The Republicans are playing politics after cutting the School Aid Fund $470 per pupil, cutting revenue sharing and welfare assistance for children, while taxing the elderly and giving business tax breaks. The majority proposed a $10 million Republican primary election which was hastily passed Sept. 20. Republican big government is taking money from the people and paying for their politics. $10 million has already been appropriated to hold this unnecessary, partisan election, all to be paid by Michigan taxpayers.
In 2004 during a similar economic strain in Michigan, the Republican leadership voted against having such a primary for the Democratic presidential primary. Furthermore, some have suggested this is a pure form of democracy, saying “we welcome all the people in the state of Michigan,” but they fail to mention there are separate ballots and that this is a closed primary. In other words every Michigan citizen is paying for an election that only a few Michigan citizens can participate in. I am extremely dismayed at my Republican colleagues rushing through another piece of legislation that is not in the best interest of Michigan’s citizens.
With that much money, my hometown of Flint could hire 150 more police officers, increase funding to our crumbling schools by $4.5 million and keep families with children from losing $2 million dollars in assistance and have still some money to spare.
The Republican regime eliminates millions of dollars from local budgets, takes benefits from kids, attacks education, and pillages the elderly’s fixed income. Senate and House leadership are promoting Republican politics as usual with Senate Bill 584, while hurting the people. This is another example of the Republicans choosing politics over people.
