We Stand with the UAW

The Houghton County Democrats stand with the United Auto Workers in their strike against Detroit’s Big Three.

As President Biden said on Friday, record profits should mean record contracts for laborers, and provide strong middle class jobs on which to raise a family. Unions are critical for an economy that builds opportunity from the bottom up and the middle out.

A targeted strike is now underway. Workers are fighting for - among other things - an end to tiered pay; a secure future for auto workers in the transition to EVs; a return of benefits that they willingly gave up during the 2007 financial crisis to help the then struggling automakers return from the brink of bankruptcy; and pay increases in line with those received by the Big Three’s top management.

As UAW President Shawn Fain said when the targeted strike was called: “This is our generation’s defining moment. The money is there. The cause is righteous. The world is watching, and the UAW is ready to stand up.”

The Houghton County Dems have joined with the Keep the UP Wild Campaign - a coalition of nearly 400 Michigan environmental, business, recreation, political, faith, and veterans’ organizations - to advance new Wilderness areas in the UP.

The UP is an area like no other, and its most pristine places—including the Ehlco area, the Trap Hills, Norwich Plains, and the Sturgeon River Gorge—deserve our nation’s greatest protection. These four areas deserve Wilderness protection because they are essential parts of what makes the UP the gem we know, and of what makes the UP such a unique place to call home.

Over the past three years, Congress has designated new national Wilderness areas in several states across the country. Now it’s Michigan’s turn. The coalition is activating citizens this week across Michigan to send in emails of support to Senator Stabenow, Senator Peters, and our MI Representatives to encourage the introduction and passage of a Wilderness designation for the U.P.

The Keep the UP Wild Coalition is designating this week as Action Week

TAKE ACTION: Help Michigan secure its own valuable new national Wilderness areas by taking advantage of this online form to send a message to our Congress members. Tell them that you want them to designate these four areas in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as federal Wilderness areas. You can use the suggested language in the form, or customize it to deliver your own personal message. Thank you for taking action.

The Callie Barr meet and greet was well attended. Thanks to Callie for stopping in Houghton to talk about why she’s running to replace Rep. Bergman, and to listen to our concerns.

 The success of our county party relies on the participation of people just like you. Join the HCDP today and help us put Democrats on the ballot who’ll make a difference.

“We are Democrats because we believe that good government must rely upon and strengthen the bonds that make us a society: recognizing the richness of our diverse heritage, preserving what we have been given, and leaving to posterity a legacy greater than that which we received.” - HCDP Platform Preamble

Come join us for our second clean up effort on our adopted section of M-26. Clean up is scheduled for Tuesday, September 26th at 5:30 PM. (The Rain Date is Thursday, September 28th.)

Our stretch of highway runs from just past Goat Hill Rd (heading out of Ripley) on through Dollar Bay. Parking is available at the Adopt-A-Highway sign just past Goat Hill Rd. We provide gloves, safety vests and bags.

Join us in continuing this very worthwhile community service. We hope to see you there!

This week’s meme comes from Reuters’ Facebook account. This video clip got a lot of attention across social media yesterday and was commented on and shared in a number of formats.

In the clip a reporter asks President Biden for his reaction to the Republican impeachment inquiry. The President then smiles and responds “Lots of luck.”

Most of those sharing the video noted that the Republican inquiry is based on exactly zero evidence of any wrongdoing on the President’s part. The exchange with the reporter follows a comment the President made earlier that, as far as he can tell, the Republicans seem to want to impeach him so that they can shut down the government. It’s doubtful whether either effort - impeachment or government shutdown - is going to go over well with the American public.

Several bills are advancing through the state legislature, as the news out of Lansing continues to heat up during the Fall session.

• Lawmakers in the House held hearings on their 11-bill package of abortion reforms, now collectively being called The Reproductive Health Act. MORE: Michigan Radio

• Meanwhile, the Senate’s Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee began hearings on the proposed eight year ban on having, using, transporting or selling a gun, as well as possessing ammunition for someone convicted of a misdemeanor involving domestic violence. More: MLive

• On Tuesday Senate Democrats introduced a package of four bills aimed at creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board - an independent body that will set upper payment limits on prescription drug costs. If passed, Michigan would join a handful of other states with Prescription Drug Affordability boards, whose laws also allow them to set upper price limits on high-cost drugs. MORE: Michigan Advance

• Governor Whitmer made a brief two day trip to Taiwan last week, becoming the first sitting Michigan governor to visit the country. The Governor tweeted about the trip, "In 2021, Michigan's automotive assembly lines came to a halt because overseas manufacturers couldn't produce semiconductor chips. That's why I went to Taiwan -- a major semiconductor chip hub in the world -- to bring manufacturing back to Michigan so that never happens again." MORE: Focus Taiwan

• Many Michigan Democrats and Democratic organizations issued statements in support of the striking UAW workers, while Republican lawmakers mostly remained silent, or criticized the push for EVs. On Friday President Biden urged the Big Three to "go further" in their offers to the United Auto Workers. MORE: Detroit Metro Times

• AG Dana Nessel’s office has sued the Grand Rapids Gerald R Ford Airport Authority over PFAS contamination. “The airport authority has had ample opportunity, over several years now, to step up and do the right thing,” Nessel said in a prepared statement. “But as they’ve shown a refusal to accept responsibility for their actions or meaningfully attempt to clean up the messes they have made, we must compel them to act responsibly. Under Michigan law, if you caused the contamination, you must remediate it. We will continue to pursue our claims against the authority until a satisfactory result is reached that protects the public and the environment.” MORE: Michigan Advance

On a topic that’s not so good (perhaps depending on your viewpoint), the dysfunction within the Michigan GOP continues to make headlines.

HCDP Monthly Meetings: First Wednesday of each month at 7 PM, in the conference room at the Houghton Super 8 and by Zoom.

NEXT MEETING: OCTOBER 4TH

Mon 9/18

• We missed noting this last week, but yesterday was the 76th birthday of the US Air Force. It was also the fourth birthday for the Space Force. The Air Force was officially separated into its own military branch on September 18, 1947. The Department of the Air Force commemorated the day with a nondenominational service at the National Cathedral.

Tue 9/19

• 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's website.

• The Calumet Village Council meets tonight at 6:30 PM in the Village Council Chambers. More information on the Council, it's committees, and minutes of past meetings can be found on the Council's webpage.

Wed 9/20

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

Thur 9/21

• Thursday is the International Day of Peace. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace. Locally the Copper Country Community Arts Center will be presenting their Art for Peace Project at 6 PM at the Center in Hancock.

This Week

• This week is Rail Safety Week across Canada, the United States and Mexico. The week has been observed since 2017 and is a time for raising awareness about public safety near railroad tracks and crossings. Learn more about how to protect yourself and your loved ones by following the top six rail safety tips here.

Mon 9/25

• Next Monday is Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. The traditional belief is that God writes one´s fate into the Book of Life on the Jewish New Year and worshipers have the ten day period between that day, known as Rosh Hashana, and Yom Kippur to atone for sins and pray for forgiveness. At the end of Yom Kippur, it is said that God seals the Book of Life and one's fate is set for the coming year.

Is there a community commemoration or event we should recognize that's of particular importance to you? Just send an email to [email protected].