Don't let the Michigan House use a SHELL bill to pass some of the most important legislation concerning educators!

UPDATE: March 20th, 2010
The "SHELL" bill was stopped! Thank you everyone for making your voices heard!!!

"We have received word from an very reliable source that the Governor is trying to get the House of Representatives to pass a "shell" bill for HB 5953 and send it to the Senate. THIS IS PLANNED FOR THURSDAY, March 18th."

"Passing a shell bill means passing a bill with little substantive change in it that the other house (in this case the Senate) can amend in a quick vote with whatever substance it wishes, and then send it back for a quick vote to concur. In essence this is a parliamentary trick, some would say dirty trick, to ramrod a bill through with absolutely no debate, no consideration in committee, and no opportunity to consider the ramifications of the action. "

Please contact your State Representative AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE ON THURSDAY, AND
URGE HER/HIM TO OPPOSE ANY EFFORT TO PASS A HB 5953 WITHOUT A FULL AIRING IN COMMITTEE AND PLENTY OF TIME TO DEBATE THE BILL AND UNDERSTAND ITS RAMIFICATIONS.

COPY AND PASTE THE MESSAGE BELOW!!!! Then, pick any or all email addresses of House Legislators included below the message!

1. DO NOT use the trickery of a shell bill to pass legislation that affects educators" retirement and future pay and benefits without a full airing in committee, thoughtful debate, and careful consideration of the ramifications of HB 5953

2. This is a most despicable, underhanded subversion of the legislative process
that is imaginable. It undermines the very essence of democracy and should be
avoided except when the State faces imminent collapse.

3. There is no need to rush through massive rollbacks in public pensions without
a full debate and consideration of all options and all ramifications.

4. If they truly want to provide an incentive to people to retire, that portion
of the bill can be passed as a stand alone action and any other modifications to
pensions can come later, after careful deliberation.

Write or Call -

Governor Jennifer Granholm
517-373-3400 Phone 517-335-6863 Fax
to write Gov. Granholm, please go to the Michigan.gov website

Speaker of the House Andy Dillon
Phone: 517-373-0857
Fax: 517-373-5976
E-mail: andydillon@house.mi.gov

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop
Phone: 517-373-2417
Fax: 517-373-2694
E-mail: senmbishop@senate.michigan.gov

State Senator Nancy Cassis
Phone: 517-373-1758
Fax: 517-373-0938
senncassis@senate.michigan.gov

State Senator Gilda Jacobs
Phone: 517-373-7888
Fax: 517-373- 2983
SenGJacobs@senate.michigan.gov

State Representative Vicki Barnett
Phone: 517-373-1793
Fax: 517-373-8501
vickibarnett@house.mi.gov

State Representative Lisa Brown
Phone: 517-373-1799
Fax: 517-373-8361
lisabrown@house.mi.gov

State Representative Hugh Crawford
Phone: 517-373-0827
Fax: 517-373-5873
hughcrawford@house.mi.gov

State Representative Eileen Kowall
Phone: 517-373-2616
Fax: 517-373-5843
eileenkowall@house.mi.gov