Progress Michigan blog posts.
When most of us think about Election Day, we probably think of November of 2020, when people across the country will vote for a new president—but for many Michiganders, Election Day is also today, May 7. Of Michigan’s 83 counties, 65 are voting today—many on school millages that help fund local public education. You…
It’s no secret how we at Progress Michigan feel about unions. We recognize the right of working people to collectively bargain with employers for fair contracts that secure the wages benefits and working conditions they deserve. Today, we want to shine a light on a group of workers whose struggles are often overlooked and…
This week, the House Committee on Families held a hearing to discuss bills that would ban a standard abortion procedure and punish doctors who perform the procedure with two years in prison. It’s the latest in a long list of GOP-led attempts to sacrifice our reproductive rights to pander to religious conservatives—and Michiganders are…
We need to talk about student loan debt. It’s an issue that affects 70 percent of college graduates, totaling more than 40 million Americans. Here in Michigan, 58 percent of 2017 graduates owe money on student loans, with an average debt of $31,289. Nationally and in our state, the problem is only getting worse.…
This week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order creating a bipartisan task force to work on jails and pretrial detention in our state. The committee will include members from the legislature, the courts, and the executive branch and will attempt to reduce jail populations, ensure due process, and bring down recidivism rates while…
Last year, Michigan CEOs made an average of 313 times more than their employees. No, that’s not a typo—and it’s not an anomaly, either. In Michigan and across the country, the very rich are getting richer, while the rest of us are left behind. Of course, income and wealth inequality have always existed, but both…
Who is she? House Minority Leader Christine Greig represents House District 37, serving Farmington and Farmington Hills. She is the minority leader and serves on the Government Operations and House Fiscal Agency governing committees. Representative Greig is serving her third term in the House. Prior to serving in the House of Representatives, Rep. Greig…
Who is she? Representative Vanessa Guerra represents House District 95, serving Bridgeport Township, Buena Vista Township, Carrollton Township, James Township, Kochville Township, the city of Saginaw, Spaulding Township, Zilwaukee and Zilwaukee Township. She serves on the elections and ethics and judiciary committees. Representative Guerra is serving her third term in the House. Before joining the…
Last week, Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell spoke on the House floor in favor of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which has encountered opposition from Republicans and NRA due to a provision that would prevent convicted stalkers and abusers from buying guns. She delivered a passionate defense of the reform and asked Republicans…
Who is she? Senator Stephanie Chang represents Senate District 1, serving Detroit and Downriver communities. Senator Chang seves as the Minority Floor Leader and serves on the Finance, Government Operations, Judiciary and Public Safety committees. She was elected to the Senate in 2018 after serving two terms in the House. Prior to being elected,…