Merissa Kovach

Takeaway from this #mileg hearing to gut paid leave & minimum wage laws: Many employers keep bringing up that they don't trust their employees to 1) show up 2) be honest about sick leave. That's a damning view of the hard workers across the state.

I agree with @GongwerMichigan: "Unbelievable." This was my 11th lame duck over 20 years of working in & around #MILeg. Never seen anything like it. We had some important wins. But, in the end, most of the @MIStateBar's legislative agenda was wiped out. 1/6

As the Michigan House of Representatives has adjourned for the year, we are left reflecting on the stark gap between what could have been and what was delivered.

⏰ Time is Running Out! Let’s do everything we can in these final hours so our legislators have no choice but to listen and act this week. Support these critical bills now! 👉 action.aclu.org/send-message/l… #mileg #TakeAction #ACLU #ProtectOurRights #MichiganLegislation

One policy that would definitively pass with bipartisan support: subjecting the Governor & Legislture to FOIA requests. I’ve honestly never read a better explainer about why FOIA is important to you and all Michiganders than from @detroitkhalil in @freep: freep.com/story/opinion/…

16 stakeholders, @stephanielily (D), and @SenRogerVictory (R) working to get the word out about the critical importance of the MI Senate passing HB 4630 to ensure that children have access to legal counsel, as required by the Constitution. Let's get this done, Senators! #MILeg

The Contraception Equity Package has passed in the Michigan House of Representatives! 🙌 Thank you @vote4rogers, @KaraHope74, and @RepStephYoung for sponsoring this vital legislation to improve contraceptive access in Michigan! 💖 #MILeg #BirthControl

Through our grief and anger, however, let’s not forget what the people of Michigan are capable of when we work and build together.  We made Michigan a model by protecting reproductive rights when the U.S. Supreme Court failed us.

A statement from ACLU of Michigan Executive Director Loren Khogali: I know that many of you are feeling a mix of fear, rage, and worry about the results of the presidential election and what's to come. Me too.

Pundits will contort themselves to create a narrative. STOP! White supremacy won. Homophobia won. Xenophobia won. Sexism won. That's it.

This is another step #MILeg is taking to expand access to the repro freedoms Michiganders overwhelmingly voted to protect in 2022. The bills will meaningfully help people access the contraception they need to protect their health and decide if or when to grow their families.

While some politicians across the country attack access to birth control, IVF and abortion, #MILeg is continuing to work to make our state a leader in protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all.

In Senate Health Policy today as they take up the “Freedom to Plan” package, which will remove barriers to ensure that all people — regardless of where they live or what insurance they have — can access the contraception that works best for them. #MILeg

For too many, contraception is not accessible. National studies estimate nearly one-third of adult women who have tried to access prescription contraception experience barriers.

The cartoon defaming @RepRashida is disgusting, dangerous, and destructive.

We cannot allow extremists to roll back our progress on LGBTQ rights in Michigan. Equality is on the 2024 ballot. @lgbtqnation: “It’s been a long journey of pushing for LGBTQ rights and watching this virulent opposition to LGBTQ rights form,” Moss said.

These effects include reducing racial turnout disparities; making govn't more responsive to the needs and legislative priorities of communities of color; and increasing diversity in government office, so that elected representatives more fully reflect the communities they serve.

Equitable voting rights protections, like those in the federal VRA and state-level voting rights acts, have had powerful effects in making the democratic process fairer, more equal, and more inclusive.

Thank you to @darrincamilleri @JeremyAllenMoss @SenErikaGeiss and @stephanielily for your leadership in passing a Michigan Voting Rights Act to provide Michigan with strong, comprehensive protections for the right to vote.