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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Michiganders Encouraged to Vote By Values This Election Day

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Tuesday, October 28, 2014   

LANSING, Mich. - One week from today Michiganders will head to the polls to vote in the critical midterm elections, and decide the future direction of the state.

However, before casting a vote, Renell Weathers with the Michigan League for Public Policy says it's important to take the time to find out what the candidates really value.

From local school board races to districts' next representatives in Lansing and Washington, Weathers says no one should ever assume any elected official knows what their constituents think. She urges Michiganders to hold their lawmakers accountable both before and after the election.

"What people sometimes don't realize is the policies that become law aren't just pieces of paper," says Weathers. "They actually can hurt or help communities, families, children."

On the League's website, voters can access a list of questions to help determine whether or not a candidate shares his or her values, as well as a toolkit for communicating with elected officials after the election.

Weathers says every policy choice has consequences, so it's not enough for voters to base decisions on campaign promises. For example, she says many candidates pledge to fix the state's roads, but in asking more questions, voters will find out what they truly value.

"As we're looking at the revenue that is going to be needed, how are they going to secure that revenue?" she asks. "Is that going to hurt or help families?"

Weathers says a good starting point is to use the League's website to find information on poverty, income, and unemployment in their district, and to research how candidates plan to address those issues in moving the state forward.


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