Mr. President, I rise to offer my “no” vote explanation and I ask that whatever words spill out of my heart be printed in the Journal.
Imagine a raging river—across the river on the far bank, a sea of young faces is searching for hope. House Bill No. 4223—four years in the making and in its original form—formed a bridge over that divide. A plain, simply-designed bridge to be sure, but it was as wide as it was sturdy. With it, we could say to those school-age children and their parents, ‘Cross here; it’s safe.’ This is the bill I was prepared to vote “yes” on.
Until, of course, a very small but loud group of folks showed up on this side of the bridge—well, they didn’t actually show up. It was only the thought of them showing up that caused this august body to tremble. They rattled their keyboards at us. They threatened to write us strongly-worded e-mails. They would never vote for us again. They would run primaries against us. This Senate body—this cooling saucer for public policy—was told that our rhetorical bridge was just another slippery slope into tyranny.
With an amendment on General Orders today, the bill was redesigned and the safe bridge collapsed into the raging waters. I spoke with the maker of the bill. He is frustrated and disappointed but consoles himself in the idea that even this watered-down version can bring at least some awareness to the issue. We’re left to shout across the raging river, ‘Make sure to brush twice a day. Other than that, you’re on your own.’
Mr. President, while I plan to vote “no,” I want to make it clear that I am not asking my colleagues to join me. I do not want to answer to their constituents, only mine. My name in red as a “no” vote should act as a beacon to only those concerned parents of the 32nd District. Come talk to me. Tell me why you might be outraged. Tell me how it is that you have all this energy in expressing your concern, but can’t be bothered long enough to sign a simple waiver at your kid’s school.
I offer this to any constituent worried about dental screening being a part of some other family’s school preparation routine. Come with me to the First Ward Center in Saginaw. Let’s tour the Janes Street clinic. Let’s visit with kids at the Boys and Girls Club or at the Westside Outreach Center. Pick a spot where the mobile healthcare truck shows up regularly. Let me introduce you to the dentists and the hygienists who generously volunteer their time, their talent, and their treasure to the thousands of grateful families of Saginaw. There is a huge divide of poverty across this state. Tens of thousands of children need our help. Who will be their voice?
We are the Senate. We can do better. We should do better.
The following bill was read a third time:
House Bill No. 4816, entitled
A bill relating to the promotion of regional convention business and tourism in this state and certain regions of this state; to provide for tourism and convention financing and promotion programs in certain areas; to provide for imposition and collection of assessments on the owners of transient facilities to support tourism and convention financing and promotion programs; to provide for the disbursement of the assessments; to establish the oversight functions and duties of certain state departments, state agencies, and state employees; and to prescribe penalties and remedies.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows: