Party on the Peninsulas Michigan Democratic Party

Another week, another shooting followed by more Thoughts and Prayers. At the federal level, Republicans make it clear that is all they are willing to do as innocent Americans are slaughtered, almost always with legally obtained AR-15 style assault rifles.

Democrats in the Michigan Legislature also offer sincere thoughts and prayers, but are continuing to move forward with action on common-sense gun safety laws that have the support of an overwhelming majority of Michiganders.

We are joined this week by the chair of the state House Criminal Justice Committee, Representative Kara Hope, on gun safety as well as protecting election workers from threats of violence.

News Stories We Are Following This Week



Michigan is passing gun safety laws. Most counties may not enforce them – Bridge Michigan

Democratic gun safety laws met with a shrug in Michigan gun country – Bridge Michigan

After Nashville shooting, Senate chaplain makes rare plea to lawmakers – The Washington Post

In Congress, little urgency to address gun violence with legislation – The Washington Post

What top Republican lawmakers said about the Nashville school shooting – The Washington Post

Legislature’s three-month sprint reflects sea change in Michigan politics

GOP lawmakers override veto of transgender bill in Kentucky – AP News

West Virginia governor signs ban on gender-affirming care – AP News

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel calls income tax cut temporary.

We have an epidemic of gun violence in this country. The leading cause of death of children is guns; seemingly every night the news includes reports of still another mass shooting.

As Governor Whitmer said after the tragedy at Michigan State University, the time for “only thoughts and prayers is over”. And Democrats in the Legislature agree, and are enacting common-sense gun safety measures that are being demanded by voters. The bills have overwhelming public support, but that support isn’t shared by the Michigan Republican Party. The party called the bills a step towards gun confiscation, and compared them to the actions of Nazis in the 1930s. 

Joining this week’s podcast is the Speaker Pro-Tem of the Michigan House, Laurie Pohutsky.

She is serving her third term representing the 17th House District, which encompasses parts of Northwest Detroit, North Redford Charter Township and Northeast Livonia. She is a long-time activist and volunteer, and spent time as a crisis hotline volunteer and a caregiver at Angela Hospice.

Pohutsky graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in microbiology. After college, Pohutsky worked in the fields of food safety, toxicology and health care. She brings this knowledge, along with her experience in water quality testing, with her to the Michigan House of Representatives. She has a deep commitment to bringing a scientific perspective to government and advocating for environmental causes.

Stories across Michigan on politics and policy





Legislature’s three-month sprint reflects sea change in Michigan politics – Detroit News

Michigan Right to Work repeal, prevailing wage clear Legislature, head to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer – Bridge Michigan

Michigan lawmakers repeal right-to-work, revive prevailing wage – Detroit News

Michigan Democrats vote once more to repeal right-to-work – Detroit Free Press

Michigan Gov. Whitmer says time for ‘only thoughts and prayers’ is over, vows to take action on gun violence – Fox News

Michigan passes ‘safe storage’ gun bill; state GOP likens it to Nazism -|Bridge Michigan

Michigan House passes safe gun storaproposal – WILX TV

Oxford shooter’s parents can be tried for manslaughter, court rules – Bridge Michigan

Michigan GOP slammed for comparing gun reform to Holocaust – AP News

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In the last week there have been two major developments showing respect: respect for LGBTQ+ Michiganders as the Governor signs a law expanding the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity … and respect for workers’ rights.

Under the Snyder administration, there were continual attacks on the rights of workers to improve their working conditions and pay. The most egregious: after saying that so-called “right to work” legislation wasn’t on his agenda, in 2012 Governor Snyder and Republicans jammed through a ban on union shop contracts during a lame-duck legislative session. The bills passed with no committee hearings and minimal floor debate on straight party line votes.

Just this week, the former Governor doubled down on his betrayal of workers with an op-ed in the Detroit News claiming that repealing the law means Michigan is now closed to business.

Also working it’s way quickly through the Legislature:  restoring Michigan’s prevailing wage law, which requires that workers on government-funded projects be paid a wage consistent with the local prevailing wage.

Our guest this week is Ron Bieber, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO, who talks about how these bills are good news for ALL Michigan workers.

Links to stories we’re following



Michigan set to repeal right-to-work laws – The Washington Post

The Union Advantage – U.S. Department of Labor

Snyder: Repealing right to work means ‘closed for business – Detroit News

Michigan Right-to-Work backers plot ballot proposal as Dems pursue repeal – Bridge Michigan

What is Michigan Right-to-Work: How law impacted wages, jobs, unions – Bridge Michigan

Democrats pitch tax credit for union dues, other pro-labor measures

Inside the Gun Safety Package Michigan Lawmakers Want to Pass – Time Magazine

Michigan Senate OKs ‘history-making’ gun control bills after gun violence

Democrats push Michigan gun reforms. Here’s what the laws are now – Bridge Michigan

Michigan voters support lifetime firearms ban for some crimes, poll says – Detroit News

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The Democratic Legislature is setting historic records for movement of major legislation, all focused on improving the lives of Michigan families: their schools, their workplace, and their cost of living. Today’s podcast catches up on all the incredible action by our legislators, beginning with a nearly $1-billion tax cut for working families and senior citizens.

Links to Stories We’re Following This Week



Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs Michigan tax relief, minus $180 inflation relief checks | Bridge Michigan

Michigan House passes bills to repeal right-to-work – Detroit Free Press

Michigan House Democrats pass prevailing wage bill – Detroit Free Press

Michigan House votes to repeal 1931 abortion ban – Bridge Michigan

House votes to expand background checks on gun sales – Detroit Free Press

Gun reform proposals receive first hearing in Michigan Legislature – WILX TV

Michigan bill would repeal legal protections for gun industry – Detroit News

Michigan voters support lifetime firearms ban for some crimes, poll says – Detroit News

Michigan Safety Survey Report – Glengariff Group

MSU shooting victim’s mom testifies for gun safety laws – Bridge Michigan

a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/08/democrats-minnesota-michigan-gun-safety-bills/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWJpZCI6IjU2MDgwMTgiLCJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjc4MjUxNjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjc5NTQzOTk5LCJpYXQiOjE2NzgyNTE2MDAsImp0aSI6IjU2YTgzYjIxLTQ1NzAtNGY1OC1iMWYzLTdiOGQxMDE5NTQwMyIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpb...

Tax cuts, civil rights, gun safety, voter protection — just another remarkable week of results for Michigan driven by Democrats in the Legislature. Joining the conversation this week is Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) who is getting results at the federal level on multiple issues directly impacting the people of our state.



Links We Are Following This Week



* Dingell Statement on Transport of Hazardous Waste from East Palestine, Ohio to Belleville | Congresswoman Debbie Dingell

* Detroit VA hospital harmed patients, altered records, investigation reveals – Detroit News

* Eli Lilly caps insulin prices at $35 a month – Axios

* Jack Carpenter accused of threatening to kill Jewish officials in Michigan – The Washington Post

Michigan lawmakers send Whitmer tax cuts; $180 payments are dead – Bridge Michigan

Michigan Senate OKs $1.3B spending deal: $630M for Ford battery plant prep – Bridge Michigan

New Michigan scholarship seeks to fill jobs at state’s EV companies – Bridge Michigan

Michigan Senate passes bill to protect LGBTQ from discrimination – Detroit Free Press

Christian and Muslim groups oppose LGBTQ rights bill,

FOCUS

First, our focus as Democrats. Some of the pundits look at the new ultra-right-wing Michigan Republican Party leadership team and assume that Democrats have it made – even some prominent Republicans across Michigan are saying it.

We have to maintain FOCUS: focus on organizing at the grassroots level, focus on continuing to recruit the very best candidates, and focus on fundraising to support those candidates. Michigan is still a purple state and we cannot take anything for granted, no matter what’s happening at the state GOP Headquarters. 

And FOCUS also applies to our policy agenda. It’s easy for political candidates to make promises. The challenge is following through, especially on those issues where there’s a fundamental divide between the two major parties.

Here in Michigan, it’s especially challenging because of the razor-thin majorities Democrats hold in the state Legislature: 56-54 in the state House, 20-18 in the state Senate.

Even with those small majorities, Democrats are following through to make campaign promises a reality. The House and Senate have already passed a nearly one-billion-dollar tax cut package focused on working families and retirees. Several other major planks of our campaign are moving quickly through the Legislative process.

We are joined this week by Senator Stephanie Chang, chair of the Senate’s Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee about two major groups of bills: civil rights for LGBTQ+ Michiganders, and badly needed gun safety laws.

This week in the news:



How Democrats are using their new power in these two state legislatures – Axios

Democratic Governors Form Alliance on Abortion Rights – NowThis

12 states sue FDA to make mifepristone abortion pill more accessible – The Washington Post

AG Nessel Joins Multistate Coalitions to Defend and Protect Access to Medication Abortion

Tax deal clears Michigan Senate, but inflation checks remain in limbo – Bridge Michigan

Michigan lawmaker survey offers glimpse on gun law changes – Detroit Free Press

Gun bill would require background checks for ...