Politics don’t just happen in Washington, DC! The purpose of this weekly newsletter is to promote progressive policies in the State of Michigan by contacting our state representatives and state senators directly.
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We put a lot of time into carefully researching these actions. But we can make mistakes.
Look up your state representative and state senator and put them in your phone book for all future calling. Also look up their mailing addresses and email addresses and have them on hand for easy reference.
We recognize that calling your representatives and senators can be intimidating. For the pieces of legislation we highlight each week, our goal is to provide you with some basic data, analysis, and talking points for you to steer the conversation, but we encourage you to personalize your message in ways that make sense to you. When applicable, it’s particularly powerful to share your personal experiences and expertise related to given legislation.
If you reach voicemail, we encourage you to leave a message; you should receive a call back. Make sure to include your city or town so that the office knows you are a constituent.
The more you call, the easier it gets!
And don’t just call, email! We learned from a former state representative how effective emails can be. This is because, when a representative or senator is getting summaries of constituent contact from their aides, the text of emails is more tangible and specific than simply knowing how many people called about a particular bill. Even better is to do both---call and email. Use the phone call to follow up on the email you sent. And when an issue is not time sensitive, a letter or postcard can be a very personalized way of sharing your opinion.
~When calling your representative and senator, also ask them about upcoming coffee hours!~
Thank you to Indivisible Dexter for language for and research on this action.
We featured this action in our May 2 and June 6 and June 27 newsletters. Unfortunately, it passed the House and is now in committee in the Senate.
The right to own guns comes with great responsibility and an awareness of the inherent dangers of possessing something that can cause such devastation. Currently, residents in Michigan must obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun, which entails a certain level of training and instruction on the laws. As a gun instructor with 40 years of training at Gunsite Academy said, “There are no gun accidents, only gun negligence.” If House Bill 4416 becomes law, then any citizen will be able to carry a concealed handgun without any gun safety training or study of the laws. This will inevitably open up more opportunities for those guns to be unsecured in more places and end up in the wrong hands.
Talking Points:
Take Action:
Contact the Senate Committee on Government operations AND the governor to voice your opposition to this bill. See details below.
Let the Senate Committee on Government Operations know that you oppose House Bill 4416. If your senator is on the committee, call and email them directly. Otherwise, contact the committee chair and minority vice-chair.
Senate Committee on Government Operations:
Jim Ananich (Minority Vice-Chair) | (517) 373-0142 | |
Goeff Hansen (Vice-Chair) | (517) 373-1635 | |
Morris Hood | (517) 373-0990 | |
Mike Kowall | (517) 373-1758 | |
Arlan Meekhof (Chair) | (517) 373-6920 |
Chair | Minority Vice-Chair |
The Honorable Arlan B. Meekhof Phone: (517) 373-6920 | The Honorable Jim Ananich Phone: (517) 373-0142 |
Although this legislation has not yet cleared the senate, let the governor know NOW that you hope he will veto House Bill 4416.
Press on the subject:
Gun-activism sites that question sensibility of constitutional carry and concealed carry without a permit/training:
The following action was featured in July 11 and July 18 newsletters. Please refer to those newsletters for more details about Bills 4689 and 424. The short version:
Take Action:
Call and email State Senator Arlan Meekhof, chair of the Senate Committee on Government Operations and let him know you support Bill 424 and would like the committee to get public opinion and conduct a hearing on the bill.
The Honorable Arlan B. Meekhof Phone: (517) 373-6920 |
Call and email State Representative Jim Runesatad, chair of the House Judiciary Committee and let him know you support Bill 4689 and would like the committee to get public opinion and conduct a hearing on the bill.
The Honorable Jim Runestad Phone: (517) 373-2616 |
Each week we share some recent media we’ve found worthwhile. We’ll keep it short! We know many of you already have long reading lists.
George Lackoff, 10 Points for Democracy Activists
While the focus of this newsletter is “armchair activism” we’ll also share a featured in-person action each week for those interested and able.
This action list’s authors all come from the Jackson area. So even though this is not a statewide event, we are very excited to share with you Jackson’s Inaugural Pride Parade and Festival on August 5. Hope to see you there!