PEG 12th Congressional District Newsletter 263
May 6, 2022
Avoiding the Elephant on the Campaign Trail: Democrats Skirt Voting Rights
According to New York Times writers Reid J. Epstein and Jonathan Weisman, Democratic candidates are focusing on bread-and-butter issues like the price of groceries rather than their intense worries that our democracy is on the brink as voting rights are weakened. Rather, it’s Republican candidates, obsessed with the bugaboo that Democrats stole the 2020 election, who focus on election issues and voting rights.
The Democrats’ lack of focus on voting rights is particularly worrisome to black politicians who worry that this will alienate black voters. Angela Lang, executive director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities in Milwaukee argues, “If people don’t see that Democrats are defending our right to vote, then people may not be enthused about coming out to vote.”
Benefits by Biden
“PAXLOVID – The administration of US President Joe Biden this week announced plans to increase awareness and availability of the antiviral treatment Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir), which can reduce the risk of COVID-19-associated hospitalization and death by nearly 90% if taken within the first 5 days of symptom onset. The administration has purchased 20 million doses of the treatment from Pfizer, creating a sufficient stockpile, and will work with the manufacturer to speed delivery of the drug to pharmacies nationwide.” Read more
“Lower-income workers have more job opportunities than they have had for 30 years, and they are making more money. They have on average 50% more money in the bank than they did when the pandemic hit. Biden’s insistence on investing in Americans meant that by the end of his first year, the U.S. had created 6.6 million jobs, the strongest record of any president since record keeping began in 1939. By the beginning of April, the economy had added 7.9 million jobs, and unemployment was close to a 50-year low at 3.6%. Meanwhile, the deficit is dropping: we should carve $1.3 trillion off it this year, ” said Heather Cox Richardson. Read more
Petition needs your signature!
Reproductive Freedom for All is a campaign to amend the Michigan Constitution. The proposal affirms that every person has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which involves the right to make and carry out decisions without political interference about all matters relating to pregnancy, including birth control, abortion, infertility, miscarriage care, prenatal care, and childbirth. No one could be punished for having a miscarriage, stillbirth or abortion. It would repeal the 1931 law that makes abortion a felony; though the law was nullified in 1973 by Roe v. Wade, it would go into effect if the US Supreme Court overturns the decision. The coalition behind this measure includes the ACLU of Michigan, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, and Michigan Voices, a progressive nonprofit. If you are interested in volunteering, e.g. signing the petition and/or collecting signatures, go to mireproductivefreedom.org. The petition needs about 425,000 verified signatures!
PETITIONS
Share information about these petitions and discourage others from signing. Learn more here bit.ly/3v7vA3F and tracker at Bridge MI
OK TO SIGN
Desires to maintain funding for public education and avoid turning private schools into “tax shelters for the wealthy.
Offers flexibility for voters to cast their ballots, makes elections more accessible, saves early voting.
Makes reproductive freedom a right, repeals a 1931 law that makes abortion a felony.
DO NOT SIGN
Educators within the coalition argued Wednesday the measure would drain money a public education system and offer tax breaks to wealthy donors.
This measure proposed would add safeguards to the election process and to protect minority voters. This is aimed to suppress the votes of minorities.
the length of emergency orders from state or local health officials to 28 days. This measure puts the power to limit emergency measures in the hands of the legislature rather than in the hands of the experts.
The petition would force a “forensic audit” of the 2020 election and change how Michigan conducts audits after elections.
Events and Classifieds
Visit the PEG website for the full list of Upcoming Events
Thursday, May 5, Promote the Vote 2022
Brighton – Spring Ladies Night Out
Come to Brighton to sign the petition and/or Register Here to help get signatures for the Promote the Vote 2022 petition. 210 E Main St 48116. 5–9 pm
Milford Farmers Market
Come to Milford on this and upcoming Thursdays to sign the petition and/or Register Here to help get signatures for the Promote the Vote 2022 petition. 115 E Liberty St. 48381. 3–7 pm
Friday, May 6. Promote the Vote 2022, South Lyon
Come to South Lyon for Ladies Night to sign the petition and/or sign up to help get signatures. 117 N Lafayette St. 48178 Register to help here. 4:30–8 pm
Saturday, May 7. Reproductive Freedom For All, Ann Arbor Farmers Market
Show up to sign petitions and/or Register Here to let the Washtenaw Dems know your intention to help get signatures. Reproductive Freedom for All is a campaign to amend the Michigan Constitution affirming the right to reproductive freedom. (To make and carry out decisions without political interference about all matters relating to pregnancy, including birth control, abortion, infertility, miscarriage care, prenatal care, and childbirth). 315 Detroit St. 48104 7am–3pm
Saturday, May 7. Promote the Vote 2022
Plymouth Farmers Market
Come to Plymouth to sign the petition and/or Register Here to help get signatures. The Gathering building, 736 Penniman Ave 48170. 8 am–1 pm
South Lyon Farmers Market
Come to South Lyon to sign the petition and/or Register Here to help get signatures for the Promote the Vote 2022 petition. 110 W Liberty St 48178 9 am–1 pm
Farmington Farmers Market
Come to Farmington on this and future Saturdays to sign the petition and/or Register Here to help get signatures. 33113 Grand River Ave 48335. 9 am-2 pm
Brighton Farmers Market
Come to Brighton on this and future Saturdays to sign the petition and/or Register Here to help get signatures. 200 N 1st St. 48116. 8:30 am-1 pm
Novi, Pavilion Shore Park
Come to Novi on this Saturday and future Saturdays and Sundays to sign the petition and/or
Sunday, May 8 Promote the Vote 2022, Petitions/supplies pickup/dropoff – Southwest Farmington Hills
Register Here to get your petition sheets and other supplies; and drop off petitions with any signatures on them on a weekly basis. Office hours on Sunday late afternoon and Sunday evening, also 5/15 and 5/22. Additional information will be provided when you sign up. 5–8 pm
Wednesday, May 11 Promote the Vote 2022 – Walled Lake Farmers Market
Come to Walled Lake to sign the petition and/or Register Here to help get signatures for the Promote the Vote 2022 petition. 1499 E West Maple Rd 48390. 10–11:30 am
Help Promote the Vote collect 600,000 signatures
Promote the Vote needs help collecting 600,000 signatures by mid-July for a Michigan pro-voter ballot initiative campaign to protect our voting rights. Michigan residents can sign up to collect signatures on Promote the Vote’s volunteer page. Volunteers can search nearby events or view the entire calendar of events.
The Fair Housing Center is looking for “testers”
The Fair Housing Center of Southeast and Mid Michigan (FHC) is recruiting testers to help investigate Civil Rights violations/housing discrimination in these counties. “Testers” pose as home seekers in a variety of housing rental and sales situations. Testers are either volunteers or part-time as-needed employees ($24 an hour plus mileage reimbursement). Hours vary and are flexible. Attention to details is a must. Access to personal transportation is helpful, but not required. The FHC currently needs people of all races and ethnicities, age 18 and over. Testers play the role of a home seeker. Testers must be “objective, careful observers, accurate reporters, and truthful witnesses.” They may serve as witnesses in court cases. They are an essential part of FHC’s efforts to end discrimination in housing.The testing process has been consistently supported by federal courts. For more information about becoming a tester, go to the website by clicking here. To report an incident of housing discrimination, email complaints@fhcmichigan.org, or call (877) 979-FAIR (3247).
Things to read, watch, and listen to
A new community resource: ActionHub
Local. Progressive. Action.
ActionHub, the new community resource from the Washtenaw Democrats, connects you to over 100 local allied civic groups. You’ll find news, events, and calls for action from friends, neighbors, and activists who work every day to make Washtenaw County what it should be. The hard work of many local civic groups found here supports this. Whatever your progressive passion, there are fellow citizens in the county who share it, and they need your help to make the change we all believe in.
At ActionHub you can browse eight broad areas like economic justice, human rights, protecting democracy, and sustaining the environment, and more. Find friends and take action. Learn more here. –WashtenawDems.org
Election Season Cheat Sheet:
The Washtenaw County Clerk’s webpage enumerates in detail the elections, proposals and candidates to date. A few of the important dates are listed below.
What are the remaining election dates in 2022?
- August 2 – State Primary as well as proposals that are not yet “official” – including the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority proposal
- November 8 – State General Election
What are the voter registration deadlines?
Visit MichiganGov/Vote to register
- July 18: Last day to register in any manner other than in-person with the local clerk for the August primary. (168.497)
- July 19: through 8 pm on August 2 In-person registration with local clerk with proof of residency. (168.497)
- October 24: Last day to register in any manner other than in-person with the local clerk for the November general election. (168.497)
- October 25 through 8 pm on November 8: In-person registration with local clerk with proof of residency. (168.497)
What are the deadlines for submission of ballot proposals?
- By 5 pm, June 1: petitions to place a legislative initiative proposal on the November general election ballot filed with the Secretary of State (340,047 valid signatures required). (168.471)
- By 5 pm, July 11: Petitions to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the November general election ballot filed with the Secretary of State (425,059 valid signatures required). (168.471)
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A special thanks to our newsletter contributors: Ellen Halter, Leslie McGraw, Leslie Kamil, Lisa Kamil, Richard Gaeth, Susie Ayer, Bette Cotzin, Bernie Banet, and Chuck Newman for their contributions and help preparing our newsletters. PEG is a (somewhat) non-partisan volunteer organization whose mission is to assure that our government will treat all Americans with equality and acceptance. PEG’s work is primarily done by recruiting, educating and nurturing supporters for worthy organizations, actions and events that reflect our beliefs. To subscribe to this free weekly newsletter, go to our sign up form by clicking here.
