Presidential Health Care Plans

Hey everyone! Here is a fairly extensive look at the candidates' health care plans, side by side, issue by issue. While this was posted on Huffington post, a liberal leaning website, the authors intended it to be merely a reference, not to persuade voters one way or another. The citations are labeled and easily available at the end of the pdf. 

5 Friends, VOTE!

A GOTV commercial with Spielberg, Niel Patrick Harris, Will Smith, Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts etc etc etc.

Good. Funny. (Uncensored).

Hey Everyone!

When it comes to how the candidate actually wins the election it can get a little confusing due to our system of the Electoral College. Visit this site below and it will help you better understand it and hopefully show you that your vote DOES count!

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepoliticalsystem/a/electcollege.htm

Hello, IT.

Hey for those of you concerned with the Presidential Candidate's history with technology here's some info brought to you by issues2000.org

Obama:

• Google for Government was a bipartisan initiative. (Sep 2008)
• Double basic research funding; make the R&D tax permanent. (Jun 2008)
• National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank: $60B in 10 years. (Jun 2008)
• Incentives for next-generation broadband in every community. (Feb 2008)
• Increase funding for math and science research & education. (Oct 2007)
• Airlines got into trouble after deregulation. (Oct 2007)
• Organizes campaign events via MySpace.com and FaceBook.com. (Oct 2007)
• JFK inspired with space program; now same with energy R&D. (Sep 2007)
• Increase funding for basic research; expand broadband access. (Aug 2007)
• As Senate freshman spoke out on Katrina ramifications. (Aug 2007)
• Broadband in heart of inner cities and rural towns. (Feb 2007)
• $42B more in university-based R&D. (Oct 2006)
• Invest on transportation and clean coal technology projects. (Oct 2004)
• Voted NO on restoring $550M in funding for Amtrak for 2007. (Mar 2006)
• Close digital divide with high-tech training. (Jan 2001)
• Ensure net neutrality: no corporate-tiered Internet. (Jan 2007)
• Create online database of science & math scholarships. (Dec 2007)
• Website for competitive federal awards. (Jun 2008)
• Overturn FCC approval of media consolidation. (Mar 2008)

McCain:

• Ban Internet taxes & new cell phone taxes. (Feb 2008)
• Don't police Internet crime; go after money to reduce crime. (Oct 2007)
• Veto pork barrel; focus transportation spending on repairs. (Aug 2007)
• Special interest influence corruptly took HDTV frequencies. (May 2007)
• FactCheck: Special interests only delayed HDTV transfer. (May 2007)
• Provide unused spectrum to emergency officials. (Mar 2007)
• 1996 Telecomm Bill: public interest was not at the table. (May 2002)
• Uses Internet to read news & to get donations. (Mar 2000)
• Digital Divide requires tax credits for equipment & teachers. (Jan 2000)
• Internet tax ban saved consumers $600M this Xmas. (Jan 2000)
• Free TV & radio to candidates as a public interest. (Dec 1999)
• Make Internet tax moratorium permanent. (Dec 1999)
• Encourage teachers to learn high tech. (Oct 1999)
• Technology can hasten end of haves vs. have-nots. (Sep 1999)
• Get more government documents on-line. (Aug 1999)
• Telecommuncations Act was an influence-peddling scheme. (Jul 1999)
• Internet access, with filters, at every school & library. (Jun 1999)
• No government control over computer encryption. (Apr 1999)
• Voted NO on restoring $550M in funding for Amtrak for 2007. (Mar 2006)
• Voted NO on disallowing FCC approval of larger media conglomerates. (Sep 2003)
• Voted YES on Internet sales tax moratorium. (Oct 1998)
• Voted NO on telecomm deregulation. (Feb 1996)
• Sponsored bill requiring text on TV for visually-impaired. (Apr 2005)
• Permanent ban on state & local taxation of Internet access. (Oct 2007)
• Website for competitive federal awards. (Jun 2008)

Registered?

Got my voter registration card today!
Super Excited!

Check to make sure you're registered here!

Proposal 1 & 2

For information on Proposal 1: Medical Marijuana, and Proposal 2: Stem-cell research, visit this link.

Quizzes

Take this quiz! They are fun and if you are feeling a little misinformed..this will give you a little boost.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/candidate-match-game.htm

Voting and The Government

When it comes to voting and understanding the government, this site has it all. Please check it out if you are interested in any of the following:
*Contacting Elected Officials
*Figuring out how to register to vote
*Learning more about the Federal, State or Local Governments
*Grants
*Jobs
*Money and Taxes
*Education
etc.
To learn about what is going on in Congress, go to "Federal Government" (located on the left). This will take you to a page that allows you to click on the Senate or the House. From here, a lot is reported about current issues running through Congress.

CATA Bus Proposal

This election there is a proposal on the ballot regarding the CATA Bus system that would effect residents in East Lansing, Lansing, Holt, Delhi Township and Meridian Township.

Here are some facts:

• CATA is the only mass transit system in the area, serving a population of around 277,000 people.
• Currently, CATA receives 47% of their funding from local funds, 33% of their funding from the state of Michigan, and 20% of their funding from bus fares.
• Despite the increase in fares since April 2008 (10 cents for students, 25 cents for others), it is not enough to cover the rising gas prices and increase usage.
  
• For each dollar added to the price of gas the gost of operation increases 1 million dollars per year.
• The proposal would be for an increase in property tax to help fund the bus system. Owners of a home worth $100,000 would be paying $39.95 more a year.
• If the proposal does not pass routes will end earlier in the day or be completely eliminated.

CATA is a system that effects a wide population covering several demographics. Keep yourself informed on this issue.

sarah

You Vote Issue Page for CATA Proposal

Important Dates for Voting in the 2008 Elections

Thought it would be helpful to post some important dates for the elections.

• November 1, 2008 - Absentee Ballot Request Forms must be received by 2pm.
• November 3, 2008 - Last day to vote Absentee Ballot in person by 4pm.
• November 4, 2008 - ELECTION DAY! Polls Open from 7am-8pm.

VOTE!

sarah