One Person/One Vote Initiative: Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote

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Many Americans believe that we live in a democracy and that the presidential candidate with the most votes wins. Unfortunately, this is inaccurate. Although national, state, and local officials and initiatives are counted by direct popular vote, the president is elected by electoral votes. This indirect process is often referred to as the winner-take-all model. That is, the candidate who wins a majority of votes in almost every state in the Union is given the state’s electoral college votes, while votes cast for the losing candidate are canceled in 48 states.

June Month of Action Against Gun Violence

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On June 2 the “Rock” at Washtenaw and Hill was painted orange by supporters of Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety. Wear Orange honors survivors of gun violence and demand a future free of gun violence – and has been expanded from one weekend to the entire month of June. Joining in the project while wearing orange was Rep Debbie Dingell!

Silence the Violence Michigan and Moms Demand Action have organized 25 additional events through Michigan during June. Find an event near you!

Gun Violence is Unrelenting but Preventable

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American gun violence is unrelenting, but we do not have to accept it as inevitable. Let us honor the individuals mentioned above, along with all other victims and survivors by taking action on their behalf.

Passage of legislation such as Universal Background Checks, Red Flag Laws, Child Access Prevention Laws, a ban on assault style weapons, and protections for victims of domestic violence will help make us safer. We must vigorously support bills calling for these changes.

Two new Michigan laws become effective the first quarter of 2023

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On January 1, 2023, Michigan’s minimum wage rate increased from $9.87 to $10.10 per hour as set by Michigan’s Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act of 2018 which established the annual schedule of increases. Effective April 2023 an automated system for expunging convictions will begin. So, residents who want to expunge their records won’t have to file an application.

The Right to Not Get Shot Shall Not Be Infringed

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I send love to the victims and survivors of last weekend’s massacre at Club Q in Colorado Springs, and I offer my particular support to members of the LGBTQ+ community who are wrestling with unfathomable pain. I also send my love to the victims and survivors of yesterday’s mass shooting at the Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia. 

I’m writing this on a Wednesday. I believe this newsletter will be distributed on Thursday. So, I will take this opportunity to proactively offer my love and support to all who will become victims and survivors between now and the time you eventually read this. It’s come to that.