Instead of us pandering and talking about ways we can at least in some ways, I will not talk about the motives of my colleagues, but when we talk about something as serious as school safety, now is not the time to play games. It’s a time for action. I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that this week many folks who will likely vote “yes” for this amendment voted “no” on the Michigan State Police budget that included funding for OK2Say programs.
Again, talk is cheap and if we really want to be about the business of keeping our children safe, I urge a “no” vote on this amendment and a “yes” on the entire School Aid budget—which, again, has a heart to protect our students and our parents in the classroom.
Senator McMorrow’s statement is as follows:
I’d like to cast my “no” vote on this amendment, and in response to our previous colleague, it’s interesting that so many in this room voted “no” on legislation that was signed into law to require the safe storage of those firearms, to require the owners of those guns to secure their firearms in the home, so that kids can’t get access to them, and then complain that charges are not filed. And yet, you voted against the very laws that would give the prosecutors something to charge the parents with. Providing trauma kits as this amendment would do acknowledges that you accept a reality where kids have to prepare to be shot. Vote “no” on this amendment.
Senator Theis offered the following amendments:
1. Amend page 132, line 6, after “ 2023-2024 ” by inserting “ and from the general fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $16,000,000.00 for 2023-2024 ” and adjusting the totals in section 11 and enacting section 1 accordingly.
2. Amend page 132, line 8, after “ school ” by inserting “ and nonpublic school ”.
3. Amend page 134, line 18, after “ district, ” by inserting “ nonpublic schools, ”.
The question being on the adoption of the amendments,
Senator Lauwers requested the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered, 1/5 of the members present voting therefor.
The amendments were not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor, as follows: