FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
May 4, 2020
Contact: Sam Inglot, sam@progressmichigan.org
Shirkey Puts Political Power Play Over Health of Michigan Residents
Senate Majority leader says power grab is “No. 1 priority”
MICHIGAN — Despite thousands of deaths from COVID-19 and infection rates rising in areas across the state, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey said on a radio show that limiting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency powers was his “No. 1 priority.”
Shirkey’s proclamation of priorities conflicts with what he recently told a Jackson TV station saying, “No, not at all. Hell-heck no” when asked if the emergency was over.
“Only a compassionless hypocrite like Shirkey would put politics over public health during such a trying time for the people of this state. What does this say to all the health care workers who haven’t seen their families in weeks and are putting their lives on the line to keep our communities safe? Focusing on politics rather than solutions to this crisis is a big ‘F-You’ to them and their families and frontline workers across the state,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “All of our elected officials should be focused on keeping communities healthy, supporting local businesses and getting PPE and resources to health care and frontline workers.”
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