State Rep. Jim DeSana of Ash Township issued the following response to the governor’s State of the Union address:

“Instead of using the State of the State address to take a political victory lap, I wish the governor would have focused more on making life better for families in our community.

“The cost of living has gone up dramatically over the last two years. Too many families are being forced to pinch pennies and make sacrifices, just so they can afford everyday essentials. People were waiting to hear her plans to lower the cost of living now. Instead, all she did was offer support for the Democrat tax plans the delay relief for years.

“Meanwhile, overregulation and red tape from the governor’s executive branch make it increasingly difficult for farmers and agricultural producers to do their jobs. They drive family farms out of business with burdensome and unnecessary regulations that are nearly impossible to follow. We should be focused on removing hurdles for farmers to increase supply and lower the cost of living for all.

“Throughout her speech, Gov. Whitmer repeatedly referenced freedom for all Michiganders in one breath, and in the next breath pushed ideas that restrict Second Amendment rights and kill unborn babies.

“Red flag laws make for great talking points, but the reality is that policies like these take away someone’s right to keep and bear a firearm without due process. The governor seems to have forgotten that our constitutional rights are not negotiable.

“Gov. Whitmer also claims to be an advocate for ‘choice’ – but the only choice she pushes leads to the death of a precious life. Now that it’s legal to end the life of an unborn baby in Michigan, we should be advocating for alternatives and supporting pregnant mothers, empowering them to choose life, or adoption, instead of abortion.

“I am more than willing to work with the governor to make Michigan a better place to live, work, and retire, but I cannot and will not support policies that erode the fundamental freedoms of our citizens.”

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