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November 2003 News

Stupak: Energy bill too loaded with tax breaks for big companies

Posted 11/19/2003

WASHINGTON, D. C. -- H.R. 6, the energy policy bill passed in final form by the House of Representatives Tuesday, Nov. 18, is a special interest bill that gives $23.6 billion dollars in tax breaks to energy producers, will only add to this country's already massive debt load and will do little to reduce the nation's dependency on foreign oil, according to Congressman Bart Stupak, D-Menominee. Stupak also noted his disappointment with the bill's provisions that weaken clean air and clean water protections and give energy producers a pass on complying with environmental laws. Stupak voted no on the final bill, which was approved by the House on a largely party-line vote of 240 to 180. more

Senate to vote on Bush-Cheney energy bill this week

Posted 11/17/2003 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This week Congress will consider final passage of the Bush-Cheney energy bill, according to MoveOn.org, a progressive group that claims the bill was developed in secret -- first drafted by a secret Cheney task force and now finalized by Republican Senators and House members who locked Democrats out of the final negotiations. Democrats and the public were given 48 hours to review the 1,000-page bill, released Nov. 15, before voting begins today, Nov. 17. MoveOn says the bill provides at least $20 billion in subsidies to the oil, gas, coal, and nuclear industries and threatens both clean air and clean water laws. For more information on the harmful effects of the bill visit MoveOn.org.
Read a Nov. 16, 2003, Washington Post article on the bill.
The sections of the bill are available on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Web site.
You can call Senator Carl Levin at 202-224-6221 and Sen. Debbie Stabenow at 202-224-4822 to leave a message with your views.

Guatemala's elections Nov. 9, 2003: Bizarre Politics  

Posted 11/08/2003  Updated 11/09/2003

HANCOCK -- Guatemalans will hold Presidential elections on November 9, 2003. In a bizarre twist of politics, the leader of the currently ruling FRG (Guatemalan Republican Front) party is a presidential candidate. Former military dictator General Efraín Ríos Montt is widely recognized as the mastermind of the scorched earth policy during his regime in 1982-83, when over 19,000 people suffered war-related deaths or disappearances. The United States government, which supported Ríos Montt during his regime, has stated that it would be difficult to maintain a normal relationship with the ex-ruler due to his human rights record. Read this article reprinted from the recent Copper Country Guatemala Accompaniment Project (CCGAP) Newsletter.

Grant Township seeks to acquire Hunters Point

Posted 11/02/2003

COPPER HARBOR -- A recent land sale for a new residential development at the west end of Copper Harbor threatens the possible loss of a favorite hiking spot -- Hunters Point, a narrow peninsula sheltering Copper Harbor from Lake Superior storms and providing anchorage for boaters. Its natural features include interesting rock formations, a variety of plants and wildflowers and migratory birds. Grant Township is raising funds to purchase Hunters Point from the developer, who has agreed to sell the parcel for about $725,000 if the township can raise $195,000 to be eligible for a matching grant through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. If successful, the township could purchase 8.9 acres and 4,700 ft of shoreline for public access. more

Sen. Stabenow's global warming vote praised

Posted 11/01/2003

LANSING -- The Michigan Environmental Council (MEC), Michigan’s largest environmental coalition, praised United States Senator Debbie Stabenow’s (D-MI) vote in support of the Climate Stewardship Act, saying the Senate’s defeat of the measure on Oct. 30 means America has failed a critical test of its commitment to reduce global warming. The bill required reductions of greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2010. MEC President Lana Pollack said the people of Michigan thank Stabenow for taking a strong stand on addressing this threat to the state's lakes, farms and economy. U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) voted against the bill. more

Decisive role for environment in Michigan could affect presidential campaign

Posted 11/01/2003

BEULAH, MICH. -- Michigan is crucial to the outcome of the 2004 presidential election -- not only for its votes, but for the lessons it can teach the rest of the nation, says Keith Schneider, journalist and director of the Michigan Land Use Institute. During last year's gubernatorial election, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, a centrist Democrat, campaigned against the heir apparent of the very conservative, term-limited Republican Governor John Engler, whose gutting of many environmental protection laws had galvanized the environmental, conservation, and Smart Growth communities. Ms. Granholm campaigned hard on these “green” issues; post-election polls showed that this played a significant role in her victory. The question is, can the same thing happen nationally? Read this article from the Michigan Land Use Institute's Great Lakes Bulletin News Service.

  October 2003 News -- -- December 2003