The national and state Democrats made tremendous gains in the 2008 election.  Local Democrats and many Independents along with many Republicans voted overwhelmingly in Sanilac County for a third term to State Representative John Espinoza.  At the same time several Democrats came close to being elected to County Commissioner positions.
 
We have to continue to encourage and support local candidates to run for these positions and push for continued growth of the Sanilac Democratic Party.
As we share this newsletter with you, we hope you'll share your ideas, hopes and concerns with us.

Your Sanilac Dem newsletter has sprung to life again and for a long and informative life, we hope. Our expectation is that the newsletter will appear at least quarterly.
We welcome comments, short items of interest to us all, photos, drawings and ideas of all kinds.
    Address your emails to loftlore@avci.net or mail to Stephen Hudler, editor, 194 S. Fulton, Sandusky 48471. 

Sanilac Democrats not only helped to clean out the mess in the White House, we’re doing the same along M-25 in Sanilac County.  Large MDOT signs at Galbraith Line Road and Fisher Road announce our participation in the program, which includes the two mile stretch to the county’s southern line.  The clean-up takes a couple of hours three times a year. Volunteers are welcome.  Contact Joyce Wiley at (989) 864-5357

 Plans are currently under way by the Sanilac Dems to honor a graduating high school senior in 2010.   The scholarship will be $500 to be used at the school of the winner’s choice. Details and the application process are yet to be worked out.  So, you good Dems out there with children who will become seniors in the fall, give them some help with their studies so they will be ready. Announcement will be made through the newsletter. 

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Mark the date on your calendar --- Saturday evening, June 13---the Annual Dinner and Fund Raiser by the Sanilac County Democratic Party.
The dinner will be a celebration of our victories in the 2008 election and begin the campaign for  2010, and will feature as speaker John Espinoza, our State Representative. The event will begin at 6:30 at the VFW Hall in Lexington, one-half mile north of the traffic light on M-25.
We will gather to toast the success of 2008 election of Barack Obama and Joe Biden to the White House, the re-election of Carl Levin to the U.S. Senate, Judge Diane Hathaway to the Michigan Supreme Court, and the re-election of John Espinoza to the State House.
  The evening will feature an auction of several coveted prizes, including a lunch or dinner for two with John and Mary Espinoza, and other similar prizes, so bring your check books.
The buffet spaghetti dinner will again feature the culinary skills of Joyce Wiley and son Richard, and a cash bar for beer and wine will be offered.
Tickets are $25.00 made out to the Sanilac County Democratic Party, 2101 N. Lakeshore, Carsonville, MI  48419.

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Why 2010 Election in Important

Whichever political party controls the Michigan legislature after the 2010 election will determine the shape of Michigan elections for the next ten years.  That’s because the legislature elected in 2010 will reapportion the State Representative and Senate districts and the Congressional districts for the elections beginning in 2012.
To insure  control for reapportionment, Democrats must, in 2010, elect a Democratic governor, retain control of the House and elect two more Democratic senators to take over in the Senate.
To insure  control for reapportionment, Democrats must, in 2010, elect a Democratic governor, retain control of the House and elect two more Democratic senators to take over in the Senate.

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Candice Miller Watch:

Guess who chose the insurance companies over Michigan children?  That’s right: Candice Miller.  When the vote took place in the House of Representatives to renew and expand the health care program for children of low income parents, Candice voted No. Later when the bill was amended to include the insurance companies, she voted Yes. Now we know her priorities.
More?  The Alliance of Retired Americans chooses 10 key votes that affect seniors and retirees in the past Congress. In the latest rundown on the 10 key votes, Candice Miller got a failing grade. She failed to support seniors in key votes in the House. Meanwhile, on the Senate side, both Senator Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow got 100% on the key votes.

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Health Care Legislators Ignore Public Option

The nation’s largest health insurance company is United Health Group.
     The company CEO’s 2005 pay was $122.7 million, the third highest paid CEO in the country.  The number of people his salary could currently provide health insurance for: 34,000.That is one of the major problems with the current broken health care system in the U.S. and why it is difficult to create a fair, all inclusive health care system to protect those now insured and the 40 million Americans without coverage.
The Obama program for health care proposes a choice of coverage: between a private plan (such as that offered by their employer) or opt to a public plan similar to Medicare. However, the actual legislation must come from Congress. So, while the House and Senate debate over how to pay for the program, the nation continues to spend more on health care than any other country while having the most citizens without coverage.
Administrative costs by health insurance companies and pharmaceutical firms take 30% more than does the same program in Medicare. 
Unfortunately, Medicare for All, or single-payer as it is called, has been unable to make its case before Congress as the hearings have been restricted to academics and witnesses favoring the present system while making changes in medical procedures and taxation of employee plans.
At recent Senate hearings, doctors and nurses were expelled from the hearing room when they rose to ask that a witness for the single payer program be heard. As seen on C-Span, the insurance company witnesses  smiled as the police handcuffed and removed the health care providers.