Highway Cleanup Rescheduled to June 3rd

HCDP News for May 27th

Houghton County Dems
May 27, 2025

ZHCDP News for May 27 2025

FIRST HIGHWAY CLEANUP OF 2025 RESCHEDULED

COME JOIN US FOR THE RESCHEDULED FIRST HIGHWAY CLEAN UP OF 2025!

Well, the weather last Tuesday night proved to be extremely cold, with a bitter wind. So we've opted to push out the highway clean up to Tuesday, June 3rd at 5:30 PM. Come join us!

We’ll be cleaning our stretch of highway as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program — M-26 from just past Goat Hill Rd heading out of Ripley, and on through to Dollar Bay.

Parking is available at the Adopt-A-Highway sign just past Goat Hill Rd. We provide gloves, safety vests and bags.

Questions? — Need any clarifications? Call Barb Turuc at (906) 370-5496.

IT’S STILL EARLY IN THE SEASON BUT ITS ALWAYS ADVISABLE TO BRING YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLES.

VOLUNTEER FOR HOUGHTON DEMS SUMMER EVENTS

WE NEED YOUR HELP FOR SUMMER EVENTS

The Houghton County Dems are marching in three parades this summer as well as hosting an information table at Pridefest, Bridgefest, Pasty Fest, and the Houghton County Fair. This is an important time for us to show our unity and presence in the community. Families and kids in wagons and strollers are welcome at the parades. We don’t have our entry position/# yet, so just look for the yellow Mustang convertible!

We’re trying something new to gather tabling sign-ups and marchers in addition to reaching out personally – see the links below. For any questions or problems with the forms, call Nancy Verive (812) 573-1403. Thanks is advance and let’s have some fun!

PARADES:

Bridgefest - Friday, June 13, 2025 - Parade @ 7:05 PM

Theme is Children’s Books and Stories. We are printing several signs that show children’s book covers and that Dems support public libraries. The car will have some graphics looking like shelved books.
Parade Line Up begins at 5:30 PM on S Lincoln Dr, Hancock (US-41 north of M-203 intersection)
The parade will follow the regular route through Hancock AND Houghton.
If possible, please arrange pick-up or a ride back to your vehicle for after the parade. “Shuttle service” rides back to Hancock will be available if needed departing from near the Super 8 in Houghton.

South Range 4th of July - Friday, July 4, 2025 - Parade @ 2:00 PM

Line up begins at 1 PM at the South Range Elementary School.

Strawberry Festival - Saturday, July 12, 2025 - Parade @ 11:00 AM

Line up begins at 10 AM by the triangle park on US 41 at the south end of town.

RSVP for Marching in any of the Parades here: https://forms.gle/

TABLING AT EVENTS:

Please sign up to work a shift at one of the HCDP tables at Pridefest, Bridgefest, or Pasty Fest. Sign-up for the Houghton County Fair shifts will be done separately.

In addition to sharing literature, the table will feature a button-making activity. We hope to have 2 volunteers at every shift. We will contact volunteers via email to share any additional information as well as serving as a reminder closer to each event.

VOLUNTEER sign-up for tabling here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Zet1V7trcwvsDAQoeQ0-P6jK84CnpWA56QUxRjeT2mY/edit?usp=sharing

THE BIG BAD BILLIONAIRE BILL AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO FIGHT IT

The Big Bad Billionaire Bill - the budget bill where Republicans pull a reverse Robin Hood by stealing from Medicaid to give the top 1% more tax breaks - has passed the US House. Now it’s up to the Senate to stop this travesty of a bill from becoming law.

What would this bill do if it passed the Senate and Trump signed it? Among other things, it would:

CUT HEALTH INSURANCE FOR MILLIONS: According to the Congressional Budget Office, 7.6 million Americans will lose their health insurance over the next 10 years. The bill provides for the strictest work requirements for Medicaid in the program’s history.
SIGNIFICANTLY NEGATIVELY IMPACT RURAL HEALTH CARE: The National Rural Health Association notes “Medicaid funding is critical for sustaining rural healthcare systems, including hospitals, clinics, and community health centers. A strong relationship exists between Medicaid coverage levels and the financial viability of rural hospitals and providers.” A recent report by CBS News cited research that 742 rural hospitals may be at risk of closing if they lose Medicaid funding.
RAISE TAXES FOR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE: An analysis by the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a nonpartisan research project, found that people in the bottom fifth of earners — those who make $17,000 or less — would see their incomes decline by around $1,000. Those earning between $17,000 to $51,000 would lose about $700.
TAKE FOOD FROM THOSE IN NEED: The budget decreases SNAP funding by $265 billion per year, by increasing work requirements which will force many folks in need off of the Federal government’s food assistance program.
BLOW OUT THE FEDERAL DEBT: Nonpartisan groups studying the proposal estimate it will add more than $2.5 trillion to the federal debt. Some estimates go as high as $3.3 trillion of added debt.
AND, OF COURSE, BENEFIT THE WEALTHY: The same Penn Wharton Budget Model cited above found that the top 0.1 percent - i.e. those who make $4.3 million or more - will benefit on average by almost $400,000 annually.

HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO FIGHT THE BIG BAD BILLIONAIRE BILL

Learn these strategies and use them to talk to your family & neighbors. (https://shorturl.at/q6dIU)
Keep calling your reps using scripts from 5Calls. (https://shorturl.at/w5OUx)
Michigan United Action has a form you can use to contact your Senator. They urge, “If you’re upset about the budget bill that the administration just passed, take 30 seconds to fill out our form to send your senators and Congress person an email voicing your opposition.” Find the form here: https://secure.everyaction.com/OmKWQCXRIUuwFxpgERrKXg2
Find more ways to fight the big billionaire bailout here. (https://shorturl.at/wwNuJ)

05/27: HOW TO RUN FOR LOCAL OFFICE

HOUGHTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

One of the best actions you can take to help preserve and defend our constitution and our democracy is to run for office.

Considering a run for a local school board, township council or other local seat? Be sure to attend the HCDP Recruitment Committee’s session on How to Run for Local Office.

The session will be held at the 5th & Elm, 426 Quincy Street in Hancock TONIGHT Tuesday, May 27th, starting at 6 PM. Pizza and drinks will be available.

06/14: NO KINGS DAY NATIONALLY / BRIDGEFEST LOCALLY

You are likely aware that a coalition of national pro-democracy groups is calling for another No Kings Day on June 14th. It’s being billed as “A Nationwide Day of Defiance”. That date has been chosen to coincide with the scheduling for Donald Trump’s military parade / birthday-party-at-taxpayer-expense in Washington, D.C.

Here in Houghton County June 14th is the Sunday of the annual Bridgefest weekend. That means that the Lift Bridge, our best and most visible venue for local protests, will NOT be available. Because of this, there is no coordination occurring locally to hold a No Kings Day rally and/or bridge march.

BUT WAIT - YOU CAN STILL HELP!

See the Summer Events item above to volunteer to march with us in the Bridgefest parade, and to help with other summer events!

SAVE THE DATES!

HOUGHTON COUNTY DEMOCRATS — SUMMER EVENTS

June 7: Keweenaw PrideFest Tabling (Calumet Colosseum)
June 13: March in Bridgefest Parade (Hancock/Houghton)
June 13-14: Bridgefest Tabling (Houghton)
July 4: March in South Range 4th of July Parade
July 12: March in Strawberry Festival Parade (Chassell)
August 16: Pastyfest Tabling (Calumet)
August 21-24: Houghton County Fair Tabling (Hancock)
August 31: (Tentative) HCDP Community Picnic

See the item on Summer Events above for how to march with us and for opportunities to help staff the HCDP Information Table at some of these summer events!

MDP Legacy Dinner

The Michigan Democratic Party will hold the Legacy Dinner, the party’s annual Ball and fundraiser, at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center on Saturday, June 7th.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, State Party Chair Curtis Hertel, and many elected leaders from across the state will be in attendance. The night’s special guest is Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.

U.S. Senator Gary Peters has been announced as the 2025 Legacy Award recipient. Senator Peters has dedicated 35 years of his life to public service, improving the lives of Michiganders and working to build a better future for us all. If you haven’t already, reserve your seat to join your fellow Michigan Democrats in honoring Senator Gary Peters at this year’s Legacy Dinner.

Tickets, starting at $250 for Bronze seating, are available via ActBlue.

Marquette Dems Summer Sizzle

The Marquette County Democratic Party have announced their Annual Summer Sizzle Fundraiser. The event will take place on June 26, 2025 at 5:30 pm at Marquette Charter Township Community Center.

This fundraiser is a great opportunity to connect with the MCDP community, meet candidates running in the 2026 election, and show your support for the causes we care about.

Tickets are available for purchase through ActBlue or can be bought at the door. (Advanced purchase: $30, At the Door: $35.)

Governmental & Community Meetings

WED MAY 28

The Houghton City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Meeting Agenda can be found in the Searchable Document Center of the Council's website.

This newsletter is paid for with regulated funds by the Houghton County Democratic Party, and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.