The death toll is rising, and you money is making it possible.
Currently, Michigan tax dollars are supporting companies that aid the Sudanese government in its genocide in Darfur. Already 400,000 have died in addition to the over 2 million refugees. This needs to stop.
Michigan can make a difference. Existing legislation would divest our tax dollars and tuition dollars from companies aiding the genocide. Together with the other 20 states doing this, Michigan can say with a clear voice that, just as we didn't support Apartheid, we don't support genocide.
However, this legislation is sitting in a Senate committee, never receiving a vote. While the House voted divestment through almost unanimously, the Senate is, once again, playing politics with people's lives.
The people of Darfur need this. Michigan needs this. Please call your legislator and urge them to bring Senate Bill 555 and House Bill 4854
up for a fair vote.
-Tom Choske and Jeff Lakin
President and Vice President for Government Outreach (respectively)
Spartans For Progressive Divesment

Yesterday, the United Nations released a statement that the government of Sudan is, once again, failing to comply with UN Security Council Resolutions. Unless they allow all Peacekeepers into the country, hundreds of thousands more will die.

Michigan can make a difference. Existing legislation would divest our tax dollars and tuition dollars from companies aiding the genocide. This would hurt the Sudanese President in a very tender place: his wallet. Also, it would make a statement that Michigan doesn't want Lansing to send its money to foreign companies that help murder innocent civilians.

However, this legislation is sitting in a Senate committee, never receiving a vote. Certain lawmakers are stifling this legislation for political gain, much as they did for the budget. We all know how bad that was for the university and the state.

The people of Darfur need this. Michigan needs this. Please call your legislator and urge them to bring Senate Bill 555 and House Bill 4854 up for a fair vote.

-Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Progressive Divestment

Darfur needs our help. The United Nations has released a statement that, unless the government in Khartoum fully complies with UN Resolutions and allows all aid into the country, the peacekeeping mission will fail and hundreds of thousands more will die.

Michigan has legislation to divest from companies aiding the genocide, hitting the Sudanese President where it hurts: his wallet. However, this legislation is sitting in a Senate committee, never receiving a vote.

The people of Darfur need this. Michigan needs this. Please call your legislator and urge them to bring Senate Bill 555 and House Bill 4854 up for a fair vote.

-Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Progressive Divestment

In the November 1st State News, columnist Leo Madarang wrote on why Mitt Romney was the 'right man' to be president. In it, he stated that Governor Romney's qualifications as a former CEO of Bain Capital and his gubernatorial accomplishments are the reasons he is the 'right man' to lead America.

However, there is another man in the race who was also a CEO and also a successful governor, plus an international player. This is Governor Bill Richardson. Toe-to-toe, he has many times more accomplishments than the entire Republican field put together. Under his stewardship, New Mexico balanced its budget five years in a row, and even grew its rainy day fund by over $4 billion. His tax cuts have been targeted to give low-income and middle-income people a break, and also to attract businesses small and large. His policies have created over 80,000 new jobs, lowering unemployment to the lowest it's been in 30 years. Richardson also has international experience, disarming dictators and saving lives.

The only thing Romney has that Richardson doesn't is a vague Michigan connection. However, if he is truly 'Michigan's son', then why did he move out? Where did he open up his company? Where was he when Michigan was going through hard times before? The answer is: not here. Now, when Michigan is useful to him in the campaign, he comes back pandering.

When making a decision for whom best to run the country, look at the facts. Don't get swayed by political pandering.

Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Richardson

As the media goes, so does the American populace. As Darfur seemed to be getting better with the UN Peace Keepers and the cease-fire, the media and the people seemed to hop to the next story of the day, be it OJ Simpson or Britney Spears.

However, the crisis is not any better, and UN Peace Keepers are meeting stiff resistance from the Sudanese government. While thousands continue to die per day in Darfur, the attention of the United States and other powers wanes.

Certain people are attempting to make a difference. As the only presidential candidate to have been to Sudan, Governor Bill Richardson has a clear policy to bring the might of the United States to bear on the Sudanese regime, forcing a true cease fire and real humanitarian relief.

2008, though, is a long way away. State Senator Hansen Clarke and Representative Alma Wheeler-Smith have legislation in Lansing to divest Michigan pension funds from companies found by analysts to be complacent in the genocide in Darfur. With the budget focus, and the counterproductive partisanship of the majority in the Senate, these bills need a popular push to get through, and start making a difference.

I urge you, contact your representatives. Get involved. Help us prevent another 500,000 from dying a needless death because of our apathy.-

-Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Richardson.

This past week, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed legislation to move Michigan's presidential primaries up to January 15th. Already, there have been strong reactions to this in the media. Passing this legislation was a grievous mistake, and has bad ramifications for the State of Michigan, as well as the state of democracy.

Ever since the Senate passed this bill along party lines, there has been speculation as to what would happen if Michigan joined Florida in contesting the rules of the Democratic and Republican parties. Several candidates, including Clinton, Obama, Richardson, and Dodd, signed a pledge to not campaign in any state that violates caucus/primary guidelines. On the Republican side, Michigan may loose half of its delegates to the RNC due to this violation of their rules.

This legislation also has negative ramifications for the State's fiscal crisis. Normally, each party is required to pay for and host their own primary in whatever manner they see fit. However, now the responsibility is shifted to the State. Each polling precinct is now required to mobilize for these member-only elections. These costs will come out of the State's coffers. When looking in the hole of a $1 billion deficit, tacking on another $10-12 million is fiscally irresponsible, especially when these votes are not open to all citizens.

Changing our primary date will also impact democracy in this state. Already Michigan is struggling to be significant in national politics; by turning away candidates, it will only hurt our standing. Instead of welcoming all candidates and giving them an equal footing, voters will be ill-informed of the real choices they have. The less-well covered candidates, such as Governor Bill Richardson, will be at a disadvantage to the 'media rock stars' of Clinton and Obama.

Do not support this irresponsible crimp on democracy. Let your voice be heard in opposition to this horrible idea, and preserve the sanctity of democracy, and the contents of our bank accounts.

-Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Richardson