Invited to speak to delegates at the 51st convention of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council on Aug. 8, Stabenow focused less on the constant whirlwind of intrigue and controversy in the Trump White House, and more about the issues going on in the nation's capitol that affects working people.

Stabenow is the senior U.S. senator from the State of Michigan. Following are a few highlights from her talk with the trades:

Labor. "This is a really tough time we are in. I will work with the Trump administration, when they do things that are good for us, when they propose things that make sense for us. But I will fight them like crazy when they don't. I know that what makes you successful in terms of being a member of a labor union, is that you know, and people who work with you know, that in the end your union has your back. And you need to know that the country has your back. And for too many people that's not happening right now. 

"This administration has said things that have come right out of my speeches over the years, about fair trade, closing tax loopholes, or investing in infrastructure. But now we have to call them on it to make sure they actually step up and do it. I'm willing to work with anybody who will do that.

"On the things that create jobs for us, I'm ready, if they're serious about wanting to do this. But what we're seeing instead with the Secretary of Labor and Labor Department appointments, they're just rolling back very important rules, on worker safety, reporting and federal contracting and all the other efforts that were put in place to put us in the right direction."

On DTE Energy's Nexus project, a $2 billion, 255-mile interstate natural gas transmission pipeline to deliver natural gas from eastern Ohio to southeastern Michigan. The project has been stalled since January because President Trump hasn't named a quorum to the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission, the group that votes to approve such pipelines. Stabenow said she refused to leave Congress for the summer break until the commission's positions were filled - and they were filled.

"I feel the same way about infrastructure," Stabenow said. "Electric grids, roads, water and sewer systems, everything we need. OK, that's a place to start last January. We gave them a proposal to invest in infrastructure; have not heard back yet. The only thing we have heard so far is the elimination of prevailing wages. And the answer is hell no, we're not going to pass something that will do away with prevailing wages. Democrats are saying you want to work on something that will create a lot of jobs? OK! Let's do that.  It hasn't happened so far."

Free trade. "The same thing on trade. I was one of the folks who voted no on Fast Track, and against GATT, before it became a major campaign issue. And President Trump said he wanted to renegotiate NAFTA. I said great, as long as it's done right. What I am really worried about is they're talking about expanding NAFTA now, and folks who are negotiating are making me nervous. Absolutely we should go back to the drawing board on that. I am sick of hearing the sucking sound of jobs going to Mexico for $1.50 an hour."

Health care. "Two million people would have lost their health insurance under Medicaid if the Republican plan (to repeal the Affordable Care Act) had gone through.  Even though we stopped that, I know that there's a lot more work to do on this. To bring down cost and increase coverage. The plan they had used money from seniors in nursing homes, and for children and families, and took that money and put it into a great big tax cut for drug companies and insurance companies and the very wealthiest people in the country. I opposed that, but I said if you want to do away with the crazy Cadillac Tax, count me in. (The Cadillac Tax imposes a significant penalty on better-quality, collectively bargained health insurance plans). That tax should never have been put in place in the first place. 

"One of the differences between Republicans and Democrats is that we believe health care is a human right, they believe it is a privilege."

Pensions. "What's happened has hit you guys in the head. How could someone pay into a pension and not have it be there, fully funded? I think we need to start from the basic assumption that pensions are covered. Back in 2008 when 8 million people lost their jobs, people lost equity in their homes and people lost pension assets. There were people who got helped on Wall Street. Well, what about Main Street? What about saying pension assets should have the same value and commitment that we give to those Wall Street assets? I come from a place that says a pension is a promise, and that the government should have your back when it comes to working hard and paying into a pension."