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There is no good reason to subsidize this business. *: the proposal is to mine from a parcel immediately adjacent to the Porcupine Mountains State Wilderness Area and to mine under the state park as well as on the adjacent land. Protect The Porkies has more details. 7/7

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A mine, on the other hand, brings a relatively small number of short term jobs combined with long-term environmental damage. What's more, we aren't competing with Indiana, Alabama, or Indonesia for the mine jobs. The copper, worth billions, can't be sent overseas. 6/

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A chips manufacturing plant would also be likely to bring other advanced manufacturing jobs and maybe research and development opportunities for people and businesses in Michigan. 5/

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That's how the administration was able to sell the funding for microchip manufacturing projects. These are advanced manufacturing projects that bring lots of jobs that stick around for a long time. 4/

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It is also simply a bad project for public funds. That's why the project couldn't get support through the normal process. Legislators like me, who are reluctant to give taxpayer money to private businesses, want to see a real and obvious benefit to the public for projects like this. 3/

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It looks like the Governor's team took money that was designated for a microchip manufacturing facility and are trying to repurpose those dollars to support a mine. They did this because this project didn't have support in our legislature, but they wanted to do it anyway. 2/

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Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

How did Michigan give $50 million of our dollars to a new, Canadian mining company to extract copper from the Porcupine Mountains*, near the shore of Lake Superior, without approval from the legislature? 1/

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A rainy day tabling at Parkridge Summer Festival.

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Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

If you're voting today in Michigan, and you want to: ✔️ secure universal health coverage ✔️ protect social security ✔️ protect clean water & clean air ✔️ stop Trump's militarism We need to make sure that Republican Rogers - and what he stands for - doesn't win.

Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Then, after 18 months and losing in three different courts, the bill was sent and Governor Whitmer finally vetoed the bills, blaming the delay for her decision. So, today I reintroduced that legislation and I hope to get it to the Governor this fall.

Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Two years ago, we passed legislation to align our protections with those in neighboring states. Unfortunately, Michigan House Republicans illegally withheld the bill and would not send it to the Governor (as required by article 4, section 33).

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Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Michigan has the worst protections in the nation for people facing collection for unsecured debt. More of your income is taken, nothing in your bank account is protected, and debt collectors can even take your earned income tax credit (money the state sends to the lowest-income workers). 1/

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Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

This legislation protects the rights of vulnerable individuals by requiring a court to find that a permanent change of residence is in the best interest of the person under guardianship and mandating professional appraisals be made before any real estate is sold.

Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I am excited that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer just signed Senate Bills 585-586 into law, legislation to strengthen and protect the rights of individuals placed in guardianships. meji.org/news/meji-ce... www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?O...

meji.org

MEJI Celebrates Passage of Two Guardianship Reform Bills | MEJI

For many years, the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative (MEJI) has advocated for reforms of the state’s guardianship and conservatorship systems. MEJI seeks to both better protect the rights of and empo...

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Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

More news from MI's budget on housing: I am very excited that we continued our investment in permanent supportive housing with $5M this year. This is an incredibly important investment that helps people that are chronically unhoused. www.csh.org/2026/07/mich...

csh.org

Michigan FY27 Budget Includes $5 Million for Supportive Services Transformation Fund (SSTF) | Corporation for Supportive Housing

Michigan's Governor Whitman signs the state's FY27 budget that includes an additional bipartisan $5 million for supportive housing services.

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Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Today, Michigan's new Housing Opportunity Credit was signed into law. My bill (SB 966) was part of bipartisan legislation that will boost financing for affordable housing developments and is estimated to add 2,500 units a year in the coming years. www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/...

crainsdetroit.com

What Michigan’s new housing laws do to boost building, cut costs

A new state affordable housing tax credit and limits on corporate home-buying are intended to put a dent in the state’s housing shortage.

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Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Join US Senator Senator Elissa Slotkin, myself and others for a tele town hall tonight about housing. You can get connected through Sen Slotkin's page or watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCav...

youtube.com

Sen. Elissa Slotkin

Senator from the great state of Michigan. Working to boost the middle class, protect our country, our kids and our democracy. Former national security official.

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We also have some of the worst health outcomes because we deny people the preventative care that keeps them healthier and out of the hospital. Reducing the power of money in politics and giving Americans the freedom of guaranteed coverage is what makes me excited about El Sayed's candidacy.

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This will save Americans money and save American lives. Universal health coverage, or “Medicare for All” will drive down costs, increase access, and improve health outcomes. In the USA, we have an extremely expensive, broken system. 3/

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Too many people are struggling in poverty or near poverty, just barely getting by and always one step away from deep hardship. We need big answers to the costs that are squeezing everybody. Abdul has always stood strong on the obvious solution: a federal health insurance plan that covers everyone.

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Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Now that my friend and colleague, Sen McMorrow, has ended her campaign for US Senate, I am endorsing Abdul El Sayed. Here's why: Abdul El Sayed speaks clearly and directly to the needs of people. 1/

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I agree on that point. I don't think that was the concern all along. I guess I will have to wait for her book.

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Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

She could have signed the bills. That there would be litigation to sort out how some of the bills would work is not a good reason to deep six such important changes. Also, some of the bills wouldn't have been complicated to implement, such as the bankruptcy bill or the Charles Wright bill.

In addition, they teamed up to make sure Michigan continues to have the worst protections in the country for consumer debt, giving a win to debt collectors and debt buyers. This move encourages future unconstitutional games and hurts regular people who are being squeezed by a tough economy. 2/2

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Whitmer vetoes 9 bills at center of spat in Michigan Legislature

Bad news for Michigan. Governor Whitmer and Michigan House Republicans teamed up to deliver a massive blow to teachers, public safety officers, corrections officers, and all public employees. 1/ www.freep.com/story/news/p...

freep.com

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer cited legal and administrative challenges that would follow if she approved the bills.

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3) Teachers, public safety, or other public employees will be able to bargain for lower health insurance costs (or not if there is a veto). 4) the Charles Wright museum will be allowed to seek support from the voters (or not if there is a veto).

Michigan House must present 9 stalled bills to gov under high court order

The Michigan House must present nine bills passed in 2024 to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature under a Michigan Supreme Court order.

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2) Correctional officers will be allowed back into the pension, enacting the most significant policy we can to reduce mandatory overtime and improve safety (or not if there is a veto).

Michigan House must present 9 stalled bills to gov under high court order

The Michigan House must present nine bills passed in 2024 to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature under a Michigan Supreme Court order.

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1) Michigan has, currently, the worst protections for people with credit card or other consumer debt. Bills passed to bring Michigan into alignment with national averages and to protect public benefits like the EITC from garnishment by debt buyers and debt collectors (or not if vetoed).

Michigan House must present 9 stalled bills to gov under high court order

The Michigan House must present nine bills passed in 2024 to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature under a Michigan Supreme Court order.

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Finally. The courts finally ruled on a time-sensitive case to determine if the Michigan House Republicans had to follow the Constitution Art 4, Sec 33. MI House Republicans violated the state Constitution to withhold bills that passed both chambers in what amounted to a veto from the House Clerk.

Michigan House must present 9 stalled bills to gov under high court order

The Michigan House must present nine bills passed in 2024 to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature under a Michigan Supreme Court order.

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✅️ Protects Michigan Reconnect, covering costs for people looking to go back to finish a degree or certification QR code for higher education resources: www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid...

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This budget: ✅️ Continues the Community College Guarantee, covering all tuition for qualifying students ✅️ Funds Michigan Achievement Scholarship, providing up to $5,500 per year for students attending a university

While the base funding changes for these institutions lag behind inflation, there are some bright spots. For instance, this budget continues funding for critical programs that support the people attending higher education.

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The bottom line for EMU and U of M is a 1% increase to base operations (the budget reflects a "one-time 4% increase," but, after last year's 3% one-time increase is backed out, the net result is a 1% increase).

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Michigan budget update, continued: Universities and Community Colleges The 2027 budget brings a small increase in funding to anchor institutions in Washtenaw like Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College, and the University of Michigan. For WCC, the budget provides a 1.4% increase.

Sen McMorrow, my colleague in the Senate, was running for US Senate. I will be announcing an endorsement in that race soon. The seat I currently serve in will likely be filled next year by Brabec or White. While I respect both, I have already endorsed former Rep Felecia Brabec.

Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

The new legislation adds a Michigan Low-income Housing Tax Credit to work alongside the existing federal, LIHTC program. Over the next several years, this program will incentivize thousands of new units that will come with contracts to keep rents at a set percentage of area median income. 2/2

Jeff Irwin @jeffmirwin.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

While the housing crisis looks different in different corners of Michigan, people across the state are struggling to find affordable housing. That's why we just passed a new program to build and rehab affordable housing in Michigan. 1/2 www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2...

clickondetroit.com

New bill for affordable housing in Michigan -- Here’s how the state will help

Michigan legislature is working to pass a new law to help build more affordable housing across the state.

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We don't need more money in politics and we don't need more partisan posturing from federal agencies that were set up to serve all Americans - not certain politicians and their donors. ###

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Interestingly, the Court protected the Federal Reserve from partisan interference while they subjected other federal agencies to greater political control. (Here is a longer description of the corruption and damage caused by having federal agencies act as political tools: hbr.org/2026/06/the-...) 4/

hbr.org

Secondly, the court reversed long-time precedent that protected federal agencies from partisan and political interference and corruption. Essentially, there are several federal agencies that were set up to manage important functions independently from the day-to-day whims of politicians. 3/

hbr.org

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This change increases the power of political parties and big donors. Big donors can now use political parties to get around contribution limits by, for instance, paying for campaign staff or materials through the parties (thereby providing another route for contributions that are not disclosed). 2/

hbr.org

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