Latest news with #Dingell
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan members of Congress tout ability to work across aisle
U.S. Reps. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, Bill Huizenga, R-Walker, and Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, discuss bipartisanship during the third day of the Mackinac Policy Conference at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Mich., on May 29, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) MACKINAC ISLAND – Republican and Democratic members of Michigan's congressional delegation alike, speaking last week at the Mackinac Policy Conference, said they are willing to work across the aisle to get things done for Michigan. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) thanked Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for being willing to meet and negotiate with President Donald Trump. 'The governor is trying to do what's right for Michigan,' Dingell said. 'She went in there and got a mission for Selfridge Air Force Base, which we, quite frankly, fought for for four years.' 'And thank you, Donald Trump, for delivering a mission to Macomb County, we need that,' Dingell added. U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) joked that 'we're going to cut and snip that one.' Huizenga similarly praised Whitmer as leading the fight for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to protect the Great Lakes from invasive species. He said the Great Lakes are an example of an issue where almost everyone in the Midwest can agree and work together, noting that Dingell is a Democratic co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, along with Ohio U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, also a Democrat. 'My joke is with Marcy Kaptur, she and I would struggle to agree that today is Thursday in most instances, but we are lockstep when it comes to Great Lakes funding,' Huizenga said. Huizenga said he and Dingell have co-signed several letters related to the Great Lakes, including one to the Office of Management and Budget requesting full funding for related projects. U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) disagreed with an assertion that the Democratic base is frustrated with elected Democrats working with Republicans. 'Even in this climate, in Congress, there are many bills that we see Democratic and Republican votes on, and I don't feel ostracized by my party in doing that,' McDonald Rivet said. 'I work for the people of the Eighth District, and I actually think working in a bipartisan way is what helped me overperform in almost every single precinct of the district.' But Huizenga said he does get criticized by other Republicans for working with Democrats. 'I've had people say, 'Hey, you shouldn't even be talking to those people,'' Huizenga said. 'And my reply to them is, well, if we're not talking, how are we supposed to figure out whether we agree on 5%, 15% or 50%?' 'You might not be able to picture yourself interfacing with these folks, but guess what? That's my job. I have to,' Huizenga added. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health care providers, advocates urge Michigan congressional delegation to vote no on Medicaid cuts
Medicaid sign at U.S. Senate Democrats' press conference on Feb. 19, 2025. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom) A coalition representing more than 150 Michigan-based health care providers, advocates, educators and community organizations urged Michigan's congressional delegation Tuesday to vote against Medicaid cuts proposed by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. The Protect MI Care Coalition – which includes the Michigan State Medical Society, Michigan Health & Hospital Association and the Michigan League for Public Policy – sent a letter to all 13 of Michigan's members of Congress outlining their 'deep opposition' to a spending plan as proposed by House Republicans. The proposal would slash at least $880 billion over the next 10 years from the bill that covers energy and health care, including from Medicaid. 'These cuts would devastate Michigan's health care system, put the lives and livelihoods of millions at risk, and reverse years of progress in improving health outcomes across our state,' the letter said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'The proposal unveiled on May 11 would strip health care coverage from up to 512,000 Michiganders through punitive work requirements, restrict support for nursing homes and hospitals, and drain billions in federal funding from our state, especially in rural and underserved communities that already face barriers to care. Medicaid is not a luxury. It is a lifeline,' the coalition said. Both U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) and U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) sit on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which began debate on the budget plan Tuesday. Dingell, in her opening statement, noted 2.6 million people get their health insurance through Medicaid in Michigan, representing approximately one in four Michiganders, two in five children, three in five nursing home residents, and three in eight working age adults with disabilities. 'To all my colleagues who say you're cutting waste and fraud, Medicaid is 22%, more cost-effective than any private insurance plan. We have to protect…children and seniors and nursing homes and people with disabilities, and please don't say you're not going to hurt them, because many things in this bill are a backdoor way of doing so,' Dingell said. Whitmer releases key findings as DHHS preps final report on impacts of federal Medicaid cuts James, who did not offer an opening statement, has stated in the past that Republicans are working to protect Medicaid from insolvency to 'ensure those who've rightfully paid into their benefits & our most vulnerable can access these essential programs.' Just prior to the committee hearing Tuesday, estimates were released from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office indicating that as written, the GOP bill would result in 7.6 million people going uninsured, while 10.3 million people would lose coverage under Medicaid's health safety net program, a collaboration between Medicaid and various federal grant programs that support healthcare providers. Among the changes Republicans are proposing are new Medicaid work requirements for some adults, seeking to penalize the dozen states that allow immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status in the program, and requiring states to more frequently check Medicaid enrollees' eligibility.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Trump tariff turmoil: Michigan lawmakers meet with auto dealers amid tariff uncertainty
The Brief The looming 25% tariffs on imported auto parts are unpredictable for the impacts of Michigan auto dealers. Many dealers have seen an influx of customers looking to buy before tariffs take effect. Gov. Whitmer and Rep. Dingell sat down with around 15 different Metro Detroit dealership owners to discuss tariffs. DETROIT (FOX 2) - The impact of auto tariffs appears to be uncertain, according to Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Representative Debbie Dingell. What they're saying With the Trump administration's looming 25% tariffs on imported auto parts, the impact is hard to predict, according to Thad Szott of Szott Auto Group. "From a dealer's perspective, I think every dealer is in a little bit of a unique situation. Different manufacturers there's different challenges," he said. That's why Whitmer and Dingell sat down with around 15 different Metro Detroit dealership owners to discuss tariffs and how they might affect Michigan's economy. "It's the total chaos of the way this has been done," Dingell said. "A part will cross Canada or Mexico's border four or five times, and they don't know how that's going to be treated. Szott says it was a solid discussion. Many dealers have seen an influx of customers looking to buy before tariffs take effect. But what happens next is hard to prepare for. "Everyone in this town is tied to the industry somehow, someway, and we were basically sharing ideas and thoughts on how we can make sure, during some challenging times, that we're all on the same page and can come up with solutions to calm the customer base," Szott said. Another aspect is suppliers. Dig deeper MEMA represents hundreds of auto suppliers. Its president, Collin Shaw, says the tariffs will put a squeeze on suppliers because they'll need to pay tariffs immediately but are paid infrequently. "Yesterday we actually signed on with and had been working with other associations that represent dealerships," Shaw said. "OEMs across the United States, and really wrote a historic letter on behalf of suppliers urging the administration to reconsider the auto parts tariffs." Governor Whitmer shared her thoughts on a solution. "I just assume we'd go back to the tariff policy before January 20. But if that's not the case, then to be able to say this is the goal, this is how we're going to manage it, and this is how we're going to help American businesses—not just changing it every so often and expecting businesses to be able to plan, make investments, or make hiring decisions," she said.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan Democrat backs Trump's China tariffs, knocks approach as ‘chaotic'
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) gave credit to President Trump during a CNN interview Friday for 'going after a country like China' with his massive tariff overhaul, but the communications chair for House Democrats panned the uncertainty Trump has created with his 'chaotic' rollout. 'I don't want people to think that I think the way that he's doing this is OK,' she told CNN's Pamela Brown. 'I think we need a tariff strategy, but it needs to be appropriate — not chaotic.' Trump has been locked in an escalating trade war with Beijing, announcing 145 percent tariffs on most Chinese imports last week. China responded by implementing 125 percent tariffs on American goods and limiting exports of rare earth minerals. Dingell said she thinks increasing tariffs makes sense and agreed that 145 percent is appropriate. 'The Chinese communist government is subsidizing its manufacturing of many of these products; it's manipulating their currency; it's using slave labor,' she said. 'Going after a country like China, where we don't have a level playing field in the government subsidizing the product, it is appropriate.' Dingell added that the administration should be aiming for a more comprehensive approach that avoids unexpected stock market and business disruptions. 'I am somebody who has said tariffs are a tool in the toolbox when used strategically,' she said. 'That's what has been missing on the tariff strategy. It's been chaos.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
18-04-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Michigan Democrat backs Trump's China tariffs, knocks approach as ‘chaotic'
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) gave credit to President Trump during a CNN interview Friday for 'going after a country like China' with his massive tariff overhaul, but the communications chair for House Democrats panned the uncertainty Trump has created with his 'chaotic' rollout. 'I don't want people to think that I think the way that he's doing this is OK,' she told CNN's Pamela Brown. 'I think we need a tariff strategy, but it needs to be appropriate — not chaotic.' Trump has been locked in an escalating trade war with Bejing, announcing 145-percent tariffs on most Chinese imports last week. China responded by upping its own 125 percent tariffs on American goods and limiting exports of rare earth minerals. Dingell said she thinks increasing tariffs makes sense and agreed that 145 percent is appropriate. 'The Chinese communist government is subsidizing its manufacturing of many of these products; it's manipulating their currency; it's using slave labor,' she said. 'Going after a country like China, where we don't have a level playing field in the government subsidizing the product, it is appropriate.' Dingell added that the administration should be aiming for a more comprehensive approach that avoids unexpected stock market and business disruptions. 'I am somebody who has said tariffs are a tool in the toolbox when used strategically,' she said. 'That's what has been missing on the tariff strategy. It's been chaos.'
