Senate Rejects Granholm Appointee to State
Board of Canvassers
Lawmakers Say Vote
on Marriage Petition Certification Violated Duties
 For
the first time in 15 years, the State Senate today voted to reject
Governor Granholm's re-appointment of Dorothy Jones to the State
Board of Canvassers. Republican lawmakers said that Jones, a Democrat,
violated her duties in 2004 when she cast a "no" vote
on certification of the petitions to place a marriage amendment
before voters.
"It's encouraging to see lawmakers holding
appointed officials accountable for their actions," said
MFF Executive Director Brad Snavely. "Her vote in 2004 was
clearly a partisan one, and outside of her prescribed duties as
a member of the Board." Jones' vote along with that of Doyle
O'Connor, the other Democratic member of the Board, resulted in
a deadlock that was ultimately overturned by the Michigan Court
of Appeals allowing the amendment to be placed on the ballot.
For more information, click
here.
What Dads Do
 Noted
marriage, family, and fatherhood author, Jennifer Roback Morse,
has released a new paper entitled "What Dads Do." Morse
shares from her own experiences with her father, as well as her
husband to make the argument that fathers offer essential contributions
to the development and well-being of children.
Morse is a Ph.D. professor at the Hoover Institution
at Stanford University in California. She will be the special
guest at a luncheon MFF will host for legislators in May. To read
"What Dad's Do," click
here.
Ad Campaign Promotes Internet
Safety
 A
group of state attorneys general and first ladies has launched
a coalition dubbed the "Internet Keep Safe Coalition."
The coalition has launched an ad campaign geared towards children
with tips for staying safe on the Internet. The campaign also
includes tips for parents.
"One in five kids who are regular Internet
users will be solicited sexually while online," said MFF
Executive Director Brad Snavely. "Parents owe it to their
kids to take steps to adequately protect them while using the
Internet."
Michigan Family Forum offers a "Family Guide
to Internet Safety" with information for families to use
to protect themselves from the dangers of the Internet. Click
here for information on how to download or order copies of
the Guide. For more information on the Internet Keep Safe Coalition,
click
here.
Healthy Marriage Relationships
= Better Health
 Yet
another study was profiled this week in USA Today about the health
benefits of healthy marriage. In the wound healing study, 42 couples
agreed to let researchers use a suction device to create several
minor blister wounds on their skin in two sessions about two months
apart. The first time, couples were told to discuss a neutral
topic; the next time they were given half an hour to resolve an
issue or two on which they disagreed. Their discussions were monitored.
Researchers also checked participants' wounds over
the next few weeks and their production of three proteins created
in wound healing. The outcome: "Even a simple discussion
of a disagreement slows wound healing," says psychologist
Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, who did the study with co-author Ronald
Glaser of Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Overall, couples took longer to heal when asked
to thrash out points of conflict than neutral issues. Hostile
couples - peppering both discussions with criticism, sarcasm and
put-downs - healed the slowest. It took them 40% longer, or two
more days, to heal, and they also produced less of the
proteins linked to healing. The full story is available for a
fee from USA Today. Click
here to access.
"Awaken Your Heart"
Conference for Men
 The
North Lakeshore and Hillside Wesleyan Churches are sponsoring
a men's conference near Vassar, MI April 15 - 17. The "Awaken
Your Heart" retreat will include an in-depth study of John
Eldredge's "Wild at Heart" book which deals with issues
regarding masculinity and the needs of men. It also includes time
for personal recreation and devotion. For more information, click
here.
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