URGENT ACTION to stop MICHIGAN FUNDING of COPPERWOOD!

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The proposed Copperwood Mine is a Canadian company's plan to build their first ever mine right next door to Porcupine Mountains State Park, ship the copper to Canada with no promise of return, and leave behind over 30 million tons of toxic mine waste in unprecedented proximity to Lake Superior.

It gets even more absurd: as we speak, Michigan is considering using 50 million taxpayer dollars to help advance the mine.

The October 1st budget deadline is right around the corner, so it's crucial that folks from around the state and nation speak up before it's too late!

Tell the top decision-makers listed below that Lake Superior, the Porcupine Mountains, and the North Country Trail belong to everyone, and no single town, county, or state has the right to endanger them for short-sighted greed.

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

Out-of-state participation is essential! 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.

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

Make sure to include these three points:

• "I urge you to deny the $50 million for Copperwood Mine infrastructure in Wakefield Township."
• "If need be, exercise a line-item veto."
• "I will not vote for any presidential candidate who supports such a project." (We know the Governor has presidential aspirations, so this point could be impactful!)

***Scroll to the bottom for sample message***

MICHIGAN RESIDENTS: Please reach out to your local state representative and state senators via phone call, in-person visit, 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 lawmakers to “deny the $50 million for Copperwood Mine infrastructure in Wakefield Township. Vote down any budget which includes the funding, no matter what.”

***Scroll to the bottom for sample message.***

Urge these top decision-makers in the Michigan House to "deny the $50 million for Copperwood Mine infrastructure in Wakefield Township. Vote down any budget which includes the funding, no matter what!" For more inspiration, visit the homepage.

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

—Senate Leadership—

The Senate is our side, but they must negotiate with the House. Urge the Senate Leadership "not to accept the Copperwood funding as a political bartering chip. 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

Here's an example script you can use to inspire your own, if needed. For more inspiration, visit the home page. Whether or not you use the script, be sure to urge legislators to "DENY the $50 million for Copperwood Mine infrastructure in Wakefield Township from the 2026 budget". 

_____________________________________________________________________

"Hello, my name is _______ and I'm a resident of _______. I urge you to DENY 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!