URGENT ACTION to stop MICHIGAN FUNDING of COPPERWOOD!

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On August 26th the Michigan House approved the $50 million earmark to Wakefield Township to fund infrastructure to enable the proposed Copperwood Mine. The Senate is likely to DENY the funding, but the entire budget will be renegotiated with the House.

Our goal is to ensure that when the House and Senate meet in joint conference, the House agrees to DROP the $50 million request.

The ultimate budget deadline is October 1st, but sources tell us that the process may move very quickly, which is why it's crucial we make our voices heard as soon as possible. 

Remember, Protect the Porkies is just the messenger — now that you’ve got the message, what will you do?

Out-of-state participation is crucial! Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountains are entities whose tremendous collective importance far transcends imaginary map lines. Michigan needs to know that the world is watching.

• Contact Form: Reach out to Governor Gretchen Whitmer TODAY
• E-mail: Gretchen.Whitmer@michigan.gov
• Leave a Phone Message: 517-335-7858 (Constituent Services)

Sample message below. Make sure to include the language: "I urge you to exclude the $50 million earmark to Wakefield Township for Copperwood Mine infrastructure from the 2026 budget."

MICHIGAN RESIDENTS: Please reach out to your local state representative and state senators via phone call, in-person visit, hand-written mail, and the contact form on their website. Note that the contact form is superior to email. Please also contact the TOP PRIORITY TARGETS below. 

OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS: Reach out to the Governor (above) and to the TOP PRIORITY TARGETS (below).

ORGANIZATIONS: Please send an official letter / email on behalf of your organization to the top-priority targets in STEP THREE.

In all messages, urge the Senators to “exclude the $50 million earmark to Wakefield Township for Copperwood Mine infrastructure from the 2026 budget.”

—First Priority: House Leadership—

Although the House has already approved the funding, the Senate is unlikely to include it in their own version, meaning it will be a hot item when the two chambers sit down together at the negotiating table. We need to urge House Leadership to drop the $50 million for Copperwood Mine infrastructure in Wakefield Township from the budget, and to vote against any budget which includes it.

Rep. MATT HALL — House Speaker

517-373-1784 MattHall@house.mi.gov

Rep. ANN BOLLIN — House Appropriations Committee Chair

517-373-7515 AnnBollin@house.mi.gov

Rep. MATT MADDOCK — House Appropriations Majority Vice Chair

(517) 373-1780 MattMaddock@house.mi.gov

Rep. NANCY JENKINS-ARNO — Labor and Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Chair

517-373-8808 NancyJenkinsArno@house.mi.gov

Rep. BRYAN POSTHUMUS — House Majority Leader

(517) 373-0830 BryanPosthumus@house.mi.gov

Rep. RANJEEV PURI — House Minority Leader

(517) 373-0113 ranjeevpuri@house.mi.gov

All House email addresses for copy/pasting convenience:

MattHall@house.mi.gov, AnnBollin@house.mi.gov

NancyJenkinsArno@house.mi.gov, BryanPosthumus@house.mi.gov, ranjeevpuri@house.mi.gov, MattMaddock@house.mi.gov

—Second Priority: Senate Leadership—

We've got to keep up the heat in the Senate. Although they won't be including it in their version of the budget, they could be enticed to take it up as a "trojan horse" in a larger deal, or as a political bartering token. 

Urge them not to accept the Copperwood funding as a political bartering token. Urge them to vote against any budget which includes the Copperwood funding. Make it clear that the health of Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountains — and the chance for the Western U.P. to evolve beyond boom-and-bust extraction — is all on the line.

Sen. WINNIE BRINKS (Senate Majority Leader)

517-373-1801 SenWBrinks@senate.michigan.gov

Sen. ARIC NESBITT (Senate Minority Leader)

517-373-0793 SenANesbitt@senate.michigan.gov

Sen. SARAH ANTHONY (Senate Appropriations Chair) 

517-373-6960 SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov

Sen. SEAN MCCANN (Senate Appropriations Majority Vice Chair) 

517-373-5100 SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov

Sen. JOHN BUMSTEAD (Senate Appropriations Minority Vice Chair) 

517-373-1635 SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov

All Senate email addresses for copy/pasting convenience:

SenWBrinks@senate.michigan.gov, SenANesbitt@senate.michigan.gov, SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov, SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov, SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov

Full list of both House and Senate top targets:

MattHall@house.mi.gov, AnnBollin@house.mi.gov

NancyJenkinsArno@house.mi.gov, BryanPosthumus@house.mi.gov, ranjeevpuri@house.mi.gov, MattMaddock@house.mi.gov, SenWBrinks@senate.michigan.gov, SenANesbitt@senate.michigan.gov, SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov, SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov, SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov

When contacting the House (which has approved the funding):

"I urge you to drop the highly controversial $50 million to Wakefield Township for Copperwood Mine infrastructure from the finalized budget. Please vote against any budget which includes the funding."

When contacting the Senate (which has not approved the funding but must negotiate with the House):

"I urge you to exclude the $50 million for Copperwood Mine infrastructure from the finalized budget. Furthermore, it is unacceptable to insert this expenditure as a political bargaining chip. It would be a betrayal of everyone whose basic needs are underfunded to see such a massive amount all go to this single, clearly controversial project."

Here's an example script you can use to inspire your own, if needed. Whether or not you use the script, be sure to urge legislators to "exclude the $50 million earmark in infrastructure funding for Wakefield Township from the 2026 budget". 

_____________________________________________________________________

"Hello, my name is _______ and I'm a resident of _______. I urge you to EXCLUDE the $50 million earmark to Wakefield Township for Copperwood Mine infrastructure. Furthermore, I urge you not to use this expenditure as a political bargaining chip. Any finalized budget which includes this funding should be voted down. A government shutdown is preferable to 30 million tons of toxic waste stored next to Lake Superior and Porcupine Mountains State Park.

Taxpayer funding should not be used to advance such a controversial and disruptive project in the hands of an inexperienced foreign company at the worst spot imaginable. Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountains belong to everyone. This beloved area should not be sacrificed for the sake of a 10.7 year boom-and-bust mine that will employ specialized non-residents and ship Michigan's copper out of country with no promise of return. 

Far from helping the community, research is clear that mining — especially copper mining — in small rural townships almost always leaves the community poorer than it started. 

Please stand with the people of the state and nation. Deny the funding. Thank you."

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For more inspiration, visit the Home Page.

Please save a copy of any written message for future use! Then, repeat these steps as frequently as possible — everyday or every week — until we achieve our desired outcome.

You only know about these actions because somebody told you — please pass the ball on to friends, family, and others in your network!