Pass the Supplemental Budget!

Action Items

Last Thursday the Michigan Legislature reached an agreement on the $975 million left on the table after Gov Whitmer was forced to line-item veto the GOP last-minute budget. But Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey(R) has rejected it saying he doesn’t trust the Governor. The proposed deal would have restored those line item vetoes which include Health Services, Public Education, Public Safety and many other services. Shirkey didn’t like the agreement because it didn’t include a new law which would restrict the Administrative Board. The Administrative Board allows the Governor to transfer funds within departments and was originally established by Governor John Engler(R). It was last used in 1991. Governor Whitmer has made numerous public statements saying she will not use the Admin Board further but Shirkey insists she is untrustworthy. There is no evidence that Governor Whitmer is untrustworthy. She has made every effort to work with the GOP-led Legislature, including a public vow she would not transfer any funds included in the negotiated budget.

Mike Shirkey(R) needs to approve the Supplemental Budget because the effects of his political gambit are starting to be felt.  Already, rural hospitals have put themselves on high risk for closing. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office has had to pull road patrol officers off the street and some school districts have had to deny teacher supply requests.

Call these Republicans in the Michigan Senate and tell them we need Mike Shirkey to work with Governor Whitmer and sign the Supplemental Budget

Script for Calling Republican Leadership in the Michigan Legislature:
Hi, I’m calling to urge Senator *_______ to stop the pressure on Gov Whitmer about the Admin board and sign the Supplemental Budget. Already, we are feeling the effects of the reduced funding needed for our public safety, public schools and health services. We need Mike Shirkey to work with the Governor and get the funding for our critical programs restored. Thank you.

Call MI GOP to Support the Impeachment Process

Action Items

The United States House of Representatives voted to formalize the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump in response to allegations that he, yet again, sought the assistance of a foreign power to interfere in our elections. Despite the grave threat that this poses to our democracy, not a single Republican voted in favor of the investigation and instead have been working to obstruct ongoing investigations. Republicans have complained about the process used so far in the inquiry and this vote gives them what they want by increasing their role, but they continue to turn a blindeye to the mounting evidence against the President’s corruption. Safeguarding our democracy should not be a partisan issue. It is time for Republicans to honor their oath to defend the Constitution by following the investigation where it goes with an open mind.

Call the MI GOP Congressional Delegation:
Jack Bergman: (202) 225-4735
Bill Huizenga: (202) 225-4401
John Moolenaar: (202) 225-3561
Fred Upton: (202) 225-3761
Tim Walberg: (202) 225-6276
Paul Mitchell: (202) 225-2106

Script for calling Representatives:
Hi, I’m calling to urge Representative _________ to put the country over partisanship by participating in the impeachment inquiry with an open mind. I was shocked that you and not a single Republican voted in favor of formalizing the inquiry despite the complaints made by many in your party about the process. Inviting a foriegn power to interfere in our elections is an attack against the very foundation of our democracy. This should not be a partisan issue; it is an issue of patriotism. Please do your duty to your country by honoring your oath to defend the Constitution by following the investigation where it goes with an open mind.

Support the Open Impeachment Process

Action Items

The United States House of Representatives voted to formalize the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump in response to allegations that he, yet again, sought the assistance of a foreign power to interfere in our elections.

Despite the grave threat that this poses to our democracy, not a single Republican voted in favor of the investigation and instead have been working to obstruct ongoing investigations.

Republicans have complained about the process used so far in the inquiry and this vote gives them what they want by increasing their role, but they continue to turn a blind eye to the mounting evidence against the President’s corruption.

Safeguarding our democracy should not be a partisan issue.

Call to Block Undue Corporate Tax Breaks (=Subsidies…)

Action Items

In 2015, a global corporation called Switch Inc., was given a multi-million dollar state tax exemption to build a data center in Grand Rapids. Now, some GOP lawmakers want to exempt that same corporation from local property taxes – for no apparent reason. This sure looks like textbook greed, corruption, and not the sort of thing we want to support in the tax code. It would even apply retroactively, requiring affected municipalities to return funds! Without this property tax, assuming no other changes, governments and schools in West Michigan will likely lose hundreds of thousands in much-needed revenue.[3]

SB455 is expected to have a hearing in the House Committee on Commerce and Tourism this week and could move to floor vote in days, so calls are urgently needed.

Please call these committee members:

*Luke Meerman of district 88 (Cooperville) is seen as the swing vote within the committee. [4]
**John Reilly, of District 46, is seen as a likely no. [5]

Example script for calling representatives
Hi, I’m ________, and I’d like to urge you to vote against SB455. This bill looks like really transparent greed. Giving the Switch data center corporation another tax break, a refund for previous years’ taxes, and taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual local government and school funding is not a good cause. Thank you.

Other Republican representatives on the committee to call:

These Democrats are also on the committee & likely to vote no. Call to encourage them.

References

[0] http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(nwr5t4jv5j0xgv0nvc4krntv))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2019-SB-0455
[1] http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2019-2020/billengrossed/Senate/htm/2019-SEBS-0455.htm
[2] https://www.switch.com/grand-rapids
“LOW OR NO TAXES”, “No business personal property tax for Switch clients”
[3] http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2019-2020/billanalysis/Senate/htm/2019-SFA-0455-F.htm
[4] http://house.michigan.gov/mhrpublic/2012DistrictMaps/088.pdf
[5] http://house.michigan.gov/mhrpublic/2012DistrictMaps/046.pdf

Please Call- Again, Urgent Legislative Action on Roads and the Budget

Action Items

Resources:

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/budget/FY20_Exec_Budget_648023_7_648294_7.pdf page A-2 / 10

Urge MI GOP in Congress to Support the Impeachment Inquiry

Action Items

An impeachment inquiry into President Trump surrounding apparent abuse of power has begun. The allegations are deeply concerning, and it is very important that this work proceed – once the House committees complete their investigations, they will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with impeachment. If so, they will write and introduce articles of impeachment to the House, and if it passes the House, it is up to the Senate to hold a trial – presided over by Chief Justice John Roberts – whether to impeach. We’re a long way from a resolution to this one way or the other, but to finish, it has to start. [0][1][2]

Congress is in recess from September 30th until October 15th, [3] so our goal here is to ensure there continues to be pressure to see this through. To this end, all but a few Democratic Representatives say they support an impeachment inquiry, and none of those holdouts are from Michigan. [4]

We’re calling all six Michigan Republican Representatives; they are: [5]

Example for calling representatives:
 
Hi, I’m ____, and I’m a Michigan voter. I’m calling because I’m concerned by what appears to be an abuse of power by President Trump to use the withholding of military aid to pressure Ukraine to perform political investigations to help his 2020 campaign. [6][7] I’d like to urge you to support an inquiry into this. Thank you.

References

[0] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/25/what-you-need-know-about-impeachment-inquiry-into-trump/
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/25/why-now-moments-that-moved-pelosi-house-democrats-toward-impeachment/
[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/24/full-trump-ukraine-timeline-now/
[3] https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/roll-calls-2019-congressional-calendar
[4] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/us/politics/trump-impeachment-congress-list.html
[5] https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/MI#representatives
[6] https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/transcript-of-trumps-call-with-ukrainian-president-shows-him-offering-us-assistance-for-biden-investigation/2019/09/25/16aa36ca-df0f-11e9-8dc8-498eabc129a0_story.html
[7] https://news.yahoo.com/full-memo-transcript-trump-phone-call-ukraine-president-zelensky-biden-151319799.html

Tell Michigan GOP to Support Community Mental Health in 2020 Budget

Action Items

We are experiencing a mental health crisis in our state, and the budget proposed by the GOP does nothing to address it.
The opioid crisis, suicide rates, school safety challenges, and needs of persons with disabilities are at unprecedented levels. Yet the GOP budget is nowhere close to providing the funding our distressed Community Mental Health providers need to provide adequate services.

Michigan can and must do better.

Let’s make some calls this week and make sure our legislators know this neglect of our most challenged Michiganders will not stand.

Support budget increases for County Community Mental Health:

Background. Currently, the Michigan legislature is stalled on budget negotiations, with Republicans not sharing their proposals with Democrats. Michiganders run the risk of a budget that has shortfalls in many necessary programs, such as public transit, fixing the roads, education, and particularly, public health. Currently, Michigan’s public health system can no longer meet the needs of the people who depend on this care. County funds are used to cover state Medicaid obligations, and General Fund support for public mental health has fallen dramatically.

Why is increasing support for mental health important?
There has been an increase in suicide rates, opioid addiction, mental illness, concerns for children’s safety in schools, and a need to help individuals with disabilities become productive members of their communities.

In the past, Michigan had one of the most advanced public health systems in the country. However, Medicaid expansion led to a General Fund support reduction for mental health, because it was believed that Medicaid could cover it. But Medicaid only covers 20 mental health visits per year.. There are barriers to signing up for Medicaid and not all are eligible. Any costs not covered by Medicaid have been passed on to County Mental Health systems.  Our systems are near collapse. The need for more funding is urgent.

What is happening? The Michigan House and Senate are working on the state budget. One of the most financially neglected public systems is our system of Community Mental Health. The legislature has an opportunity and obligation to restore past funding cuts and increase funding.

What can we do? We can call the following State House Representatives and Senators who should be concerned about Michigan’s mental health system crisis. Please call:

State Senator Ruth Johnson, 14^thDistrict: 517-373-1636
State Senator Pete Lucido, 8^thDistrict: 517-373-7670
State Senator Jim Runestad, 15^thDistrict 517-373-1758                  
State Representative Mike Mueller, 51^stDistrict, 517-373-1780
State Representative Tommy Brann, 77^thDistrict, 517-373-2277

Call to State Representatives:
Hello, I’m a Michigan voter and I want to encourage Representative/Senator _________to support restored and increased funding to Michigan’s Community Mental Health System. There is currently a crisis as needs surpass availability of adequate mental health care. Needs range from addressing the opioid crisis, increased suicide rate, keeping residents safe and cared for, and improving the ability of persons with disabilities to be successful members of their communities.

Information provided by Susan Gannon of Michigan Resistance.

Additional resources:
https://www.nasw-michigan.org/news/439890/Systemic-Underfunding-of-Michigans-Public-Mental-Health-System.htm