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Take Action on Funding Cuts Now!

Use this handy list of local state representatives to tell legislators you DO NOT SUPPORT MID YEAR TAX CUTS. Time is of the essence. There is a "body copy" for a suggested letter you can copy and paste into an email, or you can use your own words to get your message across. If you don't know which member is your representative, send it to them all. They need to hear your VOICE. READ MORE.

On March 27, Governor Granholm asked educators throughout the State of Michigan to contact their legislators imploring them to fix the structural deficit in the School Aid Fund and to not cut funding for schools by $34 per student this school year.

We are asking all who have an interest in public education, including parents, grandparents, teachers, administrators, support staff, boards of education, volunteers, etc. and, of course, the Kent County Grassroots activists, to contact their legislators immediately. If you do not know how to contact your legislators, use this list below that outlines all local state representatives. It does not hurt to let ALL of our legislators know how we feel!

BIRKHOLZ, PATRICIA
STATE SENATOR, 24th SENATORIAL DISTRICT
Work (888) 287-2889
E-mail: senpbirkholz@senate.michigan.gov

JANSEN, MARK
STATE SENATOR, 28TH SENATORIAL DISTRICT
Work (800) 774-1174
E-Mail: senmjansen@senate.michigan.gov

HARDIMAN, BILL
STATE SENATOR 29TH SENATORIAL DISTRICT
Work (866) 305-2129
E-Mail: senbhardiman@senate.michigan.gov

KUIPERS, WAYNE
STATE SENATOR 30th SENATORIAL DISTRICT
Work (517) 373-6920
E-Mail: senwkuipers@senate.michigan.gov

STEIL JR, GLENN
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 72ND REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT
Work (877) 727-8345
E-Mail: glennsteil@house.mi.gov

PEARCE, TOM
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 73RD REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT
Work (888) 414-3684
E-Mail: tompearce@house.mi.gov

AGEMA, DAVID
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 74TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT
Work (800) 968-2320
E-Mail: daveagema@house.mi.gov

DEAN, ROBERT
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 75TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT
Work (800) 875-2154
E-Mail: robertdean@house.mi.gov

SAK, MICHAEL
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 76TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT
Work (888) 797-0076
E-Mail: representativesak@house.mi.gov

GREEN, KEVIN
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 77TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT
Work (866) 538-4677
E-Mail: kevingreen@house.mi.gov

HILDENBRAND, DAVE
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 86TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT
Work (877) 328-3086
E-Mail: rephildenbrand@house.mi.gov

SEND THIS EMAIL
Your message should be succinct and to the point. For example: (You may copy and paste into your email if you so desire: )

- With three months left in the 2006-07 school year, a reduction of $34 per child will cost our school district approx. $680,000.
- If public schools receive another executive order cut, the five-year history of school funding since 2002-03 will be: executive order cut, executive order cut, freeze, increase, and executive order cut.
- The structural deficit to the School Aid Fund must be fixed! Over the past several years, the tax structure to fund public education has been steadily reduced, creating a funding problem where the current taxes do not create enough revenue to fund programs. Even if schools do not receive a funding cut this year, the five-year average in revenue increases is less than 1.6 percent, well below the cost of living.
- The "band aid" approach to reacting to shortfalls in the School Aid Fund must stop. A responsible solution to fixing the structural deficit must be found. This is a bipartisan issue and it is our lawmakers' responsibility to find solutions.

Please contact your legislators today. Thank you.
Your City High Middle Legislative Action Committee