President Trump’s 2020 Budget Calls for Major Cuts to Public Services
By MUUSJN on Tuesday, March 26th, 2019
Pres. Trump’s FY 2020 Federal Budget Hurts Retirees, Persons with Disabilities, the Sick, Low & Middle Income Families and Students Transfers income to wealthy, corporations & pentagon On March 11th, President Trump released his FY 2020 budget proposal. It slashes funding for health services and human needs, cuts funding for mandatory programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, expands pentagon spending and makes permanent $1.1 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy approved in November 2017. Congress, not President Trump, ultimately decides federal spending priorities. However, reviewing the Trump budget proposals gives us an important glimpse at his budget priorities. Background On a regular basis, we need to let our members of Congress know how we think about our country’s spending priorities. Remember to speak […]
Tell Your Rep To Override Trump’s Veto — An Attack on Democracy
By MUUSJN on Sunday, March 24th, 2019
Tell Your Representative to Vote to OVERRIDE Trump’s Veto BACKGROUND On February 15th, President Donald Trump declared a “national emergency” to allow himself to grab billions of dollars already appropriated by Congress to build his unpopular wall between the U.S. and Mexico. More than two-thirds of Americans don’t think the wall should be a priority. On February 26th the House passed a joint resolution to terminate the national emergency by a vote of 245 to 182. On March 14th, the Senate also passed it (59- 41) with 12 Republicans voting with Democrats. Trump vetoed this resolution on March 15th. The House is scheduled to hold a veto override vote on Tuesday March 26th; a two thirds majority is needed for it to pass. While courts will likely determine the ultimate […]
Immigration Capitol Day April 9th
By MUUSJN on Thursday, March 21st, 2019
Michigan United Invites You to Registerto Meet Your Representative on Capitol Day In Lansing April 9th, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lansing Civic Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave. Michigan United has gotten confirmation from at least 26 lawmakers who have agreed to talk with you about issues such as: the environment, helping people integrate after they’ve been released from prison and treatment of immigrants. Transportation being provided from Detroit, Flint, Kalamazoo & Grand Rapids. Click HERE for more information and Get Registered Webinar on Sanctuary & Asylum Wednesday, April 10th, 8 p.m. The Unitarian Universalist Association is offering a webinar with information on “Expanded Sanctuary & Solidarity with Asylum Seekers”. Expanded sanctuary can involve sponsorship and accompaniment. Register HERE The First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor has […]
Mourn With Our Muslim Brothers and Sisters, Oppose Hate & Affirm Life
By MUUSJN on Sunday, March 17th, 2019
We Mourn Attacks on New Zealand Mosques & Stand in Solidarity with Muslim People We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Muslim faith. At least 50 people were killed and 50 wounded in a hate-filled terror attack targeting two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. We recall that a year ago 11 people were massacred at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. In both cases, violence was committed against people while in their places of worship. Unitarian Universalists believe we are called to affirm the worth of every human being. We must understand how prejudice can lead to violence. We must take next steps to collaborate with other people of faith to create change. You are invited to stand in solidarity with […]
Water Lobby Day – March 20th; The Catholic Church & LGBTQ Justice – April 12-13
By MUUSJN on Wednesday, March 13th, 2019
What’s The Connection Between Water Justice and LGBTQ Rights & The Catholic Church? It’s PEOPLE … who should ALL be treated with DIGNITY World Water Day in Michigan- Water Lobbying Day Wednesday, March 20th, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Meet at the First Presbyterian Church, 510 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing for introduction to new water justice bills, press conference, visit legislators. Click HERE for flyer. World Water Day Celebration: Friday, March 22nd, 4 – 9 p.m. at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. For more information and to register for events go to: www.miworldwaterday.org RENEWING CATHOLICISM What is valuable in the Catholic tradition? What needs to be reformed?Saturday, April 13th, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Christ Church, Cranbrook, 470 Church Rd., Bloomfield Hills This FREE […]
Call Your Senator NOW to End U.S. Support for War in Yemen
By MUUSJN on Tuesday, March 12th, 2019
Save the Children Estimates 85,000 Children Have Already Starved U.S. supports Saudi war on Yemen — 22 million need emergency assistance Call Our Senators NOW A Vote Is Expected Tomorrow (3/13/19) Senator Debbie Stabenow: 202-224-4822 Senator Gary Peters: 202-224-6221 Tell Them: Vote YES on a Bi-partisan Resolution to end U.S. military support for this brutal war in Yemen BACKGROUND According to the United Nations, a Saudi led coalition’s bombardment and blockade of food is the leading cause of civilian casualties. It’s a proxy war in Yemen with Sunni Saudi Arabia opposing Shiite Houthie rebels supported by Iran. Half the country’s population is on the brink of starvation. For an update on the cruel war in Yemen, click https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1032811 The U.S. has a vast amount of leverage to stop the […]
New Trump Gag Rule Faces Widespread Opposition
By MUUSJN on Sunday, February 24th, 2019
BACKGROUND On Friday, February 21st, the Trump Administration issued a rule through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that cuts off Title X family planning funds to organizations that provide abortions or tell women where they could get one. The rule prohibits federally funded family planning clinics from being housed in the same locations as abortion providers and would require stricter financial separation. This rule could strip millions of dollars from Planned Parenthood and direct it toward religiously based, anti-abortion groups. The new rule removes a requirement that programs counsel women on “all reproductive options”, a change that could make anti-abortion providers eligible to get Title X funds. These religious groups are more likely to emphasize abstinence and discourage use of birth control. Planned Parenthood serves 41% […]
Urge Senators to Vote NO on Bill to (Continue) to Allow Fox to Guard the Hen House
By MUUSJN on Sunday, February 10th, 2019
On February 4th, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2019-2 that would restructure the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), renaming it the “Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy”. The newly organized Department would include new offices of Climate and Energy, Clean Water Public Advocate and Environmental Justice Advocate. The part of the Order that reportedly most concerned conservatives was the abolition of industry dominated panels created last year by legislation (opposed by MUUSJN) that could make decisions on permits and rules. The panels, which have the power to overrule decisions by the Department Director, were described by environmental activists as “polluter panels”. On February 6th, the Michigan House (on a party-line vote) passed HCR 1 that would reject the Governor’s order. Reportedly, their main concern […]
Tell Congress NO to a Second Govt. Shutdown & a Fake Crisis
By MUUSJN on Monday, February 4th, 2019
Background President Donald Trump is doubling down on his demand for a $5.7 billion barrier between the U.S. and Mexico. He’s willing to shut down our government a second time to fulfill his campaign promise to build a wall on our southern border. More than two-thirds of Americans don’t think the wall should be a priority, according to a poll by NPR, PBS News Hour and Marist. Trump seems to be quite willing to declare a fake “National Disaster” to get what he wants. He would shake the foundations of our democracy. We must fight back! America has suffered because of Trump’s obsession with a wall. A team of 17 members of Congress (click HERE for list) has begun negotiating for a budget settlement. However, President Trump has expressed doubt this Congressional […]
Thanks for Calling
By MUUSJN on Saturday, January 26th, 2019
Our Phone Calls to Senators Helped End Partial Government Shutdown! The House and Senate passed & Trump signed a resolution to re-open the government until February 15th I’m proud to say that our Justice Network was part of a massive effort to tell members of Congress that: On Friday, January 25th, Congress and President Trump finally got the message. We bombarded Senator Mitch McConnell’s office with demands for a vote on a clean bill without anti-immigrant provisions. We urged our own Senators to put pressure on McConnell. I suspect that when elected officials and their wealthy benefactors experienced delays in flying due to east coast air traffic controllers not showing up for work that too may have had an affect. The government shutdown became intolerable. The House and the […]