LANSING, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The two state lawmakers who represent most of Allegan County in Lansing came out with statements on Tuesday.
First, Representative Mary Whiteford (R-Casco Twp.) issued the announcement “regarding recent House Oversight Committee hearing,” according to a statement from her office: “First and foremost, racism and violence have no place in our society and those who sent these horrifying messages to Representative (Cynthia) Johnson (D-Detroit) should be held accountable. Rep. Johnson has posted some of these messages to her Facebook page and they are shocking, cruel and totally out of line. No one should be exposed to that type of behavior. I have been exposed to threats as well, including someone showing up at my house and coming onto my property unwelcomed.
“In a professional manner, I felt it was necessary to make clear my displeasure for how the Representative treated witnesses who testified about election irregularities in Michigan during the November election. I believe Rep. Johnson’s conduct was belittling, offensive and meant to humiliate. By asking for one witness to spell her name and give her maiden name after she made serious allegations regarding our state’s elections process, I feel Rep. Johnson was attempting to intimidate. Names are often recorded by a clerk for public record and that information would have been readily available after the hearing for the Representative.
“The people who testified before the House Oversight Committee were courageous to step forward with what they saw at places such as the TCF Center in Detroit. They put themselves out there in a high-profile setting. The hearing provided a platform for Michigan residents to share their experiences and generate ways to better Michigan’s elections in the future.
“No one should be subjected to intimidation for sharing their opinions.”
Later, Senator Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) issued an announcement calling on Robert Gordon, Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, to resign “after Governor Gretchen Whitmer and her administration extended the recent three-week shutdown for an additional 12 days,” according to a statement from his office: “The Whitmer Administration’s biggest bureaucratic disasters during the pandemic have been directly linked to poor leadership at the Unemployment Insurance Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services. The UIA director recently resigned in shame, and it’s time for DHHS Director Robert Gordon to resign as well.
“Director Gordon has issued statewide mandates shutting down small businesses without providing them the opportunity to operate safely — a move that has pushed these hardworking small business owners into bankruptcy through no fault of their own. He continues to ban in-person high school instruction and athletics, even when they can demonstrate safe health practices and standards. His one-size-fits-all approach lacks collaboration, thoughtfulness, and empathy.
“Director Gordon, under Gov. Whitmer’s instruction, presided over the disastrous nursing home policy and ignored Michigan-made, FDA-approved testing supplies at the outset of the pandemic when our state was in desperate need. He also oversaw a no-bid contract for the governor’s political operatives that was run through a taxpayer-funded nonprofit to conceal activities that sparked a criminal investigation.
“The time for Director Gordon to resign is way past due, and the governor should replace him with an independent leader who will bring much-needed organization and a spirit of partnership to this administration.”
Both Whiteford and Nesbitt have their scheduled monthly appearances on “WHTC Talk of the Town” upcoming in December – Whiteford on December 14th at 10:35 AM, and Nesbitt on December 21st at 9:30 AM.
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