When will Peters protect his seniors instead of his political ally? Gary Peters again indicated support for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s dangerous policy of placing COVID-19 patients inside nursing homes when he signed a Democratic congressional reportcritical of governmental nursing home efforts that made no mention of the most controversial issue facing his own Michigan constituents. At least four Michigan Democratic officials have officially abandoned Whitmer’s dangerous nursing home policies, but Peters continues to protect his political ally, Whitmer. Peters signed on to the new report in another failed attempt to show he acted on the senior citizen crisis in Michigan, yet he still refuses to oppose Whitmer’s policy of sending COVID-19 patients into nursing homes. Peters previously failed to call on Whitmer to release data about the number of deaths that occurred in Michigan nursing homes this year. After months of outside pressure, Whitmer finally released limited data on June 15th, which showed a heart-breaking 1,947 patients and 20 staffers died in Michigan’s nursing homes.          “Why would Gary Peters refuse to call out Gov. Whitmer’s bungled nursing home data reporting and her dangerous nursing home policy?” said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox. “A U.S. Senator should be protecting his constituents, not his own self-interests and political friends at the expense of our seniors.”   More >

Since Whitmer won’t make herself subject to FOIA’s, Cox Calls on the governor to release how much taxpayer dollars were spent on VP bid. On Monday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced her fix for the remainder of the current fiscal year budget – relying on hiring freezes and layoffs of state employees to remedy the current budget deficit. Back in May, the governor made the same hiring freezes and imposed a process of furloughing state workers one day per week. Despite these moves to save money – Whitmer brought on a former Presidential Campaign staffer for Pete Buttigieg in order to beef up her national media appearances in her effort to become Joe Biden’s running mate. Chris Meagher, who’s hiring stirred controversy as to why Gretchen Whitmer brought a political operative on amidst a pandemic, recently left the governor’s office to join the DNC. In the wake of a budget fix that relies on hiring freezes and layoffs, MIGOP Chairman Laura Cox called on Governor Whitmer to release all documents and salary information related to the hiring of Meagher and any other such political hiring’s. “How much coronavirus funding and state rainy day funding has filled the hole for Gretchen Whitmer’s VP race?’ MIGOP Chairman Cox said. Cox continued, “Since Whitmer hasn’t made herself subject of FIOA’s as she promised to do, I’m calling on her to release the details. Michigan taxpayers deserve to know how much of their hard-earned dollars went to this circus.” This isn’t the first time Gretchen... More >

While China was stealing Michigan’s jobs, Peters broke his promise to “Hold China Accountable” Gary Peters is hiding from questions about why he broke his promise to hold China accountable when he failed to show up for work on the committees dedicated to protecting Michigan’s jobs from this economic threat, the Michigan Republican Party said in a new video released today. While China was stealing Michigan jobs, Gary Peters didn’t show up to stop them: Peters attended China accountability meetings only 11% of the time. And, when the Small Business Committee met to strengthen our jobs in the face of the economic competition with China, Peters showed up only 16% of the time. Peters was asked about the missed meetings by WXYZ in Detroit, Peters dodged the question. He is still in hiding and not answering questions about where he was when Michigan’s workers needed him. Peters was ‘Honored to serve’— unless it means showing up to work When he was appointed to the Congressional Executive Commission on China in 2015, Peters promised Michigan workers he would hold China accountable for its economic misdeeds. “I am honored to serve on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, where I will work to hold China accountable for unfair trade practices and currency manipulation, so that American companies and American workers can compete on a level playing field,” said Senator Peters. But he showed up only 11% of the time, skipping 16 of 18 meetings. Peters also skipped the Congressional Small Business Committee 43 times, including one entire year he never showed up (2012) Why is... More >

Peters refuses calls to oppose the policy that is putting his own constituents at greater risk of COVID-19 infection Even as another Democrat ran away from Gov. Whitmer’s controversial plan that places COVID-19 patients inside nursing homes, Sen. Gary Peters continues to stubbornly stand with Whitmer by refusing to oppose the policy. State Representative Angela Witwer, a Democrat from the Lansing area, said in a June 26, 2020 videoconference that she opposes Whitmer’s nursing home policy. Witwer, who said she did rounds in senior citizen facilities as a nursing student, said, “ I do not like that policy…I don’t think it’s a good idea…It seems like a really not good situation…There’s a lot of people voicing this within the legislature on both sides of the aisle.” The list of Democrats who have been brave enough to stand up against the policy now includes:  Sen. Dayna Polehanki Sen. Paul Wojno State Representative Leslie Love State Representative Angela Witwer   These facilities are where approximately 34% of all Michigan COVID deaths have occurred, including the deaths of at least 1,947 patients and 20 workers. “Gary Peters must not spend much time thinking about the plight of seniors trapped inside nursing homes under Whitmer’s incredibly controversial policy,” said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox. “Otherwise, he would do something that would make a life-or-death difference for his constituents: Pressure Gov. Whitmer to stop the dangerous policy of sending COVID-positive patients inside nursing homes.” More >

Yesterday, Michigan Republican Party (MIGOP) Chairman Laura Cox joined Sean Spicer on Newsmax to discuss the state of the Presidential and Senate race in Michigan. Cox also elaborated on the MIGOP’s extensive ground game that was built earlier and more robust than ever before, and went into Gary Peters’ failure to deliver for Michiganders despite holding office for over 30 years. WATCH: Chairman Laura Cox Joins Sean Spicer on Newmax’s Spicer & Co. CHAIRMAN COX on the Presidential Race: “If Joe Biden comes out of the bunker, and actually talks to the voters, does a press conference – I think it’s been like 88 days since he’s talked to the press… maybe people would be able to hear something Joe Biden has to say, an original thought. But right now, people are excited to re-elect the President, we have over 70 people across the state, embedded, working on the ground, training volunteers, and we’ve talked to 3.4 million voters – we’ve never reached that high water mark [so early], and we’ve reached it months and months early, before the election.” CHAIRMAN COX on the Senate Race: “He’s the only time I want Army to beat Navy….with John James. He’s the absolute entire package. He’s a business owner, he’s signed both sides of a check, he’s a job provider. He is a family man, a combat veteran, he’s a strong leader, he’s not afraid to fight for what he believes in…. and the people of Michigan feel they need a strong... More >

Shirkey, Chatfield Remedy Remainder of FY Budget Hole Yesterday, GOP legislative leadership unveiled their remedy to the budget for the remainder of the current fiscal year. Led by House Speaker Lee Chatfield and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, the state will use federal CARES Act funding in addition to Michigan’s rainy day fund to help aid schools, teachers, universities and colleges, as well as local governments and other services. “I would like to thank Speaker Chatfield and Leader Shirkey for working diligently to solve the problems facing our state and upholding their duty to Michiganders to complete a balanced budget.” said Michigan Republican Party Chairman, Laura Cox. “While this process is never easy, we are in good hands with a legislature that is working to ensure our taxpayer dollars are used effectively. This year, our leaders faced even more hurdles than usual but were able to deliver results for the hardworking people of our state.” More >

Peters claims to be bipartisan but continues record of siding with Schumer 95% of the time, stopping police reform package from moving forward in the Senate Gary Peters maintained his record of siding with Sen. Chuck Schumer’s partisan political agenda 95% of the time by casting a vote to stop debate and oppose the police reform package that was on the floor of the US Senate last week.   Despite Sen. Peters’ claim to be open to bipartisan action on police reform, Sen. Peters sided with Sen. Minority Leader Schumer and 45 Democrats to oppose the police reform package, not even allowing an open debate of the policy and related amendments.   “Offered the chance to advance vital police reforms in the United States Senate, Gary Peters instead sided with Chuck Schumer and voted to stop any police reform from moving forward. Not only did Gary Peters reject the police reform package, he voted with Chuck Schumer to stop any debate on police reform from occurring. When it comes to choosing between making progress for Michigan or opting for partisan political games, Gary Peters sides with Chuck Schumer every chance he gets. Gary Peters doesn’t vote with Michigan, he votes with Chuck Schumer,” said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox.   More >

Today, in an interview with WWJ Radio, Governor Gretchen Whitmer admitted she mishandled the state’s COVID-19 shutdowns. During the pandemic, Whitmer has allowed some businesses such as strip clubs to remain open while others, including gyms, have had to close. The Michigan unemployment rate currently remains among the worst in the nation, with thousands of residents still unable to access assistance from the state’s unemployment agency.  This morning on WDET, Whitmer conceded that she also poorly handled COVID-19 in nursing homes, after placing patients who tested positive for the virus in facilities with staffers and other patients who were negative. The governor received bipartisan criticism on her policy for extended care facilities, with deaths in nursing homes accounting for over a third of the state’s deaths from the virus. Whitmer has rejected calls from both state and federal Oversight Committees to cooperate with investigations on her handling of the virus in nursing homes. “Now that Gretchen Whitmer admits she was wrong, what is she going to do to remedy these situations?” said Laura Cox, Michigan Republican Party Chairman. “Those who have lost loved ones or lost their livelihoods deserve answers. Whitmer needs to stop skirting her commitment to transparency and cooperate with our elected representatives trying to get Michiganders the answers she won’t provide.” More >

This week, both state and federal oversight committees requested vital information from Governor Gretchen Whitmer that led her to turn Michigan nursing homes into COVID-19 hubs, mixing negative patients and positive patients in the facilities. On Thursday State Rep. Matt Hall and State Sen. Aric Nesbitt, of the Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic, sent a joint letter to Gretchen Whitmer requesting additional information on the handling of the virus in extended care facilities. They also reminded the governor of a possible move to subpoena if she did not cooperate. In similar fashion the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Government Reform, in conjunction with Michigan’s Republican Congressional Delegation, sent a letter requesting Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel investigate Whitmer’s handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes. The letter states the clear guidelines Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) put in place. Despite these guidelines, state authorities and the governor herself failed to keep nursing homes up to standards, and even worse, sent patients who tested positive for the virus to facilities with worse than sufficient standards. “It’s time for Governor Gretchen Whitmer to be held accountable and answer questions about the decisions she made.” said Laura Cox, Michigan Republican Party Chairman. “Too many Michiganders have been effected by these decisions for Gretchen Whitmer to skirt transparency. Governor Whitmer needs to do the right thing, provide this information, and testify before the Michigan Legislature the same way she did before Congress.”   More >

Detroit-area Democrats are abandoning Gov. Whitmer’s dangerous COVID-19 nursing home plan, but Gary Peters is so afraid of taking a position that he hasn’t even put out a press release about it LANSING, Mich., June 26, 2020 — Frightening statistics about the COVID-19 nursing home death rate in Michigan are driving more Democrats to abandon support of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order requiring the facilities to accept COVID-positive patients, yet U.S. Senator Gary Peters remains afraid to take a position on the life-or-death issue. Detroit’s WDIV-TV reported that Michigan lawmakers passed SB 956, which overrules Whitmer’s flawed orders sending COVID-19 patients into nursing homes. These facilities are where approximately 34% of all Michigan COVID deaths have occurred, including the deaths of at least 1,947 patients and 20 workers.  Two Detroit-area Democrats, Sen. Dayna Polehanki and Sen. Paul Wojno, abandoned Whitmer’s orders by voting to pass the bill. (Roll Call #229) They join another Democrat, Rep. Leslie Love, who previously said Whitmer’s requirement that nursing homes accept COVID-positive patients is “the most idiotic thing we could come up with.” Peters, however, is nowhere to be found.  “Gary Peters is a 30-year politician who loves to arrive at the scene of a problem after it already occurred, but he is so afraid of this one that he hasn’t said a thing,” said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox. “Michigan families and seniors are looking for leaders, not someone who perpetually sends out press releases filled with proposals and promises after the fact.”... More >