Restoring the Revenue: Schoolbook Tax Credits for Michigan Residents with children in Public Schools.

One day a few friends of George called the office at 3:00am and left a message. This is the text of the message that was sent to his office and left this message:

“Hey Cush how come we can’t let the parents purchase the school books on Amazon or the Detroit Public School website and have it delivered to their home? This would guarantee that every child has a book. After the term is over, the parents can sell or donate the book to the school for a tax credit. “

The music was kind of loud behind the message too because the message was sent while we were in a different time zone having fun at the moment. However I thought that it deserved an answer because the question was so intriguing.

Parents should be given the option of purchasing books for their children. This would keep books in better condition longer because the parent would want to get the top dollar for the book when they want to sell it. The student would be responsible if they knew they were paying for the book themselves.

There will be a discount for dependents that are sending more than one child to a school district. This would be morally right to educate the children for the future. For each additional child enrolled in a school district, a taxpayer would get a %40 credit on the price on purchased books.

The concept of paperless e-Government would provide accountability and a record of books bought by a person in the school year. The accumulated list could be sent to your accountant and it would make it so simple to track expenses. Common software such as QuickBooks and Excel will allow the parents to download and keep a record for their files. If the book is donated to the school, the parent gets the credit for the entire amount of each book returned as a deduction on their tax return.



Education is so important to me that I may have an Appropriations Sub-Committee look at this concept at one of our meetings in the near future. The days of keeping books in warehouses are over and the children will not be denied. I would assist the Granholm Administration in creating and maintaining a viable accounting system that is user friendly to the residents of Detroit and the Citizens of Michigan. A key part of my committee is to ensure that the Department of Education has the full resources available to implement this plan. State residents will get accountability and measurable results in the area of education.

We were on our way to a meeting at General Motors at the “Ren-Cen”, I was sitting in the passenger seat of my ride. While Malik was driving, I sent a text message to them while we were on Lodge Freeway at 7 mile road. The message said “I will help whoever is elected to Mayor of the City of the Detroit to implement this Stimulus Program from Lansing in partnership with the State of Michigan, Department of Education”. Education is a bi-partisan issue with me and I will not shirk from that responsibility. At the Lodge Freeway and I-94, we sent them a voicemail message telling them to go to bed and get some sleep making all that noise on the other end.

Squat Michigan! - US Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-08 Ohio) is leading a growing revolution in our Cities

US House Rep Marcy Kaptur inspires foreclosed homeowners to tell the banks hell no, do not go. (Click here to see the Keep your Home Video Link)

Myself and my main man Roscoe “Skoe” Thomas were driving down the street when we drove past a family getting evicted from a home on Northlawn Street in my Detroit district. It was so sad to see the court officer directing the bank employees to place all items that were in the home on the street. The former residents of the home watched in tears and pain as the incident unfolded by the second. We were so taken aback by this that we had to stop and give them encouragement and assist them in getting help with a roof over their head.

After getting the information from the family we discovered that these people were active voters in the City of Detroit and were proud citizens of a city they grew up in. They also had 3 children that attended school in Detroit and their educational progress was in extreme jeopardy. I was so moved by this indent that I said this to “Skoe”. The winds of change have swept into Washington DC! And I am tired of seeing my fellow citizens being thrown out of good homes. There are so many homes empty that had children attending schools and purchasing goods from neighborhood establishments that when they leave, the business that depended on the fail also.


I like the ideas of US House Representative Marcy Kaptur (D) (Ohio 8th District) regarding squatting in a home. I believe that the elected leaders see the damage that these banks have done to us. We also see the damage of high fuel prices that did not help the Auto Industry. It was not the Big Three’s fault when the price of fuel went up to $4 and $5 dollars a gallon. We can build fuel efficient cars and SUVs' that run on alternative fuel sources here in Detroit and have jobs for everyone. Ms. Kaptur has a good start in the revolution to tell the banks “Hell No, We won’t go!” It is time that we spank these banks for ruining the lives and the livelihood of our neighbors and friends. Just look at this video link (Click Here to watch the video link) from CNN.COM regarding our neighbors in Toledo!



Maybe we should take our cue from this woman and lead a revolution to revitalize our cities. By letting people stay and creating a group of jobs allowing the residents to beautify parks, fix their roads, and teaching the children, our cities will become a Mecca of re-vitalized hope and prosperity. By letting the people “occupy” the homes on the condition that they; join trade programs and/or take jobs in area such as Recreation department, Police, Fire, public works, this will create a lot of revenue and restore the property values in our cities.

It is high time that we make these banks “lend” us our money back George said to Roscoe. I hope that we can inspire the remaining homeowners to fight foreclosure by legal means to have the bank re-negotiate the loan terms for everyone. Michigan residents can be rest assured that I will introduce bills to have the banks produce online monthly statements for the taxpayers to see with their own eyes. This is necessary and I will run this by a few financial experts and work with my blog-master and other technology consultants to make this thing happen for the good of the State.


We got into our car and drove off knowing that we gave some encouragement to another struggling family in America. I will miss my constituents votes and support and keep them in my prayers George said to Roscoe. As we were driving, we turned the radio on to Mix 92.3 and listened to a song by the Winans Gospel Group. They were signing “It’s time to make a change” and, paraphrasing Pastor Marvin, “We are people who WILL do it”.

Restoring the Revenue – Funding Universal Health Care for Michigan Citizens by re-directing and modifying expenses in Corrections and Law Enforcement

My old friend Bruce Lewis and I were talking one day about how we can help the new president and, the local neighbors receive quality of life health care from their Government. Bruce asked me about what can we do about it here in Michigan? I pondered the question and the first thing that came into my mind was the huge imbalance in priorities regarding Corrections and Community Health issues. I remember when Pasteur School had a full time nurse working in the building and cooked their own food on site. At least the neighbors had jobs and they sure could cook too.


It is with that spirit and tribute to the people we looked up to in our neighborhood and, the citizens of the State, that I put down a list of things that I will promote in the 2009-2011 legislative session.

1. The addition of 1 million Michigan residents to the existing Medicaid program to facilitate Universal Health Care by redirecting Federal Funding of Corrections Budget to the Department of Community Health


2. Removing all 3858 Marijuana Related prisoners from the Dept of Corrections system with a savings of up to $36 million dollars.(Click Here for 2007 House Fiscal Agency Report).


3. Redirect federal funds from County jails to health care costs by removing Marijuana related prosecutions and paperwork from the prosecutor’s office to the county health departments.


4. Funding Programs to increase the use of Community Colleges for the purpose of training and furthering educational opportunities for Michigan residents. This will require the addition of 100,000 slots in State Community Colleges.


5. Funding for 25,000 young people working in recreation centers, forestry, alternative fuel development, and other jobs during the summer, including apprentice programs year round.

To accomplish this task, the first thing we will do is modify legislative salary benefits to achieve maximum savings. In some instances the reductions will reduce wages by increasing deductibles on medicines and primary health care. These are tough times and I know my colleagues and I can sacrifice just like our constituents. The pain will be there for a moment but I will add one caveat, there will be a process for the replacement of the additional cost.

To replace this cost, I will petition the Obama Administration to expand the Family Independence Agency rules to include full coverage health care. These funds will be drawn from the existing TARP program or a new program that his Department of Food and Drug Administration develops. I will propose that Persons with insurance will pay a monthly $60 fee to a State of Michigan Universal Health Care fund at a cost of $720 per year. This will grant you rights to receive preventive health care coverage including, mental, vision, and dental care. For every dollar paid into the fund the Federal Government will pay 3 dollars into the fund. If a medical professional is doing a fine job they should get paid accordingly.

Bruce said “hey Mr. Chairman, how do we get more medical professionals on the case”? The young people are very good at video games and graffiti. They sit in school and have video games on their cell phones playing space invaders with people all over the world. To fund this program, I will draft a proposal from my committee to use TARP funding to create one hundred thousand additional spaces in Community Colleges and Universities. Governor Granholm and I are totally committed to education like our parents in the neighborhood were. I was so proud of my constituents that I had my staff to create a PowerPoint presentation on the Restoration of Revenue in Michigan. This is available for public viewing for all to see. In my duties as the chair of the Appropriations committee, this information is a guideline for financial management and stability of State Revenues. (Click here to view MS PowerPoint presentation)

I want to encourage retired professionals to work in the local school districts for 20 hours a week or an agreed time commitment to the schools. Compensation will be in the form of retirement credits, heath care fee credits, or educational credits that can be transferred to individuals such as next of kin and living children under 30 years old. The valuable experience that these professionals have should not be lost forever but passed on to future generations. A person who has the time to write graffiti is a person without a meaningful job. I feel that with the new changes in Washington DC, we all will have a champion to fight for the people who are truly in need like homeowners and out of work youth.

Hey Bruce do you remember the Recreation Centers that the City used to have? We learned how to swim, play basketball, and do arts and crafts. We had lifeguards that lived in the community like Janice Ripton and the Clement boys. The Gym staff had all the local heroes of the High School Basketball team and their friends. The friends’ that were home from College worked out there during the summer and helped the kids. The NCAA let them have summer jobs without penalty and they always gave back to the community. The senior citizens of the neighborhood used the center for various activities and the rental cost was enough to pay staff to clean up and provide the room. Crime was down and people had a common respect for each other because we all loved and cared about the upkeep of the city. Can we fund these types of programs again? It seems that the banks have become the biggest slumlords in the country. What can we do about it? Bruce asked.

Well Brother Lewis, to fund this program I will use the funds that were redirected from the Department of Corrections and federal funds to sponsor a 21st century like C.E.T.A. program. I will propose to cut 2 additional prisons sites in Jackson and Ionia and purge all people in the State of Michigan Corrections system for Marijuana crimes. According to the House Fiscal Agency, in 2008 we have 3858 participants at a cost of up to $32,000 per person for people in Jail, Prison, or Probation in the Corrections system for Marijuana related crimes. By removing these people from the Corrections system combined with all of the adjustments will save the taxpayers at least $5 billion dollars within 5 years. To support this please read the fiscal impact study performed by the Michigan House of Representatives Fiscal Agency in 2008 on the financial impact of the Michigan Medical Marijuana law approved by the voters. (Click here to read PDF document from the House Fiscal Agency).

The Department of Community Health will also allow registration through their website for patients and caregivers to save taxpayer dollars. The era of e-government and the paperless society will be stressed. The cards will produced by Michigan based firms and the system will be maintained by Michigan Residents. I am very pleased at the perspective of law enforcement regarding Medical Marijuana because they do not want to be bothered with “the management and warehousing of weed” as one State Trooper stated during the public hearing and comment session held in January by the Department of Community Health.

Finally, we also have a large number of people who are in the Corrections system that are mental patients in disguise. These people are public health clients instead of Corrections lawbreakers. Given the state of people’s minds during this economic downturn, a lot of compassion needs to be given to people without a living wage. With just $5 billion in TARP funding we can turn Michigan around and save $5 billion in cuts and redistribution of funds to health programs.

With federal matching funds, Michigan and the world will pull out of this national depression of the last 5 years. Bruce to let fellow citizens die when we could have helped them is totally immoral. And to all of my friends, colleagues, and citizens in the State, we the people will be back. We the people will get up and walk it off after the financial hits that we have taken. We will overcome the pain and turn it into a gain! And with that being said, Bruce and I sat down and ate the bar-b-queue Chicken that we cooked outside in the cold winter snow.

Are you in need of Money? Apply for a piece of the $700 billion dollar bailout today.!

Click Here to download an application for a share of the Federal Government's $700 billion dollar Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funding. This is the official document that is being used by the Auto Industry and the Banking Industry to get a share of the money.

By filling out this simple two page application, your name will be placed in the running for use of this money.

Get your fair share of your tax dollars now!

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This e-posting is from the Friends of Cushingberry and we approve this message.

Restoring the Revenue: Demanding a full accounting of TARP funds by the Obama Administration to fund Universal Health Care for all American citizens.

After seeing the “concern” of the Republican senators in Washington D.C about the plight of the American Automotive industry, a public accounting of funds should be a top priority of the Obama Administration. What I am talking about is that when firms like AIG, Bank of America, and other Wall Street firms get blank checks from the taxpayers without a paper trail, the Automobile Industry has to get nit-picked for every penny. People, this is their last 30 days of unchecked and un-regulated business conduct that AIG, Bank of America and others like them will be allowed to operate. I am recommending that the Obama Transition Team demand that an accounting of all taxpayer funds given to these companies be made available for public view by February 23rd, 2009.


Just like the IRS doing an audit on an individual taxpayer, these companies should undergo the same scrutiny from the government. We the taxpayers are part owners of these banks and investment companies. This information shall be made available for public viewing in the form of an online statement of accounts. If you have a credit card then you know the drill. Every 30 days you get a bank statement in the mail showing your transactions on your credit card. So why not expand that concept to the companies on Wall Street that have our money?


We have enough Information Technology professionals who have the ability to produce detail and summary reports showing financial transactions. We have capable accountants and finance specialists here in Michigan that can maintain the systems that monitor any and all financial transactions of anyone. We are outraged as citizens of this state when bonuses are being paid to AIG executives and others while people are losing their jobs, health care and homes. The financial genocide that has been inflicted upon us must be stopped with the same zeal that we go after diseases like AIDS, Cancer, ALS, etc.


The banks will be accountable to the people of Michigan because we will demand it. Senators Stabenow, Levin, and Dodd of Connecticut are on the right track when they say that on January 20th, the banks will have to re-invest into America. This re-investment program will force the banks to distribute the TARP funds into Michigan homes, businesses, and schools. I will also push to give District Court Judges the power to modify mortgages and lower interest rates to consumers. I am asking you to support me in efforts to help the Granholm and the Obama Administration to force the banks to re-invest into Michigan businesses with %3 interest rates to stabilize our State economy. This program will allow existing businesses to restructure their debts to make them competitive again. Lower interest on loans and purchases of bonds will allow the creation of programs to create jobs in Michigan.


I will also push for prosecution of the banks who gave fraudulent terms on loans to vulnerable businesses and homeowners. Instead of jail, restitution will be in the form of modified mortgage terms to Michigan residents. I will work closely with Incoming HHS Secretary Shaun Donovan and the vast resources of the United States Department of Justice to restore home ownership in Michigan one home at a time. This will help to reform education one school at a time because if families with jobs occupy homes, the children will need schools and teachers to help them.
In addition to the financial restitution, I am going to ask my colleagues in Washington to lead the charge of allocating a portion of the 700 billion in TARP funds to pay for universal health care coverage for all. The time is now to address the issue of health in Michigan. There are too many of our citizens that are dying from diseases like Diabetes, Cancer, and blatant neglect. The health of the people is a Troubled Asset and shall be treated as such. To let people die for profit is immoral and a disgrace to humanity.

As your State Representative, I am urging you to contact me and your Federal Representatives to voice your concerns. We know that when the Obama administration takes office, they will call the economic situation another great depression. We the people cannot and will not let that happen without a fight. Gov. Granholm and I will be fighting to our last breath to restore the Revenue to our State in the form of reasonable and fair investment of Federal funds into Michigan. We also want you to contact Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama (Click here for Senator Richard Shelby)
and Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee (Click here for Senator Bob Corker) to let them know of your feelings regarding their attitude toward the hard working Union Members and their contribution to America. Take the time to remind them of the contribution of UAW members in the war effort by our Armed Forces.


When you contact these Senators let them know that we all have a lot to lose and everything to gain. On a morality perspective, when someone is suffering somewhere we all are suffering everywhere. You can’t be bible thumping evangelical preaching morality and virtues, while you concurrently have a total disregard for the financial and physical health in our country. The lack of health care in Michigan and America is a moral disgrace and a major component in the out of control deficit. Fighting a useless war in Iraq while your fellow citizen is on their back with an illness is a poor example of government spending. Then ask your elected officials and fellow constituents to take some time and count the domestically made Automobiles in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Panama, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia. Do you see the point being made?


We hope that with your active participation in your Government, we all can make a difference. Just remember that the 1st State that is suffering the most will be the first state to lead the people back from this Great Depression of the 21st century.

Restoring the Revenue III – The Reclassification of Marijuana to a Schedule III Drug

Currently, Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug with no medical value. This allows law enforcement to prosecute people and is the gateway to placing a person in the court system. The effect of this policy is overcrowded prisons and a clogged legal system. This is an important question to the upcoming Obama administration as he will be responsible for hiring the Next National Drug Czar and the head of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). On December 4th, a new law is in effect to allow people with a medical need to use Marijuana legally without the fear of arrest. On November 4th of this year, the Michigan voters spoke loud and clear as they approved of Medical Marijuana by %63 of the vote. All 83 counties in Michigan voted yes on November 4th.


The current schedule of drugs as defined by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are defined as follows:

Schedule I — drugs with a high abuse risk. These drugs have NO safe, accepted medical use in the United States. Some examples are heroin, marijuana, LSD, PCP, and crack cocaine.

Schedule II — drugs with a high abuse risk, but also have safe and accepted medical uses in the United States. These drugs can cause severe psychological or physical dependence. Schedule II drugs include certain narcotic, stimulant, and depressant drugs. Some examples are morphine, cocaine, oxycodone (Percodan®), methylphenidate (Ritalin®), and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®).

Schedule III, IV, or V — drugs with an abuse risk less than Schedule II. These drugs also have safe and accepted medical uses in the United States. Schedule III, IV, or V drugs include those containing smaller amounts of certain narcotic and non-narcotic drugs, anti-anxiety drugs, tranquilizers, sedatives, stimulants, and non-narcotic analgesics. Some examples are acetaminophen with codeine (Tylenol® No.3), paregoric, hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Vicodin®), diazepam (Valium®), alprazolam (Xanax®), propoxyphene (Darvon®), and pentazocine (Talwin®).


Reclassifying Marijuana as a Schedule III drug would move Marijuana to the same status as Aspirin and Cough Syrup. An example is that is someone was overdosing on aspirin; they would go to a hospital and given mental health care instead of a ride to jail. County prosecutors and law enforcement personnel routinely complain about the massive amount of paperwork in prosecuting a person with a small amount of Marijuana. The FDA can focus on healthy living and lifestyles for young and old Americans. This agency would be catalyst to promote better health among Americans through exercise and healthy eating practices. The Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the Dept of Community Health would serve as a catalyst to assist Michigan residents in proper growing methods for the medicine. This would create even more job and career opportunities in both departments.


It would also serve to eliminate the costly legal challenges that seek to thwart the will of the people. It would amount to insubordination to the people of the State of Michigan if civil servants and special interest groups initiate law suits to satisfy their narrow minded selfish thoughts.


So many people and so much documentation exist that shows Marijuana has medical benefits for people with debilitating medical conditions such as Leukemia, Aids, Nausea, Glaucoma, Multiple Sclerosis, etc. DEA administrative law judge Francis Young referred to Marijuana a wonder drug with many uses in his commentary during a trial. Furthermore uses like fuel, clothes and the other 25,000 uses are fully documented in video and print. The person that President-Elect Obama appoints to this position cannot overlook these facts regarding the Marijuana plant.


In order for the Department of Community Health to manage the dispensary program, the agency will need to reorganize resources in Information Technology and staff support. Out of the 148 Information Technology positions that the department has allotted, 10 of them will be redirected to manage the program. An increase in staff positions between 415 to 830 employees will be needed to manage the entire program. These figures are based on 3 FTE positions for each of the 83 counties. An extreme scenario will project 10 employees for each county. Their job will be to maintain the process for the dispensary registration.



Information Technology needs are software to maintain the registry and hardware maintenance. Programs like Microsoft Access, SQL Server, etc are readily available to use and the application is relatively simple to create and maintain at a cost of $20,000 a year. Revenue from dispensary registration fees, annual quality control inspection visits from department personnel, and sales would make the program pay for itself every year.

The State of Michigan Drug Czar duties would be redirected to include the benefits of using Marijuana as a medicine. As an employee of the people, the czar will be the State’s leading advocate for rescheduling Marijuana as a Schedule III drug. We pray that President-Elect Obama elects a realist to the position of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). And we hope the Director-Elect of Health and Human Services former Senator Tom Daschle does the right thing and promote a progressive and smart person to be the chief of the Food and Drug Administration. Some qualified candidates include Dr. Jocelyn Elders, Dr. Ben Carson among others who are clearly qualified to handle the job. At the State level, Rep Cushingberry will be advocating that the State Drug Czar recognizes the vote of the citizens of the State in the affirmative for Medical Marijuana.

I believe that Government is; of the people, by the people, for the people, to maintain and sustain the needs of the people. And as your representative in Lansing, I will always be your activist for the benefit of my constituents.

Restoring the Revenue: Justice in sharing federal TARP money – Can the big 3 tough it out until January 20th 2009?

It is evident that the Bush administration is preparing for retirement. The President and Mrs. Bush have backed up the van to the back door of the White House. So the question is can the Big 3 tough it out until January 20th 2009? Can the members of the auto industry hang on until the “new hire” for the position of President of the United States starts work? With one executive order an entire industry will be re-started. The innovation and creativity that made the Big 3 what they were will be back. Engineers and visionaries will be free to explore new ideas and methods for better automobiles. Contract work from the Department of Defense, State and Local agencies will be increased to restore the revenue to the people.


Auto companies will realize that they will have to use fuel sources other than Gasoline to power vehicles. Natural technologies will be developed by scientists and grow by farmers for all Government owned vehicles. The Department of Agriculture will have additional help from Federal matching funds for the development of alternative fuel sources. Celloustic Ethanol and Industrial Hemp will be the fuels of choice because; we want to start with just two over a 10 year period. $2 million dollars in Federal TARP funds would match the amount that the State grows per year in metric tons.

The hearings being conducted by the United States Senate and House in December 2008 will lay the groundwork for a new business plan for the States to create their own fuel sources for government vehicles with restricted funds. Michigan’s agriculture industry will benefit with minimal funding by utilizing the land that is currently funded not to produce by the Federal Government. The quality of life will rise for the people because farms that produce income will spend the dollars in the community. The cities will benefit when they have to pay for their fuel with restricted funds. The revenues from the fuel will be given back to the cities in the form of recreation centers, rapid repair of utility services, and increased Bulk Day services in Detroit to twice a month for example.


This will cause the Cities to hire more workers who live in the neighborhoods where they work. That would take care of the housing crisis caused by the greedy Wall Street speculators for the last 8 years. We the people will have better oversight over the financial industry because; on January 20th 2009 at 12:01pm a new day will take hold. When Barack Obama takes the oath of office, he will deliver on his promise of helping the manufacturing industry. He said that that help is on the way and he plans to deliver. The financial industry will be providing reports daily to the people in the form of:

1. Increased federal monitoring of funds.
2. An online version of the federal budget for public viewing.


These next 4 years, the Obama Administration will cure the disease of “Paralysis of Analysis” as described by Us Rep. Al Green (D) Texas-09) in a House Banking Committee hearing. This quote from Dr. Martin Luther King clearly describes the lack of analysis before making a decision. This practice will end with better management of federal funds. The Obama Administration will tactically use technology to closely monitor spending and revenue. As your representative I will sponsor legislation to manage this at a State level to the total benefit of the auto industry. This will also guarantee a living wage to everyone who wants to work. If you don’t have the skills, training will be provided from the revenue generated from re-directed funds from the fuel industry. With the additional revenue from the increase in sales of automobiles, everyone will benefit.

In the countdown to the new administration, I believe that if the big three has been suffering for this amount of time, then a few more days would hurt with the feeling that a change will be coming. The rationale behind scrutinizing the auto industry while giving a blank check to the finance industry will be a moot point. GM and Chrysler have good lawyers that can file Chapter 11 and get the filing dismissed on January 20th 2009 in an executive order from the new President.


We are looking forward to the Obama Administration to have smart people in charge to manage the oversight of the TARP funds. Federal Regulators armed with the latest accounting tools will have every penny and transaction accounted for with an electronic paper trail. We are also looking forward to increase funding in the energy area to accommodate the technology of the Chevrolet Volt and other Hybrid cars.

Just hold on everyone, a change is coming. January 20th is less than 60 days away. Think for the future, contact your elected officials by e-mail, fax, YouTube, or any method allowed by law. You can contact me at georgecushingberry@house.mi.gov or call the office at 517 373-2276. Lastly you can visit my website at www.friendsofcushingberry.com and make a donation.