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August Monthly Meeting Next Wednesday
HCDP News for July 29th
POTLUCK AND MONTHLY MEETING NEXT WEDNESDAY
Join us for our monthly meeting at 7 PM next Wednesday August 6 at the Super 8 in Houghton.
Potluck starts at 6 PM. Bring a dish to share if you can, or just stop in and enjoy some quality time with your fellow Dems before we settle down to business at 7.
Remote attendance is available by Zoom. Click here at 7 PM Wednesday to attend by Zoom.
Membership in the Houghton County Democratic Party is encouraged, but not required, to attend meetings. We welcome all Houghton County residents who support progressive Democratic government to attend our meetings and events and also to become involved.

UPCOMING EVENTS
PASTY FEST IS AUGUST 16TH
We’ll be tabling again at Pasty Fest in downtown Calumet, and all our volunteer slots have now been filled! Thanks to all our volunteers. Stop by and say hi in between sampling pasties!
HOUGHTON COUNTY FAIR IS AUGUST 21ST THROUGH THE 24TH
Once again we’ll have a table at the Fair, and we look forward to capping off a summer of events with another opportunity to say hello to fairgoers and share our message.
OUR ANNUAL POTLUCK PICNIC IS AUGUST 31ST
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at our annual potluck picnic on Sunday, August 31st. This year we’ll be at the East Houghton Waterfront Park, by the skate park adjacent to the Super 8.

MICare - MICHIGAN’S OWN SINGLE PAYER HEALTHCARE PLAN
EFFORT UNDERWAY TO HOLD TOWN HALL WITH REP RHEINGANS ON MICare
In last week’s newsletter we told you all about the bill that Michigan state Representative Carrie Rheingans (D-47th) has re-introduced. The bill would establish MI Care, a state level single payer healthcare plan. MiCare would cover all Michiganders who have been state residents for at least six months. An Economist/YouGov poll published earlier this month found that 60% of Americans favor a single-payer “Medicare-for-all” type of plan.
There is an effort underway to see if Rep. Rheingans can come to Houghton County for a town hall so that we can all learn more about the MICare plan and how it could transform healthcare for Michigan residents. The target date would be sometime in October.
Stay tuned!
For More Information:
Listen to an interview with Rep. Rheingans, where she lays out how MiCare would work, on the MDP’s Party on the Peninsulas podcast. (The interview starts roughly 13 minutes into the podcast).
Visit Rep. Rheingans’ MiCare web page for a detailed breakdown of the plan.
See this press release from the MI House Democrats on the re-introduction of the MiCare plan in the state House by Rep. Rheingans.
Read this report from WZMQ-TV 19 about Rep. Rheingans trip to DC to promote single payer state plans.

State Rep. Rheingans re-introduces the MiCare plan

SUMMER - A TIME TO ENJOY, AND A TIME TO ORGANIZE

It’s that time of year when all the family who’ve gone away come back for a visit. It’s that time when the class reunions are going strong. The barbecue grills are fired up and the lawn chairs are beckoning. Yes, it’s summer, a time to enjoy.
But for many of us, this summer is not as happy as it should be. ICE deportations continue, and news articles keep appearing to show us how low the ICE detention facilities have sunk. We worry about friends and neighbors whose jobs have depended on federal funding that’s disappearing. We worry about cuts to healthcare for all of us, and are concerned about the quality and quantity of rural healthcare we will have in our community when the full impact of the Big Bad Billionaire Bill hits.
We should all take time to enjoy friends and family this summer. But if you want to continue the protest and help fight back against the authoritarian changes we’re seeing, you can do both.
Below are a few ways you can continue the fight this summer, starting with two local ones that we’ve been talking about for the last few weeks -
THE HCDP RECOMMENDS A ‘YES’ VOTE ON FUNDING PROPOSALS ON THE AUGUST BALLOT
The Houghton County Democrats support five proposals appearing on ballots here in Houghton County this August. These proposals will provide funding for the new County Jail, Canal View, Meals on Wheels, the Copper Country ISD, and the Baraga Area Schools (on ballots for those voters in Houghton and Baraga Counties who reside within the Baraga Area Schools District).

Absentee ballots for August are already in the mail. There will be NO early voting center for this election. Election Day is Tuesday August 5th.
Are you registered to vote? Do you know your polling place? Find your voter information here.
A FUNDRAISER TO WIPE OUT MEDICAL DEBT
The fundraiser to wipe out medical debt in the First Congressional District has powered past it’s goal and as of this weekend has raised more than $16,000!! Exceeding the goal amount means this effort will help MORE Michiganders to eliminate medical debt in collections elsewhere in Michigan.
Help Keweenaw Indivisible, the organizer of this fundraiser, celebrate and complete their fundraising by attending their event on July 29th at Small Craft in Hancock, from 6-9 PM. There will be music, food trucks, speakers, and a silent auction.

At our July monthly meeting HCDP members voted to donate $500 from the County Party to the Stronger Together campaign. We urge our members and newsletter readers to also donate to this worthwhile effort.
OTHER WAYS TO TAKE ACTION
Below are a handful of other ideas for taking action with impacts both locally and beyond.
Help fight back against dangerous state level legislation - including bills to make it harder to vote. Join Common Cause Phone Bank and mobilize voters to take action against dangerous legislation in state houses around the country. They will focus on the most urgent campaigns that need our help. Issues include stopping bills that make it difficult for students, minorities, seniors, and veterans, to vote. The phone banks are on Tuesdays and Thursdays at various times. Sign up here.
Are you traveling this summer? Action Network continues to organize Tesla Takedowns across the country. Find out if there’s one happening where you’ll be visiting here.
Join the Democratic National Committee in organizing your community, getting involved with your Democratic state or county party, and building long-term infrastructure to support Democrats and fight against Trump and Republicans. See how you can get involved here.
School districts across the country will have to cut funding for many programs that provide academic enrichment, support for English language learners, and professional development to educators because the Trump administration refuses to release $6.8 billion in funding that was already allocated to public education. These funds were supposed to be released on July 1 of this year. Take advantage of this handy form from Red, Wine and Blue to tell your members of Congress to demand that Trump release the $6.8 million owed to school districts. Click here to contact them.
Are you a federal worker who has been fired from your job, or a federal worker concerned about your employment? Worker's Legal Defense wants to help. They will connect workers to free legal support through a network of pro bono attorneys. Click here for more information.
As ICE continues raids a great website with resources on your rights as an immigrant has been put together by Raise. If you see an ICE action in progress, you can call their hotline at 888-600-5762. More information can be found here.
The Recissions bill passed by Republicans earlier this month has defunded public media. You can help preserve independent journalism and community programming across America by adopting a station. Adopt a Station has a helpful website where you can drill down and find a station near you, or in an area dear to you, that you can support. The website also provides estimates, station by station, of what percent of their budgets have been impacted. Find the donation tool here.
NOTE: Thanks to DemCast USA for providing information on many of these opportunities for action.

SAVE THE DATES!
HOUGHTON COUNTY DEMOCRATS — SUMMER EVENTS

Leave us a voicemail at 906-523-1233 or an email at [email protected] if you’re interested in volunteering at some of these summer events!
Governmental & Community Meetings
THIS WEEK
There are no scheduled County, City or Village council meetings this week.
This newsletter is paid for with regulated funds by the Houghton County Democratic Party, and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
Contact us by email at [email protected] or by text or voicemail at 906-523-1233