FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Contact: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, (517) 974-6302
More shameful attacks on women from Lansing Republicans
LANSING – During a radio interview yesterday, State Rep. Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City) told host Michael Patrick Shiels that Reps. Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield) and Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga) were put in “timeout” as a form of punishment following a recent floor debate on a package of anti-abortion legislation. A video of the interview can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eorm6C1ijms
“You know, as I said to someone up north here, it’s like giving a kid a timeout for a day…you know, hey, timeout, you went a comment too far, you spoke your piece, we’re going to let these other people have their dissenting comments, and then we’ll get back to business,” said Schmidt.
Today Progress Michigan called on Schmidt to issue an apology, and for Speaker Jase Bolger to formally reprimand Schmidt for his shameful remarks.
“Rep. Schmidt is the one who should be put in timeout by Speaker Bolger for his offensive remarks about female legislators,” said Zack Pohl, Executive Director of Progress Michigan. “It’s time for Lansing Republicans to stop these shameful attacks on women and start doing the jobs they were elected to do.”
Schmidt’s comment reflects a growing pattern of sexist remarks from House Republicans. Bolger’s spokesman Ari Adler recently told local reporters that Reps. Brown and Byrum were punished for throwing a “temper tantrum” on the House floor.
Progress Michigan has launched an online petition urging Lansing politicians to stand up for Michigan women and oppose the anti-woman omnibus legislation. The petition can be found here: https://progressmichigan.org/StandwithPP
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