LANSING – In case you missed it, the Detroit Free Press reported that Pete Hoekstra recently told a Tea Party audience in Clarkston that he supports a plan to drill for oil in the Great Lakes. Hoekstra’s support for directional drilling in the Great Lakes was captured here on video.  A Hoekstra spokesman then reiterated to the Free Press that Hoekstra opposes the current federal ban on Great Lakes drilling, saying that the states should have the authority to allow drilling if they choose.  The Hoekstra campaign also reiterated, according to the Free Press, that Pete Hoekstra believes that directional Great Lakes drilling “holds promise and could allow for drilling if states deemed it safe”.

While Hoekstra’s campaign seemed to attempt to backpedal from Hoekstra’s comments initially in the Free Press story, they went on to double-down on the fact that Hoekstra does not want a federal ban on Great Lakes drilling and thinks states should be allowed to approve directional drilling–presenting a stark difference between Hoekstra’s position and that of Senator Debbie Stabenow.  Stabenow authored the federal ban on Great Lakes drilling in 2001–the very first bill Senator Stabenow passed into law when she began serving Michigan in the United States Senate in 2001, and, according to the Free Press, “has been a prominent force for keeping drilling out of the Great Lakes ever since.”

Stabenow’s Great Lakes drilling ban, which Hoekstra is opposing, was passed with a bipartisan vote in a Republican-controlled Congress and signed into law by President Bush.

“Hoekstra’s desire to end the federal ban on drilling the Great Lakes for oil is totally out of the mainstream and completely outrageous,” said Mark Brewer, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. “Even most Republicans have supported the ban on drilling in the Lakes because they recognize that a disaster like the BP spill in the Gulf or the Enbridge spill in Michigan could destroy the Great Lakes–and the jobs and industries that depend on them. Pete Hoekstra’s dangerous plan to allow Big Oil’s drills into the Great Lakes would threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs and our state’s most important natural resource.”

Studies show that allowing drilling for oil in the Great Lakes would produce a very small amount of oil–the U.S. Geological Survey says that even if oil companies got every drop of oil possible out of the Great Lakes, it would provide the country with a little over two weeks (16 days) worth of energy (USGS estimates that there is about 312 million barrels of oil recoverable in the Great Lakes, and the US consumes 19 million barrels per day).  An amount that small would have virtually no impact on world markets or affect the price of gas at the pump.  But while the benefits of Great Lakes drilling would be incredibly small, the risk of a spill could be potentially devastating to the Lakes and the multi-billion dollar tourism, boating and fishing industries that depend on them. Risking the Great Lakes’ devastation for literally a few days worth of oil is widely viewed as a risk not at all worth taking–which is why so many in both parties are against Great Lakes drilling.

Along with passing the federal ban on drilling in the Great Lakes, Senator Stabenow has also continued to pressure the Obama Administration to pressure Canada to implement a similar ban. Senator Stabenow continues to lead efforts to stop the spread of invasive species, like Asian Carp, from getting into the Great Lakes, and has remained a tireless advocate of common-sense conservation efforts that protect one of Michigan’s most important economic assets.

Please come out and enjoy good company while discussing ways to raise voter awareness for the 2012 elections. Bring a friend or two; the more the merrier!

$10 to bowl, which included shoe rental. For non-bowlers, Karaoke and other activities will be available.

"Whether you are to the 'left' or the 'right,' be there or simply be square.

Friday, May 18, 2012 from 7:30pm until 12:00am.

Click here for more information!

Michigan citizens from all backgrounds who work hard and play by the rules are joining together and taking a stand. For more than a year, Lansing politicians and corporate special interests have made one attack after another on Michigan workers: cutting middle-class families’ wages, health care benefits, retirement security and safety protections.

They’re not done yet — there are more than 80 bills waiting for a vote in the state Legislature that would strip basic protections from working people.

These political attacks on basic collective bargaining rights have done nothing to put Michiganders back to work. Instead, all they’ve done is hurt middle-class families, small businesses and local communities.

Enough is enough.

Citizens from across Michigan are collecting signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that will enshrine into our state Constitution the basic right of every worker to collectively bargain.

Please visit this link for more information and to learn how to get involved!

Debra Freidell Wirth from Clinton County has stepped forward to run against Congressman Dave Camp in the 4th Congressional District. Due to redistricting, the 4th Congressional District now covers 15 counties, including part of Saginaw. Please read the short bio below to learn more about Debra!

Debra Freidell Wirth grew up in Eaton County, graduated from Waverly HS 1070, Michigan State University 1074 and Thomas M. Cooley Law School 1977. She became licensed to practice law in Michigan in 1977 and began working as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Igham County, and was a member of the Ingham County Employees Association (ISEA) Local 13 union. She maintains her license to practice law in Michigan and is a member of the Michigan Association for Justice plaintiff's lawyers association.

Debra moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1983, and worked in non-legal jobs until she survived an automobile accident, which fractured her skull in 1988. IN the year it took to recover; she passed the Missouri and Kansas bar exams, then practices law from 1990-2009, primarily representing injured plaintiffs.

She returned to Michigan in late 2009, after her sisters introduced her to Steve Wirth on karaoke night at South Riley Bar, in Riley Township, earlier that year. Steven graduated from Pewamo-Westphalia HS, retired from the SOM Health Department, and now climbs, cuts and chips trees. They married Memorial Day weekend 2011. Her new stepdaughter Stefanie (22) is a student and works for the State of Michigan; her stepson Dustin (21) is a member of the Michigan National Guard, and expects to be deployed to Kuwait next year. Debra and her husband Steve now reside in Eagle Township in Clinton County.

Attached is a list of jobs with time slots that we need to fill to make the Spaghetti Dinner a success. Please take a moment to view the attached list and if you see something you would like to help with, email Terri Wolf at tjwolff@sbcglobal.net.

The dinner will take place on Friday, May 11th from 5:00-8:00 PM. Whether you would like to volunteer or not, we still hope to see you there!

Thanks in advance for making this dinner a great success!

Just a friendly reminder, and an open invitation to join us in a celebration of Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo for Saginaw is a great event for hispanic/latino cultural heritage and education, and is also the largest celebration and parade of its kind in the State of Michigan!  

What: Cinco de Mayo Parade & Private Party at HQ
When: Saturday, May 5th
Parade Lineup: Lineup begins on Water St. at 9:30 AM next to the Saginaw Farmer's Market. Look for and/or call Armando if you have trouble finding us at 327-0568.
Parade Start: Parade starts promptly at 10:30 AM and will travel West on Genesee, South on Michigan, then East on Court St. ending on Ojibway Island. After parade ends, some transportation will be available to shuttle volunteers back to the parade start to retrieve vehicles.
Needs: We are in need of plenty of volunteers to walk, and a lot of candy, please help.  

**Immediately following the parade, our private party at SCDP Headquarters for democratic party members will begin with mexican food and music. Additionally, please visit Ojibway island before days end and enjoy the festivities there.

Join us for our first SCDP Monthly Social!

No meeting, no agenda, just friendly Democrats and hopefully some of our new members having a good time!

What: Saginaw County Democratic Party Monthly Social
Where: 122 N. Michigan Ave, Saginaw, MI 48602
When: Wednesday, April 25th at 7:00 PM
Movie: ''The Ides of March'' (2011) Starring George Clooney and Ryan Gosling. Full synopsis here.

Light snacks and beverages provided. We hope to see you there!

Barb Mausolf is having a fundraiser on May 1, 2012 from 5 - 7 pm at Meinberg’s, 116 S. Hamilton
St., Saginaw, MI 48602. The tickets are $25.00 and if you can’t make the party, please send
a contribution to:
   
    Committee to Keep Barb Mausolf Treasurer
    P.O. Box 3440
    Saginaw, MI 48605

Come and support Barb and she will continue to make your money count! Please view the attached flyer for more information.