Despite repeated procedural posturing from the majority party in the House and even veiled intimidation tactics from the state’s Attorney General, state Rep. Brian BeGole today said he and his House Republican colleagues continue to hold the line for the priorities of Michigan workers and families.

“We’ve heard for months from small business owners, their workers, and people across our communities about what their priorities are – and it’s time to act on those priorities,” said BeGole, of Antrim Township. “But in the Legislature, we’ve been handed bills that let violent criminals out of jail early, give driver’s licenses to people who are in our country illegally, change how our state awards electoral votes, and other extreme plans that voters soundly rejected last month. It has been a completely tone-deaf approach that discards real issues people are facing.

“We’re standing our ground with our job providers and their hardworking staffs. We’re doing this for the people of Michigan because their concerns aren’t being heard.”

House Democrats issued a call of the House today in a last gasp attempt to compel legislators to be present as House Democrats continue to try and ram through their partisan agenda. The call was unsuccessful as Democrats could still not muster a quorum even while holding a majority. The move also comes despite just one House session being held between June and November to debate and vote on legislation.

BeGole highlighted commonsense plans that should have been prioritized. A bipartisan plan in the House would work to fix a short-sighted Supreme Court decision from July that puts unrealistic mandates on local job providers and phases out the tip credit, which provides a key source of income for workers notably in the service industry. The bills strike a careful and needed balance going forward by fostering economic growth while protecting workers.

The bills were not taken up, despite dire warnings from small business owners. One survey disclosed that roughly two-thirds of local job providers would have to lay off staff, and 20% would be forced to shut down altogether if the Supreme Court’s mandates become effective in February. In addition, 90% said that in order to try and make ends meet, they would have to raise prices on consumers who go out to support businesses in their communities.

There was also no action on a recently proposed local road funding plan that would provide an additional $3 billion each year to infrastructure without raising taxes or raiding the School Aid Fund. Local road agencies desperately need resources to repair roads from driveway to highway, and BeGole said the plan would have helped improve community infrastructure in every corner of the state.

Because of the inaction and Democrat attempts to continue forward with extreme, out of touch proposals, BeGole and other House Republicans left the floor last week. Attorney General Dana Nessel said that move was “literally criminal” in a social media post.

“Protecting our small businesses and fixing local roads are things that people in every legislative district of the state – Republican or Democrat – want solutions for,” BeGole said. “The stakes for workers and their families are high. We’re going to keep being a voice for those priorities and not bend to these types of tactics.”