Presidential Age Limits Survey Results, UP Planned Parenthood Closing, Line 5 Negotiations, Canadians Visiting Us, and a Gas Tax Increase in Our Future?
– INFORMED BREVITY –
Coming Up On Rural Insights
Over the coming weeks we will be publishing a series of new articles by Russell Magnaghi. Next Monday we will be publishing the first one, titled “Exploring Lake Superior’s Lost History: The Forgotten Expedition of Melanchthon L. Woolsey.” Watch for this next week!
Our Recent Survey on Age Limits
We recently asked our readers if they supported an amendment to the US Constitution to insert an age limit for the President, Vice President and members of the US Congress. A majority of responses supported an amendment. 64% supported an age limit somewhere between 65 and 75. You can still let us know what you think.
Planned Parenthood Closing Shop in the Upper Peninsula
Planned Parenthood of Michigan announced that due to federal budget cuts they were closing a number of clinics in the state. Marquette was one of the abortion care clinics that is due to close. It is the only abortion care clinic in the Upper Peninsula.
Line 5 Negotiations and Litigation
Six Michigan based tribes have said they will withdraw from the negotiations with the federal government on the UP based pipeline tunnel construction. They asked the Supreme Court to take the issue up.
Canadians Visiting Us
It has been hard to miss the US President’s suggestion that Canada become the 51st state of the US and the President’s announced tariffs on trade between Canada and the United States. If you are following his comments you have seen the overwhelming angry response from Canadians. So has there been any fall out from this? In February, almost 500,000 less travelers crossed the border from Canada into the United States, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The number of passenger cars crossing into the United States from Canada dropped in February. In February 2024 it was 2,696,512 cars crossing and in the same month in 2025 it dropped to 2,223,408.
The Upper Peninsula is directly impacted by these reductions with the International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie. Restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc., all feel these reductions in bridge crossings.
The International Bridge Authority has said that crossings on the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge are down 29.9% in March 2025.
The bridge just celebrated its 63rd anniversary and it has had 106.1 million crossings since then.
A Gas Tax Increase in Our Future
Michigan drivers continue to want more money spent on road repair and construction. Governor Whitmer has led the charge with her slogan of “Fix the Damn Roads.”
The gas tax rose by 7 cents in 2017. This increase was the first in 20 years.
Speaking of taxes, the Michigan sales tax has not increased since 1994. In that year voters increased the sales tax from 4% to 6%. This money is dedicated to schools. With all of the proposed federal cuts to education will Michigan voters want to approve more money for their schools by increasing the sales tax? Your thoughts?
By the way, Michigan gets $2.3 billion in federal funding each year (before the upcoming federal cuts). This money is for education. From that $533 billion goes for special education programs.
Quotes That Make Us Go Hmmm
“Those who travel the high road of humility in Washington, D.C. are not bothered by heavy traffic.” Former US Senator Alan Simpson.
“You can’t use tact on a congressman. You must take a stick and hit him on the snout.” former President John Adams.
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If we had a law on stupid we would have less stupid laws.
Planned Parenthood is a HEALTH care clinic. Women can receive care in these clinics for all gynecological HEALTH concerns. I used Planned Parenthood for pelvic and pap smears when I was without insurance. It is also a place for discussing and receiving birth control. So, the closing of a Planned Parenthood clinic is not just the closing of a abortion care clinic.
When you say PP is a “HEALTH care clinic”, then Portage Health & Aspires Keweenaw should get the same amount money as P.P.
When P.P. CEO is getting paid in the millions and P.P. generating in revenue each year, why would they need MY federal tax money?
If the tax payers that wants to support P.P. it should be taken out in THEIR paycheck and NOT from me!!
Where do you get this info? I’d like your source. And why do you think planned parenthood gets more federal tax dollars as aspirus and portage health?
https://www.christianpost.com/news/planned-parenthood-executive-salaries-continue-to-increase.html
Here’s an article from the Christian Post complaining about the amount of money PP CEOs make at around $350,000.
Here’s the PP 990 showing that the “top dogs” make closer to $450,000: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131644147
We can have our own opinions, but let’s not spread disinformation.
Thank you Lois. Absolutely, calling Planned Parenthood an “abortion care clinic” 1) further polarizes the issue 2) not an appropriate description of PP and 3) completely ignores all the essential services they provide. As a woman, I have received all forms of preventative, and reproductive/sexual health care from PP, including education and access to care when access was not avail elsewhere. It is unbelievably hypocritical when the ones who stand so strongly in “get government out of our lives” are typically the same ones who feel they should have say and control over other people’s bodily autonomy. Bodily autonomy is ESSENTIAL to a healthy society. Period.
Also, please check the numbers in the paragraph on educational fund from the feds. I think the second billion dollar figure you mention should actually be in the millions.
I actually Burst out with a laugh when you said Whitmer led the charge with her slogan of “Fix the Damn Roads.”. We’ve been begging for new roads for well— forever & now she’s leading the charge with a slogan? Um, not buying it.
There is a big difference between fixing the roads and building new roads.
We can all argue about something we personally don’t like being supported and funded by our taxes but then nothing would get funded. The real issue is that the one and only abortion clinic in the UP will now be closed. I am a believer that the decision to have an abortion or not lies exclusively with the two people involved and not the government. That withstanding, closure of the only abortion clinic in the UP will put many female lives in jeopardy with back alley and backwoods abortions. It will NOT stop abortions. Life IS precious, even the mother’s life.
Gas prices are heading down as the tariff trade war is pushing the world into recession…oil is moving down and likely going into the $40-50 per barrel level, so gas will get cheaper. (which will defeat the drill baby drill idea however) Smart time to increase the gas tax to help fund infrastructure as with higher mpg vehicles on roads the old gas tax system isnt going to pay the way…new ideas needed.
Aspirus Health CEO made $2,111,048 in 2023.
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/391328331