Rep. Josh Schriver: Protecting Sons and Daughters (Vote Record and More)
Official Newsletter: Representative Josh Schriver
“I uphold the Constitution to the best of my ability, so help me God.” -Josh Schriver
May 23, 2024
Dear Neighbor,
There is a dangerous trend starting to emerge in some of the largest schools in Metro-Detroit. Plymouth-Canton schools adopted policy #5517.03, which allows boys to compete in girls’ sports if that’s how they “identify.”[1] Unfortunately, this mirrors what is already happening on our college campuses.
A 31-year old male athlete (University of Michigan graduate) was allowed to compete in a women’s water polo tournament for the second straight year because he claimed to be “transgender.”
Female competitors and their families were furious:
“My husband and I saw him first, standing beside the pool before [University of Michigan’s] first game. We looked at each other in surprise, and immediately knew it was a man,” one mother told the site. “I observed (him) quite a bit over the tournament, partly out of concern for the women, and also wondering how (his) teammates acted around (him).”[2]
Allowing transgender athletes to participate in women’s sporting events is not fair to the many female athletes who work very hard to get where they are.
As your State Representative, I am dedicated to protecting the integrity of women’s sports. This term, I cosponsored House Bill 4546, which would ban men from competing in women’s sports. Not only are women’s rights in danger; the safety of our sons and daughters on high school and college campuses is in jeopardy because of a radical gender ideology our government is forcing on our children.
Recently, the federal government changed Title IX to allow boys to use girl’s locker rooms if that’s how they “identify.” Last year, the state budget included funding for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Departments to promote an ideology that encourages young people to mutilate themselves beyond repair. Our Attorney General even came out in support of Drag Queens in every classroom.[3] She later told the media it was just a “joke” - but I’m not buying it.[4]
Monroe Community College (funded by your tax dollars) recently adopted a policy to allow biological males to enter into female restrooms. Much of this is likely due to the federal government’s Title IX rule changes - which were put in place a couple of weeks ago.
Where are our leaders? Where does their loyalty lie? Why aren’t they fighting tooth and nail to get this overturned?
We have a lot of great professors that work at our universities. However, some campus leaders in our state need to be reminded that their salaries are funded by our tax dollars. They have forgotten who they work for - us! Their primary job is to look out for the safety and well-being of students on college campuses. We don’t need any more excuses like, “If we push back we could lose our funding.” It’s their job to protect our children regardless of personal expense!
They should do whatever they have to do to get the rule changed. File lawsuits! Take a stand! Do something, anything! Otherwise, our God-given rights will be severely impacted for generations to come.
Unfortunately, our state legislature is changing our laws to reflect this radical ideology. Many lawmakers in Lansing want to change the legal definition of sex to mean how someone “identifies” through House Bills 5400-01, regardless of what his or her physiology may indicate.
I will vote NO on this heinous legislation if it comes up for a floor vote. In addition, I will do everything I can to get the word out about this to stop it from becoming law.
In Your Best Interest,
Representative Josh Schriver
For the sake of full transparency and accountability, I am one of only 8 out of 110 State Representatives in Michigan to report every single vote I make with a reason for each vote.
Below, you will find all of my votes and reasons from this week:
5429: Expand CASA Program (Without Funding Mechanism)
NO- Expanding a government program without an established funding mechanism is financially irresponsible.
PASSED 97-10
SB 751, 753, 760, 766, 767, 748, 752, 756, 757, 758, 759, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 768, 769: Senate Budget Proposals (Zeroed Out)
NO- I voted no on these “zeroed out” budget items because the procedural consequence for a “YES” vote here will transfer these bills into a “Conference Committee”, a closed meeting where unknown budget items can be injected into these empty “shell bills.” The Conference Committee will not allow a voice for all representatives. Also, there would be no ability to amend the Conference Report (the final budget) once it returns to the House Floor from Conference Committee.
ALL BILLS PASSED 56/51
SB225/226, HB4186/4188: Modify the Michigan Asbestos Program
NO- I voted against these polices for good reasons last year as well. This will require the state to perform more taxpayer funded asbestos inspections. Also, property owners will now have to pay a $100 fee for this service. I believe this should be done by municipal building inspectors rather than the state.
Also, although I voted in favor of a few components of the these policies for further consideration on the floor during committee (e.g. HB 4185 which prohibits the state from reducing fines by a greater standard than what OSHA allows, and HB4190 which requires contractors to disclose environmental violations as part of the bidding process), I opposed the whole bill package on the House floor because I believe local governments are best equipped to conduct these inspections in a cost-effective and timely manner after conducting further due diligence. So did many of my colleagues.
225 PASSED 78-29, 226 PASSED 68-39, 4186 PASSED 68-38, 4188 PASSED 56-51
4675/4679: Redundant Proposal to Exempt Occupied Land Banks from Tax/Special Assessments
NO- The law has been clear for nearly 20 years that taxes, and special assessments and user fees do not apply to land held by land bank fast track authorities. Also, this should only apply to land bank properties that are unoccupied.
4675 PASSED 58-49
4679 PASSED 55-47
5127: Expand Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans to Include 50% Disabled Veterans
NO- The difference between a veteran who is 100% disabled and a veteran who is 50% disabled is significant. For example, a veteran who is 50% disabled is still eligible to work Equivocating these two groups is offensive to veterans who are 100% disabled.
PASSED 103-4
4579/4213/4131: Telemedicine Expansion
NO- Telemedicine can be useful for some purposes it is not always advisable for all services some of which are better handled in an in-person setting.
ALL BILLS PASSED 98-9
5499, 5501, 5502, 5503, 5504, 5505, 5506, 5508, 5509, 5510, 5511, 5512, 5513, 5514, 5515, 5516, 5517, 5556, 5507, 5500: House Budget Proposals (Zeroed Out)
YES- I voted YES on these “zeroed out” budget items because the procedural consequence for a “NO” vote on these bills would transfer these bills into a “Conference Committee”, a closed meeting where unknown budget items can be injected into these empty “shell bills.” The Conference Committee will not allow a voice for all representatives. Also, there would be no ability to amend the Conference Report (the final budget) once it returns to the House Floor from Conference Committee.
ALL BILLS PASSED 56/51
SB 691: Decrease Burdensome Report Requirements for Onion and Carrot Farmers
YES- This bill eases burdensome government-mandated report requirements for committees representing onion and carrot farmers in Michigan (annual assessments less than $40,000/year).
PASSED 103-0
SB 744: Adds Probationary Period for Teachers’ Tenure Act
NO- This further weakens the teacher evaluation system and allows "effective" ratings earned when "effective" was not the highest rating category to satisfy a probationary period. Changing the requirement from three consecutive performance evaluations to just three total has potential to lead to less effective teachers getting tenure – as an example, tenure could now be granted to a teacher who has been teaching for ten years but only received "effective" ratings in their first, fourth, and tenth year, earning tenure after just one "effective" rating in their past five evaluations. It is better for teachers to demonstrate consistently effective abilities to complete their probationary period.
PASSED 56-47
5231-5234, 5269: Charter School Regulations
NO- Requiring the display of a charter school's authorizer and educational management organization serves very little purpose in the grand scheme of things. Charter schools are already required to provide the same transparency information on their website that all public schools must provide under the law.
PASSED 56-47
5460: Increase Payment Plans for Car Loans
NO- The law should require people to only make purchases within their means. This practice will lead to residents accruing even more debt by owing more than the vehicle is worth at a future time.
PASSED 80-27
All 2023 VOTES & REASONS: CLICK HERE
All 2024 VOTES & REASONS CLICK HERE
Sources:
[1] Plymouth-Canton Schools adopts sensitive transgender student policy
[2] U of Michigan trans athlete, 31, sparks outrage over competing at national water polo tournament for second time - New York Post
[3] Nessel Talks About “Drag Queens” 10 Times During Speech On Education - Video Provided by Michigan Freedom Fund
[4] AG Dana Nessel jokes 'a drag queen for every school,' attacks 'fake issues' - Detroit News Article