Michigan Governor On Facebook

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Granholm uses Facebook to push anti-bullying bill
By Todd A. Heywood 10/7/10 -- 11:47 AM

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Thursday posted a note on her fan page on Facebook about the anti-bullying legislation known as Matt’s Safe School Law, which is currently frozen in the Republican controlled state Senate.

Granholm wrote the post in response to an appearance on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 show Wednesday night by Chris Armstrong. Armstrong is the openly gay president of the University of Michigan Student Assembly and has been the focus of a week’s worth of national attention because an assistant attorney general, Andrew Shirvell, has been running a blog about Armstrong. That blog alleges Armstrong is pursuing a “radical homosexual agenda.” As part of the Shirvell’s writings, he has appeared at various public events where Armstrong was present, as well as shown up at Armstrong’s off campus home.

Armstrong is seeking a personal protection order from the Washtenaw County courts to prevent Shirvell from following him or his friends around on campus.

Here’s what Granholm had to say on her Facebook page:

Right now, there is a bill that would ban bullying in Michigan schools, but it has been sitting in the State Senate since May 13, 2010. Please contact your State Senator and ask him or her to help stop school bullying by passing HB 4580: http://www.senate.michigan.gov/fysenator/fysenator.htm. While this bill might not have prevented Chris’ situation, it would help prevent bullying in our K-12 schools, and so we’re grateful Chris is speaking out.

Armstrong appeared on AC 360 Wednesday night in part he said because of the highly publicized run of suicides attributed to bullying. Hundreds of Michigan State University students and community members gathered Wednesday night for a candle light vigil to protest the suicides.