Stop the "Right to Work" Scam!

This is from the MEA Votes Newsletter

Volunteer to educate voters on Jan. 15 about this deceptive, anti-worker initiative

In preparation for the Jan. 15 presidential primary, labor groups are mobilizing to be at polling places across Michigan to ensure voters don't fall for the "Right to Work" scam.

Proponents of this anti-worker law are threatening to get this misleading initiative on the 2008 Michigan ballot. Paid signature gatherers may be out in force on Jan. 15 trying to trick voters into believing that this law has something to do with everyone's right to a job. These mercenaries will say anything to get a signature and make a buck, including lying about the true intention of this law—to cripple union efforts to represent workers by allowing freeloaders to receive union benefits without paying dues or service fees.

We must be out in force on Jan. 15 to educate voters about this deceptive initiative and protect workers' rights. Our goal is to have more than 5,000 volunteers at polling places across Michigan, telling the true intention of "Right to Work" before the signature-gathering mercenaries have a chance to dupe voters.

We need those interested in volunteering to help monitor a local polling place on Jan. 15 to send an e-mail to meavotes@mea.org with the following information:

* your name
* address
* home and cell phone numbers
* your precinct and/or the polling place where you vote
* whether you'd be available for the afternoon shift from 4-8 p.m. or the morning shift from 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.

In early January, there will be training sessions in many different locations statewide preparing you for your work at the presidential primary polling sites. Someone will be in touch with you about options for being trained and which polling place you'll be asked to cover (based on targets and voter turnout projections).

We must turn out volunteers in force to educate voters and show the scam-artists behind "Right to Work" that it is wrong for Michigan.

Help Chris Dodd Stop FISA Immunity

The Senate will soon consider legislation addressing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). I emailed you about this issue recently responding to inaccuracies in the press about Democratic efforts to improve protection of civil liberties. I am writing you today to update you on the current state of the bill and to ask for your help.

One critical question being considered in the Senate's FISA bill is whether to offer telecom companies retroactive immunity for any actions they undertook in the wireless surveillance program. The Bush Administration has claimed that this is necessary for national security reasons, but I am skeptical.

If the Administration was serious about arguing for this immunity, I suspect they would take steps to demonstrate to Congress the extent of this surveillance program and what role the phone companies played. Yet they have refused to share even this information with the House. Clearly, it is a bit much to ask for immunity from prosecution without explaining why it is necessary.

Because of these reservations, the House-passed FISA bill did not include the immunity the president sought. In the Senate, however, it is becoming clear that a tough battle will now ensue over this provision. Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut has been a vocal opponent of telecom immunity and has promised to filibuster any FISA legislation that includes this provision.

Senator Dodd needs your help right now. Please visit his site and lend your support to the filibuster now. Your help can make a difference at this important juncture.

Thank you again for your continued support for a better democracy.

Your Friend,

John Conyers, Jr.

This is the BFM Action Center blog. Blogging For Michigan is a progressive blog that features news and commentary on Michigan politics, policy, and social issues. Visit us at www.bloggingformichigan.com.

Al Gore Climate Crisis Petition

Dear friend,

In four days I'm going to Bali, Indonesia to address the UN Climate Change Conference. In front of representatives from the world's countries, I will speak about the need for a visionary treaty to be completed, ratified and brought into effect everywhere in the world by 2010. I need you, your friends and family to sign this petition calling for a new, positive leadership role by our elected leaders. I will bring your signatures on stage with me as a clear demonstration of our resolve.

This petition shows our commitment to solutions to the climate crisis. Please add your voice today and urge your friends to add theirs. The time for action is now. Only together can we make the change.

Sincerely,






This is the BFM Action Center blog. Blogging For Michigan is a progressive blog that features news and commentary on Michigan politics, policy, and social issues. Visit us at www.bloggingformichigan.com.

Vote In The January 15 Primary

Note: This is from the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, but comes to me & BFM courtesy Bob Alexander

Voter Guide On The January 15, 2008 Michigan Democratic Presidential Primary

1. Voters will vote at their regular polling places between 7 A.M. and 8 P.M.


2. Voters can vote by absentee ballot if they meet one of the requirements - out of town, age 60 or older, disability, etc.


3. The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before January 15, 2008 or December 17, 2007.


4. In order to vote at a polling place, a voter must show a photo ID or sign a statement that they do not have a photo ID with them. Absentee voters do not have to produce a photo ID.


5. Voters will be asked whether they want a Democratic or Republican ballot, and a record will be made of which ballot they take.


6. The voter's choice of candidate will be secret as in all public elections.


7. The Democratic ballot will have 6 choices:




• Hillary Clinton


• Christopher Dodd


• Mike Gravel


• Dennis Kucinich


• Uncommitted


• Write-in




8. A vote for "uncommitted" is a vote to send delegates to the Democratic National Convention who are not committed or pledged to any candidate. Those delegates can vote for any candidate they choose at the Convention.


9. Supporters of Al Gore, Joe Biden, John Edwards, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson are urged to vote "uncommitted " instead of writing in their candidates' names because write-in votes for those candidates will not be counted. [emphasis & Al Gore name added by Bob A]

Paid for by the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 606 Townsend Lansing, MI 48933, 517-371-5410 and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.


This is the BFM Action Center blog. Blogging For Michigan is a progressive blog that features news and commentary on Michigan politics, policy, and social issues. Visit us at www.bloggingformichigan.com.