That's right: we’re holding a rally at the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing, this Wednesday (Sept 10th) at 3pm EST. Download the flyer here, please disperse!
 
The purpose of this rally is to hold the House accountable for approving the $50 million for Copperwood infrastructure, as well as to dissuade the Senate from including the funding in their own version of the budget. They've heard our voices, read our emails — now they need to feel the walls shaking!
 
We’d love to see you there! I know weekends are a better time but guess what? Officials aren’t around then. So it’s happening Wednesday. Be there at 3pm sharp. Out-of-state participation welcome. Come earlier in the day and pay some in-person visits to representatives and senators if you can!
 
Bring signs, bring friends. Make it into a family reunion, or a frat party, or come get married — do whatever you need to do. We need all hands on deck. Bring signs and good energy.
 

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If you really can’t come, you can join us in spirit by completing the following steps:
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The October 1st budget deadline is fast approaching, but the important conversations are already under way. We’ve been told we’re already making a big splash, but we can’t let up the pressure — in fact, it’s time to crank the knob up to eleven. Even if you’ve already completed these steps, please do so again (it’s a good idea to keep a copy of your messages for copy/pasting convenience).
 
STEP ONE: Contact the Governor!
 
Urge Governor Whitmer to "exclude the $50 million earmark to Wakefield Township for Copperwood Mine infrastructure from the 2026 budget." More info at our Take Action page.
 
You will find a sample letter at the bottom of the message. We encourage you to utilize ALL of these modes of contact:
 
Leave a phone message: 517-335-7858
Use the contact form
Send an email: Gretchen.Whitmer@michigan.gov
 
STEP TWO: Contact your State Senator!
 
Michigan residents, contact your local state senator TODAY to urge them to "exclude the $50 million earmark to Wakefield Township for Copperwood Mine infrastructure from the 2026 budget."
 
U. P. residents, unfortunately your state senator does not care about your opinion on this — please focus your energy on the top priority targets in the next step.
 
STEP THREE: Contact these top targets!
 
Urge all of the following to "exclude the $50 million earmark to Wakefield Township for Copperwood Mine infrastructure from the 2026 budget."
 

• 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
• 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

 
Be respectful but firm in your message. These officials need to feel that your vote (or tourist dollars, or Michigan's reputation) is on the line.
 
Here is the full list of primary and secondary targets for your copy/pasting convenience:
 
SenWBrinks@senate.michigan.gov, SenANesbitt@senate.michigan.gov, SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov, SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov, SenJCherry@senate.michigan.gov, SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov, SenSSantana@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, AnnBollin@house.mi.gov MattHall@house.mi.gov,
 
STEP FOUR: Repeat steps #1-3 everyday, every week, until we win.
 
Our officials have a lot on their plates. We need to saturate them in our well-informed passion so they feel it in their bones that the health of Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountains is second to NOTHING ELSE.
 
STEP FIVE: Share these steps far and wide — and FAST!
 
We cannot emphasize enough that this process may move very quickly — so the outcome depends on what you do next!
 
SAMPLE MESSAGE:
 
Here's an example script you can use, if it's helpful. Whether you use the script or not, be sure to urge legislators to "exclude the $50 million earmark in infrastructure funding for Wakefield Township from the 2026 budget." If you get a staffer on the phone, you can try to break it up into a few pieces to be more conversational:
"Hello, my name is _______ and I am a resident of the Upper Peninsula (or ________). I'm calling to urge ___________ to exclude the $50 million earmark in infrastructure funding for Wakefield Township from the 2026 budget. Far from serving the community, this funding would enable the establishment of the Copperwood Mine, an extremely controversial and devastating project for the UP and an incredibly inappropriate use of taxpayer money.
 
Not only would Copperwood be the closest sulfide mine to Lake Superior in history, posing numerous catastrophic environmental risks, but it is being pushed by an inexperienced Canadian company that has never before operated a mine. This handout is the same proposal twice rejected by the Senate in 2024, now thinly veiled as funding for "community infrastructure." This is effectively a corporate handout to accelerate a risky project for a foreign company to extract our mineral wealth and ship it out of the country with no guarantee of it returning. The mining company also won't commit to hiring majority local or even Michigan residents.
 
The project would share a border on two sides with Porcupine Mountains State Park, mainland Michigan's largest virgin forest, which proud Michiganders fought for decades specifically to protect it from industrial interests. The preliminary infrastructure alone would forever change the iconic character of this beloved area.
 
This is a short-sighted project which will have devastating long-term consequences for our communities in the UP, as well as potentially catastrophic consequences to Lake Superior, which holds 10% of earth's surface freshwater. Funding such an operation is antithetical to the spirit of Pure Michigan.
 
Again, please exclude the $50 million earmark for Wakefield Township from the 2026 budget. Thank you."
 
Thank you for your time. Remember, Protect the Porkies is just the messenger — now that you've got the message, what will YOU do?
 
In solidarity,

 
Tom and the Protect the Porkies team



 
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