By John Hamilton
President, Detroit Building Trades Council

I was recently elected as an officer in the State Democratic Party and am committed to promoting the issues commonly held by our party - better and more durable roads, improved public education and access to health care for all of our citizens in this state.

One misconception that I strongly feel needs to be changed, however, is the belief that the Democratic Party is unilaterally on record in opposition to gun ownership.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Some of the most prominent Democratic lawmakers in the state, including Congressman John Dingell and Michigan Senate Minority Leader John Cherry, are active hunters and gun rights advocates.

The vast majority of Michigan Democrats want nothing to do with limiting or taking away our Second Amendment rights.

In an effort to dispel the misconception that Democrats are anti-gun and anti-hunting, a hunting and fishing caucus has been established. We are committed:

• To encourage the Democratic party to continue protecting Second Amendment Rights and to expand the rights of those who enjoy hunting, fishing and shooting.
• To protect constitutionally guaranteed firearm ownership rights.
• To expand party membership to include non-members who are hunting, fishing, shooting enthusiasts.
• To defend Democrat officials who are falsely attacked on these issues.
• To educate Michigan Democrats on this issue.
• To recruit candidates who respect and support the rights of hunting, fishing, and shooting enthusiasts.

To join this caucus, plan to attend the next meeting. Call Camiel at (517) 676-2295 for details.

On another front, Michigan's Unemployment Insurance benefit law is a mess. Businesses have received $1.07 billion in UI tax savings since 1995, while workers have lost $786 million in benefits.

Your maximum benefit, which has been frozen at $300 a week for five years, is now the lowest in the Midwest. By freezing the benefit, workers have lost $114 a week in benefit income.

That's not fair. It's bad enough if you lose your job. Having to feed the kids and pay the rent with sub-poverty benefits adds insult to injury. But you can fight back.

Legislation has been introduced in the Michigan legislature that would restore these benefit cuts and bring fairness to the system. House Bill 4188 would provide cost-of-living increases so that laid-off workers won't see their benefit checks eaten up by inflation. It would also make it easier for part-time, low-wage and seasonal workers to qualify for benefits.

HB 4188 is currently stuck in the House Employment Relations and Training Committee. Call or write your state representative and state senator and tell them to be fair to laid off workers by passing HB 4188 into law.