by Paul Kenan

This summer, Indivisible groups and the Michigan Democratic Party will host 12-plus health care town halls across Michigan. Republicans in Washington are working to pass plans that may rollback protections for pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and asthma and, critics say, cause health and prescription drug costs to skyrocket. Members of Congress have been criticized for trying to avoid their constituents and their questions at all costs. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton), recently held a phone in town hall for his constituents, but he has faced complaints that he has avoided areas where his Democratic constituents are clustered, such as Dexter, Mich.

Indivisible groups and the MDP have teamed up to hold forums throughout Michigan, including Kalamazoo, Alpena, Southfield, Saginaw and Marquette. Members of Congress, state legislators and health experts will join the events, where citizens can get their questions answered about Republicans’ plans to cut health care.

“Republicans in Washington keep rewriting their plans to cut health care behind closed doors, while refusing to hold town halls or even answer their constituents’ concerns. They’re not doing their job. That’s not the way this should work in our country. Everyone deserves to know how these massive cost increases and cuts to coverage will affect them. We invite everyone to come to our town halls to get their questions answered and learn what they can do to protect health care,” said Brandon Dillon, Michigan Democratic Party Chair.

The town halls will also feature discussions about what can be done on the state and federal levels, including the House and Senate Democrats’ “Michigan Health Care Bill of Rights,” which would help protect families in Michigan from the worst of the proposed cuts coming out of Washington.

“We will never stop fighting against GOP efforts to eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions or their plan to allow insurance premiums to skyrocket, especially for seniors. We also need to combat these cuts on the state level. Michigan House and Senate Democrats want to pass a ‘Health Care Bill of Rights’ to shield families from the worst of these health care cuts. We plan to help them get it done,” said Dillon.

Town Hall Schedule Includes:

1. Plymouth/Indivisible 11:
WHO: Members of Indivisible 11, Congressman Dan Kildee (D-Flint), State Rep. Christine Greig (D-Farmington Hills) and Charles Gaba of ACASignups.net.
WHERE: Plymouth-Ann Arbor Elks Lodge, 41700 Ann Arbor Rd. E, Plymouth, MI 48170.
WHEN: Saturday, July 16 from 11:00 AM — 1:00PM.

2. North Oakland/Indivisible 8:
WHO: Members of Indivisible 8, Congressman Dan Kildee (D-Flint) and State Rep. Brian Elder (D-Bay City) and Charles Gaba of ACASignups.net.
WHERE: Wildwood Amphitheatre, Orion Township, 2700 Joslyn Court, MI 48360.
WHEN: Saturday, July 16 from 4:00 PM — 6:00PM.

3. Northern Macomb Democratic Party & Clinton Twsp. Democratic Party
WHO: Members of Northern Macomb Democratic Party & Clinton Twsp. Democratic Party, Congressman Sander Levin (D – Royal Oak) and more.
WHERE: Clinton-Macomb Public Library, Clinton Township, 40900 Romeo Plank Rd, MI 48038
WHEN: Sunday, September 27 from 2:00PM – 4:00PM

4. Indivisible Michigan Statewide Town Hall
WHO: Members of Indivisible Michigan, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D – Southfield) and more.
WHERE: Shriners Silver Garden Event Center, Southfield, 24350 Southfield Rd, MI 48075
WHEN: Saturday, August 26 from 10:00AM – Noon

5. Traverse City/Indivisible District 1 & Indivisible Leelanau
WHO: Members of Indivisible District 1 & Leelanau, State Rep. Christine Greig (D-Farmington Hills) and more.
WHERE: Traverse City
WHEN: Sunday, August 20 from 11:00AM – 1:00PM

6. Bloomfield Hills/Oakland County Democratic Party
WHO: Members of Oakland Democratic Party and more.
WHERE: Birmingham Unitarian Church, Bloomfield Hills, 38651 Woodward Ave, MI 48304
WHEN: Saturday, September 9 from 11:00AM – 1:00PM

7. Grand Rapids/Kent County Democratic Party
WHO: Members of Kent Democratic Party and more.
WHERE: Grand Rapids
WHEN: Wednesday, August 9 from 7:00PM – 9:00PM

8. Monroe/Monroe County Democratic Party
WHO: Members of Monroe County Democratic Party and more.
WHERE: Monroe County
WHEN: Saturday, September 9 from 11:00AM – 1:00PM

9. Muskegon/Muskegon County Democratic Party
WHO: Members of Muskegon County Democratic Party and more.
WHERE: Muskegon
WHEN: Saturday, August 19 from 10:00AM – Noon

10. Bay County/Bay County Democratic Party
WHO: Members of Bay County Democratic Party and more.
WHERE: Bay County
WHEN: TBD

11. Saginaw/Indivisible District 4
WHO: Members of Indivisible District 4 and more
WHERE: Saginaw
WHEN: TBD

12. Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo County Democratic Party
WHO: Members of Kalamazoo County Democratic Party
WHERE: Kalamazoo
WHEN: TBD