Back in February, “Crazy Kerry” Bentivolio published an op-ed in the Detroit Free Press expressing his strong support for something called the “Transportation Empowerment Act” (TEA), legislation sponsored by ardent Tea Party Caucus members Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Representative Tom Graves (R-GA). The TEA would do the following: Grant “all authority regarding federal highway and transit programs to the […]

I am excited to announce the latest addition to our team at Eclectablog, my dear friend Tony Trupiano. I first met Tony shortly after he returned to the radio airwaves after an unsuccessful run to unseat Thad McCotter in Congress. Tony’s morning radio show, First Shift with Tony Trupiano, was a progressive breath of fresh air amidst the plethora of […]

For the past several decades, teachers have been able to “opt-out” of their membership in the Michigan Education Association (MEA), the teachers union that bargains collectively on their behalf for good wages, benefits, and working conditions and that is there for them when they are being treated unfairly. During the month of August, teachers that don’t see the benefit of […]

The Affordable Care Act gives everyone the freedom to change jobs without worrying about finding affordable insurance, even outside the open enrollment period. When Maria changed from a job that provided health insurance to one that didn’t, she wasn’t worried for a moment about getting covered — even though she has a pre-existing condition. That’s because she knew she could […]

As we enter the so-called “silly season” of political campaigning in the run-up to the general elections, the airwaves are being bombarded with negative ads. Terri Lynn Land and her conservative/corporatist supporters have spent $10 million on ads attacking Congressman Gary Peters, many of which have been debunked by national fact checking groups. Land, who is behind in 16 recent […]

Michigan Teachers and Allies for Change (M-TAC), a grassroots group of teachers and allies working on behalf of public education, is hosting a rally in support of public education this Thursday, August 28th, from 5:30 to 6:30. The event will take place at Liberty Plaza in downtown Ann Arbor. Speakers include Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor Lisa Brown, State Representative […]

Michigan is one of the states throwing a public party — or you can get an LPJ party kit and host your own bash. Are you sick of watching politicians trample all over women’s reproductive rights and the choices they make about their bodies? Do you want to elect officials who actually think women should be treated equally and with […]

Yes, I realize that’s about the least-shocking headline of the day, but it’s still appalling just how casually Republican candidates in Michigan are spreading misinformation about the Affordable Care Act. First up is everyone’s favorite foreclosure attorney and MI-11 Congressional candidate David Trott (best known for kicking old ladies out of their homes), who gave a newspaper interview recently which was jaw-droppingly […]

And higher premiums for everyone else Last year, about a month before the Affordable Care Act exchanges were set to open and Republicans in Washington D.C. were vowing to shut down the government to defund the law, Bill  Clinton gave a speech at his Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas. The simple case he made for the law that day […]

Progressive – n. someone who believes the future can be better than the past This giveaway is now closed. The greatest irony of American life — besides the fact that states from the Old Confederacy are among most likely to be dependent on the federal government — is that the progressive movement was born in the Republican party. The far […]

This Democrat knows first-hand that getting the right care at the right time can be life-saving. When Deb Havens entered the race in Michigan’s 28th State Senate District, healthcare access wasn’t at the top of her issues list. The former educator was heavily focused on safeguarding the public school system and everything that once made Michigan the envy of other […]