p.m. with
interment following at Rose Cemetery in Bath. After interment, there
will be a gathering at the Bath Community Center, 5959 Park Lake Rd. Reposting from the Bath Township website: http://www.bathtownship.us/
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posted Jul 8, 2011 6:50 AM by betsy carl-curtis
[
updated Dec 10, 2011 7:42 PM by chair 2010
]
Recently the Clinton County Democrats voted to move the day of the monthly meetin g. Starting in January 2012, the Clinton County Democrats will meet on the first Thursday of every month at the DeWitt City Hall - 414 East Main Street in DeWitt. |
posted Mar 31, 2011 6:39 AM by CCD Editor
[
updated May 31, 2011 1:19 PM by chair 2010
]
"IF Not Now, When?"
The Question was asked and you answered at the annual Spring Banquet & Fundraiser. If you were one of the many attendees or donors to the Banquet this year, THANK YOU for getting involved now.
What If I Want to Get Involved Now? You can still donate to our local candidates and local campaigns at https://secure.actblue.com/page/spring11 or by calling our Fundraising Committee (Ellen at 651-2005 / elink153@yahoo.com or Martha Mikko at 641-6386).
More Pictures from the Banquet? CLICK to see more.
What About Republican Attacks on Labor and the Middle Class? The Spring Banquet included a Labor Discussion Panel led by outstanding state and nationally recognized experts who spoke of the methods of the attacks and implications for the future of workers. We all learned something about the need to protect collective bargaining rights by electing candidates who care about workers and their families. We learned about the benefits of job safety standards and fair wages to the small business owners and main street Michigan.
 Featured FORUM SPEAKERS included (left to rt):
~ Moderator Kevin Karpinski, Uniserv Director for the
Capitol Area Education Assoc., Michigan Educ. Assn/NEA
~ Shana L Alderton, Field Services Director for the Michigan
AFSCME Council 25
~ Art Luna, UAW, Region 1-C CAP Coordinator
~ Michelle Kaminski, MSU Assoc. Professor of Labor and
Industrial Relations *
WE ARE ACTIVE NOW -- because if we don't support civil liberties and progress in our economy NOW, we lose our chance for a better future. We put get active in the Democratic Party politics, because we care about our children's future, their careers, their health. We fight for seniors and veterans and the poor (not penalize them), because it contributes to everyone's economy and because it's our values.
Who's Who of Clinton County? This year, the Clinton County Dems recognized several individuals who have made significant contributions to the Democratic Party and its ideals. This year's Phil Hart Award recipient was Melany Mack of Dewitt.
Clinton County Dems Spring Banquet at Prairie Creek Golf Course and Banquet Center was beautifully organized by our Fundraising Committee: Martha Mikko-Escher, Ellen Link, Betsy Carl Curtis, Eileen Heideman and many others contributed door prizes and their time.
The Phil Hart Award was give to Melany Mack this year. Read more...
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posted Mar 31, 2011 6:35 AM by CCD Editor
[
updated May 3, 2011 6:16 PM by chair 2010
]
Clinton County Dems & Friends had a unique opportunity to gather to send a loud and clear message that the Republican state budget is going to do more harm than good for Michigan and to our communities.
There was a good crowd for such short notice.
One great photographer captured some of the energy -- Linette Crosby.
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posted Mar 20, 2011 9:31 AM by Candace Winslow
[
updated Mar 20, 2011 10:15 AM by chair 2010
]
On Monday, March 21th at 7:00 pm , a resolution is being put forth to formally protest Governor Snyder's budget. The meeting will be held at the Bath Township offices on Webster Road .
The protest is somewhat symbolic, but is also at attempt to raise awareness in how the State cuts will dramatically undercut public education and government services in our home towns. A positive result of the resolution may be for the Governor to re-examine the tax breaks he has given corporations in the same budget and to look at alternative funding rather than cut communities and families during this already poor economic time.
The expected wording of the resolution is shown below.
Whereas Michigan law (Public Act 72 of 1990) currently has effective, and reasonable mechanisms in place with specific conditional requirements that allow the State of Michigan to address the potential financial failure of a local unit of government, and
Whereas the State of Michigan “Emergency Financial Management” bill (HB4214) presently before the Governor contains provisions that broaden the powers of an Emergency Financial Manager (EFM), including the following;
- An emergency manager may prohibit local officials, employees, agent, or contractors from access to the local government's office facilities, electronic mail, and internal information systems;
- An emergency manager may recommend to the Governor that local elected officials be removed from office;
- An emergency manager could enter into agreements with other local governments, public bodies, or entities for the provision of services, the joint exercise of powers, or the transfer of functions and responsibilities;
- An emergency manager may recommend to the State Boundary Commission that a city, village, or township consolidate with one or more other municipal governments, and with the approval of the Governor, disincorporate or dissolve the municipal government;
- An emergency manager may modify, reject, terminate, and renegotiate contracts, and have sole discretion to reject, modify, or terminate one or more terms and conditions of an existing collective bargaining agreement;
- An emergency managers financial plan is not required to receive public approval before implementation or modification;
- An emergency manager with approval of the State Treasurer could authorize contracts without competitive bidding; - Emergency managers and employees would be immune from liability;
- Emergency managers will have no required salary limit which could potentially inflict further financial hardship to a local unit of government, and
Whereas the required conditions that allow the Governor’s administration to proceed with these actions are subjective, arbitrary, vague, and open to individual interpretation,
Therefore, be it resolved that the Bath Charter Township Board of Trustees protest The of State of Michigan House Bill 4214 because of the high risk potential of conflicting interests of Emergency Financial Managers, the potential loss of good faith contractual negotiations, and the potential disinfranchisement of citizens solemn right to elect their public officials with the expectation these officials will serve their entire term of office.
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posted Mar 13, 2011 6:58 PM by CCD Editor
[
updated Mar 13, 2011 7:19 PM by chair 2010
]
Michigan communities & workers get screwedCheck out the national press in this video. Or better yet, come down to the State Capitol to express your view and be witness to what our newly elected representatives are trying to do. Are our 2010 elected State House & Senate working on creating jobs or attracting new businesses? No. Working on helping layed-off workers? No. Helping families who've lost or are losing their homes? No. How about repaying state employees who took pay cuts during the last few years? No. Instead, they plan to follow up cutting revenue to Clinton County, local governments and our schools by enacting a law that will allow Gov. Snyder to take over those same counties, cities, townships, and schools that run into fiscal trouble. It's called the Emergency Management Act. The far-right activists of the state Republican Party (apparently in unison with even more ominous national backers of similar state attacks on workers' rights), have focused their efforts on this law that will also allow the Snyder's chosen Manager to fire elected officials and break contracts with workers' unions. Get more info on the planned protest at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=184520108258014&index=1 |
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