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 [...]
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.
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.
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.
A rare post lame duck session of the state legislature has prompted Kevin Epling, co-director of Bully Police USA and a leading advocate for anti-bullying legislation in the state, to call on the state Senate to use the opportunity to pass the law.
Epling, whose son Matt killed himself after being bullied, wrote a letter to state senators Tuesday night. The letter specifically targets Sens. Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland) and Alan Cropsey (R-DeWitt), who have both acted to hamstring the legislation. Cropsey torpedoed efforts in the 2008 lame duck to pass the legislation in a late night session. Kuipers, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has refused to hold hearings on the legislation.
Kuipers has also declared the legislation dead for the year.
Eping says that since the failed 2008 lame duck compromise, six Michigan students have committed suicide. Two of those students have been identified only in the past two weeks, he says in his letter.
“When I talk to schools I encourage the students to turn the tables on those who choose to bully and control everyone by standing together against the bullies and demanding that their voice be heard and to change the “norm”. Many of you who have worked hard for our children, should also be heard. Don’t allow a few men’s actions to tarnish your careers as well. Stand together not as Republicans and Democrats, but as parents, Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents to show MI and the nation that we do not condone bullying against anyone at any time in any school. Show our students how it is done. You have the opportunity to make change, make it happen.”
The legislation has been roadblocked on a regular basis by the lobbying efforts of the American Family Association of Michigan and its executive director Gary Glenn. The group claims the legislation is part of a larger “gay agenda” and thus opposes it.
But Epling went after Glenn and his group in the letter to the senator as well.
This has always been about safety and many of you have allowed yourself to be bullied and swayed by others into thinking and believing it is about sexual orientation.Gary Glenn says he wants protection for “All” students, well “all” of us have a perceived characteristic, we are short, tall, fat, skinny, we wear glasses, our clothing choices, the traits of our family name/heritage can all be used against us at anytime if it is desired. Protecting “All” students should never come at the expense of “any” student because of personal prejudice and hatred.
The House has already passed this legislation but the Michigan Senate has not. It is unlikely it will come to a vote in the Wednesday special session, which was called to address earlier legislation errors in matters passed by the legislature.
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