Sen. Levin supports a balanced approach to energy and the environment. He both understands the need for realistic, reliable approaches to America's immediate energy needs and also its long-term interest in energy independence and a healthy world for our children to inherit.

He summarizes the situation well and directly at his website's position page:

"As we move forward with a national energy policy, we need to ensure that we support policies that will decrease our dependence on foreign oil, reduce climate change emissions, and protect our national energy security but at the same time promote renewable energy sources, environmentally responsible domestic production, and tax incentives for energy efficiency and advanced automobile technology."

Moreover, Levin walks the talk in his balanced voting record. Ontheissues.org notes that the Michigan Senator voted YES on tax incentives for both energy production and conservation. he is realistic enough and courageous enough to back continuing oil and gas exploration subsidies even while also protecting the environment in vulnerable areas such as Alaska's ANWR region.

As a state with one of the highest levels of unemployment in the country, Michigan yearns for leadership that can stabilize it's economy. Since 2001, Michiganites have been reeling under the loss of nearly 3 million manufacturing jobs nationwide which has served to further increase the number of unemployed.

Levin addresses the problem by suggesting that the government give an immediate tax break to every working family of $1200 and allow all small business to write off any equipment purchased to loosen belts and open up more jobs.

Since last year, Levin has been working openly against Bush to bring the troops home. It was Levin who co-authored the proposal to bring the troops home with Senator Jack Reed last September and he is still pushing with ferocity.

Last April, he faced General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker with questions about the "success" in Iraq and put the mistakes of the Bush administration on the table.

Levin addressing the senate and Petraeus:

"This new increase in violence raises questions about the military success of the surge, but more significantly, the PURPOSE of the surge as announced by President Bush last year, which was to give the Iraqi leaders "breathing room" to work out a settlement has not been achieved."

Levin is one of the key senators behind US progression out of Iraq and an architect for the plan to clean up the mess we made. In this time when tempers between the US and the middle east are strained, what Americans need now is an educated diplomat like Levin.

At the Democratic National Convention this morning (Aug. 27) during the Michigan delegation breakfast, three prominent Michigan politicians, Governor Jennifer Granholm, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and Sen. Carl Levin, took the floor to present some of their state's most urgent issues to the leaders of the Democratic Party.

Carl Levin highlighted the failed economic policies and trade agreements of the Bush administration that have hurt Michigan's manufacturing by shipping jobs overseas. Levin has campaigned on the promise to give a much-needed boost to Michigan's manufacturing sector. A promise, he claims, that can be made possible with Obama as president:

“A partner that will fight for manufacturing in America, for jobs in America, for health care in America, for education in America."

Two weeks ago, Carl Levin announced with fellow Michigan senator Debbie Stabenow that long-desired federal funding for the Detroit and Muskegon detention centers for reentrance and inmate rehabilitation has finally been acquired. $514,251 will go to the Bridge to Success Transitional Jobs Program of the Detroit Workforce Development Department and the Jail Diversion and Reentry Pilot Project of Muskegon County as part of the recidivism reduction program and to help offenders find job placement once rehabilitated and out of prison.

This is a fantastic step forward for Michigan prisons as the number of prisoners since 1973 increased seven-fold and has higher incarceration rates than U.S. and Great Lakes area averages. Michigan also has lower admissions rates because of recidivism and the largest part of state expenditures go towards corrections. Said Levin: "*“This will aid Muskegon and Detroit in their fight to reduce crime in their communities. We depend on local law enforcement every day and these grants will help each community prevent crime before it starts.”

Senator Levin and his colleague, Senator Lautenberg recently called upon Condoleeza Rice to address the issue of settlement obligations to the American victims of terrorism during her upcoming trip to Libya.

The two primary acts of Libyan terrorism, the Pan Am 103 bombing over Scotland and the 1986 Labelle discotheque in Germany, amongst a few others, have yet to be compensated for by the Libyan government. The act outlining the agreed payment and terms by both America and Libya is called, The Libyan Claims Resolution Act. The senators wrote Rice outlining their concerns and pushing her to remind Libyan officials of their agreement to American compensation.

Senators Levin and Lautenberg:“As the first Secretary of State to visit Libya in more than fifty years, we urge you to focus your trip on prevailing on the Government of Libya to fulfill the settlement obligations it has made to American victims of Libyan terrorism. Passage of the Libyan Claims Resolution Act signaled to the Government of Libya the U.S. Congress’s willingness to allow the normalization of U.S.-Libyan bilateral relations to move forward once the August 14, 2008 agreement is fully implemented. Accordingly, we expect that a primary purpose of your trip will be to press the Libyans to follow through on this agreement.”

As chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Carl Levin (D) is putting his crosshairs on financial institutions who exploit loose regulations on stock swaps and loans to avoid paying taxes. The main player in the situation is the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department whom, Levin argues, "won't say stop and won't say go. Everyone is waiting for the IRS to make up its mind."

Levin criticized that the unlawful marketing of stock swaps and loans by companies such as Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, and Lehman Brothers had cost the government an estimated $100 billion a year according to a report released by the committee.

Douglass Shulman, the IRS Commissioner, defended the IRS in the case by arguing that some of the organizations who testified may be attempting to interpret the regulations on stock swaps and loans to justify their practices.

However, he stopped short of admitting that the practice of using stock swaps and loans to avoid taxes was, in fact, illegal.

""We're dealing with major financial players said. Presumably they don't want to be on the wrong end of the law," Levin said.

The case is a notable topic to be aware of in this election year as we face a declining economy and a time that demands higher ethical standards as well as tighter regulations on large financial institutions and corporations.

Levin Offers 2 Ways to Improve the Economy

Levin blames the Bush administration’s policies for the loss of 250,000 manufacturing jobs in Michigan. Levin blames American involvement in Iraq, rising health care costs, and foreclosures for further economic hardship. Levin, in this video offers two solutions. The American Manufacturing Initiative](http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=274509)) would supposedly create jobs for those manufacturers that lost jobs over the past few years. The resources devoted to the war could be redirected into the economy with the Levin-Reed Amendment. The plan would redeploy troops out of Iraq and let the Iraqis take responsibility for their government.

Levin on Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran

Iraq

Levin advocates a withdrawal from Iraq. He believes that American troops should take a supporting role rather than a combative role in Iraq. Levin wants a timetable with benchmarks for the Iraqis should meet. “It’s long overdue that we force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own government.”

Afghanistan

American troops will be needed in Afghanistan, but other countries should fulfill their NATO commitment to Afghanistan.

Iran

If Iran continues to be a military threat, America should place sanctions on Iran and prevent American companies and its subsidiaries from doing business.

Levin Cites Differences Between Iraq Policies, But Evades Questions About Dovish Concerns

At the 4 minute mark of the video below, Democracy Now! interviewed Carl Levin, who serves on the Senate Armed Service Committee. He was asked how Obama’s foreign plans would be different from President Bush’s. Levin says that Obama’s plan recognizes the importance of allies, whereas Bush has been arrogant and too willing to be divisive.

Levin, however, sidesteps two critical questions. Foreign policy doves criticize the Obama campaign for including “hawkish Democrats [from] the 90s” and the fact that

Biden voted for the war in Iraq.

Levin Legislation Targets Oil Speculators

Levin spearheaded theOver-The-Counter Speculation Act that would address 3 loopholes that prevented the Commodities Futures Trading Commission from regulation oil transactions. His study commission found that speculators raised the price by 30%.

(1) The bill would close the “Enron loophole”, which exempted energy futures from regulation.

(2) Computer transactions done in the US but are in London market would be under US jurisdiction.

(3) Over the counter oil transactions would likewise be under review by the CFTC.

Levin on Fuel Economy and Jobs

Michigan is the heart of the U.S automotive industry. As such the loss of auto manufacturing jobs and environmental concerns are matters on the minds of many in Detroit. In terms of the environment, Levin supported the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which seeks to raise Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to 35mpg by 2020. The bill also included a little known provision that would protect domestic manufacturing jobs from “backsliding.” The bill, however, in itself does nothing to create new jobs for those who have lost jobs.

Levin Supports Several Measures that Would Connect the Auto Industry with the Defense Department

Levin, who serves on the Senate Armed Service Committee, has sought to forge a relationship between Michigan’s auto industry and the U.S. military. The senator wrote the National Defense Authorization Act, which divided the cost between the private and public sectors in developing a fuel cell and new vehicle propulsion technology. He has secured funding for the Vehicle Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Logistics Program, a hybrid engine development program at the Army's Tank Automotive Research and Development Command (TARDEC).

Levin Supports the Earned Income Tax Credit

Many believe that everyone in America should exercise personal responsibility. Levin’s support of the Earned Income Tax Credit is a way to get the poor off of welfare and transition them into work. Levin claims that the tax credit has lifted 4 million Americans out of poverty. The credit allows to poor to pay for food, rent, and education. As the measure is essentially a tax break, Republicans and Democrats alike should support it.

Levin Drinks Clean Water

The Great Lakes supply much of Michigan’s drinking water and fish. However, over recent years the quality of the water has been compromised by pollution from DDT and PCBs. Levin wrote the Great Lakes Critical Programs Act, which raised quality standards and sought to clean the most polluted areas. Further water-cleaning bills that he has supported include the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004, the Great Lakes Water Quality Indicators & Monitoring Act, and the Great Lakes Initiative.

Levin Supports But Wants to Reform No Child Left Behind

Levin believes that smaller classes, after-school programs, and technology-influenced education should all continue to be a part of every student’s education. However, the incumbent is concerned about an overemphasis on testing. He worries that testing may not necessarily lead to smarter students or creative teaching. He also will reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which would require Congress to fund 40% of special education costs. Levin would also provide more funding for the federal program.

Levin Supports Cutting Taxes – But Not in Bush’s Way

Senator Levin supports a tax plan that would give “every working family of four would have received an immediate tax cut of $1,200.” Businesses would also benefit. They would be able to write off more capital such as equipment from their budgets. By supporting such significant tax cuts it appears difficult for economically conservative Republicans to castigate Levin as a tax and spend liberal. Levin, however, did not support the Bush tax cuts and believes in taxing the wealthy instead of the majority of Americans.

The last EPIC-MRA poll showed Levin (D) with a 56 to 28 percentage point lead over Jack Hoogendyk (R) in the Michigan Senate race. The poll was taken for the Detroit News and television stations and was based on 602 telephone interviews with potential voters. The sampling error is marked at plus or minus 4 percentage points.

I realize that these numbers can be misleading, inconsistent, and (honestly) quite annoying. But beneath the numbers you can get a sense of the very fundamental dynamics at play in some of these elections. With this race, I think one massive hurdle that Hoogendyk has yet to overcome (and, I'd argue, doesn't have the time left to pull it off) is gathering enough public recognition to even present a worthy challenge to Levin.

In this case, a series of televised debates between the two would benefit Hoogendyk just by having his name printed on television sets around the state. All the same, a 28-point deficit is a steep mountain to climb for the Republican, especially with a little over a month until the ballots are cast.

Michigan Senators Carl Levin (R) along with Debbie Stabenow have made a proposal to the Senate that will allow states and non-profit organizations to apply for grants that will enable them "to restore and maintain" historic lighthouses, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The program, if approved, will offer $20 million per year for three years for states who hold historic lighthouses to insure their durability and structural stability as well as appearance.

According to the article, "Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state."

Levin Votes for Bailout

Levin condemned the Bush administration and deregulation advocates on the Senate floor last night. He stated,

"Wall Street has run amok with greed while the Bush Administration and others urged them on in the name of deregulation. As in the run-up to the Great Depression, our free markets are running wild. We’ve reduced capital requirements, removed the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate swaps, and speculators took over the majority of some commodity trading, like oil."

Levin went on to explain that the crisis will effect the financial pot holes on Main Street that the crisis may cause,

"If we fail to take action, pensions and savings could quickly be decimated by a wrecked stock market, and Americans could suffer with significant job losses and less ability to buy everything from groceries to a new car or house. Small businesses and even large ones are likely to see their access to capital further reduced, home mortgages could become even more difficult to acquire or refinance, foreclosures could further skyrocket, and auto and student loans could be much more difficult to get. Construction jobs would likely disappear, automakers would cut back even further on production and lay off workers, and retail and service jobs would be cut. Retirees who are counting on a 401(k) or other type of pension would see their nest eggs shattered. If the stock market crashes, investments – even those made years or decades ago in supposedly “safe” assets – would be drowned."

Levin also highlighted arguably nongermane provisions in the current bill including tax incentives for alternative energy production, limiting the alternative minimum tax, and a mental health parity provision.

It is more clear, with every passing day, that what the country needs is to do is rid itself of any remnant of the Republican platform of the last eight years- and I don't care what any member of the GOP says about themselves and how different they are from Bush, to me they are all the same, and have lost any and all credibility. Just look at what happened today, both here and abroad- as the end result of the "trickle down" effect, de-regulating, greed is good type of thinking, we are looking at the very real possibility of another Great Depression dead in the eye- Thanks Gipper! Seriously, Carl Levin is a seasoned, powerful Democrat, a senior senator who is chair of the armed services committee who has proven himself time and again as a servant of both Michigan and America. I am confidant he will demand justice and accountability from the corporate world in the days to come, and in the next session of congress.

Last month, the Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named Sen. Carl Levin (D) the September Porker of the Month on account of his attempt "to give earmarks contained in committee reports the force of law" according to Forbes.com.

The Forbes report claims that Levin has a long history of earmark requests. The numbers include "255 earmarks for a total of $301.4 million, which made him the eleventh biggest porker in the Senate."

The earmark that earned Levin the award came with his attempt to earmark the S. 3001 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, which was tallied to contain nearly $5.9 billion worth of earmarks.