West Michigan Rising
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West Michigan Rising
Rising from the Ashes to Build Our Left Coast in Michigan
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Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 09:55:44 AM EDT
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(Welcome Lt. Governor Cherry! A stirring report. I especially like the historical references, which I appreciate for obvious reasons. - promoted by philgoblue)
Yesterday's activities began in Michigan's Twin City Region-St. Joseph/Benton Harbor. Historically, these two communities were sited at the confluence of two major Indian transportation routes. The Sauk Trail was the major land route across Michigan's Lower Peninsula, and connected to the major water route between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. The Miami and Potawatomi established camps in the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor area.
St. Joseph is also the home of one of my duck hunting companions-Judge Charlie LaSata.
The purpose of our stop here was to celebrate the work that The Conservation Fund, in conjunction with the Berrien County Drain Office and Health Department, has done to reduce the sediment load that the Galien River dumps into Lake Michigan. Non-point source pollution is a major pathway for the deposition of toxics and other contaminants into the Great Lakes. Through a local, state, and federal partnership, a watershed management plan was developed and is in the process of implementation. A number of conservation easements have been purchased. This year's $300,000 grant will be used to tackle E. Coli contamination by identifying failing septic systems and protecting wetland areas. Additionally, local residents are organizing two river cleanups this year. |
| johncherry :: My day in Berrien County |
| The celebration took place at Warren Dunes State Park. My wife, Pam, and I were met by Peg Kohring of the Conservation Fund, Frank Rustwick, Deputy Director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and Mike Terrell, the Park Manager at Warren Dunes. Mike had previously been assigned to Seven Lakes State Park near my home. Now he manages the gem of the Michigan State Park system. Mike tells me that 20 per cent of the revenue for the entire state park system is generated at Warren Dunes. That tells us something about the economic impact of breathtaking natural wonders and why it makes economic sense to protect them.
We held a ceremonial grant transmittal to the Conservation Fund at a park pavilion on the shore of Lake Michigan and at the foot of the world's largest body of fresh water dunes. A great crowd of local conservation activists gathered for the event, and we talked about the enormous opportunity that this presidential election presents to secure a strong federal commitment for Great Lakes restoration. Both candidates have signed a pledge to support Great Lakes restoration and protection. This is the year to put the Great Lakes on the federal agenda for 2009.
In the afternoon, we drove to the Michigan Works Office in Benton Harbor for a public hearing conducted by the State's Interagency Task Force on Employee Misclassification. Misclassification of employees is a growing problem in Michigan. Misclassification occurs when employers inappropriately classify individuals who work for them as subcontractors instead of classifying them as employees.
When misclassification occurs, employers are able to escape their legal responsibility for withholding taxes, unemployment insurance, and workers compensation-not to mention voluntary benefits like health and disability insurance. The net result is that employers who misclassify employees gain a competitive advantage over employers who play by the rules. Additionally, misclassification is the pathway that allows employers to hire undocumented workers.
The Task Force heard testimony from individuals from the United Parcel Service, the International Brotherhood of Carpenters, the Internal Revenue Service, an Area Agency on Aging, a victim of employee misclassification, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Surprisingly, the representative from UPS cited a study that estimated that 30 percent of the nation's workers are misclassified. It was also clear from testimony that the statutes covering the rights and conditions of employment defined employees in an inconsistent and confusing way that may make it difficult for an employer to determine whether a certain category of workers are employees or subcontractors. The Task Force will be making recommendations to the Governor on what statutory or administrative changes are necessary for more effective enforcement.
Yesterday evening, Pam and I travelled south to Galien to attend a reception for the Berrien County Democratic Party at the American Legion Hall. Jess Minks and his wife Edie hosted and organized the event. I had the opportunity to address the 50 or so activists that turned out for the evening. I talked about the incredible economic challenges facing Michigan and how the globalization of our domestic economy requires that we begin to diversify and build Michigan's future economy. I pointed out how the Great Lakes have always provided a foundation for Michigan's economy-whether it was fur trappers plying the Lakes to deliver pelts to trading centers, loggers shipping lumber back east or even west to Chicago, or the automotive industry who used the Great Lakes to gather the natural resources that they shaped into the modern day car. It is inevitable that our Great Lakes will shape Michigan's future economy as well, but that economy will only be as vibrant as the Great Lakes are healthy.
What is significant about 2008 is that we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to determine both Michigan's future and to secure the health of the Great Lakes by choosing a President who will partner with Michigan to protect the Lakes and invest in the education and research that will drive the economy of the 21st Century. Barack Obama is the only candidate with both the vision to understand the challenge and the inspiration to move us forward into that future. The question is whether we are going to seize that opportunity and do everything in our power to help him achieve the Presidency. If last night was any indication, Berrien County Democrats will answer the call and there is a blue cast to the sunrise this morning. |
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West Michigan Democrats
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West Michigan Democratic Elected Officials
Michigan State House
60: Robert Jones
70: Mike Huckleberry
75: Robert Dean
76: Roy Schmidt
91: Mary Valentine
92: Doug Bennett
101: Dan Scripps
Kent County Commission
Keith Courtade
Pete Hickey
Jim Vaughn
Jim Talen
Dick Bulkowski
Carol Hennessy
Brandon Dillon
Bob Synk
Candidates
US Congress
Fred Johnson(2nd District)
Michgan Senate Candidates
20, 21, 24, 28, 29, 30, 34, and the western parts of 35 and 37
District 20 (Kalamazoo)
Robert Jones
Mark Totten
John Taylor
District 34 (Muskegon)
Mary Valentine
District 35 (Northwest)
Roger Dunigan
Michigan State House Candidates
59, 61, 63, 78, 79, 80, 87, 88, 72, 73, 74, 77, 89, 90, 100, 101, 104
District 60 (Kalamazoo)
Sean McCann
Chris Praedel
District 61 (Kalamazoo)
Thomas Batten
District 75 (Grand Rapids)
District 76 (Grand Rapids)
District 80 (VanBuren)
Tom Erdmann
District 91 (Muskegon)
Ben Gillette
Branden Gemzer
District 92 (Muskegon)
Marcia Hovey-Wright
L. Scott McNeill
Charles Nash
Scott Nesbit
Sean Mullully
Steve Markel
District 101 (Northwest)
Dan Scripps
Statewide Candidates
John Cherry
John Freeman
Alma Wheeler Smith
Gretchen Whitmer
Jocelyn Benson
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