Just a friendly reminder that we will be meeting this Sunday at 2:00 at 244 N. Monroe in Bay City!

We will be discussing how to move our group forward and what kind of
community projects we want to pursue - how we can make a difference!

We would love to have all of you attend this meeting! *Lets keep the
grassroots movement alive!

As always, if you have any questions, thoughts or ideas - just shoot me an email at tricitygrassroots@gmail.com

Thanks!
Cristen

President Barack Obama recently said:  "The change we've worked so hard for will not happen unless ordinary Americans get involved; supporters like you must lead the way". The economy, health care, jobs, our environment….the list goes on and on. You helped elect President Obama because you care and you want positive change to happen in our country.  Regardless if you feel strongly about one issue or all of them, together we can make an impact. We need you to help grow the grassroots effort in the Tri-City area. Please meet with area supporters to discuss how together we can make a difference. Our communities, our state, our president, our country….our responsibility to do what we can.  Bring friends and family.

Be part of the change we seek by joining us:
Sunday, March 1st from 2-4pm
Mt. Hermon Baptist Church*
244 N. Monroe    (between 10th & 11th)
Bay City,  MI  48708

This past Saturday the Michigan Democratic Party held its 2009 state convention and about 2,000 members attended. During the convention members elected an experienced group of leaders, which include:

    - Mark Brewer as Chair
    - Tina Abbott as First Vice-Chair
    - Lupe Ramos as Second Vice-Chair
    - Ismael Ahmed as Third Vice-Chair
    - Rosa Holliday as Recording and Corresponding Secretary
    - Ramesh Verma at Treasurer

The convention also includes speeches by Mark Brewer, Lt. Governor John Cherry, Senator Debbie Stabenow, House Speaker Andy Dillon, Senate Democratic Leader Mike Prusi and Michigan AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney.

The Convention adopted 44 resolutions, which can be viewed by clicking below.

Resolutions Committee Report.doc
File Size:	133 kb
File Type:	doc

Download File

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Watch the full address below.

Our very own Governor Jennifer Granholm appeared on "Fox News Sunday" this morning to discuss President Obama's economic recovery package and why supporting our domestic auto industry is so important.

She participated in an around the table discussion with Republican Governors from Minnesota (Governor Pawlenty) and South Carolina (Governor Sanford). This discussion just goes to show how out of touch Republicans really are.

During the program, Governor Granholm stated that there are some states that wont accept the stimulus money. To that she replied, “So you better believe I’m going to take every dollar that is coming to Michigan. And if my colleagues here in Minnesota and South Carolina don’t get — don’t use theirs, I’m going to be first in line to say for my people, for our citizens, to put people to work and to make sure that they can survive through this, I’ll take their dollars, too.”

During the course of the discussion, Governor Granholm made two really strong arguments. First, why shouldn't we step up to the plate and help our auto industry when every other single country that has an auto industry is? Secondly, why even have a stimulus package if we are going to ignore the auto industry crisis? The stimulus is suppose to save/create 3.5 million jobs, which would all be erased if the auto industry continues on its current path. Communities in South Carolina and Minnesota would also be affected if this were to happen.

Overall, our Governor did a superb job debating Governor Pawlenty and Stanford. She stated the facts and defended our state and its industries. You go Gov!

In case you missed it, you can view a small clip of the show below.

- J.H.

President Barack Obama signed his American Recovery and Reinvestment Act today in Denver, Colorado. You can click here to read the full bill. According to the plan's new website, which was launched today, this Act will create and save three to four million jobs. I will also provide more than $150 billion to low-income families.

The Act will also:

    - Create or save more than 3.5 million jobs over the next two years;

    - Take a big step toward computerizing Americans’ health records,
      reducing medical errors, and saving billions in health care costs;

    - Revive the renewable energy industry and provide the capital over
      the next three years to eventually double domestic renewable energy
      capacity;

    - Undertake the largest weatherization program in history by
      modernizing 75 percent of federal building space and more than one
      million homes;

    - Increase college affordability for seven million students by funding
      the shortfall in Pell Grants, increasing the maximum award level by
      $500, and providing a new higher education tax cut to nearly four
      million students;

    - As part of the $150 billion investment in new infrastructure, enact the
      largest increase in funding of our nation’s roads, bridges, and mass
      transit systems since the creation of the national highway system in
      the 1950s;

    - Provide an $800 Making Work Pay tax credit for 129 million working
      households, and cut taxes for the families of millions of children
      through an expansion of the Child Tax Credit;

    - Require unprecedented levels of transparency, oversight, and
      accountability.

For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, visit recovery.gov.

To read the remarks by the President and Vice President at the Signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, click here.

Related News Articles on the signing of the Bill -

    - Obama signs stimulus bill, readies homeowner plan - (Yahoo)
    - Stimulus: Now for the hard part - (CNN)
    - Obama: "The beginning of the end" - (Politico)

- J.H.

President Obama recorded a video to speak directly to you about his economic recovery plan. Please view his message bellow.

Bay County Democrats,

Election 2008 was a terrific year for the Bay County Democrats! With your volunteerism, energy and contributions, we were fantastically successful in electing Democrats from our local office holders to Barack Obama. A lot of damage was caused by the Republicans. It will take perseverance, patience and sacrifice to fix all the messes that Bush/Cheney have dumped on us. In spite of all the economic, employment and international disasters, there is an air of optimism and hope caused by Democratic victories.

But we can not afford to rest on our laurels. We must persist in our efforts to re-elect our first-class incumbent Democrats and elect additional high-quality Democrats in 2010. We need you continued support to succeed!

Let us celebrate our Victory 08 and renew our dedication for 2010 by joining together at the Annual Spring Membership Chicken Dinner on Sunday, March 1, 2009. It will be held at the Kawkawlin Township Hall, 1836 E. Parish Road. Refreshments will begin at 4:30p.m. and dinner will be at 5:00p.m.

The dinner ticket is $10/person for payment received by Friday, February 20, 2009 and $15/person a the door. Children under 5 are free.

After the meal, the presentation of the Tony Bielawski Award will be made to recognize a member who has created a spirit of good-will and unity within our Party and who has consistently volunteered a lot to our Bay County Democratic Party.

See you at the Chicken Dinner on March 1st!

Sincerely yours,

Tony Pawelski

LANSING--Today, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer called on Michiganders across the state to host or attend Economic Recovery House Meetings this weekend. The meetings will help people connect the recovery plan to their lives and talk about why the recovery plan is so important for local communities.  More information about house meetings in communities all across the country can be found at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/economicmeetings/.

Click here to continue reading this article by the Michigan Democratic Party.

Events in our Area -

BAY AREA Obama Service Group (Economic Recovery Meeting).
This will be the Fourth gathering of supporters of President Obama's agenda he is asking us to consider economic recovery. We met last on Inaugural night, had a great time and collected 100+ pounds of food and $99 that went to the Good Samaritan homeless shelter. 

Obama Volunteer Next Steps Meeting
Sunday, February 8, 2009
2:00 to 4:00PM
Mt. Hermon Baptist Church
244 N. Monroe

New Folks Welcome!

Click here for more details.

Mark Brewer announced today he will seek re-election to his post as Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party when the MDP holds its State Convention Feb. 21 in Detroit.

Brewer, the senior Democratic state party chair in the nation, is seeking his eighth two-year term as Chair of the Party.

During his tenure as MDP Chair, Brewer has built an impressive track record of victory for Democrats:

     - 4-for-4 in presidential elections
     - 5-for-5 in U.S. Senate elections
     - 2-for-3 in gubernatorial elections
     - First-ever defeat of a sitting state Supreme Court Chief Justice in 
       2008
     - 24-seat Democratic majority in the State House
     - 43-for-56 in education board elections
     - An increase in Democratic county commissioners and countywide
       elected officials for three straight cycles

(This information was received today in an email)

Gov. Jennifer Granholm laid out a new plan on Tuesday to restore Michigan's economy by creating jobs, training and educating citizens for those jobs, and through protecting our families. Currently, Michigan faces many serious economic problems and they are likely to get worse before things get better. However, Governor Granholm stated: "...if there is one thing I want you, the citizens of Michigan, to know this
evening, it is this: Things will get better."

During her speech, the Governor announced new ideas to continue reforming Michigan government. Lt. Governor John Cherry will lead and develop a new plan to modernize state government. This plan will include items such as expanding the use of technology, reducing the number of state departments, and reforming our service system.

The Governor also addressed a new goal for the year 2020. The goal calls for Michigan to reduce its use of imported energy and fossil fuels by 45 percent. By doing this we will move towards energy independence while taking advantage of the national growing demand for renewable energy, which will also create new jobs in Michigan.

Those were just a few highlights of her State of the State address. Other plans that were addressed by Governor Granholm include (This information can be found at www.michigan.gov):

- maintaining our fiscal responsibility through additional budget cuts and reforms.  In her budget she will propose next week, the governor will recommend elimination of the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries, ending state financial support for the two state fairs, returning enforcement of wetlands protections to the federal government, and continuing to reform our criminal justice system to further reduce the corrections budget.

- freezing college tuition for the next academic year to ensure that families are not priced out of a college education as the result of rising costs.

- helping citizens keep their homes through passage of the Home Foreclosure Prevention Act to give families at risk of foreclosure up to 90 days to work out a financing arrangement.

- freezing insurance rates for 12 months while the Legislature works to enact comprehensive insurance reform to ensure that Michigan drivers have access to solid coverage at fair and affordable rates.

- protecting access to health care during this time of economic crisis.  The governor asked legislators to renew their commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens by refusing to cut people off of health care.

Click here to read her complete address or if you would like more information on her seventh State of the State address.

-J.H.