Tell Our Senators Thank You!

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Due to our mobilization, the Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee successfully blocked the $50 million taxpayer-funded handout to the proposed Copperwood Mine. Please take a moment to reach out via phone or email to tell the Senators THANK YOU!

Not only is this a nice thing to do, but it has strategic value: when you give someone your gratitude, now they have something to lose. Establishing positive relationships with our Congresspeople is key in case the grant is reintroduced, and for future efforts.

E-mail Addresses (copy and paste the full list into the To: field of an email)

SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov

SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov

SenKMcDonaldRivet@senate.michigan.gov

SenJCherry@senate.michigan.gov

SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov

SenSSantana@senate.michigan.gov

SenSShink@senate.michigan.gov

SenJIrwin@senate.michigan.gov

SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov

SenDCamilleri@senate.michigan.gov

SenVKlinefelt@senate.michigan.gov

SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov

SenMCavanagh@senate.michigan.gov

SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov

SenTAlbert@senate.michigan.gov

SenJDamoose@senate.michigan.gov

SenMHuizenga@senate.michigan.gov

SenROutman@senate.michigan.gov

SenLTheis@senate.michigan.gov 

Phone Numbers — Senate

Sarah Anthony (Majority Chair) 517-373-6960
Sean McCann (Majority Vice Chair) 517-373-5100
Kristen McDonald Rivet 517-373-1725
John Cherry 517-373-0142
Rosemary Bayer 517-373-2417
Sylvia Santana 517-373-0990
Sue Shink 517-373-2426
Jeff Irwin 517-373-2406
Kevin Hertel 517-373-7315
Darin Camilleri 517-373-7918
Veronica Klinefelt 517-373-7670
Mallory McMorrow 517-373-2523
Mary Cavanagh 517-373-7748
John Bumstead (Minority Vice Chair) 517-373-1635
Thomas Albert 517-373-1734
John Damoose 517-373-2413
Mark Huizenga 517-373-0797
Rick Outman 517-373-3760
Lana Theis 517-373-2420

This document provides a list of points for your letter or phone call.

Even though we are only saying "thank you," it is always helpful to reiterate our arguments.

1. Copper being shipped to Canada — so it won't help with Michigan electrification goal;
2. Highland Copper is an inexperienced company which has never developed a mine —and we are expected to trust them with their very first mine next to not only our most beloved State Park, but in unprecedented proximity to Lake Superior?
3. Volatility in copper prices — very unstable industry leading to frequent shutdowns and unemployment
4. $50 million would nullify almost all of the Severance Tax the company would be paying to compensate the State for the permanent loss of minerals
5. After ten years, the company still has only 10% of funding — if the project is such a slam dunk, where are all the private investors?
6. The mining company's CEO has said he would tout the grant as an "official Michigan endorsement" in order to attract private investment — is this an appropriate role for State subsidies?

If the project is to advance, may it do so on its own two feet along with the rest of us, through the forces of the free market without the interference of a corporate welfare handout from our pockets. This is a message politicians on both sides of the aisle can get behind. Tell our elected officials this is a controversial and divisive use of taxpayer dollars.