With the full-effect of global warming upon us, the last thing Michigan needs are more dirty coal-fired power plants. Governor Jennifer Granholm has committed Michigan to a clean energy future, and it's about time we start realizing that goal.

Tomorrow, July 29th, there will be a Clean Energy Jobs Rally on the Michigan State Capitol Lawn & Steps starting at noon, and you can count on it being anything but your typical rally.

If you attend, you'll be able to send a message from the steps of the Capitol directly to the governor. The rally organizers have set up a bank of computers with internet access so you can instantly message Governor Granholm and encourage her to Stop the Michigan Coal Rush. Pretty cool, huh? 

But the niftiness doesn't end there! The Clean Energy Jobs Rally will be hosting a live-blog and is inviting any interested bloggers to contact Chad Cyrowski (chad@progressmichigan.org) to be included in the blogger list.

To secure an environmentally and economically secure future it is imperative we hold Governor Granholm and the rest of our elected officials to their word to save Michigan and our environment by stopping the Michigan Coal Rush. 

The fact that the entire country is having serious money troubles isn't news to anyone, particularly here in Michigan, where it could be argued we live at Ground Zero.

As to how we got in this mess, or who's to blame is a source for constant debate, but there's one thing we can all agree on, Michigan's children can always use more education on financial literacy, or the proper way to think about and use money. 

According to a recent survey conducted by Capital One Financial Group, one-third of graduating high school seniors feel unprepared to manage their personal finances and only 27% say their parents are a primary resource for financial guidance.

In another survey released in May by the University of Arizona, nearly 73 percent of students surveyed have resorted to at least one "risky" financial behavior, such as maxing out credit card limits or not paying bills on time. Nearly one in five of those surveyed has used some extreme strategy for meeting day-to-day financial needs, such as taking out payday loans or using one credit card to pay another. 

Regardless of how you cut it, our kids need better education on handling their money, something that in hindsight, we probably could all use. 

This weekend brings the classic American holiday, the Fourth of July. It's the time of year when we head Up North, to the lake, to the family cottage, the friend's house, and ready the boat, the camper, the jello salad decorated like the American flag, buy the fireworks, arm ourselves with bug spray and sunscreen and we celebrate what we do best - being Americans.

Here in Michigan, no matter how you celebrate the Fourth of July, consider doing it the Pure Michigan way. We've all heard the Tim Allen voice-overs and the theme song that seems to leave all of us with warm fuzzies inside and chills on the outside. For those of us who live here, we know that Pure Michigan is more than just an ad campaign. It's a state of being, but more importantly, it's a state of mind. 

Times are tough, and we're all hurting in one way or another, but those ads have re-opened our eyes to how great our state really is, even when the Autos falter, the markets crash, and our state budget gets severely slashed and burned. From the radio and tv, we've remembered how special our state really is, how our beautiful our natural treasures really are, and how despite everything else, we really are so lucky to live in this Great Lakes state.

So eat that jello, sing the songs in the car on your way Up North, ready the firecrackers and canoes, sleeping bags and bug spray. Do it all this weekend, celebrate how fortunate we are to be Americans, but take it a step further and celebrate how lucky we all are to be able to celebrate it the Pure Michigan way. 

Summers seem warmer, winters seem either colder or warmer, depending on the year, and water levels are dropping - all evidence that climate change is definitely present.

A new report from the US Global Change Research Program released this week on the regional and national effects of global climate change detail exactly what we all know is happening - the Earth's heating up and there are already devasting effects happening as a result.

But aside offering a wake-up call on what's going on with Mother Nature, the report wisely offers several remedies that we can all take to prevent the situation from worsening. From the press release -

The report, “Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States,” compiles years of scientific research and takes into account new data not available during the preparation of previous large national and global assessments. It was produced by a consortium of experts from 13 U.S. government science agencies and from several major universities and research institutes. With its production and review spanning Republican and Democratic administrations, it offers a valuable, objective scientific consensus on how climate change is affecting—and may further affect—the United States.

With this report comes a lot of understanding about what's happening to our atmosphere and what's causing it, but just with anything, in the end, it's really just about what we do with that information that determines whether or not we're better as a result of it. Because in the end, we will be the ones that ultimately either survive or perish as a result. 

Progress Michigan is pleased to be a part of the movement that's helping Michigan move forward with our innovative strategies and technologies. Using this website and a winning combination of online outreach combined with a proven method of workign with traditional media, we seen many successes, despite having only been around for less than a year.

Michigan's progressive blogosphere plays no small role in making sure that our state's residents are informed and activated. It's no secret that Michigan is one of the leading states nationally when it comes to the size and strength of the people-powered netroots. It's also one of the reasons we're proud to feature feeds from two of the state's largest blogs just to your right on this website. If you haven't started tuning in to the blogs, there's no time like the present! Both Blogging for Michigan and Michigan Liberal are easy to read and participate in, and we encourage you to start getting involved with them as well the numerous other progressive blogs around this state. 

Last week you read right here how the Healthcare for Michigan Campaign is rolling full steam ahead in the fight for healthcare coverage for every Michigan citizen. Progress Michigan was pleased to play a small role in assisting the Campaign take part in a live-blog at MichiganLiberal. Shortly thereafter, it spurred Walt Sorg, host of AM Lansing to talk to us about it, and more importantly how the Internet is truly changing the face of politics. You can listen to the full interview here. 

That's right nearly 50 job postings are awaiting you on our Progressive Jobs Bank. From Macomb to Lansing to the Upper Peninsula and everywhere in between there's a job out there, and it could be your perfect job.

Whether the environment, youth, campaign staff or working families is your area of passion, it's listed on our jobs bank.

Stop by and check it out, and when you apply for your dream job, be sure to mention that you found it at Progress Michigan.

Got a job you're looking to hire for? Send it to jobs[at]progressmichigan.org and we'll make sure the entire state sees it! 

The nation is in the midst of one of the most closely watched Democratic Presidential primaries ever, yet Michigan is on the sidelines.  

A debate is raging whether Michigan should hold another presidential primary or caucus to restore its voice and call attention to the issues facing the state, or live by the rules!  What do you think?

Should the Democratic Party host a do-over caucus or primary in Michigan, or no?

Vote online here!

http://progressmichigan.org/primarypoll

Progress Michigan is pleased to announce the unveiling of it's Progressive Michigan Job Bank, devoted exclusively towards the advertising and promotion of progressive job openings in Michigan. Interested parties from progressive organizations across the state are invited to submit their job posting to jobs@progressmichigan.org for promotion.  

The Progress Michigan Progressive Job Bank is another way that Michigan's progressive community can continue to build and strengthen its diverse and talented work force. We're pleased to be able to offer this to employers and job-seekers alike. 

Tomorrow night Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will be giving her annual State of the State speech. Live coverage of the speech will be featured across the state and for the first time, 2 progressive blogs will be featuring live-blogs from the Capitol. Be sure to check out Blogging for Michigan and Michigan Liberal for their coverage.

The Governor's address is designed to recap the previous year's events and set forth her agenda for this year. There's likely to be a myriad of issues on the plate and Michiganders across the state are eager to hear her message.

What kinds of things are you hoping to hear the Governor talk about? What do you think Michigan needs to move forward? Feel free to post your thoughts before the speech and then come back and give us your reaction afterwards.

Thousand of Michiganders joined with thousands of other progressives across the country in the Pick Your President poll to cast their vote for the most progressive presidential candidate.

Thanks to everyone who voted. Now on with the results!

Sen. Barack Obama - 55.47%

Sen. John Edwards - 18.13%

Sen. Hillary Clinton - 17.17%

Rep. Dennis Kucinich - 8.53%

Thirty-five years ago today nine men in Washington D.C. opted to give women a choice when it comes to making reproductive decisions about their bodies. As a woman, I'd like to say thanks.

Not one to kick a gift horse in the mouth, I'd like to just ask why it was we needed permission in the first place, because I still haven't figured that one out. Of course, the LGBT community is still trying to figure out why the government is in our bedrooms, dictating who we can love, so maybe the two of us can battle that one out together. But I digress...

Fast forward to 2008 - it's hard to fathom why thousands have been insulted, intimidated, picketed, maimed and even killed by those who wish to take a woman's basic choice away from us. The mere mention of Roe v. Wade often strikes a certain amount of discomfort for many. For others it invokes a sense of justice, and then there are those who are overcome with rage. Clearly it's one of the most publicly tumultuous decisions ever handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The part that really gets me is that so many of these self-righteous crusaders don't even have a uterus, and probably would have no idea what to do with it should they find themselves with one.

The knowledge of being an owner of an instrument that miraculously produces life is a heavy burden that most young girls are handed early on. For me, it weighs very heavily. As an almost-thirty-something, I still have no idea whether or not I belong bringing a child into this world, whether I have the means to bring them up properly and be the responsible adult that every child needs guiding the way. Without a doubt, it's a deeply personal issue and one that should never be considered lightly.  

But let's forget the politics, the ideology, the drama. Let's remember what it is at the very granular level - a woman's choice, and sometimes, too many times, the very health and life of a woman. Like most women,  I hope to God it's a choice I never have to make, but it's important to me and millions others that the choice is there, and the same for the next generations of women that come after us.

It's an issue of health, of equality, and of civil liberty. Imagine, if women don't have a say over their own bodies, what comes next? What personal right, freedom could you be asked to give up next?

What great news! The following is from a press release issued by the MI AFL-CIO - 

3,500 Anti-Right to Work Activists Assist Presidential Primary Voters at Michigan Polls and Fight Off Petition Effort Lansing -

Over 3,500 activists monitored polling places for a potential Right to Work petition drive on primary day, Tuesday, January 15th statewide.

“The Labor community, along with other allies of Michigan’s working families, is sending a very powerful message to special interests that ‘Right to Work’ isn’t going to happen in Michigan. Although the Right to Work forces are gone for now, we intend to continue educating people on the importance of a good job to our state’s economy. We’re not going to bring the economy back by cutting wages,” stated Mark Gaffney, President of the Michigan State AFL-CIO.

The AFL-CIO and the Michigan Education Association combined forces with the Change to Win coalition and trained volunteers to educate Michigan voters for the primary.

“We want to thank our union affiliates – the Michigan Education Association and the Change to Win unions – who worked alongside the AFL-CIO during this huge effort. Michigan Labor is united once again in our efforts to protect living standards of all union and non-union Michigan workers,” proclaimed President Gaffney. 

Top o' the morning to you! First things first, if you haven't, please make sure that you get out and vote. No matter your candidate or party, it's an important privilege that we've all been given and it shouldn't go to waste.

As promised, I'm here at the Michigan State AFL-CIO Headquarters in downtown Lansing. The mood here is upbeat and positive and the reports from working men and women across the state indicate that so far there haven't been any "Right to Work (for Less)" petition collectors, but we know they could still show up.

We don't have any official numbers confirmed quite yet, but word on the street is that Michigan's workers have turned out in the thousands all across the state. Never ones to pass up an opportunity, our working men and women will also be handing out literature on the importance of healthcare in Michigan, letting them know that they care about all of Michigan's citizens.

Speaking of which, here's some interesting facts that you may or may not know...

 - workers in states with "Right to Work (for Less)" (RTW) laws earn on an average of almost $6000 less than in states without RTW laws

 - 21% fewer people have access to health care in states with RTW laws 

...and that's just a few facts that I'll be sharing throughout the day as I live-blog here.

 I'll also be speaking with men and women who are at the polling locations, and various labor officials here at the AFL-CIO. I've even brought the video camera with me, so expect some video to be up throughout the day as well.

Keep checking back to The Upper Hand all day long and let us know your experience at the polls.

Till the next post, this is Julielyn blogging in solidarity with Michigan's working men and women. 

Progress Michigan is proud to team up in solidarity with the Michigan State AFL-CIO and Michigan's working men and women on this special election day to bring you exclusive coverage of the Decline to Sign Campaign, designed to protect Michigan's families against out-of-state special interests.

Progress Michigan will be the only outlet for news from the Campaign, and we'll be updating you throughout the day with news, information on the fight for Working Michigan, and a little video-blogging. 

As we get started and progress throughout the day, tell us - were you asked to sign a so-called "Right to Work (for Less)" petition at your polling location? Have you recieved any robo-calls? Are you part of a Working Michigan family? We'd love to hear from you. 

Keep checking back throughout the day as we'll be bringing you the latest.  

Do you know what all of these have in common? 

Toxic toys, red-leaded steel, counterfeit circuit breakers, poisoned pet food, contaminated human food, the list of things to watch out for, stay away from just keeps growing.

They are all imported items.

They are all things that could be safetly produced by American workers, many of them right here in Michigan where we have such a strong and proud workforce. 

Instead these jobs are outsourced to countries without strong labor, environmental, health, or consumer safety protections. What's wrong with this picture? 

Like all great change that's occured here in Michigan and across our country, it takes motivated people to gather together and say No. 

You can help by joining others in your community and telling your Congressman to stop putting Michigan families at risk and start helping working families.

The United Steelworkers has declared this Wednesday, Jan. 16th as a national day of action. By taking action we can help protect our families, homes, workplaces and communities from toxic imports. 

Find the event in your district and sign up. Men and women from all over the state will visit the district offices of 100 members of Congress to tell them that cheap goods have a high price. On this day, we will demand that they take action. We will put them on notice that our trade laws must champion safety and environmental standards as well as workers' rights. 

Join us! Wednesday, January 16th at the following locations times:

Rep. Pete Hoekstra, 9:00 am - 3rd Street, Suite 203, Muskgeon, MI 49440 (contact: Tonya Devore 616.604.1997)

Rep. David Camp, 4:30 pm, 135 Ashman Dr. Midland, MI 48640 (contact: Tammy Beebe 989.667.0660)

Rep. Thad McCotter, 4:30 pm, 17197 N. LaurelPark Dr., Livonia, MI 48152 (contact: Linda Lucas 248.229.0473)

Rep. Mike Rogers, 1:00 pm, 1327 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912 (Contact Ed Leary 231.557.8889)

Rep. Tim Walberg, 4:30 pm, 800 W. Granson, Jackson, MI 49202 (Contact: Jay McMurran: 734.218.4613)

Rep. Fred Upton, 4:30 pm, 157 S. Kalamazoo St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007  (Contact: Sue Browne 269.945.4443 (will meet at 4:00pm to assemble)

Because in the end, cheap goods really do have high costs.