I've made it my mission over the next couple weeks to learn as much as I can about both Andy Dillon and Virg Bernero before I cast my vote for one or the other. Being a young, pro-choice, Democratic woman, one of my major concerns has been Andy Dillon's stance on the pro-life issue. I was therefore interested to see yesterday's rollout of the "Women for Dillon" group, headed by none other than State Senator Gilda Jacobs, a strong pro-choice legislator and vocal supporter of women's issues.
This announcement caught my attention in particular because I've heard Senator Jacobs speak a number of times in support of women's issues and she is certainly one politician I admire. In her statement on why she supports Dillon, she said, "This race cannot be about any one single issue. It's too important for that. It has to be about a comprehensive approach that helps all Michigan residents."
As an almost college graduate, I have to say that I am very concerned about being able to find a job in Michigan after graduation. Sen. Jacobs shared a similar story, her two daughters were forced to move out of Michigan to New York to find jobs and this is one of the main reasons why she support Dillon for Governor.
So the question I'm now asking myself is that if Senator Jacobs can put the pro-choice vs. pro-life issue aside and support Andy Dillon, can other pro-choice voters? Can I?
If the polls being reported in the news this week are to be believed, I'm like the majority of Democratic voters in that I am still not sure who I will vote for August 3rd. Women for Dillon certainly helps answer some questions I've had about Andy Dillon, but I still have more to learn about both candidates.
I've admittedly only been loosely following the primary campaign over the past several months as I haven't found myself getting excited over either candidate in the Dem primary race. Over the past few days, however, I've found myself giving it some more thought after seeing both candidates receive some high profile Detroit endorsements: Former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer for Dillon; Congresswomen Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick & Congressmen John Conyers for Bernero.
Andy Dillon has just announced that he has received the maximum 30,000 petition signatures in support of his candidacy for Governor, and will be submitting the petitions to the Secretary of State's office today. Michigan law requires a candidate for Governor to file a minimum of 15,000 signatures and a maximum of 30,000 signatures by May 11 in order to be placed on the primary ballot.
What impresses about this isn't that he received the signatures, as Virg Bernero will almost certainly be turning in petitions of his own at some point, rather it is how quickly he was able to collect them. You may recall that Dillon didn't officially enter the race for Governor until February 28, which means the 30,000 signatures were collected in only 60 days.
Dillon also received the endorsement of another labor union yesterday, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324. The IUOE Local 324 represents roughly 17,000 workers in Michigan that build and maintain our infrastructure, and having those hardworking individuals on Dillon's side is a big win in garnering the support of union workers statewide.
By being the first in with his signatures, and getting the support of the IUOE workers, it's been a strong week for Dillon in establishing himself as a candidate that can not only win the primary, but can draw support from different bases in a general election.
We obviously have a LONG way to go before the primary election, but the broad support that Dillon has been able to bring into his camp so far is impressive.
The race to see who will be the Democratic candidate for Governor has certainly seen some strange twists and turns this year. It went from looking like a forgone conclusion that Lt. Governor Cherry would be that candidate, to having a wide-open field of new challengers, to having that field narrow down to what will likely be a heated battle between Speaker of the House Andy Dillon, and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.
I like to be as open minded as possible going into an election season, but what I'm seeing from Mayor Bernero already leads me to wonder if he is someone we would want to entrust with Michigan's $45 billion (and shrinking) budget.
As reported in the Lansing State Journal this week, (read here: http://tiny.cc/jhmgo) an internal audit done by the City of Lansing showed the following:
Lansing's park millage money was improperly used to pay for one of Mayor Virg Bernero's press conferences and to construct a walkway at Lewton Elementary School, where his wife is the principal.
While Mayor Bernero didn't respond to the audit, his Finance Director defended the elementary school walkway by saying it was part of an agreement with the school district. Maybe, maybe not, but regardless of whether the money was properly used, $32,890 to construct a walkway seems like a rather large sum of public dollars to spend on a concrete pathway.
The bigger concern is the use of $3,349.50 from the City's parks budget on one of the Mayor's press conferences. His office has already suggested it was a mistake and that the funds are being reimbursed to the parks account, but it immediately brings two questions to mind.
1) Is this the first time such a "mistake" has happened where City funds are used to hold an event primarily intended as a public relations opportunity for the Mayor?
2) Where else in the City budget are funds being spent on the wrong programs? Are police funds paying for street cleaning?
I would suggest that Mayor Bernero call for a citywide audit to answer these questions. Maybe this was a one time mistake, but if this one audit resulted in this information coming to light, a broader audit of where all city funds are being spent would tell us whether the residents of Lansing are truly getting the services they expect out of their tax dollars.
These are not the kind of questions that Mayor Bernero wants lingering right now, not when he's asking the people of Michigan to put him in charge of a much larger budget.
The Democratic gubernatorial race in Michigan right now is a bit of a clown show. The front runner, Lt. Governor John Cherry has left the race. A former state Treasurer got in and out in less than a week. Even George Perles, former Mich.State Univ. football coach has been suggested as a candidate. Right now the mayor of Lansing Virg Bernero, two state Reps, Alma Wheeler-Smith and Speaker of the House Andy Dillon, and Genesee County treasurer Dan Kildee are all in.
The GOP is putting up a number of candidates in including Pete Hoekstra, Rick Snyder and AG Mike Cox.
But now comes Tea Partier Stacey Mathia. Will she be a spoiler for the Republicans?
Adding to Cherry's fund-raising troubles were persistent rumors circulating in the state Capitol that political managers in President Barack Obama's White House were keen on keeping a Democrat in the Michigan governor's office. Because of that, they were not discouraging House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, from running.
Speculation continued Tuesday that a Dillon campaign would be marketed by Chicago-based AKPD Media and Message, which crafted the strategy for Obama's presidential campaign and was founded by White House advisor David Axelrod.
Andy doesn't strike me as having the "fire in the belly" to pull this off, but with the Obama marketing machine behind him... and you know he will have the corporate donors behind him...
I'll ask this again. It's Mike Cox vs. Andy Dillon for governor. What do you do?
Because for me, I really doubt that I would stay home and take a chance on Cox being governor. Or Hoekstra. Or any one of the teabaggin' crowd. I just couldn't do it.
THAT is how the Democrats get you. And today, a part of me hates them for it.
Be prepared to hear the words "Grand Bargain" over and over again this year as responsible people look to address the problems with our tax structure and make sure our state services such as education, public safety and health care are adequately funded. Slowly but surely, "business", in the form of a group called the "Business Leaders for Michigan" (a statewide version of the Detroit Renaissance that is starting to rival the MI Chamber of Commerce in media prominence) is waking up to the fact that you can't trash the place and expect people to still want to shop at your store. While they don't agree on all the details, the consensus seems to be that compromises must be made by everyone involved - from a review of tax credits and exemptions, to the still nebulous "reform" of spending on state employee salary and benefits, to lowering the sales tax and expanding it to the growing services sector - a sensible plan will have all parties involved willing to "give a little to get a little" to put our state's finances on solid ground, right?
In the face of $1.8 billion gaping hole in the next state budget, which essentially doubles down on the cuts we just made and that no one can really fathom doing again, even legislative Republicans are making noises that indicate they are willing to back off their stance on "no new revenue". The Freep has some interesting quotes:
Sen. Ron Jelinek, R-Three Oaks, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said that without tax reform, the next budget will be "making do with what we have."
But Sen. John Pappageorge, R-Troy, said he's not giving up on helping schools with new taxes. He represents six districts hard-hit by budget cuts.
"Schools cannot take a $500 per-pupil cut," he said.
"Without tax reform" being the key words from Jelinek there. House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer commits teabagger blasphemy in this one:
"As Republicans, we don't oppose all taxation. What we're concerned about is that we have significant reforms in place."
House Republican reform always consists of "let's git the poor people", but it's nice to know that they won't cut all our revenue, because past statements made us wonder about that sometimes. It's Tim Skubick that brings us the real shocker though. It seems that even the head of the MI GOP Ron Weiser has signed on to some of the BLFM plan, which seems to leave only one obstacle standing between this state and the discussion on reform, and - surprise, surprise, surprise - once again that obstacle is Mike Bishop. Rehashing the old story of Anuzis weighing in on the budget battle in '07, this one has a different twist - the party kinda sorta siding with the governor (and Dillon too when it comes down to it), and leaving the cheese to stand alone with his extreme friends on the right.
Weiser notes that he has not endorsed the whole package put forth by the "Business Leaders for Michigan" which is a morphed reincarnation of the old Detroit Renaissance group. But he says some of the concepts are worth doing.
Through his mouth piece, Bishop basically tells Weiser what he told Anuzis: Stay out of my business. Warm letter to follow.
All of this is slowly reaching critical mass as the governor has hooked-up with the BLFM folks and is eager to forge a "Grand Bargain" in which everyone gives a little to get a little, as she puts it.
Her "little" to get is new revenue which Bishop is loathed to support and the specter of having the GOP chair on Granholm's side, even though Weiser has not embraced new money, is a P.R. problem for Mr. Bishop which forces him to explain why he and Weiser are not on the same page... again.
Bishop is embracing the teabagger crowd for his own political gain. That much has been made obvious. But as has been increasingly pointed out lately, that is presenting a problem for the Republican Party as a whole....
They want to harness the potential political energy and power of the "tea party" movement. But they are very wary of ceding their party to that movement. Thus, the often absurd dance of the Republican Party, which in one breath embraces the teabaggers while in the next breath endeavoring hard to keep them at arms length.
If Bishop insists on being unreasonable about this and drags his feet on addressing tax reform, it's going to be up to the Democrats to point out that his views do not coincide with some members of his own party as well as the majority of the citizens of Michigan. It remains to be seen whether or not the Democrats are up to that task, but since the GOP is more than willing to blame the fallout of the cuts on Governor Granholm and other Democrats (break the government and then complain that it's broken), they sure as hell better try and make it crystal clear where the problem really lies - or be prepared to face the consequences of an unmotivated "base" next November.
It's just going to take some time, and the will to fight through the tough times to come in '09. You ready? It's going to get pretty bad. With the auto restructuring, we are looking to lose anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 jobs next year. The dominoes have already been set in motion. Tax revenues are down, cuts will have to be made, the right is gearing up to blame this all on the Democrats, and we are going to need all hands on deck to maintain the quality of life and the plans already in place that will position us for job growth in the future.
I knew it would be tough. And it was. The toughest year yet. It was historical. I don't think any of us have quite wrapped our minds around what has happened here in this past year - really this past decade, when you think about it. The major driver of this state's economy, manufacturing, and particularly auto manufacturing, was brought to its knees. 100 years to build, 10 years to nearly destroy. And it culminated with national economic conditions that haven't been seen since the Great Depression.
Imagine you are this woman. Tax revenues are plummeting. Unemployment is soaring. Two of the Big Three file for bankruptcy and teeter on the edge of extinction. Your state budget is $3 billion in the hole. The press is attacking, the citizens are hurting, the legislature is paralyzed... oh, and by the way, you're being vetted for the Supreme Court. Man. Through it all, you keep fighting for the priorities that you know are right, that you know will get us to where we want to go. So, not only are you trying to hang on to what you have, you are working to diversify the economy, build towards a better future, and most of all, stay positive in the face of such adversity. She isn't the cheerleader that she used to be - but she held her own through the toughest of times.
For the list of all the good things that have happened this year - and there were plenty when you look at it - check the state release here.
On a personal note, people can (and do!) call me all the names they want, send me hate mail, speculate on my motives (and it was never about a Lansing career, unless Al Goldis wants to give me his job) - I still am veryproud to support this governor. I believe that we are on the right track, and the seeds that are being planted now in renewable energy, the film industry, health care, advanced manufacturing - all of that, combined with a revived and competitive domestic auto industry, will bring this state back again. You can see it coming.
But first, we have to get through one. more. brutal. budget - and this time, we get to do it in an election year. Oh my.
Granholm said she's ready and willing to enter into a "grand bargain" to restructure the state's outdated tax scheme. She said she's willing to talk about a tax revamping that brings in the same amount of money as two years ago, but a revenue neutral plan that maintains tax collections at 2010 levels would not be acceptable.
Asked what is meant by a grand bargain, she replied: "Everybody gives something, everybody gets something ... there's pain all around."
Such a deal might include lowering the sales tax and extending it to services, Granholm said. She added she's working with the business community, House Speaker Andy Dillon and "hopefully the Senate Majority Leader" Mike Bishop on such a tax plan.
The Governor said she's not going to throw some plan out there just to have them say "no" - this is going to take cooperation from everyone, and as we have seen so frequently over the past couple of years, that might be impossible, especially with the "Party of No" gearing up to use both the cuts and the economy against all Democrats in the elections. Next year will not be about Jennifer Granholm, and she knows it. When it comes to the budget battle, it's about the Mike and Andy Show, and what they have in mind for their future plans, God help us. We'll see the revenue numbers in January, and go from there.
2010 could be very interesting indeed. Fasten your seatbelts and grab some popcorn, and get ready to watch the show. There are teabagger Republicans that need a whoopin', and I hope you all will be around to help.
Two Statewide Polls by Different Firms Find Strong Opposition
With two surveys of Michigan voters now finding strong opposition to House Speaker Andy Dillon's proposed mandatory state government-run health insurance plan, it's little wonder hearings on legislation to implement the plan have been halted and key witnesses have not been allowed to testify.
On Monday, EPIC*MRA released a new survey of Michigan voters that found strong opposition to House Bill 5345 among Democratic, Republican and Independent voters. In September, a survey of Michigan voters conducted by Lansing-based Marketing Resource Group (MRG) also found wide opposition to the scheme to force all public employers in Michigan and nearly 1.5 million residents to give up their private health insurance and instead get their insurance from a state government plan that would be created by the Legislature and run by 13 political appointees of the governor and Legislature.
In both surveys, voters expressed concerns with the mandatory nature of the legislation, the risks and costs to Michigan taxpayers, and state government's ability to manage the plan.
While Mike Bishop continues to prance around and brag about how he stood "firm" on taxes, local leaders across the state are struggling to find funding to provide police and firefighters to Michigan citizens - and now we can add Wyoming to the growing list of cities that will be forced to ask voters for a millage increase to avoid putting people's lives in danger.
A 2-mill property tax increase dedicated for police and fire services may come to voters next spring as part of a budget-balancing plan that includes a transition to a public safety department.
After debating an income tax and other fiscal options Thursday during a day-long retreat, Wyoming City Council appears poised next month to approve a five-year levy request for May's ballot.
Wyoming is a "red" city that borders Grand Rapids, and is not one to reach for a tax increase unless it is absolutely necessary. With the loss of GM, declining property values, and the cuts to state revenue sharing, they are at the point where they have to do something to raise around $4 million dollars. And if it doesn't pass? Better find a way to hook the garden hose to the nearest fire hydrant.
We can make it work (without the millage). The problem is you may not like the level of service you get," City Manager Curtis Holt said. The levy "is obviously money that's replacing revenue-sharing dollars that we're no longer getting" from the state.
The tax would restore six police jobs and five firefighter posts cut through attrition in the first half of the current fiscal year, as the city begins moving toward a public safety department with cross-trained officers.
A no-levy alternative reviewed Thursday would leave those jobs unfilled and cut five more police officers and 14 more firefighters.
They also are looking at cutting 12 other non-safety positions, as well as the local public access television station.
Lost jobs, the possibility of lost lives, and the burden of holding elections (and all that costs) in cities across our state next year; that is the legacy of the Bishop-Dillon budget agreement. You start to wonder what effect that will have on any kind of state-wide ballot proposal should the legislature choose to avoid a major overhaul of our revenue system next year. Instead of lawmakers stepping up to the plate, doing their job, and taking votes on revenues, the citizens will have to do it - and that has to be some kind of nightmare for local officials. You have to ask too many times, the voters will say "no" (or won't turn out at all), and the cuts will happen anyway. Now, go sell yourself to "business" as a city they should invest in. Good luck.
Remember that the next time Mike boasts in a campaign about how "strong" he is - all he did was pass the burden down to local leaders, force them to take the tough votes, and put their jobs on the line when they have to campaign next time around. Leadership? More like cowardice. But it is kind of nice to see Republicans eat their own for a change.
Hard to believe those city leaders will be jumping on the "Team Bishop" bandwagon anytime soon.
Late Tuesday, House Speaker Andy Dillon of Redford Township said his fellow Democrats who control the House will have to accept the bitter medicine of deep cuts with the hopes that the Republican-controlled Senate would muster votes for new taxes or fees to restore programs they say are critical to the state's values.
"Where lives could be in jeopardy, where the future of the state is put in jeopardy, we will do a supplemental budget and we will identify how we pay for it," he said. "That plan is still in motion."
State House Speaker Andy Dillon says he does not expect there will be a deal to restore funding for college scholarships, health care, or local governments, before the Legislature begins its winter break.
The Redford Township Democrat said in an interview today with The Detroit News he doesn't want to wait until January or February to mitigate the $292 per pupil reductions in school aid because it would be too late for many local districts.
"For example, Wayne-Westland is talking about closing seven buildings now," he said. "We need to find some short-term, targeted revenues for schools (this month)."
But we're not gonna do that either. A mere five days later:
Nevertheless, Dillon pegs the odds of restoring money for schools at less than 50-50.
We understand that the House is up against the unmovable teabagger object in Mike Bishop. No doubt about that. The problem here is the reluctance to point that out - which makes the Democrats look like the surrender monkeys that they are. How in the world do you expect to motivate people to work for you in 2010 when it appears that there is no inclination on the part of Democrats to fight for the things that matter to people?
Speaker Dillon, get to the blackboard and write 100 times:
The Republicans refuse to fund our schools.
The Republicans refuse to fund our schools.
The Republicans refuse to fund our schools.
And don't talk to the press again until you get it through your head. Your refusal to frame this in the correct manner is going to cost us dearly.
You may have seen news recently about the "Race to the Top," a national competition for hundreds of millions of dollars in education funding for the state that reforms and innovates when it comes to education. It's all part of the President's goal of having the US lead the world in the percentage of college graduates by 2020. The Michigan Promise Scholarship should be included as part of Michigan's "Race to the Top": it makes perfect sense if we're trying to increase the number of college graduates.
Next week, the House is expected to take up Race to the Top legislation (it has to be passed by the end of the year). Join the MSU Dems in taking action.
Call Speaker Dillon and the House leadership team and let them know: Michigan can't "race to the top" without the Michigan Promise Scholarship. Restoring the Michigan Promise should be included in any Race to the Top education reform legislation next week, to increase the number of Michigan college graduates and enhance our state's chances in the Race to the Top competition.
Call and email TODAY -- and spread the word:
Speaker of the House Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp)
517-373-0857
andydillon@house.mi.gov
Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Twp)
517-373-0828
pambyrnes@house.mi.gov
Don't forget to tell MSU's own State Representative, Mark Meadows, that he has this chance to make up for his vote against the Michigan Promise in October - call him too!
Rep Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing)
517-373-1786
markmeadows@house.mi.gov
In today's column, Jack Lessenberry completely misses the point in faulting Governor Granholm for signing a bad budget to prevent a government shutdown. The only thing worse than a bad budget would be a complete shutdown of Michigan government.
Think of the consequences -- and imagine what people like Lessenberry would be saying had the Governor refused to sign a budget and let the state shut down, in the ultimate Halloween nightmare. No Medicaid reimbursement. No inspections of Michigan agriculture. No pay for tens of thousands of state employees, who count on a regular paycheck to take care of their bills and families. Doing more damage to Michigan's credit rating. Adding uncertainty for businesses looking to locate here or that do business with the state. Limited state police protection (just imagine if something awful were to happen as a result).
Does Lessenberry really think these were viable options for the Governor? There's wide-spread agreement that we need to make long-term changes to the way Michigan does business. Lessenberry inaccurately states that the Governor "didn't make the faintest effort to move this state to a graduated income tax." However, just this March the Governor floated a graduated income tax to replace the Senate Republican-designed MBT surcharge - an idea Lessenberry wrote about at the time and supported!
Lessenberry's missing the point. Andy Dillon and Mike Bishop spawned this terrible budget, and left the Governor and the people of Michigan with no options with their eleventh hour nonsense. Lessenberry quotes Dillon as calling this year's budget "child's play" - with the damage they've done to our state already, we can only be thankful for one sane leader in Lansing... Jennifer Granholm.
He is right about one thing, though. Citizens should get vocal about this year's budget, and should contact their legislators (particularly obstinate Senate Republicans) to demand a budget that protects Michigan's future.
It's far past time to stand up and fight - and to place the blame squarely where it belongs, on Bishop and Dillon's "deal".
Town hall meetings full of effigy-burning loudmouths. Budget deals full of razor blades cutting our state to the bone and beyond. The Detroit Lions.
Let's face it, it's tough being a Michigander right now. Some news organizations are ticking down the minutes to disaster on a clock straight out of "The Watchmen," but the closest thing we have to a radioactive blue superhero is...Andy Dillon.
Just thinking about it sets my jaw on edge.
But I have TMJ and I have to wear a mouthguard at night, and I need to find a way to lower my blood pressure.
So instead of blowing my lid like the little teapot (short and stout), I'm signing up for this. Not that I plan on waking up at 5am to read it, but when I get to work, there will be at least one laugh to be had.
If it has been produced I missed it, but where is a copy of Andy Dillon's SurrenderAgreement with Bishop? Why hasn't Andy shown it to the people impacted by his total capitulation to Bishop? Did Andy lose the Dillon Surrender Agreement in a card game with lobbyists at the Lansing Country Club? Did he lose it at a casino? Did Andy drink too much and forget where he left the Dillon Surrender? Did he give it to some special friend and she wants to show it to her friends? Andy needs to get Dillon Surrender Agreement out if for no other reason than the moment he does start to run for another office Bishop will use it to nuke Andy.
House Speaker Andy Dillon has suspended his campaign for Governor of Michigan in order to devote his full time to solving Michigan's budget crisis, Bellringer News has learned.
"The unprecedented budget crisis facing Michigan is of the utmost importance, and requires us to have a Speaker of the House," said Wilbert Frankfurt, Dillon's campaign manager.
When pressed Mr. Frankfurt drew on the example of John McCain, suspending his presidential campaign to deal with a government financial crisis as providing a "teaching moment" for other ambitious pols.
"John McCain's mistake was that he suspended his campaign too early," said Frankfurt, adding that McCain should have waited until the crisis was nearly over in order to reap the maximum political benefits. "Look, it's almost a year later and we're still having federal budget and deficit problems. Speaker Dillon has waited until the very last minute to address the deficit, and we think it will pay off. Planning, let's face it, sucks as a fun activity and is not exciting like running for governor."
Dillon's move is already making waves among politicos, with many on the right hailing it as an act of selflessness and many on the left asking, "Can Speaker Dillon walk and comb his hair at the same time?"
This, you may recall, was the same question (eventual winner) Barack Obama posed to (the badly beaten) John McCain. Senator McCain later attempted the feat on "So You Think You Can Dance" only to find out that no, he couldn't.
EAST LANSING - Michigan State University College Democrats President Mitchell Rivard issued the following statement today responding to budget negotiations between Speaker of the House Andy Dillon and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop:
"It is despicable that Speaker Dillon and Senate Majority Leader Bishop have agreed to balance the budget on the backs of Michigan's students and future generations," said Rivard. "These cuts to higher education, including the elimination of the Michigan Promise Scholarship, will kill the hope of a college degree for students across the state. These cuts are delusional and will have disastrous effects on Michigan's future. We did not vote for the Democratic Party in a landslide in 2008 so they could turn around and cave in to the Republicans."
For over two decades, Michigan's budget has been a mess. The politicians in Lansing are still considering the Senate Republican budget, one which applies the same generic formula of cut, cut, cut. This hasn't worked in the past, and it won't work now. Over the last decade, state government has been cut to its smallest size since the 1970s, with billions being cut from state government. There's nothing left to cut, without damaging the future of our state and its children.
Michigan cannot balance today's budget on the back of tomorrow's children.
If children are the future, Michigan has apparently decided it doesn't want one. The talk of Lansing is still a Senate-passed budget whose virtues are that it was proposed early and that it is balanced. But the plan also devastates children, and on the way even threatens the ability of nursing homes to stay open and municipalities to stay solvent.
Michigan can do better.
While this seems obvious to most, a group of lawmakers in Lansing seem to think children are something we can sacrifice to the budget. While both Speaker Andy Dillon and Majority Leader Mike Bishop insist that progress is being made on budget negotiations, Michigan's future hangs precariously over the edge of a cliff. Do we want to cut that future and jeopardize Michigan families?
I've had enough of protecting CEO pocketbooks and corporate profits while balancing the budget on the back of families (after all, if these cuts come to pass, tuition will go up, property taxes will go up, etc. - it's not like costs won't be passed on down the line, just in a less fair, equitable way). I bet you have too. Visit http://www.abettermichiganfuture.org, and take action against these devastating cuts.
WE MUST GET JOHN CHERRY in THE Governors office and Andy Dillon should be thrown out as turncoat Dillon , speaker of the Michigan House of representatives throws in with Republicans!
http://goodmorningflint.blogsp...
