Since the time that we had bills stuck in committee, that would have given the plaque a place of prominence by the capitol, most of our allies in the legislature have found other work, and the 2023 majority seems to be spending more time maligning individual rights than celebrating them.

The plaque is in a safe place, but there is a need to make a new box, and mount it onto a new trailer for display purposes. These were never intended to be permanent, and have deteriorated over the decades. If you can help, please contact Scotty Boman at ScottyEducation@yahoo.com (that’s me) and I will pass your contact information onto the keeper of the plaque.

Likewise, contact me if you believe you know some sympathetic legislators that would be willing to offer us a pathway to put it on long-term display on capital grounds, or the Michigan Historical Museum, please contact me.

State Representative Martin Howrylak has breathed new life into our effort to get the Brass Roots Plaque placed on the Michigan Capital grounds.  That is what was intended when it was first created.

The reload is  HB 4481,  Let’s make it law this time!  Please urge committee members to support the bill, and thank the sponsors. Urge your state representative to support passage of the bill, and please urge your state senator to support similar legislation when it comes up in the Michigan Senate.

Details about the Bill including language, sponsors, and the committee are available here: http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2017-HB-4481

An article about it as been published here:
https://www.gongwer.com/programming/blogindex.cfm?postid=79201#sthash.nW2F7P5d.dpbs

The Brass Roots Plaque had it’s hearing before the election.  Now we must get it voted out of committee.  Call, email, fax, snail mail, and get everyone you know to do the same!

If you are in any of these districts please contact your representative and urge him or her to have a committee hearing for this bill.  If you know anyone in one of these districts, urge your friend to do likewise.

Also, it is important that your representative supports this when it comes to the floor.  Call your representative and your state senator!

Brass Roots founder Jon Coon with Brass Roots Michigan activist Mike DeVore displaying the Plaque in front of the Michigan State Capital Building. It was presented at a second rally in 1995.

You may Contact your State Representative and ask him or her to cosponsor or support HB 5595 at:

house.mi.gov

… and you may also encourage your state senator to introduce or support a Senate version of HB 5595 at:

senate.mi.gov

However, the most immediate action that must be made is to move this bill out of committee.  To do that there needs to be a committee hearing.  Wayne Schmidt is Vice Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. So it is urgent that he schedules a hearing.  Please contact anyone you know who may be in the 104th State Representative District, and ask them to call Representative Schmidt at 517-373-1766 or email him using this webform.

He is also running for the 37th District State Senate seat.  Please contact anyone in the 37th state senate district and have them call him at (517) 373-1766 (Indicate that the will likely be a future constituent), or email him using this webform.

Other Committee Members Must Be Contacted Too!

If you are in any of these districts please contact your representative and urge him or her to have a committee hearing for this bill.  If you know anyone in one of these districts, urge your friend to do likewise.