Tag Archives: Trump

Government Matters: Week in review, May 26-June 2

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Politics, , , , ,

Peters Announces $11.4 Million in Support for Michigan AmeriCorps Programs

By Allison Green

 

U.S. Senator Gary Peters announced that Michigan has received $11.4 million in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for volunteering and service programs.

 

“Citizen service is an indispensable resource for nonprofits, communities and the individuals they serve, and essential to solving problems that face Michigan and the United States,” said Senator Peters.

 

The investment includes 14 grants totaling $4.6 million, which will support 671 AmeriCorps members.

 

Below is a partial listing of 2017 AmeriCorps competitive grants in Michigan:

  • American Red Cross of Grand Rapids: Together We Prepare
  • AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program
  • Michigan Campaign To End Homelessness AmeriCorps Program
  • Michigan Financial Opportunity Corp
  • Power of We Consortium AmeriCorps Project
  • MARESA AmeriCorps
  • B-H-K Child Development Board
  • AdviseMI

CNCS will also provide Michigan with up to $3.1 million in education scholarships for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants to help pay for college, vocational training, or pay back student loans.

 

This year’s AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly competitive. The 2017 competition prioritized investments in economic opportunity, education, governor and mayor initiatives, veterans and military families, disaster services, and initiatives to build safer communities.

Peters, Colleagues Raise Concerns over President Trump’s Cuts to Rural Development

President Trump’s drastic budget cuts, coupled with plans to eliminate the USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development, would hurt small towns and rural communities

 

U.S. Senator Gary Peters joined 28 other Senate Democrats in sending a letter to President Trump expressing strong concerns over recent actions that would have negative impacts on families in rural America.

 

In the letter, the Senators objected to the proposed cuts, and urged President Trump to maintain the position of Under Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

 

Last week, President Trump issued a budget proposal calling for drastic cuts that would undermine the important rural development mission at the USDA. These damaging cuts come on the heels of recently announced plans to eliminate the USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development, an important advocate for small towns and rural communities across the country.

 

The letter was also signed by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and others.

ICYMI: Senator Stabenow Questions OMB Director Mulvaney on Trump’s Budget Cuts to the Great Lakes (VIDEO)

By Ian Wilhite

 

During a recent hearing in the Senate Budget Committee on the President’s 2018 Budget, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) questioned OMB Director Mick Mulvaney about zeroing out funding for the Great Lakes in Fiscal Year 2018.

 

Video of the exchange is below.

 

 

Days before the election, Trump makes a stop in Grand Rapids

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , , , , , ,

img_1307By P. Williams

 

The DeltaPlex Arena was decked out this past Monday with spider webs across the bleacher rails and people in costume. And you might have thought it was just a Halloween bash except that the carved pumpkins lining the stage gave a huge hint as to who everyone was expecting – Donald Trump.

 

infoThis was the 2016 Republican presidential candidate’s second time through Grand Rapids, where he made a stop at the DeltaPlex before heading on to Warren, Michigan.

 

The 5,000  seats at the DeltaPlex were full with at least another 1,000 people standing in front of the stage. Several supporters carried various Trump/Pence signs, and were dressed in Trump t-shirts, hats, and patriotic wear. The crowd sang and danced to the Halloween theme music awaiting Trump’s arrival, creating a festive mood.

 

img_1296The reasons people came to the event varied. Some were veterans of various branches of the armed service and they came to hear what Trump had to say about national security. Such was the case of Robert Krul, from Sand Lake, a former Marine from the Vietnam War and a Trump supporter. “I think he is on the right track,” said Krul.

 

A group of Grand Valley college students said they have been following Trump and had attended the September event in Walker. “It’s a party every time,” several members of the group commented. Monday’s rally was their fourth in the last few months. They said “seriously we want to hear what Trump is going to do for Michigan concerning jobs.”

 

img_1298For others, it was a chance to be a part of history and to see Trump in person. Such was the case of Catherine and Catherine (who did not give their last names), both of Battle Creek. The two attended with their children Molly, Madeline, and Matt with the girls commenting, “I think he is a nice guy.”

 

 

Trump and his campaign arrived late, being about an hour and twenty minutes behind schedule. Introducing the candidate was legendary Basketball Hall of Fame coach Bobby Knight with Trump taking the stage to roaring applause and the crowd chanting eight more days. Other Republican Party representatives in attendance on stage included U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga , Peter Hookstra, Ronna Romney McDaniel, and Peter Secchia, all of whom stressed the importance of getting out to vote.

 

Trump started his one hour speech telling the audience “in Eight days, we are going to win Michigan and the White House.”

 

“I will fight for every last Michigan job,” he said.  “We are going to make the State of Michigan the economic envy of the entire world.”

 

img_1272Trump talked about the Ford Motor Company, headquartered in Detroit, and his call for a 35 percent tariff on products from them that relocate production to Mexico. He also addressed many issues that he has been talking about throughout his campaign, national security, Obamacare, building the wall, creating jobs, the Supreme Court, schools of choice and fighting inner city crime.

 

He praised the FBI director James Comey and made several references about his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and the recently discovered  emails. “We need real change and restore honesty to our country,” Trump said.

 

The Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump did not disappoint his supporters. His speech brought uproar from the audience as he ended with his slogan, “We will make America strong again. We will make America safe again and we will make America great again.”

 

P. Williams “Patty Williams” has a life time of experience in the entertainment business. On stage at an early age with West Michigan’s first family of bluegrass music, The Williams Family. Patty started P. Williams Productions in 2003. Three Eclipse Awards and Two Telly Awards grace her mantle. Patty enjoys working with professionals, and is always open to new adventures.

Donald Trump Doesn’t Disappoint a Packed DeltaPlex

Citizen Journalism, Hard News, Politics, , , , , ,

TrumpRally2By: P. Williams

Long lines surrounded the DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center on Monday, December 21, 2015 as people eagerly awaited the arrival of front-runner Republican Presidential Candidate Donald J. Trump.

Several Trump supporters were in line since early afternoon anxiously waiting for the doors to open at five.

“I would not stand in line this long for any other politician,” exclaimed Barbara Sue Damore (Suzie), a committed fan from right here in Grand Rapids. Suzie even made ‘Big Trump Cookies’ to distribute to the line of supporters while they waited.

A row of satellite trucks, media, and television remotes dominated the south entrance to the convention center, and over ten thousand people were counted in attendance for the Trump rally. In all, it was the largest crowd ever at the DeltaPlex.

The rally hosted support from all age groups. There was a large portion of the younger generation in attendance as well.

While awaiting Trump’s arrival, I spoke with several teenage students. One group of Byron Center high school supporters were there to hear Trump talk about his plan to combat ISIS. Students from Martin, Allegan, Hopkins, Caledonia and Forest Hills High Schools were also interested in hearing Trump talk combating ISIS and gun control.

I spoke with a group of college students from Ferris State who were awaiting some fellow students from Baker and Fremont college. They were interested in hearing about Trump’s tax plan, the budget, and military spending.

TrumpRally5High school and college students weren’t the youngest in attendance, the Harrison family from Dorr brought along their three little girls. This was their first rally and they wanted to part of the history in making America great again.

Eighty-five-year-old Betty Stott traveled from the Ft. Wayne Indiana area just to see Trump and listen to all he had to say.

Kathy and Mary from Muskegon were there in hopes to hear Trumps plan for education, and immigration.

In talking with a group of some Grand Haven supporters, they liked his celebrity and wanted to hear Trump’s famous catch phrase “Obama you’re fired.” Others just wanted to watch his antics, and they were not disappointed.

The evening’s ceremonies started with everyone singing the Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful. After singing, everyone stood up with hands over their hearts for the saying of the pledge of allegiance.

The crowd roared as Donald Trump hit the stage.

He started with a light joke on the good deal he got on the DeltaPlex center. From there, it was all business, Trump got serious and went into an attack mode against his competitors.

TrumpRally4The comments came out hot and started with Lindsey Graham’s decision to leave the race earlier that Monday. He criticized Jeb Bush’s poling numbers as “sad.” And, to no one’s surprise, the biggest target was Hillary Clinton.

Trump made a comment about Hillary being “schlonged” by Obama in 2008. He took a jab at Hillary’s claim that terrorist groups are recruiting fighters with a video of him. “She’s a liar,” he said.

The next day Trump tweeted that his reference about Hillary being “schlonged” is a common term used frequently by politicians.

He also made reference to Hillary’s “break” during a recent Democratic debate telling the crowd, “I know where she went, it’s disgusting.” Laughter filled the arena.

Trump went after the media, daring the camera crews to get a good crowd shot of his supporters in reaction to protesters interrupting the rally. Trump called the protesters “a bunch of losers” and waved goodbye as security escorted them out. This again brought thunderous applause from his supporters.

He told the crowd he hated journalists because some of them are lying, disgusting people. “It’s true,” he stated, before sarcastically adding with a smile and a wink, “But I would never kill them.”

TrumpRally6Trump talked about the car manufacturing industry here in Michigan. He said he would slap Ford with a punitive 35 percent tax for ‘every car and part’ produced at an expanded plant in Mexico. “I am a free trader, but we can’t be stupid traders,” he told supporters.

A tax on car parts made in Mexico wasn’t the only reference to the country. If Trump was elected, a ‘beautiful’ wall would be built to keep illegals out. The ‘Trump Wall’ as he named it.

As the rally continued, Trump mentioned his recent support from Russian President Vladmir Putin and asked his supporters, “wouldn’t it be great if we could all just get along?”

After over an hour of speaking to a highly vocal crowd, Trump exited to the stage and left a favorable impression on those in attendance.

Comments such as “he tells it like it is”, “Trump expresses the views of the common people”, and “we believe he will make America great again” were commonly expressed by those in attendance.

P. Williams “Patty Williams” has a life time of experience in the entertainment business. On stage at an early age with West Michigan’s first family of bluegrass music, The Williams Family. Patty started P. Williams Productions in 2003. Three Eclipse Awards and Two Telly Awards grace her mantle. Patty enjoys working with professionals, and is always open to new adventures.