WHAT HAVE DEMS DONE FOR YOU LATELY?
Last week, Gov. Whitmer signed into law a series of election bills passed by our Democratic legislature to boost and protect participation in our democracy. Republican legislators overwhelmingly opposed the bills. Here’s part of what Michigan’s Dems ensured for us:
- Citizens will now be automatically registered to vote when they apply for a driver’s license or Medicaid benefits, or when they’re released from prison. (Anyone who wishes can opt out.)
- 16-year-olds can now pre-register to vote so they’re ready to participate fully when they turn 18.
- It’s now a crime to intimidate or otherwise threaten election workers in an attempt to stop them from performing their duties.
- Disclaimers are required on political “deepfakes” and campaign ads created using artificial intelligence, with fines of $250 to $1,000 for violators.
- The new laws clarify that partisan election canvassers at both the county and state levels have a “ministerial, clerical, and nondiscretionary duty” to certify results in a timely manner submitted by local clerks, and clarifies that only the governor can submit a list of presidential electors to congress.
We’re grateful for these powerful measures to promote democracy in Michigan!
And they’re just part of the remarkable series of accomplishments from Michigan Dems this year. We can also give thanks for:
- Legislation to improve student performance and teacher satisfaction by cutting red tape and bureaucracy in our public schools (sure is good to have a historic number of educators in the legislature!).
- The launch of MiLEAP – the new Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential. MiLEAP was established by executive order in July to consolidate and strengthen several existing early learning, higher education, and education partnership responsibilities to improve outcomes from preschool through postsecondary education.
- The launch of the new LGBTQ+ commission, established by executive order in June to to ensure representation for Michigan’s LGBTQ+ community at all levels of government. The Governor has selected the commission’s first administrator and appointed 13 commission members, representing different facets of the LGBTQ+ community, including educators, medical professionals, tribal members and advocates reflecting the socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, cultural, gender identity, sexual orientation, occupational, political and geographic diversity of Michigan.
And there’s so much more. Our first Democratic government in Michigan for 40 years has made major progressive strides for us. Michigan Advance Editor-in-Chief Susan J. Demas explains How Michigan became the progressive powerhouse of the Midwest.
To our entire Washtenaw County delegation in Lansing: Senators Irwin and Shink, and Representatives Felicia Brabec, Jennifer Conlin, Reggie Miller, Carrie Rheingans, Jason Morgan, and Jimmie Wilson – thank you for all your hard work!
Young Dems
Calling all Dems 16 to 36 to a holiday celebration!
Sign up here to make sure we can feed everybody who comes! Thanks – we hope to see you there!
TAKE ACTION
Believe it or not, the US is considering plans to nearly quadruple the export of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from the Gulf of Mexico over the next few years. Climate activist Bill McKibben warns, “There are plans for 20 huge export terminals to add to the seven that already exist. If they are built, the emissions associated with them will be as large as all the emissions from every home, factory, and car in the EU. The emissions associated with them will wipe out every bit of progress the U.S. has made on reducing carbon and methane since 2005.”
Fossil fuel proponents spuriously argue that natural gas, including LNG, is “cleaner than coal.” But, warns Transport & Environment (“Europe’s leading clean transport campaign group”), “LNG is primarily made up of methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than CO2 in the short term and 30 times worse in the long term. Methane leaks into the atmosphere throughout the LNG production and supply chain and slips directly from the ship’s [smokestacks], contributing to climate warming at a significant pace.” Natural Resources Defense Council agrees, saying LNG is worse than ordinary gas because the energy required to chill, ship, and regasify the fossil fuel makes it far more carbon-intensive and increases the potential for leakage of dangerous methane.
Our friends at A2D2, spurred by former WCDP Precinct Organizing chair Catherine Daligga, are encouraging all of us to write to US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm urging her to prohibit any new LNG plants from the Gulf of Mexico. Catherine provided an email from Bill McKibben, and her own sample letter to Secretary Granholm. We can send our own messages via email to The.Secretary@hq.doe.gov.
Let’s help stop this terrible climate threat.
ICYMI: WCDP December Meeting – Keeping Trump off the ballot in November
On Saturday, December 2, the WCDP held a meeting and program featuring Mark Brewer, former MDP Chair, speaking about efforts in Michigan and other states to keep former president Trump off the ballot in November 2024 on the grounds that he instigated an insurrection against the constitution of the United States. Also speaking were Joyce Olmstead and Chris and Ann Savage, on the subject of food and climate change.
Meet your representatives ☕
State Representatives Jimmie Wilson, Jr. (District 32) will have coffee and donuts with constituents at the Ypsilanti Senior Center, 1015 Congress St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197, on Saturday, December 9 from 11 am to noon.
State Representative Carrie Rheingans (District 47) will be hosting her next coffee hour in the Sweetwater’s, 2503 Jackson Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 on Thursday, December 14th from 8:30 – 10:00 am
State Representative Jennifer Conlin (48th District) will host a community event to discuss the many things the legislature accomplished this year at Captain Joe’s Grill 9901 N. Main St., Whitmore Lake, MI 48189 on Monday, Dec. 18, from 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Find Your Voting Districts
or Find your representatives by district.
