MY TAKE ON THE ISSUES
As a citizen I think that what I expect from my elected officials are very comparable to any other ordinary
citizen's expectations in Michigan. As a candidate I use that understanding and I know that most ordinary
citizens want their elected official to be responsive. You want someone who can lead, but first you want
them to listen to what you have to say. On most issues, you already know what you want, and what is best
for you. You want respect and attention to your point of view. There are very few issues that are so
complicated that you need the official's expertise and experience to decide what you want. On those very
few issues, you still want the elected official to use their own insight to do what you think should be done.
You'll leave how to get what you want done to the official, but you know what it is that you want done. You
want a true representative for you and of the people, not a politician that ignores your input and opinions.
When you cast your vote for me, I will be that true representative that offers that kind of commitment to
you, and the citizens of District 6. I will hold monthly forums and meetings with the citizens so that I can
best represent your needs and not play the guessing game that so many others in politics have played in
the past. Below I have listed some of the stances that I have taken in more detail on the issues that
plagues Michigan. And, if you have any questions I will be glad to communicate with you, Please contact
me at renberrysr@yahoo.com or 313-414-4214.
HEALTH CARE
I will support legislation that provides and protects quality health care and health insurance at an
affordable cost to all Michigan citizens. I believe that this often rhetorical hurdle in Michigan's legislature
can be handled by electing Representatives like myself that will put the good of the people ahead of
politics and partisanship. Michigan citizens including seniors and our children deserve affordable
insurance and quality health & mental care.
INSURANCE REDLINING
I pledge to champion the cause and eliminate the discriminatory tactics of Redlining by auto and property
insurance companies in Michigan. Residents of urban cities such as Detroit and Highland Park are
unfairly paying twice and sometimes triple the premium amounts that suburban citizens are paying. The
rates are calculated using unfair and often irrelevant statistical data like zip codes and credit scores. I
believe basic coverage rates should be based on a persons driving record, and that persons individual
history of theft and damage. Affordable auto and property insurance rates should be available to everyone,
EDUCATION
I will work to extend state funded public education into the first two years of college. That would be an
investment into Michigan's future. We must also ensure that a quality and equal public education is
available to all students in Michigan. Public funds should only be used to support public schools. I
support the schools of choice format allowing open enrollment into any Michigan public school regardless
of where a student's residence is. I think enrollment spots should be given to students who live in the
particular school's district first, then any remaining availability should be open to all Michigan students.
This will promote fair and equal education in Michigan's public schools. And this plan won't hurt Detroit
schools because it's main purpose is to help even the playing field for urban schools like ours in Detroit. I
support closely monitored legislation that will directly provide for increases in teacher's salaries and
legislation offering creative incentives to attract good teachers to urban school districts like Detroit. I also
support reduced student-to-teacher ratios, and increasing the legal drop-out of school age to 18 years old
to reduce drop-out rates and better equip our children to be productive adults.
DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY LAW
I will work to end the Michigan Driver Responsibility Law. I think it's unfair, and puts needless burden on
drivers already affected by a weak Michigan economy. For a person to pay outrageously high penalties,
on top of the ticket fee being charged by the municipal law enforcement agency in the place where the
infraction occurred is absolutely wrong! There are citizens that are faced with unaffordable insurance bills
due to unfair redlining practices that drives up insurance cost. And, because of high unemployment rates
those citizens could often have to make decisions like either paying for shelter and feeding their families,
or to pay insurance. Well, something has to be put off, and it's usually the insurance. Lets say for
example, you are on the way to work one day. You are pulled over by the police and ticketed. You pay
the fine for the ticket, but you don't know that the state will soon send you a bill for as much as $1000 on
top of that fine you already paid under the Michigan Driver Responsibility Law. You will have to pay a
Michigan Driver Responsibility fee for TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS! You barely can make ends meet and
the state suspends your license for non- payment. You take the risk and continue to drive to work (usually
outside of Detroit). Each time you are stopped by the police after that you will be charged another Driver
Responsibility fee and have to pay it also for two consecutive years! I have provided a link on the
community page of this website for more information on this issue and it's fees.
ECONOMY
I think that our high crime rates can be linked to many different obstacles that face our community. One
that I believe is at the root of most crimes, is the lack of employment opportunities. We are continually
being told that the auto and manufacturing industries are dead in Michigan. I disagree with people who
say that because, last time I checked people are still driving and buying cars, they are still shopping at
stores and buying items that must be manufactured. I don't see why those cars, and manufactured items
can't be made right here in Michigan. When I am elected, I will work to get legislation passed that will make
Michigan more attractive to businesses by offering them creative incentives like huge tax breaks and/or tax
exemptions with certain stipulations that would include the hiring of Michigan citizens. Also, my plan would
reward businesses that offer quality jobs to low income workers, out-of-work and unskilled workers and
second chance employment for citizens with non-violent criminal records. Some people may ask what
revenue does the state gain if it does not collect taxes from those businesses? If we don't sweeten the pot,
businesses will always choose more attractive states like New York, Illinois, California and Texas over
Michigan. We can't lose what we never had; But Michigan would gain revenues and a boost to our
economy because people will have to relocate into Michigan to follow their jobs. Those people will buy
homes (stimulating our Real Estate industry), they'll buy groceries, eat at restaurants, shop at malls and
stores, book flights at airports and purchase cars at dealerships ALL located in Michigan! We don't have
to give up our manufacturing identity in Michigan. I support more training and post-high school education
for employment opportunities in the technical industries, but we have citizens with families, rents,
mortgages and car loans that need unskilled jobs to live, right now-today! And I WILL get results for those
citizens.
RIGHT TO WORK
I am AGAINST allowing Michigan to become a right-to-work state. I think that will translate into a "right to
work for less" state in Michigan. I am a UAW, and auto production line worker, I know what it feels like to
have been asked by my employer to take a pay cut (and I refused). During these times it is impossible to
think that a person could earn a decent living without a living-wage adjustment to counter the high
expense of gas prices, high utility bills and outrageous insurance premiums! We cannot allow this
proposal to succeed in Michigan.
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
I will support legislation that increases the Unemployment benefit pay-out from the maximum of $362 per
week, to somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 per week. If a worker is laid off from work and qualifies
for the maximum that means that their pay checks would have sometimes doubled or tripled the $362
pay-out they receive. These hard times make it very difficult for families to save much money and I think
this is somewhere that government can help the people. Some legislators that have been corrupted by big
money supporters and interest groups will tell you that Michigan is nearly broke. That simply is NOT true.
The funds Michigan has needs to be budgeted better; They appropriate funds into areas that hardly
mean anything toward enriching the lives of Michigan's citizens. I will put the spotlight on that, and get
results for Michigan's citizens!
As a citizen I think that what I expect from my elected officials are very comparable to any other ordinary
citizen's expectations in Michigan. As a candidate I use that understanding and I know that most ordinary
citizens want their elected official to be responsive. You want someone who can lead, but first you want
them to listen to what you have to say. On most issues, you already know what you want, and what is best
for you. You want respect and attention to your point of view. There are very few issues that are so
complicated that you need the official's expertise and experience to decide what you want. On those very
few issues, you still want the elected official to use their own insight to do what you think should be done.
You'll leave how to get what you want done to the official, but you know what it is that you want done. You
want a true representative for you and of the people, not a politician that ignores your input and opinions.
When you cast your vote for me, I will be that true representative that offers that kind of commitment to
you, and the citizens of District 6. I will hold monthly forums and meetings with the citizens so that I can
best represent your needs and not play the guessing game that so many others in politics have played in
the past. Below I have listed some of the stances that I have taken in more detail on the issues that
plagues Michigan. And, if you have any questions I will be glad to communicate with you, Please contact
me at renberrysr@yahoo.com or 313-414-4214.
HEALTH CARE
I will support legislation that provides and protects quality health care and health insurance at an
affordable cost to all Michigan citizens. I believe that this often rhetorical hurdle in Michigan's legislature
can be handled by electing Representatives like myself that will put the good of the people ahead of
politics and partisanship. Michigan citizens including seniors and our children deserve affordable
insurance and quality health & mental care.
INSURANCE REDLINING
I pledge to champion the cause and eliminate the discriminatory tactics of Redlining by auto and property
insurance companies in Michigan. Residents of urban cities such as Detroit and Highland Park are
unfairly paying twice and sometimes triple the premium amounts that suburban citizens are paying. The
rates are calculated using unfair and often irrelevant statistical data like zip codes and credit scores. I
believe basic coverage rates should be based on a persons driving record, and that persons individual
history of theft and damage. Affordable auto and property insurance rates should be available to everyone,
EDUCATION
I will work to extend state funded public education into the first two years of college. That would be an
investment into Michigan's future. We must also ensure that a quality and equal public education is
available to all students in Michigan. Public funds should only be used to support public schools. I
support the schools of choice format allowing open enrollment into any Michigan public school regardless
of where a student's residence is. I think enrollment spots should be given to students who live in the
particular school's district first, then any remaining availability should be open to all Michigan students.
This will promote fair and equal education in Michigan's public schools. And this plan won't hurt Detroit
schools because it's main purpose is to help even the playing field for urban schools like ours in Detroit. I
support closely monitored legislation that will directly provide for increases in teacher's salaries and
legislation offering creative incentives to attract good teachers to urban school districts like Detroit. I also
support reduced student-to-teacher ratios, and increasing the legal drop-out of school age to 18 years old
to reduce drop-out rates and better equip our children to be productive adults.
DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY LAW
I will work to end the Michigan Driver Responsibility Law. I think it's unfair, and puts needless burden on
drivers already affected by a weak Michigan economy. For a person to pay outrageously high penalties,
on top of the ticket fee being charged by the municipal law enforcement agency in the place where the
infraction occurred is absolutely wrong! There are citizens that are faced with unaffordable insurance bills
due to unfair redlining practices that drives up insurance cost. And, because of high unemployment rates
those citizens could often have to make decisions like either paying for shelter and feeding their families,
or to pay insurance. Well, something has to be put off, and it's usually the insurance. Lets say for
example, you are on the way to work one day. You are pulled over by the police and ticketed. You pay
the fine for the ticket, but you don't know that the state will soon send you a bill for as much as $1000 on
top of that fine you already paid under the Michigan Driver Responsibility Law. You will have to pay a
Michigan Driver Responsibility fee for TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS! You barely can make ends meet and
the state suspends your license for non- payment. You take the risk and continue to drive to work (usually
outside of Detroit). Each time you are stopped by the police after that you will be charged another Driver
Responsibility fee and have to pay it also for two consecutive years! I have provided a link on the
community page of this website for more information on this issue and it's fees.
ECONOMY
I think that our high crime rates can be linked to many different obstacles that face our community. One
that I believe is at the root of most crimes, is the lack of employment opportunities. We are continually
being told that the auto and manufacturing industries are dead in Michigan. I disagree with people who
say that because, last time I checked people are still driving and buying cars, they are still shopping at
stores and buying items that must be manufactured. I don't see why those cars, and manufactured items
can't be made right here in Michigan. When I am elected, I will work to get legislation passed that will make
Michigan more attractive to businesses by offering them creative incentives like huge tax breaks and/or tax
exemptions with certain stipulations that would include the hiring of Michigan citizens. Also, my plan would
reward businesses that offer quality jobs to low income workers, out-of-work and unskilled workers and
second chance employment for citizens with non-violent criminal records. Some people may ask what
revenue does the state gain if it does not collect taxes from those businesses? If we don't sweeten the pot,
businesses will always choose more attractive states like New York, Illinois, California and Texas over
Michigan. We can't lose what we never had; But Michigan would gain revenues and a boost to our
economy because people will have to relocate into Michigan to follow their jobs. Those people will buy
homes (stimulating our Real Estate industry), they'll buy groceries, eat at restaurants, shop at malls and
stores, book flights at airports and purchase cars at dealerships ALL located in Michigan! We don't have
to give up our manufacturing identity in Michigan. I support more training and post-high school education
for employment opportunities in the technical industries, but we have citizens with families, rents,
mortgages and car loans that need unskilled jobs to live, right now-today! And I WILL get results for those
citizens.
RIGHT TO WORK
I am AGAINST allowing Michigan to become a right-to-work state. I think that will translate into a "right to
work for less" state in Michigan. I am a UAW, and auto production line worker, I know what it feels like to
have been asked by my employer to take a pay cut (and I refused). During these times it is impossible to
think that a person could earn a decent living without a living-wage adjustment to counter the high
expense of gas prices, high utility bills and outrageous insurance premiums! We cannot allow this
proposal to succeed in Michigan.
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
I will support legislation that increases the Unemployment benefit pay-out from the maximum of $362 per
week, to somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 per week. If a worker is laid off from work and qualifies
for the maximum that means that their pay checks would have sometimes doubled or tripled the $362
pay-out they receive. These hard times make it very difficult for families to save much money and I think
this is somewhere that government can help the people. Some legislators that have been corrupted by big
money supporters and interest groups will tell you that Michigan is nearly broke. That simply is NOT true.
The funds Michigan has needs to be budgeted better; They appropriate funds into areas that hardly
mean anything toward enriching the lives of Michigan's citizens. I will put the spotlight on that, and get
results for Michigan's citizens!
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Honesty... Now, That's A Refreshing Change !
"Vision is not limited
to experience, nor is
wisdom restricted to
age" - unknown
"The time is always
right to do what is
right" - Rev. Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.
to experience, nor is
wisdom restricted to
age" - unknown
"The time is always
right to do what is
right" - Rev. Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.