Conyers: President Obama’s Strategy Review Good First Step in Modernizing Defense Posture; Additional Spending Cuts Needed to Properly Balance Our Domestic and National Security Needs

Conyers: President Obama’s Strategy Review Good First Step in Modernizing Defense Posture; Additional Spending Cuts Needed to Properly Balance Our Domestic and National Security Needs

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For Immediate Release
Date: Thursday, January 5, 2012
Contact: Matthew Morgan – 202-226-5543

Conyers: President Obama’s Strategy Review Good First Step in Modernizing Defense Posture; Additional Spending Cuts Needed to Properly Balance Our Domestic and National Security Needs  

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) released the following statement applauding the Department of Defense’s strategic review announced today by President Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey. 

“The Strategic Review announced by President Obama, Secretary Panetta, and General Dempsey today at the Pentagon will go a long way towards rebalancing our domestic and national security needs by establishing a force structure that can best address the changing threats our country will face in the 21^st Century,” said Conyers.  “While I strongly endorse this smart refocusing of our funding priorities, I believe we can and must do more to bring our defense spending back to historic peacetime levels.  For example, the current framework envisions only an 8 percent force builddown, which is far less than the builddown which occurred during the 1980s under President Reagan.”

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Conyers Calls on Republicans to Return to Washington and Work on Job Creation

Conyers Calls on Republicans to Return to Washington and Work on Job Creation

For Immediate Release
Date: Thursday, January 5, 2012
Contact: Matthew Morgan – 202-226-5543

Conyers Calls on Republicans to Return to Washington and Work on Job Creation

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) joined his House Democratic colleagues and called on House Republicans to return to Washington, and begin to work on the many serious challenges facing the American people—most importantly job creation.  Rep. Conyers also encouraged Democratic conferees to continue their efforts to reach a full one-year extension of the payroll tax cut, unemployment benefits, and the Medicare physician fee fix.  House Democratic conferees are hard at work to reach a bipartisan agreement on the payroll tax cut, unemployment benefits, and the Medicare physician fee fix that will extend these critical initiatives for the rest of the year.  Democrats have long been committed to a full one-year extension of these benefits. The Republican Majority, on the other hand, is keeping Congress out of session until the third week of January.    

“The city of Detroit is experiencing one of the most serious jobs crisis since the Great Depression,” said Conyers. “We need the House to come back into session now, so we can address the unemployment emergency in this nation with meaningful direct job creation legislation and a year -long extension of unemployment benefits.  Furthermore, there is no reason for House Republicans to continue blocking passage of President Obama’s American Jobs Act, a moderate and common sense job creation bill that would put millions of Americans back to work.

“House Republican must return to Washington to focus on legislation that will create what the American people deserve—which is jobs, jobs, jobs.  Democrats are committed to rebuilding the American dream and ensuring there are opportunities for all who are willing to work hard. The American people have been clear: they want both sides to work together to extend the payroll tax cut for a full year to 160 million Americans and they want to see Congress forge a bipartisan compromise that will create jobs, grow the economy, and strengthen the middle class.”

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Conyers Applauds Recess Appointment of Richard Cordray as Top Consumer Watchdog

For Immediate Release
Date: Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Contact: Matthew Morgan – 202-226-5543

Conyers Applauds Recess Appointment of Richard Cordray as Top Consumer Watchdog

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) released the following statement applauding the recess appointment of former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):

“President Obama’s decision to appoint Rich Cordray as the first Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sends a strong message to the American people that the implementation of the historic Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act will not be held hostage by those who oppose accountability for the predatory lenders and irresponsible speculators who caused the financial crisis of 2008,” said Conyers.  “Thanks to today’s bold action by the President, the CFPB can move forward with its top cop on the beat.

“As Ohio Attorney General, Rich Cordray was a leader in standing up for consumers struggling to pay their mortgages and stay in their homes. He was a strong - and early - voice for holding big banks accountable for abusive servicing practices that are leading to unfair and unlawful foreclosures. General Cordray recovered over $2 billion wrongly looted by Wall Street banks and returned it to Ohio homeowners, taxpayers, pension funds and municipalities.

“In Rich Cordray, American consumers will gain a have a strong advocate known for his reasoned and reasonable approach, for smart work across party lines to get things done, and for his willingness to stand up to Big Wall Street banks and powerful financial industry special interests.”
 

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Detroit town hall: Conyers vows to use White House relationships to fight state takeover

Hundreds of concerned residents joined local leaders Monday night at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit, singing "We Shall Overcome" and speaking out against the prospect of an emergency manager running the state's largest city.

"Emergency managers, so-called, are merely a dictatorial ruse for a governor to take over and suspend democratic management," U.S. Rep. John Conyers told the crowd, as recorded by several local television stations.

Conyers, who has asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to review the constitutionality of Michigan's Public Act 4, told residents he will use his relationships in the White House to stop the appointment of an emergency manager for Detroit.

"It just so happens that I have a closer relationship with the 44th President of the United States and his Attorney General, Eric Holder, than I have ever had with anybody in the Washington White House," he said, failing to mention the public disputes he has had with President Barack Obama.

The state launched a preliminary review of Detroit's finances in early December, finding "probable financial stress" that warranted a formal review. Gov. Rick Snyder last week named a 10-member review team that will have up to 60 days to investigate the city's finances, but he promised to continue to work with city leaders, who are negotiating with local unions in an attempt to avoid projected insolvency.

"My administration has worked – and will continue to work – collectively and collaboratively with Mayor Bing and city officials to ensure a revitalized, strong and successful Detroit," the governor said last week.

Tuesday's town hall, organized by Councilwoman JoAnn Watson, lasted around three hours. Fox 2 reports organizers asked residents to circulate petitions in an attempt to repeal Michigan's newly-strengthened emergency manager law, which critics contend is undemocratic because it allows government appointees to dissolve elected bodies and break union contracts.

"Detroit knows how to deal with Detroit's issues," State Rep. Harvey Santana told the television station. "Lansing needs to deal with Lansing's issues." 

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Hundreds Rally against Possible Detroit Takeover

Hundreds Rally against Possible Detroit Takeover: MyFoxDETROIT.com

Hundreds of people gathered at a Detroit church to voice their opposition to the possibility that the state could take over the city's government.
Michigan Democratic Congressman John Conyers was among those at Monday's gathering at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. He told the crowd he would use his relationship with the White House to fight any attempt to appoint an emergency manager.
Last week, Gov. Rick Snyder announced members of a review team that will dig deeply into Detroit's finances.
The team's appointment comes after a preliminary review found that there was "probable financial stress" in Michigan's largest city. Ultimately, Detroit could be appointed an emergency manager, which state and city officials have said they want to avoid.
Auditors say Detroit may run out of money as early as April.

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Hundreds rally against possible Detroit takeover

Hundreds of people gathered at a Detroit church to voice their opposition to the possibility that the state could take over the city's government.
Michigan Democratic Congressman John Conyers was among those at Monday's gathering at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. He told the crowd he would use his relationship with the White House to fight any attempt to appoint an emergency manager.
Last week, Gov. Rick Snyder announced members of a review team that will dig deeply into Detroit's finances.
The team's appointment comes after a preliminary review found that there was "probable financial stress" in Michigan's largest city. Ultimately, Detroit could be appointed an emergency manager, which state and city officials have said they want to avoid.
Auditors say Detroit may run out of money as early as April.

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Conyers Lauds Passage of Two Month Payroll Tax Cut

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For Immediate Release
Date: Friday, December 23, 2011
Contact: Matthew Morgan – 202-226-5543

Conyers Lauds Passage of Two Month Payroll Tax Cut

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Congress passed a two month extension of the payroll tax cut, unemployment insurance, and the Medicare physician fee fix.  Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement in response to the House and Senate’s action:

“Today is a victory for the working families, seniors, and the unemployed who were held hostage by yet another last minute crisis orchestrated by extreme Tea Party House Republicans,” said Conyers.  “The passage of the two month extension will ensure that 160 million middle-class families won’t see their taxes increase, millions of jobless Americans will have access to unemployment benefits, and millions of seniors on Medicare will continue to have access to the doctor of their choice.

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