Shirkey happily took $1 million-$2 million in federal taxpayer relief for his private company, but thinks the rest of Michigan should drop dead
LANSING — The Michigan Democratic Party today blasted Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey for suggesting Michiganders should “just suffer through it” without additional federal COVID-19 relief funding. Shirkey himself received between $1 million and $2 million in federal taxpayer relief, according to media reports. Shirkey’s statement was captured in a tweet from a reporter at Bridge Magazine.
“Senate Majority Leader Shirkey’s call for Michiganders to ‘just suffer through it’ after raking in millions in federal taxpayer relief for himself shows his hypocrisy and callousness knows no bounds,” said Lavora Barnes, Michigan Democratic Party Chair. “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan workers, small businesses, schools, nonprofits and local communities are struggling and we need relief from Washington, D.C., to help get our economy moving again and keep even more workers, families and small businesses from slipping into bankruptcy. Shirkey’s tone deaf and hypocritical comments show once again how out of touch he is with the plight of Michigan families and Michigan small businesses. We urge House Speaker Lee Chatfield to reject Shirkey’s comments, and call on federal leaders to provide much-needed relief to our state during this unprecedented crisis. We call upon Mike Shirkey to apologize for his outrageous and insensitive comments.”
