From lowering the cost of prescriptions to expanding reproductive health care access, Michigan Dems fight for the middle class while MAGA Matt Hall’s GOP continues to crumble
LANSING — This week, let’s compare and contrast Michigan’s Republicans and Democrats. First, Michigan Senate Democrats proposed a nonpartisan state Prescription Drug Affordability Board to help lower the cost of medication for Michiganders and also held the first hearing for the Reproductive Health Act. On the other side of the aisle, MAGA Matt Hall’s GOP faced new controversy for its attempts to subvert democracy in Michigan. They have yet to propose any kind of cohesive legislative agenda and are too busy dealing with all sorts of internal chaos.
One thing is clear, Democrats are pulling out all the stops to grow the middle class and lower costs – for everyone – with or without MI GOP opposition.
Don’t believe us? Check out a coverage wrap up from this week:
Senate Democrats hit the ground running with their proposal for a nonpartisan Prescription Drug Affordability Board:
WILX10: Michigan Senate introduce legislation that could hold Big Pharma accountable
- Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet said this bill would help stop corporate greed, “And bring much-needed accountability, oversight and transparency to big pharmaceutical companies, so they are more responsive to consumers.”
MDP Chair Lavora Barnes celebrated this legislation saying, in part, “Democrats are fighting to ensure that no one has to choose between being able to afford life-saving medications and putting food on the table.”
In the Michigan House, Democrats held hearings to tackle existing burdensome restrictions on reproductive freedom:
MLive: Abortion fight renewed: Michigan looks to repeal ‘cruel’ restrictions
- The package of 11 bills would repeal medically unnecessary abortion restrictions, sponsors say, to make the procedure safer, more affordable and easier to get.
- “This is just about removing laws that were intended strictly to reduce access solely to abortion care,” said Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia.
Bridge Michigan: Michigan abortion bills take spotlight at packed legislative hearing
- “Despite claims by abortion opponents, none of (the current restrictions) are necessary. None of these laws are evidence-based. And none of these laws impacts patients,” Dr. Sarah Wallett, chief medical operating officer for Planned Parenthood of Michigan, told the committee. “In fact, these laws endanger my ability to care for my patients every single day.”
While Democrats were working to help Michiganders, the contrast could not be clearer with MAGA Matt Hall and his cronies who have continually chosen to focus on extreme and harmful legislation over what’s best for their constituents.
MDP Chair Lavora Barnes called him out this week, saying, “MAGA Matt Hall and his party should spend less time attempting to undermine our elections and more time working with Democrats to pass a historic agenda that lowers costs and advances Michiganders’ freedoms. Make no mistake – we will continue delivering on behalf of Michiganders, and we stand ready to hold MAGA Matt Hall and his caucus accountable for their work to undermine democracy and our basic freedoms.”
Let’s remember a few facts about MAGA Matt Hall:
- He helped push the Big Lie – welcoming Rudy Giuliani to the capitol to brag about his conspiracies AND signed a letter calling for an investigation into the discredited election fraud claims in a Dinesh D’Souza film.
- He has donated to an organization tied to January 6th insurrectionists and is associated with the founders of the Oath Keepers.
- He continually supports January 6th insurrectionists and their backers.
The radical MI GOP took a step further this week, inviting GOP candidate for President Vivek Ramaswamy, who has constantly spouted Trump-like conspiracies during his ill-fated attempt to become the party’s nominee, to their 2023 Mackinac Leadership Conference. What used to be a yearly gathering to bring together party leaders has instead become a who’s who of MAGA extremism.
MAGA Matt Hall has, of course, stayed silent about the slate of “Republican leaders” that will soon descend on Michigan, including:
- Former news anchor Kari Lake, who lost the 2022 race for Arizona governor but then pushed baseless conspiracies and claimed in a lawsuit there was voter fraud and election tampering (that has been widely debunked)
- Dinesh D’Souza, whose film repeatedly failed basic fact-checks, and provided the basis for heavily discredited GOP election fraud claims
- Vivek Ramaswamy, who wants to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Department of Education, and other critical pieces of the government
Where is “leader” Matt Hall now? What does he have to say about the line up of speakers that will headline the famous Mackinac Leadership Conference?
No matter how many MAGA extremists the MI GOP elevates, Michigan Democrats won’t get distracted from delivering for Michiganders.
And while the Big Three CEOs are seeing record profits, Michigan Democrats stand in solidarity with the UAW in demanding a fair contract for workers:
Another week of working to grow the middle class while MAGA Matt Hall leads the MI GOP down the rabbit hole of right-wing extremism. We’ll see what next week holds!
Signing off,
Michigan Dems
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