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Replay-Obama’s Blueprint For Keeping College Affordable

January 27, 2012 by Michael McIntee DC, Michigan Comments Off

President Obama Speaks at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Click photo to watch President Obama speak at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Speaking at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, President Obama unveiled his plan for keeping college affordable. He proposed a “race to the top” program that rewards colleges that keep tuition down by giving their students more loans and grants. He also proposed creating a college financing report card so students and parents would “know before they owe”

Video highlights, as well as the entire speech on video with transcript … Continue Reading

Obama Previews His Jobs Speech

September 6, 2011 by Michael McIntee DC, Economy/Jobs, Michigan Comments Off

President Obama addresses a Labor Day crowd in Detroit's GM Plant parking lot

Click on picture of President Obama to watch his Labor Day speech in the GM plant parking lot

Standing outside of a General Motors plant that might have been shuttered without his action, President Obama previews the speech he will give on Thursday to a joint session of Congress about jobs. He gets a warm reception from the Labor Day crowd in Detroit, Michigan.

President Obama told the crowd
“On Thursday, we’re going to lay out a new way forward on jobs to grow the economy and put more Americans back to work right now. I don’t want to give everything away right here, because I want you all to tune in on Thursday — but I’ll give you just a little bit.

“We’ve got roads and bridges across this country that need rebuilding. We’ve got private companies with the equipment and the manpower to do the building. We’ve got more than 1 million unemployed construction workers ready to get dirty right now. There is work to be done and there are workers ready to do it. Labor is on board. Business is on board. We just need Congress to get on board. Let’s put America back to work. ”

Transcript of President Obama’s Labor Day speech … Continue Reading

Weekly Audit: Hostile Takeover Threat Spurs Concessions from Michigan Unions

March 22, 2011 by Jacob Wheeler DC, Labor/Unions, Michigan, War/Peace, World Comments Off

By Lindsay Beyerstein, Media Consortium blogger

Michigan’s new Emergency Manager Law is already forcing major concessions from unions. The law gives the governor the power to declare a city insolvent and appoint an emergency manager with virtually unlimited power to reorganize every aspect of city business, including dissolving the city entirely. The emergency manager even has the power to terminate collective bargaining agreements.

As a result of these expanded new powers, public employees unions in some Michigan municipalities are already making large preemptive concessions to keep their cities from tripping any of the “triggers” in the new law that might give the governor an opening to send in a union-busting emergency manager, Eartha Jane Melzer reports in the Michigan Messenger.

In Flint, the firefighters’ union agreed to increase contributions to health insurance and give up holiday pay and night shift differentials. Flint Firefighters Union President Raul Garcia told the Wall Street Journal that these concessions were driven by fear of a state takeover of Flint. “I would rather give concessions that I would like than have an [emergency financial manager] or something of that magnitude come in and say this is what you are going to do,” Garcia said.

The new law also gives the Emergency Manager the power to privatize prisons, Melzer notes.

Detroit grows green … Continue Reading

What the Revolution Feels Like and Looks Like in Michigan

March 16, 2011 by Jacob Wheeler Labor/Unions, Michigan Comments Off

Michigan musician Seth Bernard of the Earthwork Music Collective, narrates the raucous, party-like scene below him at the State Capitol in Lansing today, where thousands gathered to protest Gov. Rick Snyder and the Republican legislature’s push to create a path toward privatizing municipalities, counties and school districts and eliminating collective bargaining rights.

“This is What Democracy Looks Like” — Michigan Style

March 16, 2011 by Jacob Wheeler Labor/Unions, Michigan Comments Off

Chad Cyrowski of Progress Michigan shot these videos at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing today — a protest attended by over 8,000 people who oppose upstart Gov. Rick Snyder and the GOP-dominated legislature’s attempt to gut union rights and privatize municipalities, counties and school districts in the event of a “fiscal emergency”.

The demonstration was billed as the “Rally for Michigan Families” in a state decimated by the fall of the automobile industry and lagging union membership in recent decades. As they have in Madison over the past month, protesters in the Mitten State today called on the Republicans in power to sit down at the bargaining table and negotiate.

Here, Progress Michigan Executive Director David Holtz leads the Pledge of Allegiance.

Workers Protest Emergency Legislation in Lansing, Michigan

March 16, 2011 by Jacob Wheeler Labor/Unions, Michigan Comments Off



Live streaming video by Ustream

Courtesy of MichaelMoore.com, here’s live footage of today’s demonstration at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing. The state’s new Governor Rick Snyder, and a far-right legislature have proposed emergency legislation that would give the Governor the right to liquidate municipalities, counties and school districts and turn them over to the private sector.

Here are filmmaker, and Michigan native, Michael Moore’s words encouraging Michiganders to come to Lansing today:

“I’m asking everyone who can to take Wednesday off and head to the State Capitol in Lansing to protest the cruel and downright frightening legislation currently being jammed down our throats … Governor Snyder, once elected, yanked off his nice-guy mask to reveal that he is in fact a multi-millionaire hell-bent on destroying our state and turning it over to his buddies from Wall Street … Trust me, you will rue the day you sat home and did nothing while thieves posing as politicians stole your Great Lakes State from you.” – Michael Moore

President Obama Speaks on General Motors

November 18, 2010 by Jacob Wheeler DC, Live Coverage, Michigan, White House Live Comments Off

President Obama speaks about General Motors, which is once again a publicly traded company.

Key quote from the President:
“Just two years ago, this seemed impossible. In fact, there were plenty of doubters and naysayers who said it couldn’t be done, who were prepared to throw in the towel and read the American auto industry last rites. Independent estimates suggested, however, that had we taken that step, had we given up, we would have lost more than 1 million jobs across all 50 states. It would have also resulted in economic chaos, devastating communities across the country and costing governments tens of billions of dollars in additional social safety net benefits and lost revenue.”

Obama on GM- Transcript … Continue Reading

GM, Obama Prove Cynics Wrong

August 1, 2010 by admin DC, Economy/Jobs, Michigan Comments Off

Key quote from President Obama’s weekly address:

Of course, if some folks had their way, none of this would be happening at all. This plant might not exist. There were leaders of the just say no crowd in Washington who argued that standing by the auto industry would guarantee failure. One called it the worst investment you could possibly make. They said we should just walk away and let these jobs go. ;Today, the men and women in this plant are proving these cynics wrong. Since GM and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, our auto industry has added 55,000 jobs the strongest period of job growth in more than ten years. For the first time since 2004, all three American automakers are operating at a profit. Sales have begun to rebound. And plants like this that wouldnt have existed if all of us didn’t act are now operating maximum capacity.

Full text of President Obama’s address when you continue reading. … Continue Reading

Obama: GM, America On The Move

July 30, 2010 by admin DC, Economy/Jobs, Michigan Comments Off

Key quote from President Obama’s visit to the GM plant in Hamtramck, Michigan:

We are back on our feet. We are on the move. GM is on the move. The U.S. auto industry is on the move. And America is on the move, and Im not going to rest until every single American worker who wants to get back to work is going to be back to work. You’re helping lead the way and I’m grateful to you! (Applause.)

Full transcript of President Obama’s remarks when you continue reading. … Continue Reading

DC Latest

DC

Obama announces Housing Settlement with banks

Obama on Landmark Housing Settlement with Banks

The federal government and 49 state attorneys general have reached a landmark $25 billion agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers to address mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure abuses.

President Obama announces exemptions from "No Child Left Behind" law

States Get Exemptions To “No Child Left Behind” Law

President Obama announces ten states have agreed to implement bold reforms around standards and accountability will receive flexibility from the most burdensome mandates of the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind.

Obama helps with marshmallow launch at White House Science Fair

Marshmallow Launch at the White House Science Fair

The President meets an 8th grader named Joey from Phoenix, AZ at the White House Science Fair and the two launch a marshmallow across the state dining room with Joey’s science project – an air cannon.

President Obama delivers his weekly address

Obama’s Fair Fix For Responsible Homeowners

The housing crisis has been the single largest drag on America’s economic recovery. President Obama wants to fix that fairly for homeowners who have been responsible, but not the ones who took out huge mortgages or bought multiple homes.

Netflix General Counsel David Hyman testifies to a US Senate committee

Netflix Facebook App Would Be Legal In US

Netflix’s top lawyer tries to convince a US Senate committee that laws need to be changed so it can offer a video sharing app on Facebook. A University of Minnesota Law Professor says that’s not so.

Senator Al Franken

Who Should Know Which Videos You Watch?

A bill recently passed in the US House could make it easier for video companies to disclose viewer information. Who should know what you’re watching? Senator Al Franken leads a hearing.

President Obama blasts Utah Senator Mike Lee in his weekly address

Obama Blasts Utah Senator For Causing Gridlock

“One senator gumming up the works for the whole country is certainly not what our founding fathers envisioned.”— President Obama about Utah Senator Mike Lee in his weekly address

President Obama Speaks at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Replay-Obama’s Blueprint For Keeping College Affordable

President Obama unveils his proposal to keep college costs lower and provide students with enough financial aid so they can attend. He speaks at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

President Obama on his State of the union tour

Obama’s State Of The Union Tour Hits Five States

President Obama is on a five state tour promoting the economic proposals he made in his State of The Union address. He started in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at Conveyer Engineering and then into Arizona to an Intel plant. Thursday he want to Las Vegas and Denver.

Click on photo to hear President Obama's speech in Arizona

Obama Praises Gabby Giffords In Arizona

Representative Giffords recently resigned from congress to focus on her recovery from an assassination attempt last year.

Latest MN

MN

Vote No against Voter Photo ID

No To Voter ID With Silence and Cheers

More than 300 Minnesotans gathered at the State Capitol and at Wells Fargo Place in downtown Saint Paul to raise their voices in opposition to the proposed photo ID amendment.

2012  MN Legislative Session

MN Legislative Leaders React To Dayton Veto

Governor Dayton announced he is vetoing a set of Republican authored bills aimed at making it harder to sue in court. Legislative leaders react to the Governor’s veto.

Joe Webb says budget cuts are preventing his mentally ill son from moving closer to home

Mental Health Budget Cuts Costing MN More (CC)

Joe Webb wants his mentally ill son to live closer to home. But cuts made last year in Minnesota’s mental health budget are preventing that.

Senator Barb Goodwin objects to gun bill

Objections To MN Gun Bill Fail

Senator Barb Goodwin raises objections to H.F. 1467 Defense of Dwelling and Person Act.
She says it should have another hearing since a New York Times article showed that Minnesota has problems with felons easily getting back their firearms once they are released from prison.

Senator Julianne Ortman

Unsure, MN GOP Senator Votes To Limit Your Right To Sue

Senator Julianne Ortman’s bill to shorten Minnesota’s statute of limitations passes despite her saying some of the issues in it could go back to the Judiciary committee

DFL SD 42 Caucus Goer

DFL Caucus Goers Want Jobs and Personal Freedom

Hear what DFL caucus goers are concerned and optimistic about.

Larry Pogemiller answers questions during confirmation hearing

Vouchers For College? MN Education Head Says Maybe

Vouchers for college? Minnesota’s Higher Education Director Larry Pogemiller says he’s open to the idea.

TakeAction Minnesota's Dan McGrath Diagrams how bank money goes to Republican legislators

Banks Backing GOP Attempt To Suppress MN Votes

TakeAction Minnesota releases a report outlining Minnesota-based financial interests behind efforts to secure a photo ID amendment on the state’s November 2012 ballot.

Pastor Grant Stevens

Religious Leaders Jam Senator’s Office On MN Voter Photo ID

It’s not often that a half dozen religious leaders come calling with a cadre of television cameras in tow to Senate Majority Leader David Senjem’s office.

Religious Leaders Opposing MN Voter Photo ID

Religious Leaders Oppose MN Voter Photo ID

Religious leaders of various faiths hold a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol voicing their opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment requiring a photo ID for the purpose of voting.

Sustaining Solutions

Sustaining Solutions

Click on Photo to View Video of Northside Economic Opportunity Network

Northside Economic Opportunity Network Boosts Business in North Minneapolis

The Northside Economic Opportunity Network works with small businesses and micro-businesses in North Minneapolis to help them achieve success.

Workers' Rights Supporter In Madison Wisconsin

2011 UpTake Stories With The Most Impact

If we didn’t cover these stories, who would have?

City Pages Cover-The Forgotten Neighborhood

The Forgotten Neighborhood

As we’ve been reporting for the past six months, many tornado victims who need help still haven’t gotten it.

Click on Photo to View Video of Occupy MN in Monique White's Home

Occupy MN Moves into Foreclosed Home in North Minneapolis

Occupy MN is occupying Monique White’s house at 3310 N. 6th St. in the city’s downtrodden North Minneapolis neighborhood. In doing so, Occupy MN instantly made itself more diverse, and more relevant.

Click on Photo to Watch Video About Campaign to Save North High School

Saving North High School, Preserving a Community Stalwart

When administrators revealed a plan last spring to shut down North High School — one of only two public schools on Minneapolis’ embattled north side — MN Neighborhoods Organizing for Change and other activists answered the call.

Click on Photo to View Kindred Kitchen Video

Kindred Kitchen Empowers North Minneapolis Through Food

North Minneapolis food entrepreneurs use Kindred Kitchen to learn about starting their own business, making their food safely and legally in a commercial kitchen, and marketing it within the community.

Citizen participates in Draw The Line Minnesota session

Citizens, Not Politicians Drawing Redistricting Lines

Voters should pick their politicians, not the other way around. That’s the thought behind Draw The Line Minnesota, a citizen group that is working to draw the maps for congressional and legislative districts.

FLOW: Northside Arts Crawl

FLOW Shows Bright Future For Tornado-damaged Northside

This year’s FLOW art crawl was all about recognizing thousands of volunteers that helped with the clean-up and recovery efforts after the May 22nd tornado. Leaders hope the positive can-do attitude of the cleanup can power a rebirth of the Northside.

Click to watch Stories of Need: Dennis

“We’re Treated like Bums” Despite Holding Jobs, Paying Taxes

After their home in North Minneapolis was destroyed by the May 22 tornado, Dennis and Deborah were forced to seek refuge in the local Armory and at the North Commons Recreation Center. For weeks, they and their five children slept on cots on the floor of a gymnasium.

Click on Picture to View Video of Joyce Chineth

“I’m sure I need it worse than you, because I have nothing.”

Her home destroyed and now condemned, north Minneapolis tornado victim Joyce Chineth feels abandoned by the system.

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