Lame Duck session in Lansing is ON and the GOP is going wild. The sheer volume of outrageous bills being introduced at rapid pace make clear that the Republican strategy is to overwhelm opposition to any one bill. Here are just a few examples of what they are trying to do:
- gutting the minimum wage initiative that actually makes the law WORSE than what we have now
- gutting the EARNED Paid Sick time to make it so difficult for workers to care for themselves and their families and continues the public health risks of sick employees working to keep their jobs
- handcuffing our new governor from negotiating the Line 5 solution by transferring responsibility for a potential tunnel to the Mackinac Bridge Authority – also transferring financial liability to the state/taxpayers from the corporations that operate the pipelines. Not to mention done without conferring with the Authority or the Tribal authorities…..
- More dark money provisions in campaign finance
- Changing education policy when we do not have a State Superintendent in place and a change in the State Board of Education in 2019.
- Stripping the power to oversee elections from the Secretary of State
- Limiting the power of the Attorney General to go after fraudulent charities
You get the picture. So what can we do?
Michigan Resistance and other groups are making calls to legislators and voters to urge the demise of these bills. Sign up at MichiganResistance.org to get instructions.
But most importantly, we need to fill the gallery when the house “debates” these bills. So if you can, PLEASE GO TO LANSING on Tuesday 12/4 especially, but also any day through out the Lame Duck session. We need to fill the gallery. Make some noise in the rotunda. Let them know we are watching. In the coming days, rallies will be planned by activists groups. We’ll keep you informed.
If you have a car and can offer rides to Lansing, or you need a ride, try this nifty tool for arranging carpools : http://www.groupcarpool.com/t/