e-Newsletter, October 20, 2008
ECONOMIC STIMULUS EVENT A SUCCESS
Last week, I held the second of two events aimed at helping local residents receive their unclaimed economic stimulus checks. Representatives from the IRS as well as my staff and I were on hand to answer questions and assist residents in determining whether or not they were eligible for an economic stimulus payment. Those that were eligible were able to receive $300 if they filed individually or $600 if they filed with a spouse. Altogether, it was estimated that there were over 150,000 Michigan residents statewide that had not yet claimed their stimulus payment totaling nearly $46.4 million dollars.
In these two events alone we were able to bring over $15,000 in unclaimed stimulus funds to our residents. As energy, food and housing prices continue to rise, these stimulus payments will go a long way to help our friends and neighbors provide for themselves and their families.
PUBLIC SAFETY OUTREACH PROGRAM
In order to maintain a direct line of communication between myself and the men and woman in our public safety departments, I have begun a series of visits with the police and fire departments across the senate district that I represent. The time that I spend with these public safety professionals gives me a first-hand opportunity to learn about the unique needs and challenges each department is facing.
Already, I have been able to spend over 15 hours with several police and fire officers from our community, witnessing their daily routines and participating in several police and fire “ride along” visits. Most recently, I spent an afternoon visiting with the Livonia Fire Department. During my visit I experienced a demonstration of the Livonia Fire Department’s newest addition to their fleet of firefighting vehicles, the Tower 1 truck. This vehicle is equipped with all of the latest in fire safety and life saving equipment and will continue to serve our community for many years. I am proud of all that our local public safety officials do to keep our community safe and I am thankful for the opportunity to experience their work first hand.
SHOULD CONVICTED FELONS BE PROHIBITED FROM RUNNING FOR PUBLIC ELECTED OFFICE?
Currently in Michigan, if an individual is convicted of a felony they are still eligible, after completing their sentence, to run for, and serve, in public elected office in. I invite you to visit my website and take part my most recent survey question on whether this should be prohibited by law. Every two weeks I post a new survey question on my website to receive your input on some of the issues facing our state. I welcome you to click on the link below and share your thoughts on my current survey.
http://www.senate.michigan.gov/anderson/
PREVIOUS ONLINE SURVEY QUESTION & RESULTS:
Should Michigan ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving?
Yes: 56%
No: 35%
Undecided: 9%
PRESIDENT SIGNS GREAT LAKES COMPACT
On October 3, 2008, President George W. Bush approved legislation to protect Michigan’s freshwater and enact the Great Lakes Compact under Senate Bill 212. The Michigan legislature and Governor Granholm approved our state’s participation in this compact which allowed this historic measure to be signed into law by the President. I am pleased to have been a co-sponsor of this legislation in the Michigan Senate. This groundbreaking legislation will put into place rules to block any major amount of water being removed from the Great Lakes.
I have been fighting for the protection of the Great Lakes my entire legislative career and I’m proud to say I was a member of the Senate when the compact was ultimately approved. The Great Lakes are extremely valuable to Michigan’s people and economy and by passing this legislation; we took an important step toward protecting our Great Lakes resources for generations to come.
For more information about the Great Lakes Compact, visit my website: http://www.senate.mi.gov/anderson/pr.php?id=990.
GRANHOLM SIGNS NEW ENERGY LEGISLATION TO CREATE JOBS, PROTECT CONSUMERS
Recently, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed the renewable energy package into law. This bipartisan initiative will stimulate economic growth and the creation of “green jobs” while saving ratepayers $4.3 billion in future energy costs. These new laws together ensure that Michigan’s energy needs will be met by clean and renewable energy resources while specifically reducing costs for consumers.
Michigan has been identified by the United States Department of Energy as one of the top eight states in the nation for potential wind production. The department also recognizes Michigan as one of four states that will create over 30,000 manufacturing jobs in the wind sector alone. This new legislation opens the door for the state to become a major player in the fast-growing renewable energy sector.
To read more about this legislation, visit my website: http://www.senate.mi.gov/anderson/pr.php?id=1074.
STATE OF MICHIGAN REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL TO PROVIDE FORECLOSURE RELIEF
Recently, the State of Michigan scored a major victory by settling with Countrywide Financial, the nation's largest mortgage lender. The settlement, resulting from an investigation of predatory lending complaints against Countrywide, will provide relief for nearly 10,000 current and former Michigan homeowners who are struggling with the national home foreclosure crisis.
Under the terms of the settlement, Countrywide will refinance as many as 9,700 adjustable rate mortgages in Michigan, giving families an opportunity to keep their homes, and saving them approximately $129 million as a result of more favorable terms. The company will also pay more than $9.8 million to the State to assist Michigan homeowners who lost their homes to foreclosure with relocation assistance payments and develop borrower education and neighborhood rehabilitation programs. The settlement also prohibits Countrywide Financial from offering subprime or option adjustable rate mortgages for two years and limits the number of low- or no-documentation loans the company can offer.
This settlement exposes some of the pitfalls homeowners are facing and reiterates the need for a foreclosure moratorium in Michigan. Recently, my colleagues and I introduced a three-bill package that would establish the longest period of foreclosure protection of any state in the country, while also providing important safeguards for the lending industry. During the two-year moratorium period, the property owner is still required to pay, but can make reduced payments while working to stabilize their financial situation. This protects lenders who would not receive any payment otherwise, and keeps citizens in their homes, preventing home vacancy and vandalism and stopping property values from dropping further.
Homeowners who acquired a loan from Countrywide Financial can call the Countrywide hotline for more information at 1-800-669-6607. Citizens who feel they are victims of questionable lending practices can file a complaint with the State of Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation at 1-877-999-6442 or the Attorney General's Consumer Protection hotline at 1-877-765-8388.
“POETRY OUT LOUD” CONTEST BEGINS FOR HIGH SCHOOLS
The Michigan Humanities Council recently announced its fourth annual “Poetry Out Loud” state poetry recitation competition, which is open to all Michigan high school students. Each participating high school will receive poetry curriculum materials and audio CDs of poetry recitations. Awards will be presented to the students who best recite previously published works. The winning student will also represent Michigan with an all-expense-paid trip to the national competition in Washington, D.C.
English and Language Arts teachers in all of the state’s high schools are invited to contact the Council by November 1, 2008, if interested in participating. To express interest in the program, teachers can contact the Council by phone (517-372-7770), by letter, through e-mail to nwireman@mihumanities.org, or by fax (517-372-0027).
WEBSITES HELP VOTERS LEARN ABOUT CANDIDATES, ISSUES, VIEW BALLOT
There are two great resources for voters to become better prepared as Election Day approaches. The recently upgraded Secretary of State website offers voters a vast amount of information about voting. Be ready for the November 4 general election by making sure you are registered to vote and learning more about the issues. The Michigan Votes website offers candidate information links, voting information, frequently asked questions about the voting process and voting equipment and the opportunity to learn about statewide ballot proposals.
Voting is a civil right that every U.S. citizen should take advantage of. Not only is it your chance to be heard and voice your opinion, but it is also a chance to become involved and take a stand for the issues you feel strongly about. I urge every individual to take advantage of the opportunity to vote this November 4.
To visit the Michigan Voter Information Center website, visit: http://www.michigan.gov/vote.
Another great resource will tell you where your voting poll is and give a demonstration of the equipment you will be using. This site is sponsored by the League of Women Voters and can be viewed by visiting the following link:
http://publius.org/
If you would like more information on the two ballot proposals to be voted on November 4th, you can surf over to my website and view the ballot proposals newsletter online. To view this non-partisan informational brochure, go to: http://www.senate.mi.gov/anderson/Anderson08BallotProp.pdf
Voters should remember they can still request an absentee ballot by mail or stop in to visit their local city or township clerk’s office to vote the absentee ballot on the spot. Check with your clerk’s office for eligibility requirements.
Turn out in this election is expected to be at a historic high, so we should plan accordingly.
HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR ADULTS
Parents of trick-or-treating kids can get so caught up in the fun themselves that they might forget some simple safety ideas that could save everyone some trouble. Having a fun and safe Halloween is easy and below are some tips that can help.
- Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren't going with them.
- The best bet is to make sure that an adult is going with them. If you can't take them, see if another parent or a teenage sibling can go along.
- Know what other activities a child may be attending, such as parties or school events.
- Explain to children the difference between tricks and vandalism.
- Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you.
- Help your child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make sure that if your child is carrying a prop, the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury if fallen on.
- Teaching your kids basic everyday safety such as not getting into cars or talking to strangers, watching both ways before crossing streets and crossing when the lights tell you to will help make them safer when they are out trick-or-treating.
COMMUNITIES TAKE STEPS TO KEEP KIDS SAFE ON HALLOWEEN
The Redford Police and the 18th District Court in Westland will be helping local parents keep their children safe from hazardous candy this Halloween.
The Redford Township Police Department will be checking candy for residents on Halloween evening (Friday, October 31) between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. in the EOC room at the police station located on 25833 Elsinore (at the town hall complex). Parents can bring their children’s collected treats for examination by Redford’s officers.
The 18th District Court, located at 36675 Ford Road in Westland, will be checking candy for residents on Halloween evening (Friday, October 31) between 6:30 pm and 10:00 pm. David Gillies would be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding this service. He can be reached by calling 734-595-8720. Personnel from the Westland Police Department will also be at the district court to assist in the checking of candy.
DTE ENERGY AND CONSUMER’S ENERGY OFFER UTILITY BILL ASSISTANCE
With winter just around the corner, it’s important we begin preparing ourselves and our houses for the colder weather. DTE Energy and Consumer’s Energy offer a number of programs to help customers with their energy bills.
Payment assistance programs offered to customers include:
- Medical emergencies program to postpone shutoffs in the event of a medical issue;
- Shutoff protection plan to spread future bills out over the year and to include equal monthly payments on an unpaid balance in order to avoid a shutoff.
Some consumers and all senior citizens regardless of their income also qualify for DTE Energy’s Winter Protection Plan. This program protects seniors and low-income customers from shutoff between November 1 and March 31. During this period, customers must pay a portion of their estimated annual bill plus regular payments on any past-due bills. After March 31, the required bill payments will increase to cover winter bills.
Many assistance programs are available by calling 211 at United Way. Programs that are available include:
- Low-income weatherization that includes caulking, weather stripping, and insulation;
- THAW, the Heat and Warmth Fund, which helps people facing a shut-off and who have exhausted all federal and state funding programs.
You may also wish to take steps this season to reduce the amount of energy that your household uses in order to offset the usual increase in utility bills that comes with colder weather. The U.S. Department of Energy has developed a useful guide with suggestions on how to reduce your energy consumption that they have made available on line at: www.energysavers.gov.
There is also the State Emergency Relief Program to help with paying energy bills. This program can be accessed through your local Department of Human Services office or the Energy Assistance Hotline at 800-292-5650. Additional information about this program can be found at: http://www.michigan.gov/heatingassistance/0,1607,7-215-33211-105989--,00.html.
FREE VETERAN’S DAY MOVIE
In recognition of the tremendous sacrifice and service of America’s Military Veterans I am pleased to host a free screening of Clint Eastwood’s film: Flags of Our Fathers. The film will be shown on Veteran’s Day, Tuesday Nov. 11th at 3:00 P.M at Livonia AMC 20 Theaters. Tickets are very limited and Veteran’s may request their free tickets by contacting my office by email at SenatorAnderson@senate.mi.gov or by toll-free phone at 866-262-7306. We have a small number of tickets still available, so if you are a vet and want to attend, call or email today.
DIGITAL TV CONVERTER BOX BARGAINS
As you may already know, February 17, 2009 is the date of the nationwide change to digital television––and it’s sooner than you think! This is a problem for many people who use an old-style antenna and do not have a TV set fed by cable service, satellite dish or telephone provider and will not be able to get a signal until they buy a new TV or a converter box.
Converter boxes will cost $50-$70, but every household can receive two coupons good for a $40 discount by calling the info line sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters at (toll-free) (888) 388-2009 or visiting their website at http://dtvanswers.com.
Remember that if you have cable television, you will not need the conversion box. You will not have to take any action for the conversion.
INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE
I am always looking for bright individuals interested in learning more about the legislative process and serve their community by volunteering for an unpaid internship position in my office. Many universities offer college credit for those choosing to intern in this capacity. If you or someone you know is interested in working in a legislative environment, then please submit your resume electronically to:
or by mail to:
Senator Glenn S. Anderson
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909
Prospective interns should exhibit a passion for government and politics, as well as the ability to work efficiently and independently, while being part of a team dynamic. Interns will work 10 or more hours per week, based on class schedules/availability. Duties center largely on excellent writing and communication skills and may include answering telephone calls, responding to constituent letters, email messages, data entry, and researching potential legislation.
Qualifications: Excellent telephone, written communication skills, and a positive attitude. Office experience and a basic understanding of computer office programs are helpful but not required.
Status: This is an unpaid position. Hours are negotiable and school credit may be arranged with your college or university.
COFFEE HOURS IN LIVONIA AND GARDEN CITY ANNOUNCED FOR MONDAY OCTOBER 27TH
On Monday, October 27th, I will be holding coffee hours in Livonia and Garden City, and invite all my constituents to attend:
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Livonia Civic Park Senior Center
15218 Farmington Road
Livonia
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Maplewood Community Center
31735 Maplewood Road
Garden City
