Federal Government

The latest COVID package is expected to pass the U.S. House, but with one omission.  The proposed increase to the federal minimum wage was removed from the package and will possibly be put forth as a separate bill.  12th District Representative Debbie Dingell discusses her support for an increase to $15 per hour.  Dingell also discusses U.S. House passage of the  "Equality Act" in her conversation with WEMU's David Fair.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer told a US Senate committee Wednesday that the country needs a national strategy to tackle failing infrastructure and climate change.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

President Joe Biden is visiting Portage, Michigan today to tour a Pfizer facility that produces coronavirus vaccines.  Meantime, 12th District Representative Debbie Dingell is in Washington working on passing the Biden Administration's  COVID-19 relief and stimulus package.  Dingell joined WEMU's David Fair today to update progress on that and other federal initiatives.  

Democrats in the U.S. House have stripped a freshman Georgia Republican of her committee assignments.  Michigan's 12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell explains why she voted in favor of the disciplinary measure.  Meantime, final preparations for Former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in the Senate are underway, and there's the COVID-19 relief package still to pass.  Representative Dingell joined WEMU's David Fair to offer her view from the House floor. 

There has already been a far more progressive position on climate change and the environment in the new Biden Administration.  Michigan Senator Gary Peters has a new leadership role and will be pushing initiatives that could have specific benefits to the environment in his home state.  Senator Peters joined Lisa Wozniak of Michigan League of Conservation Voters and WEMU's David Fair to share his perspective on the environmental agenda and the importance of getting COVID relief into the hands of the people. 

It's been a busy week in the federal goverment.  President Joe Biden has signed several executive orders.  The stock market has seen unusual gains, due to a group of online traders and Congressional hearings are on the way.  WEMU's David Fair caught up with 12th District Congressional Representative Debbie Dingell for her perspective on those issues and more. 

Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump left for Florida, while newly-inaugurated President Joe Biden got right to work.  WEMU's David Fair caught up with 12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, after a whirlwind week, to reflect on the last four years and look at immediate priorities now. 

Joe Biden will be sworn in today as the 46th President of the United States.  University of Michigan professor Richard Rood is one of many experts expecting the new administration will undo the damaging environmental policies of the Trump administration and advance the effort to combat the climate crisis.  Dr. Rood discussed his predictions with WEMU's David Fair in this week's "Issues of the Environment."

Michigan US Senator Debbie Stabenow says her experience inside the US Capitol building, which was stormed by protesters Wednesday, seemed like something out of a movie.  She says they weren’t really aware what was happening outside, until they were ushered off the Senate floor through a tunnel into a different building on the Capitol complex.  She talks about the experience and the need to heal the country moving forward with WEMU's Lisa Barry.

During the certification of last November's presidential election, the United States Capitol came under siege by extremist supporters of President Donald Trump.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell was in Washington at the time and shares her her experience and her reaction to the chaos with WEMU's David Fair.

Washtenaw County's COVID-19 vaccine program is underway.  While it is a major milestone in the fight against the coronavirus, it's just beginning, and it's hard to know what the new year will bring.  WEMU's David Fair discussed these developments with Washtenaw County Health Department spokesperson Susan Cerniglia.

We are now in the final weeks of 2020, and Congress is on the verge of passing another COVID-19 stimulus package.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell says she'll stay in Washington D.C. until the measure is passed.  The Dearborn Democrat joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the negotiations, President-elect Biden's cabinet nominations, and to reflect on 2020 and look ahead to 2021. 

Washtenaw County continues to request additional funding from government agencies, like the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for local COVID-19 response. 

A coronavirus vaccine is on the horizon.  President-elect Joe Biden is building his new adminstration.  And another COVID-19 stimulus package remains stagnant in Congress.  These are just some of topics discussed in a conversation between WEMU's David Fair and 12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer yesterday signed a $62.7 billion state budget as the new fiscal year begins today.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

The pandemic isn't slowing down and is expected to get worse in the fall and winter.  That increases need on a variety of fronts, but there is no sign a divided Congress will pass a relief and stimulus package anytime soon.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell says she is keeping the faith that a deal will get done.  She joined WEMU's David Fair with perspective on that and other issues of concern in the federal government. 

Nineteen years ago today, four commercial airliners were hijacked and then crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and an open field in Pennsylvania.  Today, we commemorate the anniversary of these attacks amidst the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell reminisces about the attacks and discusses how the federal government is operating during the many challenges America faces today with WEMU's David Fair. 

School is resuming across the country, but financial concerns weigh heavily as the federal government has yet to vote on a new budget or coronavirus relief measure.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell joined WEMU's David Fair to express her concerns and weigh in on a number of local and national environmental issues.  

Ann Arbor Zingerman's co-owner Ari Weinzweig is part of the recently formed "Independent Restaurant Coalition" working to get a bill approved to provide financial support for restaurants struggling due to the current pandemic.

He talks with WEMU's Lisa Barry about his hopes for keeping his doors open, especially with no home football games this year in Ann Arbor, and the approach of colder weather which will impact outdoor dining, which is helping to sustain many restaurants right now.

Another police shooting of a Black man, social unrest and urgent calls for racial justice.  That has been the news playing behind the four-day Republican National Convention that concluded Thursday night.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss, among other things, her opinion of the RNC, dealing with issues of policing and race, and the possibility of a federal government shutdown. 

Washtenaw County says federal funding is needed to continue offering COVID-19 response services. 

The US Postal Service has been at the fore of national conversation this week.  Sorting machines at local offices are being dismantled, public mailboxes are being removed, and there are service delays throughout the country.  As a result, the Postmaster General is also undergoing congressional questioning.  Michigan's 12th District Congresswoman, Debbie Dingell, addressed those issues, potential of a new COVID-19 relief package, and the party conventions in a conversation with 89.1 WEMU's David Fair. 

As the pandemic continues, Congress remains divided on a number of issues.  The latest federal stimulus bill remains stalled, while President Donald Trump is issuing executive orders and threatening to defund the U.S. Postal Service.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss her perspective on these issues and the effort to find a way forward. 

The number of coronavirus cases has surpassed 4.5 million.  COVID-19 deaths now top 154,000.  At the same time, extra unemployment benefits expire today, and an expiration of moratoriums on evictions could lead to much higher levels of homelessness.  Yet, there is still no agreement in Congress on the next relief and stimulus package.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell discussed those topics and the uncertainty about the start of a new school year in a conversation with WEMU's David Fair. 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she’s aware parents, students, and teachers are anxious for details on back-to-school plans.  But, as we hear from Rick Pluta, she says there’s still too much uncertainty about how the spread of COVID-19 might affect those plans.

Congress has had a particularly eventful week.  A new federal stimulus package continues to drag in the Senate.  There has been a victory for the environment with the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act.  Plus, America is feeling the loss of long-time representative and civil rights icon John Lewis.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell calls in from Washington, D.C. to discuss these developments with WEMU's David Fair.

The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners says state and federal aid will be essential to continue offering COVID-19 response services.  

Congress is set vote on the $3 trillion HEROES Act which, if approved, will be the largest relief package in American history.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell is in Washington, D.C. for today's vote.  She joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the proposal, its chances of passing, and what must come next. 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has extended her stay-at-home order through the end of May, while introducing a multi-step plan to get Michigan's economy going again.  12th District Representative Debbie Dingell expressed her optimism to WEMU for a safe start to the process while calling for more bi-partisan efforts to support those in need. 

The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority is getting a boost in funding from the federal government to help cover operational costs during the coronavirus pandemic.

We get the details from WEMU’s Taylor Pinson.