Join The Fight To Repeal The Emergency Manager Act!
Dear Fellow Justice Caucus Member,
I am writing to request that you join the Justice Caucus and Michigan Forward in gathering petitions to repeal Public Act 4, i.e. Michigan's Emergency Manager Law. As you know, the recently enacted amendments to Michigan’s Emergency Manager Law have been widely criticized as anti-democratic and seen as yet another example of the Snyder Administration’s hostile attitude toward teachers, firefighters, police officers, and all other public sector and unionized employees.
The Justice Caucus has been asked to reach out to our vast network of local Democrats and progressive organizations to build this campaign on a statewide basis.
Please join the Justice Caucus and Michigan Forward in a massive push to gather the 161,304 signatures needed to repeal this law. Currently over 120,000 signatures are already in!
Please review the list of communities in which Michigan Forward has already organized a “Community Action Team” to coordinate their petition drive. If you live in one of those communities I ask that you contact the Community Action Team leader and offer your services. If you are in a community without an existing Community Action Team, I need you to form one. Michigan Forward has a complete packet of information available on the process for assembling a team and all the materials you will need to accomplish the task. You will also participate in a weekly conference call to obtain updates on the petition drive provide input on the strategy going forward. Your expertise will be invaluable to this endeavor.
Because of the pressing need for our help I am asking that you take action on my request within the three days by either contacting your local Community Action Team or click the following link to contact Michigan Forward directly, Volunteer, and request instructions for starting your own.
Please send me an email at JC4democracy@gmail.com confirming those contacts so I can track our efforts.
This request presents a great opportunity for the Justice Caucus. Not only will we be part of a notable effort to protect the working families of Michigan and send a message to Lansing that we will not sit idly by as our rights are eroded, but we will also demonstrate the ability of the Justice Caucus to respond and organize when the interests of the People are threatened.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Sincerely,
Tonya Phillips
Chair: Repeal PA 4 Subcommittee. Michigan Justice Caucus
Outstanding Activists Honored at Millie Jeffrey Dinner
On May 22, 2011 Justice Caucus honored five progressive activists in Michigan at the annual Millie Jeffrey Awards Dinner. Bob King, president of the International United Auto Workers, delivered the keynote address for this year's dinner.
Bob King received the Champion of Social & Economic Justice Award. Other honorees included Doug Kelley who received the Spirit of Millie Lifetime Achievement Award, Anne Brown,Ted Phillips, Phil Reid, and Toni Sessoms who received Spirit of Millie Awards.
Dr. Doug Kelley spent his entire life as an activist and community organizer. At the age of 14 Kelley was an usher at the 1944 Democratic national convention which was held in Chicago. He served as an administrative assistant to Congressman Don Hayworth. Kelly also served in the Peace Corps doing much of his work in South Africa. He holds memberships in the NAACP and ACLU. He received a doctorate degree in adult and continuing education from the University of Michigan in the 1980s. In 2008 he campaign for then Sen. Obama in five states. And he represented our state well in 2004 when he was the roll call spokesman for the Michigan delegation at the Democratic National Convention.
Anne Bown (Spirit of Millie Award) is a school teacher in the Detroit Public School System. She has worked as the district director for State Representative Alma Wheeler Smith. She has also worked in a variety of nonprofit organizations designed to encourage voter turnout among low income and minority voters. In 2006 in 2008 she managed the successful State Representative campaign for Alma Wheeler Smith.
Ted Phillips another one of the recipients of the 2011 Spirit of Millie Award is a housing advocate. Mr. Phillips graduated from Wayne State University Law School specializing in housing law. He began his legal career in the Landlord and Tenant Clinic operated by the Legal Aid and Defender Association of Detroit. He is currently Executive Director of the United Community Housing Coalition. In his role since 2009 he had been responsible for saving almost 1000 homes from tax foreclosure. His organization had been responsible for saving the homes of 192 families. He is dedicated Tigers fan and a lifelong Detroit resident.
Phil Reid was also honored with the 2011 Spirit of Millie Award. Mr. Reid since 2004 has been a tireless Democratic activist in Oakland County. He has been instrumental in the reorganization of the North Oakland County Democratic Club. He has been honored as precinct delegate of the year by both the eighth Congressional District Democratic Committee and the Oakland County Democratic Party. In 2008 was elected as a delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. At the dinner he was presented with numerous awards and recognition from Oakland County State Representatives and Oakland County commissioners.
Toni Sessoms rounds out this year's recipients of 2011 Spirit of Millie Awards. Ms.Sessoms began her political activism in 1988 when she volunteered for the Dukakis for President campaign in North Carolina. Shortly after arriving in Michigan in 1993 she got involved in the Michigan Association of Justice. In 2008 she served as the Isabella County coordinator for Diane Hathaway for the Michigan Supreme Court campaign. In 2010 she ran for the Michigan House of Representatives in the 99th District. Despite a hard-fought campaign she was unsuccessful in her bid. She currently serves as the Fourth Congressional District Democratic Chair.
The evening was headlined by International UAW President Bob King who delivered the keynote address. Bob King spoke about the need for the progressive community to get better organized. He said it was outrageous that Gov. Rick Snyder continues to pursue a state budget that cuts education and give more tax cuts to the rich in Michigan.
Submitted by Donald Stuckey, Justice Caucus Board Member
Bob King Keynote Speaker at 2011 Millie Jeffrey Dinner
We are pleased to announce that UAW Internation President Bob King will be the keynote speaker at the 2011 Millie Jeffrey Awards Dinner, Sunday May 22nd. The reception is at 5:30 pm, and the dinner is at 6:30 pm.
The theme of this year's dinner is "Fighting for Social & Economic Justice." Bob King is a true champion of justice and an exciting speaker. The dinner is being held at the Ann Arbor Marriott at Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti.
Sign on today to welcome UAW President Bob King as a member of the 2011 Host Committee. Hosts must commit to purchase 2 dinner tickets and one ad in the program book (any size). The host committee deadline is Wednesday, April 13th at 5:00 pm.
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Your ad in the 2011 Millie Jeffrey Awards Dinner Program is a great way to support the important work being done by the Justice Caucus and to spread the word about your organization. (Specify "Other Amount" to make your ad payment.)
Find Out More About Program Ads!
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This year's award recipients will be announced soon. The Millie Jeffrey Dinner promises to be a truly memorable event. Don't miss the opportunity to get involved!
Senator Carl Levin Takes On the Supreme Challenge
The Justice Caucus asked Senator Carl Levin to lend his voice to our "Supreme Challenge 2010" campaign to elect Justice Alton Thomas Davis and Judge Denise Langford-Morris to the Michigan Supreme Court. He said "Yes!" Senator Levin is perhaps Michigan's most respected public official - respected by Democrats, Independents and even many Republicans.
Senator Carl Levin knows how important the Michigan Supreme Court race is. That is why he said "Yes!" Now we need you to say "Yes," too.
Listen to Senator Levin's Message!
Senator Levin has recorded the attached robo call. Our current budget allow us to broadcast this robo call to a limited number of voters. With your help, we can get Senator Levin's voice out to many thousands more voters TODAY. His credible voice will cut through the "noise." Won't you please step up immediately and help?
Thank you.
- Paul
Paul H. Stevenson
Co-Chair MDP Justice Caucus
P.S. Join us on Saturday & canvass for the Supreme Challenge!
Supreme Challenge -- 13 Days to Go!
With 13 days to go, there really are just two things to do and one thing to remember:
And the thing to remember? We did this in 2008 and we can do it again. In 2008 grassroots efforts led to the unseating of the Chief Justice. No one thought it was possible, but we did it.
Let's work together & do it again!
CASE DISMISSED!
The case filed against Rep. Mary Valentine, candidate for State Senate District 34, has been dismissed! Valentine is a longtime friend of the Justice Caucus and alumnus of the very first Camp Millie. Her opponent had filed suit because one recycled lawn sign was posted without the "Re" before "elect" covered. She was recycling signs from her previous State Rep. re-election campaign. And the mistake was corrected a few minutes after it was posted.
The court dismissed the case.
Congratulations to Rep. Valentine and good luck in the next 3 weeks!
Let's Fight for our friend Mary Valentine!
Today we received an alarming message from Michigan Senate candidate Mary Valentine (Dist. 34). And when we read what is happening to her, we got mad.
Mary is a great Democrat, a good friend to the Justice Caucus and a Camp Millie Alumni. She is not afraid to fight, but this is one battle she should not have to fight at all. But since she does, we can make sure she has our support.
We are forwarding her email to you with a single suggestion: Don't get mad, let's get even! We can get even by making a donation to Mary Valentine's State Senate campaign TODAY! 
And if you're still mad, make one to another State Senate candidate in one of these critical races: Aaron Bailey, Kathleen Law and/or David LaGrand.
Read Mary's message:
Dear Friends,
More excitement from the campaign trail!
Being good environmental stewards, we decided to recycle our old signs. So we bought stickers to cover up the State Represenative with State Senate and cover up the Re-Elect with Elect. But guess what terrible thing happened? One of the signs got out without the Re in Re-Elect covered up. Oh, my!
We corrected it within 10 - 15 min. of finding out about it.
So ----- my opponent is SUING me. Yes, you read that right. He is suing me. Chris was served papers earlier today, and I was served papers tonight. We are accused of committing fraud, and even this:
"The signage is inaccurate, corrupt and false, calculated and intended to deceive the voters of the 34th State Senate District and to induce those voters to act upon those deceptions by improperly influencing the voting public."
There's more: "Defendents' scheme is so timed that it will be impossible for Hansen before the election to properly and accurately inform the voters concerning the true issues of the matter."
And more: "... Hansen will suffer irreperable harm if this challenged advertisement continues unabated until election day and further, he is without an adequate remedy at law."
No, I am serious. That is what the papers say. Now stop that laughing, this is serious. Our court date is tomorrow, Wed., at 2:00 in the County Courthouse. I am not sure if it is in the court of Judge Graves or Judge Ruck.
You will probably be reading about this in your local paper soon.
On a more serious note, I have been disappointd in Goeff Hansen's campaign tactics and his lack of a moral compass. We continue to need any help you can offer. Thank you -- you are all wonderful beyond belief.
- Mary V.
Donate to Mary Valentine TODAY!
Donate to Aaron Bailey, Kathleen Law and/or David LaGrand.
Critical Election Information
Voter registration deadline: Oct. 4, 2010, last day to register to vote
Absentee voter request deadline: Oct. 30, 2010, By 2 p.m.
Absentee voting deadline: Up to 4 p.m. Nov. 1, 2010, Nov. 2, 2010 Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
MI Secy of State - Register and Vote in Michigan
MI Voter Registration Application
MI Secy of State - Information for Voters
MI Voter Information Center
MI Are You Registered?
MI Elections in Michigan
MI Upcoming Elections
MI Elections: Publications and Forms
MI Absentee Voter Information
MI Absentee Ballot Request Form
Caucus Adds Endorsements: AG, Supreme Court, House, Senate, Ed. Boards
The Justice Caucus endorsed the following candidates:
David Leyton for Attorney General
Denise Langford Morris for Supreme Court
Kathleen Law for MI Senate District 7
Garry Post for MI House District 47
Elizabeth Bauer for MI Board of Education
Ed Bruley for Wayne State Board of Governors
Justice Caucus to Honor Governor Granholm's Contribution to Michigan Judiciary
Governor Granholm to Receive "Spirit of Millie Award" At Justice Caucus Convention Program Saturday, August 28th
"Governor Granholm's Judiciary. The New Face of Justice in Michigan.”
Governor Jennifer Granholm will receive a special "Spirit of Millie Award" from the Justice Caucus honoring her contribution to Michigan's judiciary via judicial appointments. She will speak on "My Vision of Justice.” During her 7-1/2 years in office, Governor Granholm's judicial appointments, 118 to date, have restored a significant measure of justice and fairness to our courts.
The award and the governor's address will be part of the Justice Caucus MDP Convention Program on Saturday, August 28th at 10:00 am in Cobo Hall Room O3-46. All of Gov. Granholm's 118 judicial appointees have been invited and many will be attending.