Help Planned Parenthood pack the hearing room with supporters and send a message to the Michigan Legislature. The attacks never end. On Wednesday, January 27th, the Michigan House Appropriations Committee will hear testimony on House Bill 4145. Sponsored by Representative Thomas Hooker, HB 4145 prohibits State of Michigan family planning funding from going to providers that offer abortion services. Once […]

We’re inside now thawing out from standing in the frigid air during the protest but I thought folks would like to see a brief video of the protest. After the press conference at Lansing City Hall, at least 500 protestors moved to the steps of the State Capitol Building to cause a fuss.

If you can’t be in Lansing for Lobby Day, you can show your support virtually from wherever you are. Today, November 5th, Planned Parenthood supporters from across Michigan are gathering in Lansing to show the Legislature that they stand with the healthcare organization and the vitally important healthcare services they provide. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan (PPAM) is holding the […]

Now that Indiana legislators have made it clear that they are not welcoming to the LGBTQ community, businesses and organizations across the country are choosing to boycott the Hoosier state and are relocating their conventions, meetings, and other events to places that are more welcoming. Although Michigan legislators seem hellbent on proving they are just as homophobic as Indiana, they […]

Michigan United is a broad coalition of grassroots faith, labor, and other organizations that are “fighting for the dignity and potential of every person.” As they say in their “About” page, they “are committed to a participatory democracy at every level, an economy that works for the many, and a society that dismantles racism while uplifting our common humanity. To […]

You know how Republicans are all about supporting “job creators”? It’s their reason for fighting any increases in the minimum wage, regulations that protect the environment or people, and a plethora of other things that Democrats fight FOR every day. Well, Republicans in Tennessee have made it clear that their adoration and idolization of “job creators” comes to a screeching […]

There are some stories I feel privileged to write. This is one of them. I already hold nurses in high esteem. But after talking with Tim Launius, RN, about his experience helping survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, I’m more convinced than ever that the work nurses do demonstrates the very best of humanity. Launius is one of more […]

Why doesn’t this make me feel any better?

Last week, I wrote about Lansing Public Schools firing all 50 of its elementary phys. ed., music and art teachers to save $6 million in their shrinking budget. The post has gone fairly viral getting over 30,000 views.

Apparently the school system got an earful from folks outraged that an essential part of kids’ education was being forfeited, in part to pay for corporate tax cuts. They have now responded.

Click through for details.

A generation of future entrepreneurs denied essential skills

To hear Governor Snyder tell it, Republicans haven’t reduced school funding. Everything is great for Michigan schools, he will tell you. If you want the real story, however, start attending your local school board meetings and listen to the decision-makers grappling with ever-shrinking budgets that have them choosing between offering our educators the wages and benefits they deserve and shutting down schools and eliminating programs. The reality is that our state government is starving our K-12 public schools and those chickens are beginning to come home to roost.

This past week, the Lansing Public School District announced that it is firing all 50 physical education, music and art teachers.

Details including the unintended long-term consequences of this action after the jump.

Signs, signs, everywhere signs

This is a collage of photographs I took during the Vaginas Take Back the Capitol event last week.

Click on “Read Full Story” below to see an interactive image of the poster where you can zoom in on the image to see the signs better or download the large file to print.

Vagina power!

There’s a storm brewing over the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan this afternoon. I am pretty sure it’s a Vagina Storm.

Photo after the jump.