LANSING — Today, Governor Snyder signed into law two Republican proposals to gut citizen-initiated laws to improve economic security for working families. In September, over the objections of Democrats and activists, the Legislature voted to keep the minimum wage increase and guaranteed paid sick leave proposals off the November ballot and give themselves the ability to gut the laws during lame duck. Senate Bills 1171 and 1175, signed into law today, dramatically reduced the strong wage and sick leave benefits that Michigan voters voiced their support for through the ballot initiative process. In response to today’s bill signing, state Rep. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) issued the following statement:
“The Legislature has the responsibility to make laws that better the lives of Michiganders, not pad the pockets of corporate CEOs. Republicans have shown time and time again that they don’t care about Michigan families and Gov. Snyder reinforced that message today. Michigan families deserve better; the same administration that was happy to tax pensions, make Michigan a Right to Work for less state and provide corporate welfare with a tax cut has shown their disdain for working families by seizing the opportunity to deny them of their rights one final time.”