Join us for our first HCDP Action Meet Up

Join Us For Our First HCDP Action Meet Up

In last week’s newsletter we mentioned that we’re trialing a recurring action-oriented get-together outside of our normal monthly meeting (which tends to focus on the “business” of running a local party). The first get-together will be at 6 PM tomorrow, Wednesday, February 19th.

• If you are frustrated with the actions (i.e. the unconstitutional power grab) of the Trump administration and the unelected Elon Musk, and want to take action PLEASE ATTEND.

• If you have ideas for actions we should be taking PLEASE ATTEND. 

• If you are affiliated with another local progressive organization, and want to partner to multiply impact, PLEASE ATTEND. 

Please note, the location has changed from last week. We will now meet at 5th & Elm at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock. Looking forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

WHO: You, we hope, along with other like-minded progressive folks.

WHAT: An action-oriented get together to discuss what we can do to meet the current threat to our democracy.

WHEN: 6 PM tomorrow evening, Wednesday February 19th.

WHERE: 5th & Elm at the Orpheum Theater, 426 Quincy Street in Hancock (Google Map).

WHY: To use our power to effect change. To save our democracy. To ACT!

JOIN US AT THE 63RD ANNUAL SPRING FLING BANQUET AND FUNDRAISER

SATURDAY, MAY 3

DINNER, AWARDS, AND SILENT AUCTION

To donate items for the auction or to place an ad in the program, contact Nancy Verive. Email: [email protected] ph: 812-573-1403.

Watch future newsletters for more details! 

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
$55 PER PERSON / $45 FOR STUDENTS AND SENIORS

Resources for Action and Education

A group of our members has put their heads together to come up with a list of useful resources for action. These resources help make us aware of what actions are needed right now, and how to take those actions. Sprinkled in are action-oriented organizations that deserve your support.

They also included resources for news & analysis that go beyond the day’s headlines to provide context and understanding about what’s going on - in Washington and in Lansing.

There are newsletters, podcasts, websites, books, and one blog (the locally produced Keweenaw Now).

We’re calling these “Resources for Action and Education”. Right now the list is compiled in a Google spreadsheet, which you can view by clicking the image below.

We recognize that this sampling of resources is not exhaustive. While we aren’t trying to put together the definitive list of progressive resources together, we are trying to pick each other’s brains and document the resources that have proven useful and educational for us here in Houghton County.

That’s why we’re eager to hear from YOU about what resources you rely on that are not already on this list.

PLEASE SEND US YOUR SUGGESTIONS - DROP US AN EMAIL AT [email protected] OR LEAVE A MESSAGE AT (906) 523-1233.

Michigan Democratic Party Spring Convention February 22

The Michigan Democratic Party’s Spring 2025 Convention will take place this Saturday, February 22 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.

At the 2025 Spring State Convention, Michigan Democrats will gather by congressional district to elect district officers and members to the State Central Committee. On the Convention floor, Democrats will vote by congressional district to elect a Chair and two (2) Vice-Chairs of the State Central Committee.

All members of the Michigan Democratic Party are encouraged to attend the 2025 Spring State Convention.

Registration Now Open For the MDP Rural Caucus Summit

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR RURAL CAUCUS SUMMIT

The 3rd annual MDP Rural Caucus Summit will be held April 10th through the 12th. The Kewadin Casino and Resort in Sault Ste Marie will once again be the venue. Top keynote speakers are expected again next year, along with training sessions on running for rural office, rural party building, messaging, and much more.

News from the Capitols

NEWS ITEMS OF INTEREST TO HOUGHTON COUNTY DEMOCRATS

IN LANSING

• RED FLAG LAW FIRST YEAR RESULTS: State data in a report released last week shows that nearly 400 extreme risk protection gun confiscation orders were requested last year under Michigan's new "red flag" gun law. Democratic Rep. Kelly Breen, who was instrumental in pushing the legislation into law in 2023 was quoted as saying “It looks, to me, like it's working exactly the way we intended.” MORE: Bridge Michigan

• TIPPED WAGES WATERED DOWN IN “COMPROMISE SENATE BILL: The state Senate passed a compromise bill last week that watered down changes the state Supreme Court had mandated for minimum wage changes for tipped employees. Proponents of a living wage will not be happy with the bill, though restaurant owners will. The bill still needs to be approved by the House before moving to the Governor’s desk. MORE: Detroit Free Press 

IN WASHINGTON

• THE CANADIAN PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH TRUMP: After Donald Trump took his 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada off the table, he turned around last week and imposed a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States with no exceptions or exemptions (Canada is the largest supplier of both metals to the US). Trump continues to belittle Canada and talk about it being better off as the 51st US state. The result? Canadians citizens, renowned for their politeness, are pulling out all the stops to show their displeasure with us. In the last week boycotts of US products were bolstered when multiple phone apps were released that help buyers identify “Made in Canada”products when grocery shopping. The Canadian national news has been full of reports of Canadians cancelling trips to the US. (Canadians were the #1 nationality visiting the US last year, and even a small drop in Canadians traveling here will be felt.) Most visibly, in Montreal during the 4 Nations Hockey Face-Off late last week the US national anthem was loudly booed two games in a row, while Canadian fans, dressed in red with their national flags at hand, belted out their own anthem with renewed patriotism. During the US-Canada game four fist fights broke out on the ice in the first nine seconds of the game, to enormous cheering from the crowd. Altogether, a singular low point in relations between our two countries. MORE: CBC News 

• THE BILLIONAIRES AGAINST THE WORKING CLASS: It’s not just relations between Canada and the US that are straining. Now news outlets are reporting on strains within the Republican Party. There is a brewing fight over Medicaid in the Republican Party, with the Project 2025 and Musk folks on one side, and the party’s working class base on the other. Musk has posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Medicare and Medicaid are “where fraud is happening”. On Thursday Steve Bannon warned “Medicaid, you gotta be careful. Because a lot of MAGAs are on Medicaid, I’m telling you. If you don’t think so, you are dead wrong.” Bannon’s warning came as Republican House members in swing districts are growing restless. On Friday Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Rob Bresnahan became the latest swing-district Republican to issue a warning of his own to GOP leaders over deep spending cuts being contemplated in the House. MORE: NPR

• VULNERABLE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE: After House Minority Leader Jefferies posted on social media that “Republicans have been ordered by their billionaire Puppet Master to end Medicare as we know it.” a list began to circulate showing vulnerable House Republicans who would be most susceptible to persuasion through phone calls from their constituents. Three Michigan House Republicans are on this list. If you have friends or family in any of these three House districts URGE THEM TO CALL THIER REPRESENTATIVE AND TELL THEM TO PROTECT MEDICARE AND MEDICAID.

  • MI-04 Rep Bill Huizenga (Kalamazoo and parts of Allegan, Van Buren and Ottawa counties)

  • MI-07 Rep Tom Barrett (greater Lansing area),

  • MI-10 Rep John James (Sterling Heights, Mt Clemens and northeastern Detroit suburbs)

    

• TRUMP CABINET NOMINEES APPROVED: With the confirmation of RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services last week, along with Tulsi Gabbard winning approval as the Director of National Intelligence only a handful of Trump nominees remain. Kash Patel, nominated to head the FBI, was cleared out of the Senate Judiciary on Thursday.

• IT’S “TRUE NAME” IS DENALI: Among the distractions Trump has generated was his Executive Order to rename Denali, North America’s highest peak, to Mt McKinley, the name the peak officially wore until 2015. In a sign that Senate Republicans can stand up to Trump when it doesn’t really matter, the two Republican Alaska Senators have introduced a bill to once again designate the mountain as Denali, the name favored by Alaskans for years. “This isn’t a political issue,” says Sen Lisa Murkowski, “Alaskans from every walk of life have long been advocating for this mountain to be recognized by its true name.” MORE: NBC News

Governmental & Community Meetings

TODAY, TUE FEB 11

The Laurium Village Council meets tonight at 6 PM in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall.

The Calumet Village Council meets tonight in the Village Council Chambers. The usual meeting time is 6 PM. Find more information on the Village’s webpage.

WED FEB 19

The Lake Linden HS Music Department is organizing a benefit concert in an effort to support the village of Laurium after their losses in the recent fire of a historic building containing the village's snow removal and garbage removal equipment. The concert will be held Wednesday starting at 6:30 PM at the Calumet Theater. This is a goodwill donation event. Find more information on the Facebook event page.

The Hancock City Council meets at 6 PM in the Council Chambers at Hancock City Hall.

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