LANSING — Despite Gov. Rick Snyder’s assurances to the contrary in tonight’s State of the State address, middle-class families have struggled under five years of leadership from Gov. Rick Snyder and the Republican-led Legislature, state Reps. Pam Faris (D-Clio), Sheldon Neeley (D-Flint), Phil Phelps (D-Flushing) and Charles Smiley (D-Burton) said Tuesday night. Rather than doubling down on Gov. Snyder’s failed agenda, the legislators said it’s time to create a Michigan that works for school kids, college students, families, seniors and small-business owners who are being left behind by the Republican agenda.
“It doesn’t matter what area of the state you look in — Michiganders are suffering under policies enacted at the beginning of the governor’s first term that still have a negative impact to this day,” Faris said. “There has to be a change in the way business is done in Lansing, because this isn’t about crunching numbers. It’s about people.”
The problems caused at the state level are being felt around Genesee County, where people are struggling because of the decisions and priorities of Gov. Snyder and the Republican Legislature.
“The administration at the highest levels of state government, the people charged with working for the benefit of all our people, have been lackluster in their response to the entire crisis affecting Flint,” Neeley said. “We continue to worry about water, a basic human right, right here in America. This should not be happening.”
“Problems have arisen from the water crisis in Flint, and the latest is that many people could lose their homes due to water shutoff notices being sent and evictions taking place due to nonpayment of poisoned water,” Phelps said. “The Snyder administration must move quicker to turn things around in Flint.”
Rather than continuing a legislative agenda that prioritizes big corporations over working families and small businesses, House Democrats prioritize legislation that would make college more affordable, improve education for all Michigan children and reduce taxes on families and seniors.
“We have a plan that puts families, children and seniors first, not big corporations,” Smiley said. “House Democrats understand that working hard means you can provide for yourself and your family, not continue to struggle, and the people of Genesee County understand that better than anyone. We will continue to push for people being placed ahead of businesses.”