Latest news with #MichiganDemocraticParty
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
In Lansing, Democrats warn Medicaid and SNAP cuts would be a 'perfect storm' for the poor
U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) and U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) at a June 6, 2025 town hall in Lansing. | Kyle Davidson Members of the Michigan Democratic Party laid out the impacts of congressional Republicans' 'big beautiful bill' at a town hall on Friday, calling on residents of Michigan's 7th Congressional District to help educate their friends and family as well. A few hundred supporters packed into the gym of Everett High School in Lansing as U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly), U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) and Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel detailed how the Trump administration's policies would impact everyone, particularly individuals with limited income. The Michigan Democratic Party has hosted several similar events in Republican districts throughout the state, Hertel said, noting House Republicans had been instructed to avoid town halls with their constituents. 'The most basic thing for a public servant is to be able to sit and answer questions. … The least someone can do is sit down with people and explain their votes' Hertel said. And the 7th Congressional District's current representative, Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) has a lot of explaining to do, Hertel said, slamming Barrett for supporting Republican's spending plan, and arguing the representative failed to stand up to the President and make himself available to his constituents A Barrett spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Prior to taking questions, McDonald Rivet slammed the Republican spending effort, telling audience members that it would take away healthcare and raise the cost of medicine, education and energy in order to deliver a tax break to the wealthy. 'Oh, and by the way, it's going to increase the deficit by several trillion dollars,' She said. Slotkin looked back on the president's first term, when Trump was looking to overturn the Affordable Care Act, which expanded access to Medicaid and barred insurance providers from denying people coverage or charging them due to preexisting health conditions. 'It was the first thing he talked about when he got sworn in, he even had the House of Representatives vote to repeal Obamacare. And now we not only still have it, we expanded it, and how? Because we educated people,' Slotkin said. However, rather than cutting people's healthcare outright, Slotkin argued Trump is aiming to hide those cuts by requiring individuals to reregister for Medicaid every six months, making it harder to qualify and more difficult to sign up. While the current proposal would implement work requirements for Medicaid recipients, Slotkin noted it also raises the age limit for those requirements to 64. According to KFF, an independent health policy organization, 92% of medicaid recipients under 65 are already working full or part time. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that Republican's budget plan would result in 10.9 million additional people being uninsured in 2034, with 7.8 million fewer individuals on Medicaid due to the policy's proposed work requirements. Even individuals who are not on Medicaid will feel the impacts of cuts to the program, Slotkin said, noting that nursing homes, hospitals and mental health facilities all rely on Medicaid funding. 'I would just say this bill is designed to really be a perfect storm for poor people. If you are living at or below the poverty line, you're getting hit in every direction. Medicaid, your health care; SNAP your food; a bunch of programs, right, that you depend on. … They are paying for those tax benefits for the most wealthy by really the perfect storm of cuts for the poorest among us,' Slotkin said. On top of cutting SNAP benefits by $300 billion, the Department of Government Efficiency had canceled $1 billion in funding to programs supporting school meals and food banks, McDonald Rivet said. 'So you're that hungry kid and you have lost access to a food bank. You have lost access to food at school, and now you don't have SNAP benefits. This is the America that this bill creates,' McDonald Rivet said. Alongside questions on cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, audience members asked the lawmakers about the legal challenges levied against the Trump administration, and Democrats' plans to counter Republicans heading into the 2026 mid-term election. On Friday, the Trump Administration backed down in its resistance of a Supreme Court order demanding that the administration facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador three months ago. However, the fight goes beyond Abrego Gracia, into whether the executive branch needs to obey orders from the Supreme Court, Slotkin said. 'Now, we haven't had to deal with this issue in the years past because Democrats and Republicans have largely said, 'Huh, if the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court issues a court order, we're going to follow it.' Trump is pushing the boundaries on all the democratic values and principles most of us grew up with,' Slotkin said. Should an individual defy a federal court order, U.S. marshals would eventually be sent to enforce that order, Slotkin said. However, the U.S. marshals are controlled by the United States attorney general. Should the U.S. marshals receive a request to enforce a Supreme Court order against the president, Slotkin raised the question on whether Attorney General Pam Bondi, a Trump loyalist, would approve it. 'We've needed to have this fight. We need to have it out. We need a court order that he needs to obey, and we need to precipitate this conversation on the U.S. marshals. But today was an important sign that they don't want to get to that point. They don't want to wait until the U.S. marshals are potentially getting an order to activate,' Slotkin said. In preparing to take on the Trump Administration, Slotkin said she'd gone back to her roots in national security and crafted a war plan in the form of a 17-page powerpoint, with plans to lay out her vision of the nation's future under Democratic leadership. 'It's about facing our problems head on and saying the only way we do well as a country, the only way that we have a strong middle class going forward, the American Dream going forward, is if we face these issues and have a vision. And it's economic, it's about national security, and it's about our democracy,' Slotkin said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Election administrators from across Michigan endorse Byrum for secretary of state
Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum at a press conference announcing Democrats' voting rights bill package, Nov. 3, 2021, at the Ingham County Courthouse | Laina G. Stebbins A bipartisan group of current and former county clerks from across the state has endorsed Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum's bid to receive the Democratic nomination for secretary of state. Byrum's campaign to seek the Michigan Democratic Party nomination on Monday announced that it has received support from Washtenaw County Clerk Larry Kestenbaum, Genesee County Clerk Domonique Clemons, Saginaw County Clerk Vanessa Guerra, Kalamazoo County Clerk Meredith Place, Muskegon County Clerk Karen Buie, Bay County Clerk Katie Zanotti, Midland County Clerk Ann Manary, Marquette County Clerk Linda Talsma, Menominee County Clerk Marc Kleiman, Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope and Westland City Clerk Richard LeBlanc Former Ingham clerk Mike Bryanton, former Presque Isle clerk Ann Marie Main and former Ontonagon clerk Stacy Preiss also issued support for Byrum. 'It is so humbling to be recognized by your peers and supported in my candidacy,' Byrum said in a statement. 'This bipartisan group of election administrators represents all parts of the State and a diverse array of our residents. These clerks know what it takes to run elections and I am honored that they believe that I am the right choice to be Secretary of State.' Buie said in a statement that Byrum has 'the experience, knowledge, commitment, and integrity to be our next Secretary of State.' Kleiman, the past president of the Michigan Association of County Clerks, in a statement praised Byrum's wealth of experience as an invaluable asset. 'Barb has been a leader in the election administrator community and has a strong grasp of election law and how to practically apply it to ensure that our elections are smooth and secure,' Kleiman said. Byrum announced her candidacy last month. Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie is the only other name in the race on the Democratic side. Michigan's political parties nominate candidates for secretary of state and attorney general and do not participate in the primary process. Michigan Democrats will nominate a candidate for secretary of state at their state party convention in the spring of 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ingham County clerk joins secretary of state race
Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum talks about Proposal 2 in Lansing, Jan. 24, 2023 | Ward Beard Barb Byrum will seek the Michigan Democratic Party nomination for secretary of state in 2026, she announced Wednesday. As Ingham County Clerk for the last decade, Byrum has overseen 40 elections and several recounts. She made a name for herself nationally in 2014 when the Obergefell v. Hodges case – which eventually legalized same-sex marriage nationwide – was on appeal, and allowed a short window for states to recognize those marriages for the first time before the case was finalized. Byrum opened her office to those couples and performed one of the first same-sex marriage ceremonies in the state. Byrum also served in the Michigan House of Representatives for six years before being elected to as the Ingham County clerk in 2012, and previously owned and operated an Ace Hardware store in Charlotte for nearly 20 years. 'I'm running for Secretary of State because I believe elections should be fair, secure and accessible for voters today and in future generations, and that Michiganders deserve an exceptional customer service experience at every Secretary of State office,' Byrum said in a statement. 'For more than 20 years, I've served the public as a state legislator and as a County Clerk, and I'd be honored to continue serving the people of Michigan as the next Secretary of State.' Byrum is a longtime advocate for voters' rights and routinely uses her social media pages to explain complex election matters, especially in the wake of the 2020 election, when Republicans refused to accept the results of the presidential contest and fomented numerous unfounded election conspiracies. In a news release announcing her campaign, Byrum said election officials like herself take pride in ensuring Michigan's elections are secure and that every qualified voter has a chance to have their voice heard. 'I fight back against those who would seek to make it harder to vote and those who attack our democratic process because our democracy is worth fighting for,' Byrum said. 'As Michigan's next Secretary of State, I will ensure that Michigan will continue to run free, fair and secure elections, as we have these many years.' Her announcement also came with an endorsement from fellow Democratic Genesee County Clerk-Register Domonique Clemons, who called Byrum 'a leader among the clerk community and knows elections backwards and forwards.' 'She is the go-to expert for new clerks when they need assistance, and is always ready to support,' Clemons said in a statement. 'Barb is a vocal advocate for voter rights and election integrity. She is steadfast in defending democracy against those who try to undermine our election process.' Michigan campaign finance reporting documents show Byrum formed her candidate committee on May 15 with a reporting waiver requested, which typically means candidates plan to raise and spend less than $1,000 in the election cycle. At present, Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie is the only other name in the race on the Democratic side. Michigan's political parties nominate candidates for secretary of state and attorney general and do not participate in the primary process. Michigan Democrats will nominate a candidate for secretary of state at their state party convention in the spring of 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Washtenaw County prosecutor joins Michigan attorney general race
LANSING, Mich. − Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit is entering the 2026 race for state's chief law enforcement officer, throwing his hat in the ring for Michigan attorney general. The 42-year-old Ann Arbor Democrat who started his career as a public school teacher said on his campaign website that he will "take on corporate polluters, protect workers and consumers from exploitation, and hold powerful interests accountable." "At a time when our constitutional rights are under attack, Eli will be a fearless advocate for justice, fairness, and opportunity for all," the site said. Savit worked as a law clerk to former U.S. Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor and legal counsel for the city of Detroit before he was elected Washtenaw County prosecutor in 2020. He was re-elected to the position in 2024 and currently lectures at the University of Michigan Law School. As prosecutor, Savit created the state's only Economic Justice Unit, focused on price gouging, wage theft and consumer abuse, as well as zeroed in prosecutorial efforts on domestic violence and sexual assault cases, his campaign announcement said. In Tuesday's announcement, Savit said the attorney general's office needs to focus its efforts on abuses close to home − such as slumlords and scammers − and at the federal level, where he argued Trump "is seeking to strip our communities of their fundamental freedoms." "The attorney general is uniquely situated to fight back, in court, against federal overreach," Savit said. "And I'll do so whenever Michiganders are placed at risk." His endorsements include that of former Michigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton and state Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit. Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel is term-limited and serving her last four-year term. Savit joins two others who have already announced their candidacy for the statewide role: Defense attorney Kevin Kijewski, a Republican, and former U.S. Attorney Mark Totten, a Democrat. --------- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan Democrats call on U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett to listen to constituent concerns on Medicaid cuts
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways State Rep. Matt Longjohn (D-Portage) discusses the way Medicaid cuts would impact Michigan's healthcare systems during a May 6, 2025 roundtable organized by the Michigan Democratic Party. | Kyle Davidson As Congressional Republicans continue to mull federal funding cuts in support of President Donald Trump's planned tax cuts, the Michigan Democratic Party held a roundtable in Lansing calling on U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) to stand against these proposals. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel and state Rep. Matt Longjohn (D-Portage) sat down with Tyjuan Thirdgill, the organizing manager for Reproductive Freedom for all, and Susan Anderson, an Okemos resident, to discuss the ways cuts to Medicaid would impact their families alongside Michigan residents. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'Despite countless working Michiganders relying on Medicaid for healthcare and economic security, President Trump would rather support cuts to Medicaid and fund tax handouts to billionaires,' Hertel said. Since U.S. House Republicans adopted their budget resolution on April 10, Democrats have raised concerns about cuts to several government programs, with many looking to the House's instructions to the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid and programs like Medicare. The committee has been tasked with cutting $880 billion over the next 10 years, as Democratic representatives — including U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor), who serves on the committee — warned that this cannot be achieved without drastic reductions to Medicaid, which provides health coverage to low income adults and children. During a presentation to the Michigan Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Health and Human Services in March, DHHS officials noted Michigan Medicaid makes up 34% of the state's total budget, with 70% of funding for the state's Medicaid program coming from the federal government. At the roundtable, Anderson discussed her late husband's diagnosis with both leukemia and Parkinson's disease, which she said was due to his exposure to Agent Orange while serving during the Vietnam War. Susan Anderson, an Okemos, Mich. resident discusses how Medicaid helped pay for her husband's treatment during a May 6, 2025 roundtable hosted by the Michigan Democratic party. | Kyle Davidson When her husband first fell ill, they couldn't afford to place him in a nursing home, so Anderson cared for him at home until he became more sick and was moved into a nursing home. Anderson and her husband could cover all but $2,000 of the monthly nursing home costs on their income. 'We were forced then to go to Medicaid. Thank God it was there. Medicaid covered the extra $2,000 and he got the care he needed,' Anderson said. Anderson expressed concern, not only for low-income individuals who already rely on Medicaid for care, but for middle class families as well. 'Their mother, their father, their uncle, they will be affected. Their family will be affected, if these cuts take place because of the high cost of medical care today,' Anderson said, calling on Barrett to pay attention to his constituent's concerns. Longjohn likened the United States healthcare system to a house of cards, as rising healthcare costs and the 25% turnover rate for healthcare workers create challenges in both accessing healthcare and keeping the system afloat. 'I like to talk about it as a house of cards, because it really isn't a system you would have built on purpose, you know. But we have the system that we have, and, you know, my greatest concern is that when anyone pulls out a card, you know, the whole thing can go down. But Medicaid is one of those cards at the lowest level of the foundation of our healthcare system,' Longjohn said, noting that 2.6 million Michiganders rely on Medicaid for their care. Thirdgill noted that 45% of pregnancies are paid for by Medicaid, before sharing his own story of fostering his three nieces. In Michigan, more than 1 million children use Medicaid for healthcare access, Thirdgill said, with his nieces being a part of that group. Without Medicaid, he would not be able to pay for his nieces' healthcare. Tyjuan Thirdgill, organizing manager at Reproductive Freedom For All, discusses how Medicaid cuts would impact his family during a May 6, 2025 roundtable hosted by the Michigan Democratic Party. | Kyle Davidson 'My six-year-old niece who has ADHD and autism, we depend on Medicaid to pay for her therapy for her to be able to learn how to process all the emotions that she's dealing with and knowing why she reacts differently than her older and younger sister does,' Thirdgill said. 'I don't understand how Representative Barrett can continue to ask us, who are already doing more with less, to take these cuts and to find more ways to make ends meet.' Michael Gordon, Barrett's deputy chief of staff, told the Michigan Advance in a statement 'Congressman Barrett wants to protect benefits for those who need them while finding ways to streamline the program with a focus on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. This will help us protect the program's long-term viability and care for those who depend on these benefits.' However, Longjohn slammed Barrett and his Republican colleagues saying this argument ignores the real world consequences of cuts to Medicaid. 'Medicaid provides for 65% of long-term care in this state, so families who have older adults who are in long-term care facilities or assisted living without Medicaid, you know, you're going to have to foot the bill for that,' Longjohn said. While everyone wants the government to work more efficiently, there is a right way to do that through the inspectors general, Longjohn said. 'When we pull that card out of the foundation of the house of cards that I was talking about earlier, we all end up paying because there's not a physician in the state by law that would turn away a pregnant mom in the emergency department who is ready to deliver or someone who needs emergency care,' Longjohn said, pointing to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, which guarantees access to medical services regardless of an individual's ability to pay. He said the cuts could also lead to the loss of rural health centers and federally qualified health centers which offer services to disadvantaged communities, with both types of facilities serving larger shares of individuals on Medicaid, making the program vital for covering the cost of patient care. After the roundtable, Longjohn told the Michigan Advance that the state would be unable to make up any lost Medicaid funding due to the size and scale of the cuts being debated in Washington, D.C. However, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has already begun taking action, Longjohn noted, with Whitmer directing the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to prepare a report detailing how Medicaid cuts would impact the state. 'That kind of contingency planning has to happen from the administration and, [I'm] grateful that she's given them that directive to do that, because the worst case would be if we didn't have the ability to pivot,' Longjohn said. If there are significant cuts, but that funding comes back in another form, such as a block grant, that could also create issues as the state works to shift to a new form of funding. State Rep. Matt Longjohn (D-Portage) discusses the way Medicaid cuts would impact Michigan's healthcare systems during a May 6, 2025 roundtable organized by the Michigan Democratic Party. | Kyle Davidson In the interim, individuals concerned about these cuts need to call attention to places where the levels can be pulled and pressure the people holding the levers — Barrett and his colleagues, Longjohn said. 'We can find a prescriber who is over prescribed, you know, a million dollars worth of claims in the Medicare and Medicaid system. That happens, but those people are prosecuted…. but we're talking about $880 billion, no one is even in the ballpark of that in terms of waste, fraud and abuse,' Longjohn said. 'So we need to make sure that those representatives in D.C. who have their hand on their levers of power know that their constituents realize that they're being disingenuous.'
