Bernie Sanders follows up on Barack Obama’s visit to the Mitten state in support of Governor Whitmer’s re-election bid. The moves signal increasing nervousness about the prospects of a democrat loss in a state that the first time incumbent governor won by 10 points during the last cycle.
Below is a press release from Friends of Bernie Sanders ahead of the Sanders rally:
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Over the final two weekends of the 2022 midterm election, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is traveling across the country to make more than 15 appearances on the campaign trail.
Sanders has already made stops in Oregon, California, Nevada, and Texas, and will continue campaigning in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania this weekend to help drive turnout and excitement among young people and working class voters.
Below are details for the senator’s rally in Ann Arbor.
Saturday, November 5
6:00 p.m.EDT Our Future is Now Rally in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Rackham Auditorium at Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan, 915 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48109
Michigan will receive visits from 2020 hopefuls, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, this week.
The former vice president arrives to deliver remarks at 1:15 pm today in Warren, MI and the president will hold a rally for supporters in Freeland, MI tomorrow at 7 pm.
The visits mark the kickoff of what is sure to be a busy push by both parties in the Mitten State between now and election day. Michigan was a hotly contested race in 2016 and appears to be tightening once again as discontent towards democratic Governor Whitmer’s coronavirus response has reinvigorated republicans and some independents. 2020 also appears poised to test whether years of anti-Trump sentiment can hold long enough and strong enough to flip the state that went red just four years ago.
Stay tuned for our coverage of both candidates and their remarks this week and throughout election season.
Governor Whitmer announced Wednesday that no determination would be made regarding the reopening of gyms, theaters, bowling alleys and high school sports.
Whitmer insinuated an announcement would be coming in the next few days, though she gave no indication what data or science would be available or different to make a new determination.
In the meantime, Michiganders continue to wait for relief and answers, as athletes take the field again this afternoon across the state with no new information.
Governor Whitmer has scheduled a press conference this afternoon at 2:30 pm. A day after theaters, gyms owners and athletes across the state hoped to hear good news, it appears their wait may be coming to an end.
The announcement was expected yesterday afternoon, but the governor and other officials announced that no decision had been made at that time.
Today’s press conference seems most likely to give an answer in either direction and many expect that gyms, theaters and indoor high school sports will be able to resume following Labor Day weekend. Stay tuned for more coverage of the governor’s press conference this afternoon.
The governor has announced an update to last month’s press conference, which forecast her administration’s moves to combat systemic racism within the health field.
The argument made in that press conference detailed disparities between healthcare outcomes and illness across racial lines. The prescription given at the time was to require training in racial sensitivity as part of continuing education mandates. The move drew criticism from some in the healthcare field, who saw the comments as an attack on their integrity and overlooked other explanations for incongruities between racial groups.
“We must confront systemic racism head on so we can create a more equitable and just Michigan.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
A month later, the Whitmer administration once again took the podium and the state’s attention, amid the coronavirus pandemic, to announce a further development in their push. The governor officially named “racism” to be a public health emergency.
“We must confront systemic racism head on so we can create a more equitable and just Michigan,” Whitmer explained. Her order also establishes a Black Leadership Advisory Council, which will be filled by 16 applicants from around Michigan. Applications are due August 19.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced at 9pm via Twitter on Tuesday night that she would be expanding and re-upping various restrictions in the mitten state as a response to what she claims has been a recent spike in cases.
“I’ve said this from the start — these are difficult decisions, but I will do what is necessary to protect the brave men and women on the front lines, avoid overwhelming our healthcare system, and save lives,” Whitmer tweeted on Tuesday night.
Her most recent order rolls back indoor gatherings to 10 or fewer people in a state-wide restriction that much of the progress that had been made towards opening the state. Other restrictions that have pertained to much of the state’s restaurants and taprooms will now also be extended to areas of northern Michigan, which had been largely open in recent weeks.
The full text of the press release is below for your review.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-160 and Executive Order 2020-161, amending Michigan’s Safe Start Order and issuing revised workplace safeguards. Under the Safe Start Order, starting July 31, 2020, statewide indoor gatherings will be limited to 10 people and bars will be closed for indoor service across the state, including in Regions 6 and 8.
“As we see COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Michiganders cannot afford to drop our guard. We must take every step possible to saave lives, protect the brave men and women on the front lines, and avoid overwhelming our healthcare system while we continue to combat COVID-19,” said Governor Whitmer. “After seeing a resurgence in cases connected to social gatherings across the state, we must further limit gatherings for the health of our community and economy. By taking these strong actions, we will be better positioned to get our children back into classrooms and avoid a potentially devastating second wave.”
COVID-19’s resurgence is closely associated with super-spreading events at large social gatherings, often attended by young people. An outbreak at a Lansing bar has resulted in 187 infections; more than 50 cases have been linked to a single house party in Saline; and a sandbar party at Torch Lake over the July 4 weekend led to at least 43 confirmed cases. Therefore, Executive Order 2020-160 limits statewide indoor gatherings to 10 people or less and, across most of the state, limits outdoor gatherings to 100. (The outdoor gathering limits will remain at 250 in Regions 6 and 8.)
Executive Order 2020-160 also orders that bars in every region, including those in regions 6 and 8, must close for indoor service if they earn more than 70% of their gross receipts from sales of alcoholic beverages.
Under the governor’s orders, Detroit casinos will also be allowed to open on August 5, but their occupancy will be limited to 15% capacity. Casinos must also, among other things, conduct a daily entry screening protocol for customers and employees, temperature screening. Casinos must require patrons to wear a face covering, except while eating or drinking or for identification purposes.
Executive Order 2020-160 will rescind Executive Orders 2020-110, 2020-115, 2020-120, 2020-133, and 2020-143.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE via 2020 Biden for President March 5, 2020
Whitmer Named Fourth National Campaign Co-Chair
After historic wins in states across the country on Super Tuesday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement endorsing Joe Biden for President of the United States:
“Working families in Michigan need a president who will show up and fight for them, and Joe Biden has proven time and again that he has our backs. He had all of our backs when he worked with President Obama to expand health care to millions of people under the Affordable Care Act, including 680,000 Michiganders who now have coverage through Medicaid expansion. He had our backs during the auto industry rescue that saved GM and Chrysler. And he’s proven that he will continue to fight for those values and more as our next president.
“Joe Biden understands we’re at a crossroads in our country — he understands what’s at stake when working families are wondering whether they’ll be able to afford a doctors’ bill, or prescription drugs, or to put food on the table for themselves and their families.
“Michiganders have grit. We’re tough. We know what it’s like to be overlooked and counted out. And we know that when you get knocked down, you pick yourself up and get back to work. Joe Biden has been right there with us in the tough fights. He showed up for the people of Michigan when our health care and our auto industry were on the line. He helped us pick ourselves up and get back to work. I know he’ll do the same as president.
“Joe Biden is the candidate we need to defeat Donald Trump in November. He’s always had our backs. Now, I’m proud to have his.”
Whitmer’s endorsement adds to the growing support that Joe Biden has already garnered in Michigan, including former Michigan Senator Carl Levin and former Governor Jennifer Granholm who both endorsed Biden yesterday. In addition, the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, State Representatives Joe Tate, Karen Whitsett, and Tenisha Yancey, and State Senator Marshall Bullock have also endorsed Biden. Nationally, Biden for President has previously announced more than 1,500 endorsements from national, state, and local leaders, including current and former U.S. senators and representatives, governors, state elected officials, community leaders, and national security professionals.
Whitmer joins Delaware Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, Louisiana Congressman Cedric Richmond and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as national campaign co-chairs, serving as a top advisor and surrogate as the campaign expands its efforts to clinch the Democratic nomination and defeat Donald Trump.
Michigan Democrats in the state house and senate have proposed a spectrum of so-called “red flag” laws, which are being described as “extreme risk protection orders.” The charge for new state legislation is being led by democratic State Senator Rosemary Bayer of Beverly Hills.
Democratic State Representative Robert Wittenberg of Huntington Woods compares the red flag statutes to other parts of the Michigan judicial code, saying, “It’s similar to a personal protection order. Some of the same evidence can be used, like social media posts or other things like that.” Under some proposed legislation, a petition could be brought before a judge for review. If the judge decides against the individual at the center of the inquiry, weapons may be removed for up to a year.
Senator Bayer links her support to these proposals to a personal friend who committed suicide by firearm when she was a teenager. Similarly, proponents of the various legislation suggest the action would help prevent some violent crime and instances of suicide by those owning firearms.
Michigan democrats follow other states New York and Virginia that have made news lately with the passage of various new gun laws.
Virginia governor Ralph Northam recently passed a budget increase in the state corrections budget to account for the imprisoning of Virginians refusing to comply with the state’s weapon ban that requires forced confiscation or delivery by gun owners of certain types of firearms.
Opponents of red flag law legislation claim it is a violation of constitutional liberties provided by the 2nd and 4th amendments, since no actual criminal conviction or indictment is required to enact the state-sponsored removal.
Whether legislation will gain traction in either branch of the state congress is yet to be seen, but there is sure to be vocal support and opposition throughout the process by activist groups on both sides and legal challenges should any piece of legislation be signed into law by Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer.
(Feature Photo credit: Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan)
Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced an emergency directive to the state health department to place a ban on flavored e-cigarette and vape juice products.
Via unsplash.com
Whitmer cited children as her primary concern for the new rule and fears that flavored vapes could pose a risk to minor’s health.
Online reaction to the news seemed to be primarily negative Wednesday morning from the smoking and non-smoking community, alike, with most arguing the move is a gross overreach. There is no timeline on when the sale or marketing of flavored vape products will go into effect or how long such a directive will be in place before being sent to the Michigan congress for action.
Via unsplash.com
We will keep you updated on any further developments as this story progresses.
Michigan Herald Tribune 