Author: sisaacson@michigandems.com

Michigan leaders call out Mike Rogers’ extensive record supporting dangerous abortion bans

LANSING — Today, State Senator Stephanie Chang, State Senator Rosemary Bayer, and Cassy Jones-McBryde, Founder and Executive Director of the Michigan Equity Action Fund sounded the alarm on Mike Rogers’ extensive anti-abortion record at a press conference in Detroit. 

“As a woman who had a life saving abortion, I know how critically important it is that we protect our right to reproductive freedom in Michigan. We cannot afford someone like Mike Rogers who supports dangerous abortion bans. Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin is a champion for reproductive rights, and she will work to protect our freedoms,” said State Senator Rosemary Bayer.

“In Michigan, we have protected the right to safe legal abortions — which are tough, personal medical decisions that should be made between families and doctors, not politicians. A national ban on abortion would be devastating as we have already seen from women bleeding out and even dying in other states. Mike Rogers can’t hide from his lengthy anti-abortion record that is out of line with Michiganders and would move us back decades,” said State Senator Stephanie Chang. 

“I am fiercely committed to protecting abortion access at the congressional level, even in states where it’s codified. Laws can shift in an instant, and we cannot afford to be complacent. In Michigan, the people have overwhelmingly spoken in support of reproductive rights, making it clear that access to abortion is a vital aspect of reproductive justice. This issue demands not only the right to choose but also the resources and support to make those choices. We cannot reward politicians like Mike Rogers with seats in office since they have not proven their commitment to legislating in the interest of the people,” said Cassy Jones-McBryde, Founder and Executive Director of the Michigan Equity Action Fund. 

Rogers “supported a national abortion ban” and he “consistently voted” for abortion bans, and he co-sponsored four bills that “could restrict or effectively ban IVF.” Rogers twice “co-sponsored legislation to withdraw federal approval of the abortion-inducing medication Mifepristone.” 

Rogers wanted to “enshrine fetal personhood in the Constitution,” and he celebrated the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. If Rogers had “lived in Michigan instead of Florida” in 2022, he would have voted against Proposal 3.

See also: Jezebel: Michigan Republican in Tight Senate Race Says He’d Respect Abortion Rights. His Record Suggests Otherwise, Bridge Michigan: On abortion, some Michigan candidate claims conflict with records, Michigan Independent: Mike Rogers wants voters to forget his record of backing abortion bans, The Gander: Mike Rogers tries to distance Senate campaign from his anti-abortion record, CNN: Republican candidates downplay past anti-abortion stances ahead of 2024 election, The Gander: Republican Senate candidates face backlash over anti-abortion records in Michigan, Business Insider: GOP politicians are saying they’ve always cared about IVF. Bills they’ve supported indicate otherwise, Michigan Advance: Republicans have put the rights of a fertilized egg over the rights of the woman.’ 

Note: Contact Sam Chan at schan@michigandems.com for a recording of the press conference. 

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The post RELEASE: Michiganders and Elected Officials Sound Alarm on Mike Rogers’ Toxic Anti-Abortion Record appeared first on Michigan Democratic Party.

Chair Barnes slams the Trump campaign’s newest attempt to peddle their MAGA Project 2025 agenda to Michiganders during Vance’s Traverse City visit today

LANSING — Today, J.D. will peddle Trump’s lies to Michiganders in Traverse City. Every trip to Michigan from the Trump campaign makes it more clear to voters that they have nothing to offer our great state as they continue to push their Project 2025 agenda. 

“Whether it’s sending jobs overseas, a national abortion ban, or a billionaire tax break, Trump and Vance have no intention of helping working Michiganders,” said Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes. “At the end of the day, Trump only has one constituent he’s ever trying to help: himself.

“Voters won’t be fooled by Trump and Vance’s lies – the truth is that Trump’s Project 2025 agenda will raise costs on the middle class and threaten our freedoms here in Michigan. Come November, Michiganders will send Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz to the White House because, up and down the ballot, Democrats are fighting for a better life for all Michiganders.”

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The post STATEMENT: Michigan Dems Chair Condemns Vance’s Extremist Wednesday Visit appeared first on Michigan Democratic Party.

LANSING — Mike Rogers can’t run away from his extensive anti-choice record. In Congress, Rogers “consistently voted” for abortion bans, and he co-sponsored four bills that “could restrict or effectively ban IVF.” 

Rogers refuses to discuss “how the fetal personhood bills he sponsored in Congress squared” with his so-called support for IVF. Rogers is in a “sticky wicket” with his extensive anti-abortion voting record, and has “very much essentially punted” questions on this topic. When asked about his anti-IVF record, Rogers has resorted to attacking the media. 

What to know about Rogers’ extensive anti-abortion voting record:

• Rogers “supported a national abortion ban” and “consistently voted” for abortion bans. 

• In Congress, Rogers co-sponsored four bills “to define human life as beginning at conception” which would jeopardize access to IVF and contraception, including IUDs and Plan B. 

• Fetal personhood laws, like the ones Rogers co-sponsored, “could restrict or effectively ban IVF” and would rip away Michiganders’ freedom to make personal decisions.

• Rogers refused to commit to supporting legislation to protect IVF at the federal level. 

• When “asked about how the fetal personhood bills he sponsored in Congress squared” with his so-called support for IVF, “Rogers refused to discuss the legislation.”

• Rogers twice “co-sponsored legislation to withdraw federal approval of the abortion-inducing medication Mifepristone.” 

• Rogers wanted to “enshrine fetal personhood in the Constitution,” and he celebrated the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.

• If Rogers had “lived in Michigan instead of Florida” in 2022, he would have voted against Proposal 3.

• Rogers is in a “sticky wicket” with his Congressional record of “co-sponsoring” anti-IVF legislation making it “even worse” for him to hide from.

• Rogers “very much essentially punted” when asked about his support for personhood legislation.

• Rogers has attacked the media for asking him about his anti-IVF record, saying he can’t find an “honest journalist” and he’s “lost faith in the journalistic integrity across America.”

WATCH: Mike Rogers’ long record supporting dangerous anti-IVF legislation

See also: Jezebel: Michigan Republican in Tight Senate Race Says He’d Respect Abortion Rights. His Record Suggests Otherwise, Bridge Michigan: On abortion, some Michigan candidate claims conflict with records, Michigan Independent: Mike Rogers wants voters to forget his record of backing abortion bans, The Gander: Mike Rogers tries to distance Senate campaign from his anti-abortion record, CNN: Republican candidates downplay past anti-abortion stances ahead of 2024 election, The Gander: Republican Senate candidates face backlash over anti-abortion records in Michigan, Business Insider: GOP politicians are saying they’ve always cared about IVF. Bills they’ve supported indicate otherwise, Michigan Advance: Republicans have put the rights of a fertilized egg over the rights of the woman.’ 

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The post WHAT TO KNOW: Mike Rogers “Consistently Voted” for Abortion Bans, Co-Sponsored Four Bills that “Could Restrict or Effectively Ban IVF” appeared first on Michigan Democratic Party.

Chair Barnes joins battleground Dem state party Chairs panel to talk about Harris’s economic plans 

LANSING — In case you missed it, this weekend, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes spoke on MSNBC’s The Weekend about the stark contrast between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s economic policies. Along with her fellow Democratic state party Chairs from Arizona and Wisconsin, Chair Barnes highlighted how Harris prioritizes unions and working families while Donald Trump only ever prioritizes himself. 

In battleground states like Michigan, Dems are working every day to remind voters that if Trump becomes president again, he will once again work to rig the system to line the pockets of him and his billionaire cronies. If Kamala Harris becomes president, she will work to lower costs for working families on health care, groceries, utilities, and housing while holding greedy corporations accountable. 

With the Michigan Teamsters’ endorsement, Kamala Harris is showing that she is the only candidate who will help middle-class Michiganders because she is the only candidate who has been in the middle class. Michigan Dems are getting this message into the communities that matter most this cycle as we work to fight for opportunity for every Michigander.

Watch more from MSNBC’s panel below: 

MSNBC’s The Weekend: How Kamala Harris is rallying key states as voting begins: Dem Party leaders weigh in

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The post ICYMI: On MSNBC, Michigan Dems Chair Highlights Labor Coalition Behind Harris-Walz appeared first on Michigan Democratic Party.

New “60 Minutes” segment details continued consequences of the opioids crisis, Mike Rogers still refuses to answer for his role as a “champion” for pharmaceutical companies

LANSING — Yesterday, “60 Minutes” detailed the continued consequences of the opioids crisis, yet Mike Rogers remains silent about his “decade of advocacy” to “boost opioid prescriptions” as “the nation tumbled into a crushing epidemic it is still battling today.” 

“60 Minutes” highlighted how the pharmaceutical industry “set the table” for the crisis that we continue to face today, as more Americans became addicted to opioids. Bridge Michigan reported that Rogers was “one of Congress’ leading advocates for increased access to pain care” with “close ties to pain foundations that were bankrolled by drug companies trying to increase sales of pain pills like Oxycontin.” 

Rogers refuses to answer about his opioids record, despite the fact that he pushed bills that “did not include penalties for over-prescribing,” and he “received hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the same drug companies that now are paying billions of dollars in national opioid settlements for their roles in causing the epidemic.” 

Experts point out that Rogers “contributed to the crisis,” and he “could have done more in his role to temper the growing epidemic.” Michiganders deserve answers from Rogers on his work “urg[ing] opioid access in Congress:”

Here are five key questions that Rogers refuses to answer:

• Did you refuse to identify big drug companies as responsible for the opioid crisis, including ones now paying Michigan millions of dollars in settlements for their role in the epidemic, because you received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from those same companies?

• How do you claim not to have known about your close ties to Big Pharma and the drug companies fueling the crisis when you were identified as one of the “principal beneficiaries of pharma’s largesse?”
  
• How do you deny that the lack of regulation by Congress is part of what fueled the opioid crisis when you were introducing bills to fuel the crisis pushed forward by groups bankrolled by Big Pharma?
   
• How do you deny any responsibility when experts say you directly “contributed to the crisis” and could have done more to temper the opioid epidemic?
  
• Do you regret your self-professed work as a “champion” for opioid manufacturers and distributors for drugs that have killed tens of thousands of Michiganders?

See also: Bridge Michigan: Mike Rogers vows to fight drug war, but urged opioid access in Congress, 60 Minutes: Fentanyl fueling worst drug crisis in U.S. history, killing 70,000 a year.

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The post As New Report Details Continued Consequences of Opioid Crisis, Mike Rogers Still Refuses to Answer for His Work to Increase Access to Opioids appeared first on Michigan Democratic Party.

Michigan’s importance continues to show as Harris, Trump, and Vance all visited the state this week

LANSING — This week, the campaign trains kept chugging on as both the Trump and Harris campaigns visited Michigan to energize voters during the week of National Voter Registration Day on the 17th. While Trump and Vance spread misinformation and fueled extremist fires, Vice President Kamala Harris held a hybrid digital event, hosted by Oprah, to connect grassroots organizations across the country. 

Michigan Dems also celebrated National Voter Registration Day by highlighting the work Dems are doing across the state and encouraging everyone to check their registration before November’s election. From phonebanks to barbeques, Dems are building stronger, larger coalitions every day to defeat Trump’s MAGA agenda once again. 

It was a busy week once again, but, like Governor Tim Walz says, “We’ll sleep when we’re dead.” 

Check out the highlights from this week below: 

Tuesday was jam-packed with celebrations of National Voter Registration Day and rejections of Trump and Vance’s separate far-right visits. Thankfully, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes was instrumental in hitting back against the misinformation Trump and Vance inevitably spread and encouraging Michiganders to register to vote: 

WXYZ: Donald Trump courts auto workers during Flint campaign stop

• The Michigan Democratic Party released a statement Tuesday night after Trump’s visit: “Today’s visit once again demonstrated that this election will be a choice between two very different economic visions: Kamala Harris’ New Way Forward that builds up the middle class, versus Trump’s vision that helps billionaires and big corporations at working families’ expense. 
• Michiganders won’t be fooled by the lies that Trump spews — which is why over 40,000 Michiganders have signed up to knock doors, send out texts, and make sure that we elect Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz this November, and send these extremists packing.” – Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes

 

P.S. You can check your registration here! 

That night, Chair Barnes went on MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell to talk about the stakes of this election, and how personal these issues are for her, and for Americans across the country. She reminded voters that we deserve better than Donald Trump and his policies that will endanger us all: 

Chair Barnes also hit the airwaves here in Michigan to tell voters that they need to get out and vote! Democrats are connecting with voters in their communities all across the state because as the Chair puts it, “we take no vote for granted”: 

WILX: Political groups aim to increase voter turnout for 2024 election

• Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said their hitting the campaign trail just as hard, connecting with voters in their own communities. “It’s things like going to beauty shops and barber shops,” she said. “It’s things like barbecues and other events in the community where folks can come by, get some good food, some ice cream, and a little bit of politics on the side.”
• Barnes said the party’s efforts also include voter education to keep people informed about options for voting they may not know are available. “We take no vote for granted,” Barnes told News 10.

On Thursday, before hundreds of thousands of people viewed Vice President Kamala Harris and Oprah, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes applauded the Harris-Walz campaign’s continued dedication to Michigan. As a battleground state, Harris and Walz know that they have to show up and earn every vote here: 

“We are proud to have the Vice President back in Michigan, building a strong coalition to defeat Trump this November. Thanks to our diversity and grit, Michigan is the perfect place for Harris to hold this event, Unite for America, because Michigan looks like America.

“Tonight, we will see thousands of people coming together to fight for a better, brighter future for us all with Vice President Harris and Governor Walz in the White House. This campaign has come to Michigan again and again because Vice President Harris knows that the road to the White House runs through Michigan, and we are proud to be fighting every day to ensure we elect her this November.”

Chair Barnes also spoke with CNN on Thursday, just hours before the campaign event, about the state of the race and the feeling of voters on the ground – let’s be clear, the only poll we care about is the one on election day, and we won’t stop working till we’re through the finish line: 

Vice Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party and state Representative Jason Morgan followed the Chair’s lead this week, highlighting Michigan values and the voters’ attitudes ahead of the Harris event. With the week’s many visits and the heated race, Morgan called out the need for common decency and respect this year: 

And now, for our favorite segment, here are our favorite tweets from the week: 

Thanks for showing up for us this week, we look forward to showing up for you next week and every week after that. Til then. 

Signing off, 

Michigan Dems 

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The post Weekly Roundup: National Voter Registration Day and Double Campaign Michigan Visits  appeared first on Michigan Democratic Party.

LANSING — As more Michiganders speak out against Mike Rogers and “point to the money that [he] … has taken from the pharmaceutical industry,” Republicans are facing questions over whether Rogers is “losing this race.” Meanwhile Rogers is (unsuccessfully) trying to hide from his toxic record on abortion and IVF, and his spin through the revolving door. 

Rogers is attacking the media for… *checks notes* asking him questions about his anti-IVF record. Makes sense, given he co-sponsored four bills that attempted to ban IVF. Rogers isn’t mad, don’t put in the newspaper he’s mad. He just can’t find a single “honest journalist” and has “lost faith in the journalistic integrity across America.” 

Here’s the latest on Revolving Door Rogers’ rough week: 

• WLNS highlighted how more Michiganders are speaking up as they “point to the money that the Republican candidate for Michigan U.S. Senate seat has taken from the pharmaceutical industry.”

• Rogers’ team faces some tough questions after a week of bad news: “Will you concede that your candidate for the U.S. Senate by the name of Rogers is losing this race today as we sit here? Will you concede that point?” 

• Valerie Johnson, a veteran, called out Rogers’ opioids record, sharing that “many of my fellow veterans struggled with opioid use because of … these companies and the politicians who helped them. Mike Rogers is one of those politicians.”

• Care Free Medical CEO Dr. Farhan Bhatti slammed “the inability of Mike Rogers and other members of Congress to take a more nuanced position that was evidence-based, Rogers and others instead parroted talking points provided by drug companies.”

• Rep. Julie Brixie pointed out that one of her fears is Rogers’ “ties to big pharma will get in the way of some of the really important work that Elissa Slotkin has been doing to help working families, lowering the drug prices, capping insulin prices.”

• He’s not mad, please don’t put in the newspaper that he got mad. Rogers resorted to attacking the media for asking him about his anti-IVF record, saying he can’t find an “honest journalist” and he’s “lost faith in the journalistic integrity across America.”

• Another day, another report of Rogers selling out Michiganders to enrich himself. American Journal News details another example of Rogers “using his political connections to advance the interests of private companies” and more “questionable financial ties that have dogged [his] campaign.”

• Let the (toxic anti-abortion) record show. Rogers “repeatedly pushed to ban abortion nationwide” and in Congress, he “routinely opposed reproductive rights 100% of the time.”

See for yourself: 

WLNS

Off the Record: Tim Skubick: “Will you concede that your candidate for the U.S. Senate by the name of Rogers is losing this race today as we sit here? Will you concede that point?” Jamie Roe: “I will not concede that point. I think momentum is with Mike Rogers.” Skubick: “I’m not talking about momentum, I’m talking about who’s ahead. We’re not doing big mo, we’re doing big lead.” 

Off the Record

Gongwer: Dems Continue Attacking Rogers’ Record On Opioids While In Congress

• Democrats and officials on Wednesday continued their push to highlight what they called a poor legislative record in Congress by former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who they said was one of many members who exacerbated the nation’s opioid crisis.
• Following a story from Bridge Michigan last month highlighting Rogers’ time in Congress, Democrats have been attacking him for leading on legislation making access to opioids easier. Democrats have also latched onto 2006 comments from Rogers saying pharmaceutical companies considered him a champion of their industry.
• Speaking at a Wednesday press conference at Michigan Democratic Party headquarters in Lansing, Care Free Medical CEO Dr. Farhan Bhatti acknowledged Rogers’ comments about his brother and reasoning behind pushing past legislation.
• “However, the inability of Mike Rogers and other members of Congress to take a more nuanced position that was evidence-based, Rogers and others instead parroted talking points provided by drug companies,” Bhatti said.
• Valerie Johnson, a veteran from Lansing, said the veteran community has been hit particularly hard by opioid addiction.
• “Many of my fellow veterans struggled with opioid use because of … these companies and the politicians who helped them,” Johnson said. “Mike Rogers is one of those politicians.”
• Rep. Julie Brixie (D-Okemos) said she supports Slotkin’s work in Congress, including backing the FEND off Fentanyl Act signed into law earlier this year, a law that seeks to reduce the flow of fentanyl into the country by disrupting the drug’s supply chain.
• “One of my fears is that his ties to big pharma will get in the way of some of the really important work that Elissa Slotkin has been doing to help working families, lowering the drug prices, capping insulin prices,” Brixie said. “These are all things that impact the big pharmaceutical companies.”

Brian Kilmeade Show: Mike Rogers: “Oh, if you can find me an honest journalist that’s in journalism, please let me know. Send me.” Kilmeade: “Give me an example.” Rogers: “We just can’t get, let me give you just to how we had Mike Pompeo come in to talk about the China issue. We had a press round table. This is all our local press cross Michigan. Do you know he didn’t get one question. They started talking about all of the Democrat attacks on IVF and all of the other things that the Democrats are trying to push. So here we have a guy that’s been Secretary of state, CIA director and you make him available to local press. You would think this would be a great opportunity for them to talk about why China in Michigan is bad. Not one question. I mean it was really incredible. They wanted to talk about some press release the Democrats sent out the day before attacking us on one thing or another.”

Brian Kilmeade Show: Rogers: “It just worries me. I really have lost faith in the journalistic integrity across America. I don’t care if you’re a local paper or you are ABC national news. It worries me a lot.”

American Journal News: Republican Mike Rogers used campaign cash to promote defense contractor interests

• U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers funneled political donations to a national security group that wants more American intervention abroad. The revelation adds to a growing list of questionable financial ties that have dogged Rogers’ campaign.
• Rogers served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2015. 
• Every candidate for federal office has a principal campaign committee responsible for managing campaign finances. In January 2015, immediately after leaving office, Rogers converted his committee into a PAC called Securing America’s Future. This allowed Rogers to use funds he raised as a candidate for broader political purposes.
• In February 2015, Rogers started a group called Americans for Peace, Prosperity and Security (APPS). The group was financed by a $200,000 donation from Securing America’s Future. 
• In May 2015, The Intercept reported the APPS was staffed by a cadre of defense contractors who would benefit from increased militarism. This included Stephen Hadley, who served on the board of directors of Raytheon, and John Engler, who ran a lobbying group that represented Lockheed Martin. 
• The Intercept identified six other APPS staffers with ties to the defense industry. 
• Securing America’s Future transferred an additional $660,000 to APPS between 2015 and 2016. Andy Keiser, who served as Rogers chief of staff in Congress, was listed as APPS’s director. Keiser was paid $116,333 in this same period.
• This is not the first time Rogers has been accused of using his political connections to advance the interests of private companies. In 2016, he became an advisor for IP3, a nuclear technology company. IP3 unsuccessfully lobbied the Trump administration to relax regulations on nuclear power in the Middle East. Rogers was also a security advisor for AT&T.
• Since leaving office, Rogers’ net worth has ballooned from $655,000 to $13 million.

Michigan Independent: Mike Rogers wants voters to forget his record of backing abortion bans

• During his 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan Republican Mike Rogers repeatedly pushed to ban abortion nationwide. Now, as he runs for election to the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Rogers is telling voters that he will protect reproductive rights.
• In 2022, Michigan voters approved a state constitutional amendment by a margin of 57%-43%, codifying reproductive freedom, including the right to abortion and to contraception. Rogers was a Florida resident at the time, but said during a March 2023 discussion on Michigan Public Television’s “Off the Record” that he was unfamiliar with the ballot proposition’s wording, but would probably not have voted for it. He falsely claimed it allowed abortion “right up to the day of birth,” and said, “I’m a pro-life guy, I’ve voted pro-life, and I don’t walk away from that.”
• During a May 2023 town hall in New Hampshire, as a potential presidential candidate, Rogers was asked about his abortion position. “I’ve been a pro-life candidate my entire career,” he answered…
• Rogers served in the U.S. House from 2001 to 2015, where he routinely opposed reproductive rights 100% of the time, according to scorecards issued by the group NARAL Pro-Choice America, now known as Reproductive Freedom for All.  
• During his 2000 campaign, Rogers said on a candidate questionnaire that he backed a constitutional amendment to ban abortion and give legal rights to fetuses from the moment of conception, according to an August 2024 Jezebel report. 
• “I believe that federal and state governments were established to protect our lives and the lives of the unborn. I believe abortions should be legal only to prevent the death of the mother,” he told the Associated Press in 2010.
• Rogers co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act and other proposals intended to give full legal rights to embryos and fetuses; had they become law, experts say, they could have been used to prohibit in vitro fertilization. He also voted for a 20-week national abortion ban in 2013. 
• In 2003 and again in 2005, Rogers co-sponsored legislation to require withdrawal of the Food and Drug Administration’s September 2000 approval of mifepristone, a drug used for medication abortions. He endorsed the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which overturned Roe. 

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The post RELEASE: Revolving Door Rogers’ Rough Week: More Michiganders Slam Mike Rogers’ Horrible Opioids Record, Reporter Says Rogers “is Losing This Race” appeared first on Michigan Democratic Party.

Rogers can’t hide from his toxic plans to jeopardize Social Security and Medicare 

LANSING — Mike Rogers can’t hide from his toxic plans to jeopardize Social Security and Medicare. Rogers supports slashing Social Security and transforming Medicare into a voucher program, which would rip away benefits Michiganders worked a lifetime to earn and spike health care costs. 

“Mike Rogers wants to slash Social Security and Medicare which would rip away Michiganders’ hard-earned benefits and spike costs. Rogers’ record is clear — he will do anything to enrich himself, even when it hurts Michidganders,” said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Sam Chan. 

Here’s what you need to know about Mike Rogers’ toxic agenda:

• Rogers stated that “the federal government should ‘rethink what retirement looks like’ and also suggested that the retirement age may need to be increased.”
• Rogers voted for a federal budget plan that would have caused seniors to “spend more out-of-pocket on healthcare expenses.” 
• Rogers voted for legislation to “limit prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients.”

See also: The Gander: GOP Senate candidates’ records suggest they’d back cuts to Social Security and Medicare. 

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LANSING — Today, Vice President Kamala Harris will hold a live-streamed rally, titled “Unite for America,” in Detroit with Oprah Winfrey to bring together and energize voters across the country. Ahead of tonight’s event, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes released the following statement: 

“We are proud to have the Vice President back in Michigan, building a strong coalition to defeat Trump this November. Thanks to our diversity and grit, Michigan is the perfect place for Harris to hold this event, Unite for America, because Michigan looks like America.

“Tonight, we will see thousands of people coming together to fight for a better, brighter future for us all with Vice President Harris and Governor Walz in the White House. This campaign has come to Michigan again and again because Vice President Harris knows that the road to the White House runs through Michigan, and we are proud to be fighting every day to ensure we elect her this November.”

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The post STATEMENT: Michigan Dems Chair Welcomes VP Harris Back to Michigan  appeared first on Michigan Democratic Party.

WLNS: Michigan leaders “point to the money that [Mike Rogers] the Republican candidate for Michigan U.S. Senate seat has taken from the pharmaceutical industry.”

LANSING — More Michigan leaders are sounding the alarm on Mike Rogers’ role in “exacerbat[ing] the nation’s opioid crisis” and “leading on legislation making access to opioids easier,” as they “point to the money that the Republican candidate for Michigan U.S. Senate seat has taken from the pharmaceutical industry.”

• Valerie Johnson, veteran: “Many of my fellow veterans struggled with opioid use because of … these companies and the politicians who helped them. Mike Rogers is one of those politicians.”

• Dr. Farhan Bhatti, CEO of Care Free Medical: “However, the inability of Mike Rogers and other members of Congress to take a more nuanced position that was evidence-based, Rogers and others instead parroted talking points provided by drug companies.”

• Rep. Julie Brixie: “One of my fears is that [Rogers’] … ties to big pharma will get in the way of some of the really important work that Elissa Slotkin has been doing to help working families, lowering the drug prices, capping insulin prices. These are all things that impact the big pharmaceutical companies.”

• Dr. Farhan Bhatti: “Those lobbying efforts included many lies, including the idea that patients with chronic pain supposedly were not at risk of developing addiction to opioids. Members of Congress [like Rogers] played a big role in helping the pharmaceutical companies spread these falsehoods, which led to a dramatic increase in opioid prescriptions and dramatic increases in profits for the companies who manufactured and distributed these drugs.” 

Take a look at what Michiganders are reading and watching this week:

WLNS

Gongwer: Dems Continue Attacking Rogers’ Record On Opioids While In Congress

• Democrats and officials on Wednesday continued their push to highlight what they called a poor legislative record in Congress by former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who they said was one of many members who exacerbated the nation’s opioid crisis.
• Following a story from Bridge Michigan last month highlighting Rogers’ time in Congress, Democrats have been attacking him for leading on legislation making access to opioids easier. Democrats have also latched onto 2006 comments from Rogers saying pharmaceutical companies considered him a champion of their industry.
• Speaking at a Wednesday press conference at Michigan Democratic Party headquarters in Lansing, Care Free Medical CEO Dr. Farhan Bhatti acknowledged Rogers’ comments about his brother and reasoning behind pushing past legislation.
• “However, the inability of Mike Rogers and other members of Congress to take a more nuanced position that was evidence-based, Rogers and others instead parroted talking points provided by drug companies,” Bhatti said.
• Valerie Johnson, a veteran from Lansing, said the veteran community has been hit particularly hard by opioid addiction.
• “Many of my fellow veterans struggled with opioid use because of … these companies and the politicians who helped them,” Johnson said. “Mike Rogers is one of those politicians.”
• Rep. Julie Brixie (D-Okemos) said she supports Slotkin’s work in Congress, including backing the FEND off Fentanyl Act signed into law earlier this year, a law that seeks to reduce the flow of fentanyl into the country by disrupting the drug’s supply chain.
• “One of my fears is that his ties to big pharma will get in the way of some of the really important work that Elissa Slotkin has been doing to help working families, lowering the drug prices, capping insulin prices,” Brixie said. “These are all things that impact the big pharmaceutical companies.”

See also: Bridge Michigan: Mike Rogers vows to fight drug war, but urged opioid access in Congress, Bridge Michigan: Michigan Dems blast Mike Rogers over opioid stance in Congress

Note: Contact Sam Chan at schan@michigandems.com for a recording of the press conference. 

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