Legislators affirm their values in the face of Republican overreach
LANSING, Mich., May 15, 2025 — Following suit with extremist legislation and rhetoric coming out of D.C., this session, Michigan House Republicans have introduced a variety of anti-trans, anti-rights bills, including legislation voted out of Government Operations Committee today — House Bills 4066 and 4469 — which aim to place a ban on transgender student athletes and restrict school districts’ ability to implement rules and regulations that work best for them and for students. State Reps. Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing), Mike McFall (D-Hazel Park) and Morgan Foreman (D-Pittsfield Twp.) are speaking out and raising alarm bells in opposition to the policies that insert the government where it does not need to be.
“The Republican bills make blanket, one-size-fits-all decisions — decisions that should be left up to parents and schools. This policy is paternalistic and it hamstrings school districts’ ability to designate the rules and regulations that work best for their individual needs and their individual students. These decisions are not one-size-fits-all, just as all kids are not the same. It’s just not that simple. Let’s get back to compassion and reality. We shouldn’t be wasting time and taxpayer dollars and anything less,” Dievendorf said.
The bills seek to reassert the primacy of politicians over parents when making decisions for their kids instead of focusing on the top priorities of Michiganders. People deserve to have their rights protected and leadership that seeks impactful meaningful change, not petty politics. Michigander families must have the freedom to craft their lives based on their own homegrown and individual values.
“Parents should have the right to make decisions that are best for their kids — and their decisions shouldn’t be overruled by politicians. Families and individuals need to have the freedom to live their lives based on their own personal values, and the government simply needs to stay out of it. We aren’t going to stand by while Michigan Republicans try to strip away personal rights, protections and freedoms — and we’re going to stand up for at-risk kids,” McFall said.
It has been shown that anti-transgender laws cause up to a 72% increase in suicide attempts among youth. At-risk kids are being bullied and GOP lawmakers are no different — these bills are another attack on an already marginalized group of people. Additionally, the GOP passed a budget that cuts investments to health care and school investments. Investments that if secured would make a real difference in peoples’ lives. The Republican party continues to reaffirm its values — hate, defunding vital services and limiting individual rights. These values continue to squash the needs and wants that Michigan kids and families really deserve.
“House Republicans are wasting taxpayer dollars and legislative time on sowing division and spewing the newest, hyper-partisan agenda talking points — let’s be real, they are using young people as tools in their political game playing, and it’s shameful. If the GOP really cared about students and families, they wouldn’t be slashing investments in schools and health care — the proof is in their horrible budget that strips away health care from almost 3 million Michiganders and takes away school meals from kids. While their priorities are completely out-of-line with the real problems that need to be solved for everyday folks, folks on my side of the chamber have our nose to the grindstone working on lowering costs, making meds more affordable, offsetting looming Medicaid cuts, and supporting workers,” Foreman said.