"As we continue to tackle our environmental challenges, it’s clear that change won’t come from Washington alone. It will come from Americans across the country who take steps in their own homes and their own communities to make that change happen."

-President Barack Obama

Going Green
This Earth Day, join Americans across the country who are helping to protect our air, water and planet for future generations by making just a few small changes in your day-to-day life.

Learn 

The Obama administration is committed to building a clean energy economy and keeping our air, water and planet clean for future generations. Learn more about what we’re doing to help protect our environment and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.

As the debate begins to heat up between our three Democratic candidates for governor, we thought it would be fun to see who you plan on supporting in the primary.

Please be reminded that the results of this poll DO NOT constitute an endorsement from the Bay County Democratic Party it is also not meant to be an accurate representation of our party's view on the candidates.

Participants can only vote once.

The Michigan Democratic Party endorsed two candidates this weekend during the party's Endorsement Convention. Candidates were endorsed for the Secretary of State and Attorney General offices.

Both candidates were chosen on Saturday by more than 2,000 party members, who attended the convention at the Cobo Center in Detroit.

Wayne State University law professor, Jocelyn Benson, won the endorsement of the Democratic party by a 95% to 5% margin.

Benson was running against the current Detroit Clerk Janice Winfrey.

In the race for Attorney General, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton beat Attorney Richard Bernstein by a very small margin, receiving 52% of the delegate vote compared to 47% that went for Bernstein.

The MDP endorsement doesn’t guarantee that Leyton or Benson will be the ultimate nominee. That decision will come in August when the party meets for the state convention to officially pick their nominees.

...thanks to Democrats and President Obama.

The Daily Kos has a great article about this and the misconceptions the Republicans are using to cover up the facts.

The Recovery Act, which passed a year ago, granted 98 percent of Americans with a tax cut. One third of the Recovery Act was made up of tax credits.

The credits included:

• An increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit
• An expansion of the Child Tax Credit
•  For those who work, the Making Work Pay tax credit offered $400 per individual and $800 per couple
• For those who lost their job, there was a 65 percent tax credit to help cover the cost of health care. The first $2,400 in unemployment benefits went tax-free
• Up to $2,500 under the American Opportunity Credit for students and parents paying for college tuition
• $8,000 for first-time home buyers
• A deduction of state and local taxes paid on a new car
•  Up to $1,500 for home improvements to increase energy efficiency

The following are reactions from state and local leaders on Bart Stupak's decision not to seek re-election.

"I was certainly surprised by the decision and I know it's been a challenging year for the congressman and he's been a mainstay in Michigan politics," Mayes said. "It's a tough time to be in government and this have been a tough year for Stupak ... Now it's time for him to begin a new chapter."

--- Jeff Mayes, 69th District Representative


“There comes a point in time when if you’re ready for a change, we have to respect that.”

--- Jim Barcia, 31st District State Senator


“He’s  great campaigner and a great congressman and I’m stunned by all this,” said Kildee, D-Flint. “He’s a tireless person and we’ll miss him very much and Michigan will miss him because he’s a powerful position in Congress for us.”

--- Dale Kildee, 5th District U.S. Representative


These Quotes are courtesy of the Bay City Times.

“Congressman Bart Stupak has done an outstanding job on behalf of the constituents of Michigan’s 1st Congressional District. He has long been a strong voice in Washington on issues such as the protection of the Great Lakes and economic development and has done an excellent job as Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations – working on behalf of consumers not only in Michigan but also throughout the country. We thank Congressman Stupak for his 18 years of service as the 1st District’s Congressman and we wish him well in his future endeavors. He will be sorely missed.”

--- Mark Brewer, Michigan Democratic Party Chair

Here is the text from his speech, which he delivered today in a press conference in Marquette:

The people of Northern Michigan have provided me with the honor of representing them in Congress for the past 18 years. I am truly grateful for their support.

I have the distinct honor of serving as your Congressman longer than any other member in modern times - longer than Bob Davis, Phil Ruppe, or John Bennett.

When I first ran for Congress in 1992, I campaigned on a pledge to make affordable, quality health care a right, not a privilege, for all Americans. I promised the people of the First District that I would not accept the insurance that Members of Congress receive – the Federal Employees Health Benefit Package – until all Americans could have access to that same quality of care. For the last 18 years, I have kept that promise.

Since the day I took office, I have fought to improve the quality and accessibility of health care for people throughout Northern Michigan, and across this country. Despite many set backs, in the process and in politics, I never gave up hope, and I never gave in. As a result, we’ve made significant progress.

Today, in Northern Michigan, eleven Community Based Outpatient Veterans Clinics have been established to provide veterans with the care they need and deserve.