As a result of our hard work in last year’s election, Michigan ’s Congressional delegation was recently ranked as the fourth most powerful in Congress (see article).  We have Debbie Stabenow fighting for us in the Senate and we kept Carl Levin right where he belongs as our powerhouse senior Senator.  As Chairman Emeritus of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Dean of the House, I continue to fight for health care for every American and increased food safety for all.  Add to this a slew of focused policy makers such as my colleague from Northern Michigan, Bart Stupak, and two seats flipped from red to blue to give us Mark Schauer and Gary Peters—it is no surprise that Michigan is so powerful in Congress.  It is also more evident than ever that elections matter.  Thank you for using the election to ensure your voices are heard in the 111^th Congress.

When it comes to executive accountability we hear your voices loud and clear.  As you know, we have spent much of the week grappling with the issue of how to hold AIG responsible for the obscene decision to pay $165 million in bonuses after receiving $170 billion of taxpayer money to stay afloat.  At a time when hardworking men and women around the country are making sacrifices daily, why should AIG reward executives whose decisions contributed to this crisis?  Today we passed a bill in the house that puts a 90 percent tax on any bonus paid by a company receiving money through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).  This applies to more than just the financial sector; if union workers have to make concessions, so too should executives.  We are all in this together and we will only recover when those on top floor offices wake up to the current reality.  I look forward to continuing the work of President Obama and the Congress as we lead this country forward.