On February 3, Governor Granholm will present her eighth State of the State Address to Lansing lawmakers.

Every year, the State of the State Address is a mini-holiday for Lansing's government class. I've been to six State of the State Addresses as a former state lawmaker, so I know the routine: there are fancy receptions prior to the Governor's speech featuring rich hors d'oeuvres and premium bars. Politicians dress in their finest clothes and bring their families and friends to the Capitol to attend the parties. Every state representative gets to bring a special guest - usually a big financial donor - to sit next to them in the House chamber during the governor's speech. It is all very nice.

You are not invited.

You see, the State of the State Address isn't about you or your family. Much of the Governor's speech is about the government's budget, not YOUR budget. When Governor Granholm talks about helping the economy, she means giving special tax breaks and subsidies to politically connected and politically-correct companies while raising taxes on every family and business that doesn't have a solar-powered windmill and a healthy lobbying fund.

But what would happen if Michigan's citizens decided that the State of the State should be about them - the people - and not about the government class? What would happen if hundreds - maybe thousands - of people drove to Lansing that evening and protested outside the Capitol Building?

Let's find out!

Let's seize the day of February 3rd away from Governor Granholm and the political class in Lansing.

On the evening of February 3rd, at the very same moment that Governor Granholm begins her speech, the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, and other activist groups like Common Sense in Government, are hosting a different speech outside the Capitol Building. This speech will be a "State of the Citizens Address" where everyday citizens will gather to air their grievances against Governor Granholm and Lansing's government class - and you are absolutely invited!

Friends, it is time to seize the day. It's time to drive to Lansing (dress VERY warm!), and join us outside on the steps of the State Capitol Building. Bring your protest signs and join with fellow frustrated taxpayers in demanding an end to Lansing's failed policies of tax hikes, spending increases and broken promises.

Will you help us seize the day on February 3rd?

You can help in two ways. The first is to join us. Bring your family, friends and coworkers. The more people we have at this 'State of the Citizen Address', the more the media and (most importantly) the politicians inside the Capitol will pay attention.

We will be setting up folding chairs outside as well. These chairs will be reserved for state legislators who will be invited to do something that no politician in the history of the State of Michigan has ever done before: skip the Governor's State of the State Speech and come outside into the cold to listen to citizens. That's right, we will asking the lawmakers - who were elected to represent the people - to come outside and listen to the people instead of listening to Granholm's annual State of the Government speech.

Will any of our state's elected officials do this? Will any skip the smoked salmon buffet, forgo their comfy seat in the House Chamber, and come outside to listen to the "State of the Taxpayer" or the "State of the Family" or the "State of the Business Owner"?

I don't know. But some might - especially if you help seize the day by calling your state representative and state senator and ask them to skip Granholm's eighth State of the State speech and to sit outside to listen to the 'State of the Citizens' instead.

That brings us to the second way you can help to help seize the day: call your representative and senator (contact info here). Tell them that, if they want to really represent you, they should leave their seat on the House floor vacant and go outside and listen to the people. They might tell you that they "have an obligation to attend the Governor's State of the State Address" or that it "would be disrespectful" to miss it. Politely inform them that their obligation is to the citizens, not the Governor. And that we are not asking anyone to interrupt or be rude during the Governor's speech - we are asking them to simply not attend. And to join the citizens outside, instead.

If you call your lawmakers and ask them to do this, then you are helping us seize the day on February 3rd.

Friends, this is a historic moment. We are on the verge of doing something unexpected - forcing Lansing politicians to make real reforms. Just yesterday, Republican state Senate leaders held a press conference to announce their support for across-the-board pay and benefit cuts for politicians and government bureaucrats throughout Michigan. These reforms would require that the political class pay 20% of their health care premiums - much closer to what private sector citizens who are lucky enough to have health care pay. The reform proposals would cut politician pay, and the pay of every government employee in MI, by 5% and freeze it for three years. These pay and benefit reforms would apply to state lawmakers, public university employees, treasury department bureaucrats, etc. and would save your family from having to pay even higher taxes. These reforms would save taxpayers over $2 billion!

But having Lansing leaders announce reform plans means nothing if we can't force these and other reforms through! We must turn UP the heat on Lansing to push politicians into doing something they absolutely do NOT want to do - to vote "yes" on these reforms.

So, will you help? Will you drive to Lansing on February 3rd and help citizens seize the day? Will you call your lawmakers and tell them to go outside that evening and listen to the people?

Michigan taxpayers need you to step up. Our economy, our future, need you to step up.

Let's do it. Let's rescue Michigan. Let's seize the day on February 3rd!

You are invited.

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

PS: The protest starts in front of the Capitol Building at 6:30PM and the 'State of the Citizen Address' starts promptly at 7:00PM.

Go to www.makelansinglisten.com for more information

Also, check out the great youtube video here.

PSS: Pass this email along if you have friends who are ready to help rescue Michigan!