Lansing Republicans shoot down amendments at every turn

 

LANSING, Mich., Sept. 21, 2022 — On the first voting session day in nearly three months, House Democrats resumed their calls for actions on the issues that are plaguing Michiganders. Hard-working families are still coping with high prices from inflation, and challenges to women’s rights to make decisions about their own bodies. Democrats have legislation to address these problems and more, but Republicans denied action on the bills at every turn.

“The people of Michigan expect us to be here doing our jobs to advocate for them, and after almost an entire summer of ‘no voting, no attendance’ session cancellations, to reconvene and advance nothing to protect reproductive rights or help families combat inflation is insulting to the people we serve,” said House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township). “We put the people’s agenda on the table today, and the Republicans swept everything to the floor without any consideration or debate on putting money in Michigander’s pockets or protecting safe and legal abortion.”

Democrats offered amendments in committee to attach inflation relief and reproductive rights to a bill in the House Transportation Committee. Republicans defeated the amendments. On the House floor, Democrats attempted to tie-bar legislation dealing with tax relief, reproductive rights and government ethics to a bill before the chamber. Republicans voted each down. Finally, Democrats moved to discharge these and other important bills from committee to the floor for consideration. Again, Republicans denied them.

“The Republican majority sets the schedule and the agenda here in the House of Representatives, and today, they did everything in their power to keep ethics, reproductive health and inflation relief out of reach for Michiganders,” said state Representative Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids). “Once more, this body has turned its back on our calls for a bipartisan ethics committee, repealing the 1931 abortion ban, and a host of other items that are vital for Michigan’s progress.”