(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/14/2023) A slate of "harmful and bigoted" bills introduced by legislative Republicans, along with a slim and "struggling" majority held by House Democrats were among the stories that a pair of political observers told MIRS were the most underreported of 2023.
Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), Michigan Democratic Party First Vice Chair, and Abby Mitch, executive director of Michigan Rising Action, appeared on the MIRS Monday Podcast to discuss the most underreported and overblown stories of 2023, among other topics.
On underreported stories, Morgan said it's the fact that despite having a Democratic governor and legislative majorities, only a few votes stand between Michiganders and a slate of "harmful and bigoted" legislation.
Morgan said Michigan Republicans "are still introducing harmful and bigoted legislation regularly to try and engage us in this culture war nationally," Morgan said, "rather than staying focused on the real problems Michigan families are facing."
Because Republicans are in the minority this term, he said this legislation, including what Morgan called multiple anti-transgender bills and legislation eliminating abortion protections, isn't being covered by the media.
But with a 56-54 majority in the House, swinging "one of two votes would make us look more like Florida," he said.
Mitch responded that Republicans can no longer be blamed for any lack of progress when Democrats control both chambers of the Legislature, the Governor's office, the Secretary of State and the Attorney General.
It doesn't get easier than that to pass legislation, "unless, of course, the undercovered story is what is more or less an open secret in Lansing, which is that House Democrats are struggling to organize themselves as an effective majority."
The budget process showcased that, Mitch said, and now House Democrats are poised to lose this slim majority and two members, Reps. Lori Stone (D-Warren) and Kevin Coleman (D-Westland), who are running for mayoral seats and both advanced through their respective primaries.
Mitch said Democrats are also "glossing past" the potential plan to sine die and adjourn early to allow legislation moving up Michigan's presidential primary date to take effect.
"If there's anyone abandoning duty to their state, I would argue it's the majority party wanting to walk out a couple of months early," Mitch said.
Morgan countered that he wasn't referencing anything related to Democrats' passage of legislation, and was talking about all the things Republicans would be doing if again given the chance to be in charge.
He said it's proven that legislation welcoming and accepting diverse groups yields better results, and added that what Democrats and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are doing has been working -- referencing low unemployment rates, higher property tax revenues and increased economic development.
Mitch said two-thirds of Whitmer's career has been in partnership with a Republican majority, and said "credit where credit is due," but she added that it's also important to dial back the idea of what is considered "basic needs" when areas of the state are struggling to literally keep the lights on.
Things like shelter, power and roads to get where we need to go are not yet being met, Mitch said, and with the push for electrification, there will be more anticipated stress on the state's infrastructure.
"We've got to learn to walk and chew gum real quick if we’re going to make that switch," Mitch said.
The two agreed there, and Morgan said utilities in Michigan are doing "a bad job and failing us," including DTE's requested rate increase despite record profits reported in June.
Mitch said another underreported story is stress on the grid caused by the shutdown of the Palisades nuclear power plant and the subsequent push to get it back online.
"No one has covered that you can't just bring a nuclear plant back online," Mitch said. "That's like reusing a water balloon."
When asked about the most overblown stories in Michigan this year, Mitch said her pick is the idea of U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) as a walk-on replacement for Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing), who's retiring in 2024 and leaving her Senate seat open.
"I think that was the early narrative, and you're now seeing that curve flatten out as more candidates join the field," Mitch said.
Morgan said his view of the most over-reported story was the stir caused by Rep. Noah ARBIT (D-West Bloomfield)'s HB 4474, a bill strengthening Michigan's Hate Crime Act, which received national media attention after claims that the bill would criminalize using the wrong pronouns.
Morgan, also a member of the LGBTQ Legislative Caucus, said the simple piece of legislation adding LGBTQ+ protections against violence seems like something we should all be able to agree with on a bipartisan level.
"You shouldn't enact violence on any people," Morgan said, "but especially not because of some part of who they are or what their identity is."
Mitch didn't comment on Morgan's assessment but said she was confused about why the package was being advertised by the Governor's office as a population attraction data point.
"I am in my mid 30s," Mitch said. "I have moved a lot of times, and never once have I considered anything other than job prospects, and is my family, and the people I love, anywhere nearby when choosing a move."
Morgan replied, "I don't want to make any presumptions about your identity as a person, but I would say that you probably aren't the target demographic that would be impacted by this."
As someone who is LGBTQ+, Morgan said he absolutely made the decision about where he wanted to live based on safety and acceptance rates.
Morgan grew up in Michigan and moved to Washington, D.C. Upon deciding to return, he said he picked Ann Arbor because it seemed "the only place that truly was (accepting) in the state that I love.
"Nowadays, I feel like we're at a place where people can live anywhere in our state and feel far more welcome and accepted than they ever have been," Morgan said.
