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The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

foreclosure
By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

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By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

GOP blocks unemployment extension again

By Mike Lillis | 10.14.09 | 7:28 am

WASHINGTON —Last week, Senate Democratic leaders rolled out a proposal to extend unemployment insurance by 14 weeks — with an extra six weeks thrown in for those states where jobless figures have topped 8.5 percent — only to have Republicans block the measure on the chamber floor.

Well, it happened again.

According to the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Democrats on Tuesday asked for consent to pass the bill, only to be shot down by GOP leaders.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Republicans aren’t objecting to the extension, but to how it’s funded. (The Democrats’ plan would tap an expiring surtax on businesses, while the Republicans want to use unspent money from the stimulus bill.)

The House has already passed its version of the extension. With unemployment numbers creeping up each month, the pressure’s on the Senate to work out a deal quickly.

Comments

  • andaroo

    just pass the effing thing already!! i'm hungry dammit

    • agentclaret

      I agree. Again, this issue comes down to Democrats and Republicans opposing each other just because and us unemployed get shafted. All I can say is at this moment it doesn't appear that my family will be having Thanksgiving or Christmas. It's impossible to find decent work around, and I've definately been hitting the street trying.

      Enough already! This politcal bickering is just hurting the citzens.

    • mowtngirl

      I vote on that!

  • shannon64

    JUST PASS THE EXTENSION ALREADY, SENATE IN NO RUSH BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO WONDER WHERE THE NEXT MEAL FOR YOUR KIDS IS COMING FROM OR WHAT IT IS LIKE NOT TO BE ABLE TO PAY BILLS JUST PASS IT ALL READY!!!!!!

  • gurgrand

    The 2 Republicans holding up the unemployment extension are Jon Kyle from Arizona (Republican) and Orrin Hatch from Utah (republican). They have not giving any reason why except to say they need to review it more. Also they would not allow it on the floor yesterday for the vote and not today either. Both of these states have much lower unemployment so it appears they are blocking this because they can. Without their vote it will never pass. Since when do the people not count. This party fighting at our expense has to stop! Time to get rid of those in the Gov't. who don't work for the people but only for themselves and their party. Their attitude is “let them eat bread!”

  • PinkElephant1

    Take more tax from my unemployment check, I'll help.. just get this bill passed, every little bit counts.

  • tamikotemple1

    This is a disgrace. Families are suffering while the senate is sitting around doing nothing. This bill needs to pass!

  • afraidinmich

    I read an article that stated it is unlikely that the bill would pass before Thanksgiving. I won't survive that long. I'm frickin speechless.

  • jagstarrr

    My unemployment ran out first week of Sept. I am a single Mom who did have a nice career as an AutoCAD Tech here in FL. I'm sitting here with tears running down my cheeks. I wrote my Senators. I'm almost 50 years old and pushing a lawn mower in record high heat for $25.00. I can't handle this anymore. Pass the extension, PLEASE!

  • sisha

    It is time to stop talking and take action . How much longer are you will to wait for the Republican Senate to do something right for the people. Join the people who are taking action now. Sign the petition and let's get this thing resolved. Spread the word the more signatures the better!

    http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/pass-the-unemp…

    • afraidinmich

      Sisha…I signed the petition. Don't know how long the petition has been in effect but I'm only the 7th signature. We need thousands!!! GO TO THE SITE PEOPLE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

    • sisha

      Thank you for signing the petition!! Please be sure to send the link to everyone that you know. We need the support of every American who cares. I can also assure you that this is only the start of our efforts. We intend to organize marches in every state if the Senate continues to drag their feet. Our voices must be heard LOUD and CLEAR…For anybody that missed the link to the petition here it is again:

      http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/pass-the-unemp…

      PLEASE SIGN AND PASS IT ON!

  • dbpro

    The Senate republicans keep blocking this and we keep getting tail piped. Well this is the deal the next asshole that attempts to block this bill, is gonna have a new homeless person on his lawn, because I'm pitching a tent outside their mansion. That's a good idea; I might get a job out of the shenanigans: washing the cars, doing some snow removal, cutting grass, who knows.

  • asdy35

    Pass the extension, to many are going hungry and homeless while the fat cats making all the money play God, I bet when it comes time for there raise they will not fight over it. This is so foolish. We the people need to take back our country, lets give GM more money so that they can vamp up production in China, what a joke. Jus pass the dam extension.

  • babzy

    These senate republicans need to lose their health insurance,their pensions and their jobs, and find out what it is like to have no money for food, housing and there beloved children. Pass the bill, help the people who are suffering, the very people who voted you into office. you are there to represent the people, not play these stupid silly political games. quit posturing and pass the damn extension

  • eskimo123

    Sen. Kyl is a jerk plain and simple. the tactic of exploring funds cost and asking it to come from the left over stimulus package is just a slam at the current president. what needs to happen is white house involvement to expedite this matter. we all know one hand washes another in this world. find out what he needs and payoff the jerk. I need my measly $300 a week to live. my wife is a cancer survivor, I have congestive heart failure, and to top it off last year my 4 year old had her arm cut off by a lawnmower last year at her grandmothers house. lifes not a joke its a series of jokes that keep coming up to slap you down.
    oh by the way here is Sen Kyl's contact info
    Jon Kyl (Republican – AZ)
    (202) 224-4521
    fax # (202)224-2207
    why dont we mass flood a fax, or cordinate a mass call to jam his phone
    make him acctually work on the issue, not go play golf in dessert

  • mowtngirl

    The reason the delay…..they're bellyaching about where the money is coming from….which “fund” I understand….more like…you give the people some of what you have…..No you give the people some of what you have……..meanwhile……We're sitting here trying to eat…pay our bills…etc….THE MONEY IS THERE just freakin start up the system….you know it's going to take a while just to get the notice to us they are doing something….it's already been delayed twice….I think they're just holding off to see how many people who are still on unemployment find something so it's that much less they have to pay out..I've been unemployed just over two years! and have a folder almost 2 inches thick of applications I have filed…never mind interviews etc….employers are holding out and getting the lowest per hour they can…they're advertising but not hiring….that's the reality…they're not so desperate to find people because there is any where from 6 to 200 applicants for every job opening. It's ridiculous! I'm going back to school to get a Bachelor's will I find a job with a Bachelor's don't know…but the government through a grant is paying so I'm going….may as well take advantage of anything at this point…
    Sorry people….just had to vent!

  • mpacny

    If you want the latest on the unemployment extension go to http://www.opencongress.com there are good people that know alot about the senate and how it works.

  • brokemama

    I want Mr. Kyle and Mr. Hatch to come to Michigan, have a town meeting with a couple thousand unemployed workers and tell those workers that they, Kyle and Hatch, are the ones holding up the unemployment extension and the reasons why. Lets have a face to face conversation.

  • brokemama

    I want Kyle and Hatch to come and live in my house for a month. They can answer the phone when the collectors call and call and call. They can take my measley $50 and try to stretch that into 2 weeks of groceries. They can set with a blanket around them on my couch when I don't dare turn the heat up. And on and on and on…..they don't have a clue.

  • brokemama

    I want Mr. Kyle and Mr. Hatch to come to Michigan, have a town meeting with a couple thousand unemployed workers and tell those workers that they, Kyle and Hatch, are the ones holding up the unemployment extension and the reasons why. Lets have a face to face conversation.

  • brokemama

    I want Kyle and Hatch to come and live in my house for a month. They can answer the phone when the collectors call and call and call. They can take my measley $50 and try to stretch that into 2 weeks of groceries. They can set with a blanket around them on my couch when I don't dare turn the heat up. And on and on and on…..they don't have a clue.

  • brokemama

    I want Mr. Kyle and Mr. Hatch to come to Michigan, have a town meeting with a couple thousand unemployed workers and tell those workers that they, Kyle and Hatch, are the ones holding up the unemployment extension and the reasons why. Lets have a face to face conversation.

  • brokemama

    I want Kyle and Hatch to come and live in my house for a month. They can answer the phone when the collectors call and call and call. They can take my measley $50 and try to stretch that into 2 weeks of groceries. They can set with a blanket around them on my couch when I don't dare turn the heat up. And on and on and on…..they don't have a clue.

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