March Action Meetup Tomorrow

A NOTE FROM THE CHAIR

There is a lot of frustration among active Democrats that a handful of Democratic Senators voted yes on cloture on a Continuing Resolution (CR) last week to prevent a government shutdown. That bill contained legal language giving more power to the President to undo spending Congress had authorized - effectively yielding to the President Congress’ Article I “power of the purse”.

Statements from Democratic Senators who voted yes on cloture, including Michigan's Gary Peters, indicate that they were worried that laws governing shutdowns would - yes, really would - allow Trump to wreak even more havoc, more irreparably, than the permission slip the CR gave him. It's possible to disagree with their decision - most of the HCDP Officers did - while acknowledging that it was within the bounds of reasonable political disagreement on a bad choice.

Which is, really, the most important point to not lose sight of. The choice existed because a supine Republican Congress is all-in on dictatorship and authoritarianism. Republican legislators are willing to enable the destruction of decades of hard work expanding the idea of America, and are “deep-sixing” the fundamental principles of separation of powers inherent to the American project. This is not within the bounds of reasonable political disagreement, and it's important to say so.

Tonight at 7 PM, a nonpartisan group of citizens in Houghton are holding a Town Hall to address Jack Bergman - in absentia, most likely - unless he surprises everyone by showing up. (See the item below for details). They'll show up to ask Bergman why he's okay with letting a mad tyrant concentrate power to himself, why he's willing to let white supremacists erase the contributions of women and minorities from the histories of America's armed forces, and more. On Wednesday, the HCDP is holding its monthly Coffee and Action Meetup at 5th and Elm at 7 PM, and on Thursday, Spring FLARE is happening at the Rosza Lobby (at 6 PM), with several sponsors including the MTU College Dems.

When our leaders aren't taking the actions we want, it's up to us. Show up and be counted - we'll make the difference ourselves.

MARCH ACTION MEETUP TOMORROW

THE SECOND ACTION MEET UP WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW, MARCH 19TH AT THE 5TH & ELM.

COME JOIN US! 5TH AND ELM CAN HAVE PIZZA PIPING HOT WHEN YOU ARRIVE - CALL (906) 483-2294 IN ADVANCE TO ORDER, THE EARLIER THE BETTER!

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 next Wednesday evening, March 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!

LOCAL ACTION - Bergman Town Hall in Houghton

ARE YOU ATTENDING THE CITIZEN-LED TOWN HALL IN HOUGHTON TONIGHT? 

Frustration with Jack Bergman’s inability to answer questions in a town hall setting led Escanaba citizens to hold their own Town Hall event and invite the Representative to appear two weeks ago. Not surprisingly Bergman didn’t attend, but the event generated a lot of discussion and local focus on what is happening in Washington that Bergman is simply going along with.

That same frustration is also visible among constituents here in Houghton County. And just like in Escanaba, a local resident has decided to go ahead and help Jack Bergman out by organizing a town hall for him.

Get your questions for Jack in order and attend this Town Hall tonight!

WHO: Concerned local residents and constituents of Rep. Jack Bergman just like you

WHAT: A Town Hall for Rep. Bergman (yes, he’s been invited to attend, but will he show up?)

WHEN: 7 PM tonight, Tuesday March 18th.

WHERE: Keweenaw United Unitarian Fellowship, 604 Bridge Street in Houghton (Google Map).

WHY: To bring your concerns to your US Representative in a true Town Hall setting.

LOCAL ACTION - AWAVE Meeting

NEW GROUP HOLDS PLANNING MEETING

One of the groups we told you about in last week’s newsletter, AWAVE (Advocates for Those Without a Voice Everywhere), is holding a get together and meeting next Wednesday March 26th at the 5th and Elm in Hancock. Get together starts at 5:45 PM (pizza will be available). The meeting starts at 6:30 PM. Objective: Developing Group Action Plans.

PERSONAL ACTION NEEDED - You Can Help Elect 2 Democrats to the US House NOW

FLORIDA SPECIAL ELECTIONS COULD TIP CONTROL OF THE US HOUSE

Two Republican Florida representatives, Mike Walz and Matt Gaetz, were elected in November but have since resigned. The Florida special elections to replace Walz and Gaetz take place April 1st. Early voting begins March 22nd.

Public school teacher Josh Weil is the Democrat running in the 6th District to replace Walz. Mother and gun violence prevention activist Gay Valimont is the Democrat running in the 1st District to replace Gaetz.

FLORIDA SPECIAL ELECTION

• Josh Weil: Learn More and Contribute | Phone Bank Remotely 

• Gay Vlimont: Learn More and Contribute | Phone Bank Remotely

ELON MUSK TRYING TO BUY A WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT SEAT

We need to support our Midwestern neighbors. Elon Musk is dropping millions of dollars to fund deceptive ads in an effort to buy the Republican candidate a seat in the Wisconsin State Supreme Court race.

In the April 1st election Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford, who is backed by Democrats, faces off against the conservative Brad Schimel. The winner will replace Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who is retiring from the court at the end of her term.

You can help your fellow Democrats in Wisconsin keep a progressive State Supreme Court by contributing to Susan Crawford’s campaign or participating remotely in a phonebank to get out the vote.

WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT

• Susan Crawford: Learn More and Contribute | Phone Bank Remotely

NATIONAL ACTION - PEOPLE’S TOWN HALLS

DEMOCRATIC LEADERS STEP UP TO HOST TOWN HALLS IN REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS

This is great news! Actions by local citizens like those in Escanaba and here in Houghton are now spurring national Democratic leaders to step up. Taking a cue from citizen-led “Empty Chair” Town Halls springing up around the country, “several House Democrats told reporters at their annual retreat in Leesburg, Va., this week that they are heading to Republican districts to conduct town halls” according to a report in The Hill on Friday.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had previously stepped up to the plate, offering to attend Town Halls in districts where Republican representatives are being told by their leaders NOT to hold Town Halls for fear of negative feedback. Walz attended two Town Halls over the weekend, where he answered questions and delivered fiery speeches to audiences in Iowa (Town Hall video here) and Nebraska (local news video here).

The Democratic National Committee is also getting involved, helping to organize what it is calling “People’s Town Halls”. More information on those are available here. Among the People’s Town Halls already announced is one in Michigan’s 10th Congressional District currently represented by Republican John James. So, if you have family or friends in Detroit’s northern suburbs be sure to let them know about this!

Spring FLARE @ Michigan Tech

The Houghton County Dems will have a table at this year’s Spring FLARE, a celebration of local music and arts held this Thursday at 6 PM at the Rosza Center on the campus of Michigan Tech. We hope to see you there!

Spring Fling May 3rd

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

SATURDAY, MAY 3

DINNER, AWARDS, AND SILENT AUCTION

PLEASE SUBMIT AUCTION DONATIONS AND AD ORDERS NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, APRIL 15

All businesses, organizations, and individual donors will be recognized in the printed program, on signage at the event, and in an HCDP email newsletter.

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

This year’s theme:

MEETING THE MOMENT

Watch future newsletters for more details! 

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

Registration Now Open For the MDP Rural Caucus Summit

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR RURAL CAUCUS SUMMIT APRIL 10, 11 & 12TH

THE GREAT RURAL REVIVAL
This space is ours - to plan, unite, and resist harassment.

Through local leadership, community building, and organizing, our work starts now to build the power and strategies to move rural Michigan forward. We need your voice and energy in this effort. Join us to process what’s happened, and what’s next, and strengthen our collective commitment to our Democratic message.

News from Lansing

• BERNIE SANDERS DRAWS 9,000 IN WARREN: Sanders barnstormed last week, in what he called his “Stop Oligarchy Tour”. His rally in Warren, outside of Detroit, was scheduled to take place in a high school gymnasium but the attendees filled the gym, then two overflow rooms, and then spilled outside.

  The AP notes: ‘There has been no centralized movement to organize the anti-Trump resistance.

  “You look around — who else is doing it? No one,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said of Sanders’ efforts. “My hope is that the dam will break in terms of Democrats going on the offense ... We need to take the argument directly to the people.”’ MORE: AP News

• MEDICAID CUTS WOULD PUT LARGE NUMBER OF HOUGHTON COUNTY RESIDENTS AND THEIR CARE PROVIDERS AT RISK: According to statistics published by the State of Michigan more than 5,000 Houghton County residents are enrolled in Medicaid, or the Healthy Michigan Plan (the Medicaid health program run by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)). These residents receive health care from the same providers as residents covered by private health insurance plans or Medicare. A lack of funding to cover these patients could have a significant negative impact not only on their own health care, but on the financial viability of the clinics and hospitals that care for the whole county. Health care providers throughout rural Michigan are concerned about the disproportionate impact that Trump’s potential cuts to Medicaid would have on rural communities. MORE: WPBN Traverse City

• VANCE VISITS MANUFACTURER IN BAY CITY: The Vice President was in Michigan to defend Trump’s tariffs, insult our Governor, and to wonder about the group of protesters outside the manufacturer’s office he went to - “Don’t you all have jobs?” In fact many of the protesters were retirees or recently unemployed, and worried about potential Trump cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. MORE: MLive

• ELECTION CLERKS ACROSS MICHIGAN STRUGGLE WITH WORKLOAD, STAFFING: According to an article in Bridge Michigan “The growing demands of the job - combined with the low pay people have come to associate with civic jobs - are discouraging new recruits, limiting the pipeline of talent for a critical role in the democratic process. In 2024, research found, 90% of clerk races in Michigan had only one candidate, and some small communities struggled to find anyone to run.” MORE: Bridge Michigan

• GILCHRIST ANNOUNCES BID FOR GOVERNOR IN 2026: Lt. Governor Garland Gilchrist made it official last week, announcing his bid for the state’s top office last Tuesday. He joins Secretary of State Benson and Genessee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in the run for the Democratic nomination. The long time Democrat and Mayor of Detroit Mike Duggan has announced his bid as an Independent. MORE: Lansing State Journal 

News from Washington

• TRUMP IGNORES COURT ORDERS, PROCEEDS ILLEGALLY WITH DEPORTATIONS: In a case that many are calling a Constitutional Crisis the Trump administration ignored a court order to temporarily halt the deportation of hundreds of immigrants. The immigrants were airborne when the judge ordered the planes to turn back to the US, an order that was not fulfilled. A statement from the White House disputed that Trump had ignored the order, saying “The administration did not ‘refuse to comply’ with a court order. The order, which had no lawful basis, was issued after terrorist … aliens had already been removed from U.S. territory.” MORE: NBC 4 Washington

• SCHUMER LEADS DEMOCRATIC ASSIST TO PASS BUDGET CR ANGERING MANY DEMOCRATS: Democratic legislators for weeks have been pointing to the March budget CR as their opportunity to put the brakes on Trump and Elon Musk’s reckless agenda and call for changes. The continuing resolution, needed to avert a government shutdown that would have occurred last Friday, was met with an almost solid wall of Democratic resistance in the House, passing with only one Democratic vote.

  But on Thursday Senate Majority Leader Schumer announced he would vote to advance the bill for a floor vote, a move called “cloture” that shuts off any opportunity for filibuster. Schumer argued that a shutdown would only hurt the American people. He, along with Michigan Senator Gary Peters and eight other Democrats acquiesced to Republicans on cloture. The cloture vote ensured the bill would pass and avert a shutdown.

  Calls for Schumer to step down as Minority Leader were immediate, though the likelihood he will do so is small. Peters released a statement before the cloture vote explaining his reasoning, which you can find in this Facebook post. The final vote for the bill included YES votes from one Senate Democrat - Shaheen from New Hampshire, and one Independent - King from Maine. The bill passed 54 to 46. MORE: Common Dreams and Deadline Detroit

• MUSK SAYS SOCIAL SECURITY SHOULD BE CUT: In a CNBC interview last Monday Elon Musk agreed that Social Security and other entitlement programs needed to be cut. Following the interview the White House asserted that it would not make cuts to Social Security. As reaction to the Musk interview continued to grow over the week, Trump’s 2024 co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita went on CNN on Thursday to say that the White House will not cut Social Security or Medicare. As with anything Trump and his cronies say, it’s not what they say that matters. It’s what they do. And what they intend to do with Social Security is anything but clear. MORE: The Hill and The Hill

• TRUMP AT DOJ - SPEECH “OUT OF A FASCIST PLAYBOOK”: Trump went to the Department of Justice on Friday to rant and rave about his many “enemies”. He claimed mainstream media companies’ coverage was “illegal”, and said that the DOJ under Pres. Biden was a “corrupt group of hacks and radicals.” The Daily Beast said “A number of critics likened such a brazen attack on a free press - even by Trump’s lofty, anti-media standards - as being out of a fascist playbook. A former FBI senior official compared the president to Saddam Hussein.” MORE: Daily Beast

Governmental & Community Meetings

TUE MAR 18

The Laurium Village Council meets tonight at 6 PM in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall. More info can be found on the Village Council's web page. 

The Calumet Village Council meets tonight at 6:00 PM in the Village Council Chambers. More information on the Council, it's committees, and minutes of past meetings can be found on the Village’s News & Events web page.

WED MAR 12

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

TUE APRIL 15

The Houghton County Board of Commissioners invites all residents to attend a Special Meeting on April 15, 2025 at 10 AM, located at 401 East Houghton Avenue, 3rd Floor Circuit Court, Houghton, MI 49931, to learn about the designs under consideration for the construction of a new county jail. If approved by the County Board, there will be a proposed millage request to fund the construction of the selected design. Further information on the Special Meeting can be found in this Press Release.

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