FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
May 8, 2018
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Progress MI Reminds Michiganders of GOP ‘Decade of Deceit’ Ahead of Debate
Republicans have had total control over Michigan, ignored problems & made others worse
LANSING — As Republican candidates for governor get set to take the stage for a debate in West Michigan, Progress Michigan is highlighting the myriad of failures and worsening problems that have cropped up under nearly a decade of total GOP control, calling it “The Decade of Deceit.”
“The Decade of Deceit has resulted in a tax system that favors the wealthy over working families, crumbling roads and bridges, and outsourcing disasters because of cuts to public services,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “Tomorrow night, we fully expect Republicans to focus on the past and blame people like Jennifer Granholm for issues facing our state — it’s been one of their go-to talking points — but the fact is, they’ve had total control over Michigan for nearly a decade. Michigan deserves better than what we’ve seen since Rick Snyder, Brian Calley, Bill Schuette, and legislative Republicans took over our state.”
The Decade of Deceit has created big problems for Michigan:
- A tax system that overwhelmingly benefits the wealthy and the well-connected at the expense of working families
- Derelict roads and bridges that crumble while corporations receive over a billion dollars per year in tax breaks
- Failed privatization and outsourcing experiments like the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans and the prison food service debacle
- The worst transparency and accountability rating of all 50 states
- Woefully underfunded education – leading to higher student debt and worsening rankings for K-12 education
- Increased campaign finance limits and allowing of corporations to influence elections
- The Flint Water Crisis and deaths related to Legionnaire’s disease
“For nearly a decade, Republicans have had the wrong priorities and the people of Michigan have suffered for it,” Scott continued. “While I am sure Wednesday’s debate will have a theoretical hanging of a ‘mission accomplished’ banner, we should remember that beyond all of the self-congratulations and rhetoric lies a decade of deceit and their claims of Michigan’s comeback are as much B.S. as one candidate’s initials.”
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