Sen. Tom Casperson Goes Birther

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News from Progress Michigan Tuesday, February 26, 2013 Contact: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, 517-974-6302 “Don’t know,” Casperson tells Lansing radio host in response to question about Obama’s birthplace LANSING – Today Progress Michigan strongly condemned Sen. Tom Casperson and called on him to apologize for comments on Michael Patrick Shiels’ show that he…

Rep. Dale Zorn Sponsors Bill to Limit Paid Sick Leave for Michigan Workers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News from Progress Michigan Monday, February 25, 2013 Contact: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, 517-974-6302 Republicans work with ALEC to hurt workers by banning paid sick days LANSING – Citizens’ watchdog group Progress Michigan today condemned Republican efforts to attack workers by banning local governments from protecting workers’ right to paid sick leave. State…

Statement from Executive Director Zack Pohl on Oakland County Republicans Inviting Donald Trump to be Keynote Speaker at Fundraising Dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News from Progress Michigan Thursday, February 14, 2012 Contact: Zack Pohl, zack@progressmichigan.org, (517) 980-6190 “It was one thing when they sent Kerry Bentivolio to Washington, but now Oakland County Republicans have embraced prominent birther Donald Trump with an invitation to speak at a fundraising dinner,” said Zack Pohl, Executive Director of Progress Michigan. “It’s…

Statement from Progress Michigan Communications Director, Jessica Tramontana on the Michigan Senate dropping abortion coverage from its medical plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News from Progress Michigan Friday, February 8, 2012 Contact: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, (517) 974-6302 “It’s appalling and ridiculous that Lansing Republicans want to put politics between women and their doctors,” said Jessica Tramontana, Communications Director of Progress Michigan. “This move by the Michigan Senate mirrors legislation already vetoed by the Governor that…

Republican Politicians Push Radical “Transvaginal Ultrasound” Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News from Progress Michigan Friday, February 8, 2013 Contact: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, 517-974-6302 Invasive and unnecessary requirement deemed too extreme by Republican Speaker LANSING – Last week 21 Republican state Reps. co-sponsored a bill that would have effectively forced women seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound performed with an invasive vaginal…

Michigan Leaders React to Gov. Snyder’s Budget Presentation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 7, 2012 CONTACT: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, 517-974-6302 LANSING – Following today’s budget presentation by Gov. Rick Snyder, leaders from labor, progressive, and non-profit organizations issued the following responses: Steve Cook, President, Michigan Education Association on school funding: “While teachers and education support professionals strongly support expanding early childhood education, we are…

Tea Party Leader Refers to “Ethnically Challenged” Charter School Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News from Progress Michigan Friday, February 1, 2013 Contact: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, 517-974-6302 Conservatives celebrate approach of “School Choice Week” with tasteless comments LANSING – On January 15 at a “Citizens Watchdog Training” sponsored by conservative advocacy group Americans For Prosperity, AFP’s state chairman Scott Hagerstrom outlined the group’s plan to continue to…

Americans For Prosperity State Director Slams Snyder’s Road Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News from Progress Michigan Thursday, January 31, 2013 Contact: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, 517-974-6302 Tells Tea Party crowd the state budget is full of “pork” LANSING – At a January “Citizens Watchdog Training” sponsored by conservative group Americans for Prosperity, AFP’s state director Scott Hagerstrom slammed Gov. Snyder’s roads proposal, telling the crowd that…

Americans For Prosperity State Director Continues Pattern of Violent Rhetoric

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News from Progress Michigan Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Contact: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, 517-974-6302 Tea Party leader Scott Hagerstrom tells crowd about plan for “hand-to-hand combat” LANSING – On January 15 at a “Citizens Watchdog Training” sponsored by Tea Party advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, AFP’s state director Scott Hagerstrom outlined the group’s…

Mackinac Center Admits to Lobbying Lawmakers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News from Progress Michigan Tuesday, January 29, 2013 Contact: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, 517-974-6302 Right-wing extremists tell Koch-funded group about lobbying activities LANSING – Today citizens advocacy group Progress Michigan released audio from an Americans for Prosperity “Citizen Watchdog Training” where lawmakers and their right-wing allies bragged about the circumstances surrounding passage of RTW in…