By jtramontana, on December 12th, 2011
The promise that citizens choose their elected officials is a basic foundation of our democratic process. So is the simple tenet that victory comes through playing by the rules, not by altering the rules so that you can declare yourself the winner.
Last week, the Michigan State House passed a bill that violates both . . . → Read More: State GOP Changing Rules, Taking Power Away from Voters
By jtramontana, on November 23rd, 2011
Last month I was meeting with a group of citizens in Berrien County, when a young man approached me with his parents and introduced himself. A Marine, he had just returned home from serving on active duty and was looking for work. He had enlisted shortly after graduating high school, and we talked about difficulties he encountered from employers who – though this young man had spent four years as an active-duty Marine – questioned whether he’d ever had a “real job.” . . . → Read More: VOW to Hire Heroes Act Only the Start of What Returning Service Members Deserve
By jtramontana, on November 7th, 2011
I am proud to be a part of Wayne State University Law School’s Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights. It is a good example of how successful people in the private sector and dedicated public servants in government can work together to achieve remarkable things.
As the Center’s associate director and a former . . . → Read More: Finley Off the Mark on “1 Percent”
By jtramontana, on September 22nd, 2011
My parents were teachers – special education teachers. Which meant a childhood spent in classrooms while my mother worked late to meet with parents or finish reports for the day. And conversations around the dinner table involved dad talking about the importance of studying history and mom sharing stories about her students’ achievements. Their work was a mission that continued long after the end of the school day. . . . → Read More: War on Teachers will Harm Education Reform
By jtramontana, on August 10th, 2011
As I talked about a lot last year on the campaign trail, I believe that the answers to the problems that plague our state lie with the people who are engaged and active in their local affairs. That’s why the current trend in our state, and nationally, where corporations and special interests often have more . . . → Read More: Engage Michigan
By Jocelyn Benson, on May 19th, 2011
Governing, and leadership, is about making choices.
And every day, political leaders make choices. Choices between preserving Medicare and giving tax breaks to Big Oil. Choices between improving education or providing $900 million in subsidies to large corporations.
Who – or what – do politicians think about when they make these choices? Do they . . . → Read More: Leveling the Playing Field
By Jocelyn Benson, on April 20th, 2011
I’m not the most popular person among the politicians in Lansing right now.
Why?
Because I believe that citizens must have a meaningful say in one of the most important political decisions in our state: redistricting. And right now, they don’t.
At the heart of our democracy is the principle that voters choose their . . . → Read More: Your Districts, Your Voice
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Jocelyn Benson served as the 2010 Democratic nominee for Michigan Secretary of State and has spent her career advocating for efficient and transparent government that puts people first. Benson's Reformer's Forum proposes and invites ideas on reforms that promote accountability, transparency, and efficiency in Michigan. Have a suggestion for a reform or a future posting? Send them to JocelynBenson@Yahoo.com.
The views expressed in this blog are not necessarily the views of the Michigan Democratic Party.
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