I’m here to serve you in complete transparency. I’m an autism clinician, not a politician.  Only 2 of 110 State Representatives in Michigan reported every vote they made (and “why”) last term.  Here are all my most recent votes and reasons (thru 3/24/23):

HB4166 – Repeals Incentivizing Common Core Standards

YES- According to several members of the Michigan State Board of Education, the (A-F) rating system incentivizes school districts to align their educational standards with Common Core standards.

Common Core pressures (and in some ways forces) teachers to “teach to the test”, instead of gearing instruction around what is best for the students sitting in front of them.  For schools to get “better grades” on the A-F Scorecard, schools are forced to structure their curriculum around failed Common Core standards.

A couple of other reasons why I voted “YES” for this repeal:

· A “YES” vote here gives local school boards more control to measure and report the academic performance of the students they serve.

· A “YES” vote here gives local school administrators more leeway to make the best decisions for the students they serve.
Vote on 3/21. PASSED 63-45.

HB4288 – Removing Provisions of Revised School Code

NO- The unique language in this bill allows it to be amended or substituted beyond it’s original scope after passage, which could cause unforeseen problematic consequences that I will not good conscience be responsible for.
Vote on 3/21. PASSED 57-51.

SB6 & HB4007– Mandates Prevailing Wage in Michigan

NO- Prevailing wage allows Lansing to set wage standards for bids on construction projects. Also, this bill puts in place confusing mandates contractors must comply with.

This bill benefits large construction companies at the expense of the little guy, because they are better equipped to absorb the higher costs. It wipes out local control and competitive bidding. Local school boards and city councils will not be allowed to pay less – even if they find higher quality at a lower price or more bang for their buck.
Votes on 3/21. Both PASSED 56-52.

SB34 & HB4004 – Repealing the Right to Work

NO-  The Supreme Court ruled in 2018 Janus v. AFSCME that forcing public employees to pay union dues as a condition of employment violates the First Amendment. 
Votes on 3/21. Both PASSED 56-52.

HB4199 Taxpayer Tuition Assistance Transfer for National Guard

NO- This bill will allow National Guard members to transfer tuition benefits to their spouse or a child under the age of 26 to complete a degree.  Also, it increases the amount of money required to be in the National Guard Assistance Fund from $10M to $15M.   Although I believe helping National Guard members is a good idea, increased government spending to fund benefits for other family members is not prudent.  The government’s increased spending of our taxpayer dollars seems to be a runaway train at this point.
Vote on 3/22. PASSED 102-6.

SB2 Expanding Abortion

NO- According to the National Right to Life Committee, 63 million babies have been murdered since Roe v. Wade in 1973. [1]  This represents approximately 20 percent of the United States population.  Abortion is an ongoing genocide.  Also, according to U.S. News, Michigan ranks No. 9 in the states that have the most abortions. [2] 

This bill repeals the Michigan Penal Code section that prohibits the sale of contraception or abortion pills.  We should have laws in place that respect and promote human life.

It is part of a major push by Planned Parenthood and other activist groups to remove as many barriers to an abortion as possible.  If our state continues down this path, it could lead toward the sale of abortion pills at local pharmacies like Walgreen’s and CVS.
Vote on 3/22. PASSED 56-52.

[1] Abortion Statistics:  United States Data and Trends by National Right to Life

[2] States with the Highest Abortion Rates – U.S. News Article published on November 28, 2022

HB4167 Creates an Unelected Board of Public Health Bureaucrats

NO- This bill creates an unelected board of bureaucrats to conduct rare disease research and make policy recommendations.  The creation of public health laws is the job of the legislature – not the Michigan Health Department. 
Vote on 3/22. PASSED 88-20.

HB/SB 4139, 79, 80, 4144 Mandatory Safe Storage Law for Firearms

NO- Michigan already has plenty of laws on the books that can be used to punish people who act recklessly with a firearm or endanger their children. These bills do nothing more than micromanage law-abiding citizens who own guns for their personal protection. 

I do not support a one-size-fits-all government mandate that dictates how everyone must store their firearms. Everyone’s situation is different. Many people have very real reasons why they want to have quick access to a firearm for their personal protection.  I shared a very critical story about this in my last email.
Votes on 3/22. HB4139 PASSED 61-47, SB79 PASSED 61-57, SB80 PASSED 61-47, HB4144 PASSED 61-47.

HB/SB 4140, 4141, 81, 82 (Storage Tax Exemption Form)

NO- The mandatory forms to apply for these exemptions are problematic in how they may cause residents to be a part of databases they may not be comfortable being on that could be used in ways they do not approve of.  Moreover, the job of the government is not to pick winners and losers in the marketplace in terms of saying some products are not allowed to be taxed while others are.
Votes on 3/22. HB 4140 PASSED 64-44, HB4141 PASSED 63-45, SB81 PASSED 64-44, SB82 PASSED 64-44.

Your feedback is extremely important to me.  Please reach out to me through phone/email/letter with any desires and concerns you have related to the full scope of my position as your State Representative!

Sincerely,
Josh Schriver

State Representative
Michigan House District 66

CONTACT REPRESENTATIVE SCHRIVER
(517) 373-0839    
[email protected]
www.RepSchriver.com

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