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I think life in Lansing is making me bitter.
I have been serving as a state representative for almost a year now, and I am constantly frustrated by the game playing that goes on at the Capitol.
For example: after signing the last of the budget bills into law, Gov. Granholm admitted to reporters that she seriously considered cutting school funding even deeper, in a Machiavellian attempt to force the Senate to raise taxes.
Only a coldly-calculating politician would consider cutting education funding just to increase pressure on lawmakers to raise taxes. If I ever get so jaded that I am willing to use school children as political pawns, please, do me a favor – vote me out of office.
I’m not blaming just the governor or Democrats for the way things are in Lansing. Stuff like this happens on both sides, all the time. My worst experience as a lawmaker was the day I was hauled into a meeting and threatened because I didn’t want to toe the party line on a particular vote. I am proud to say I stood my ground and didn’t cave.
Maybe I was a bit naïve in my belief that, for the most part, elected leaders always try to do the right thing. Politics is politics so I expected a certain amount of political maneuvering, but at the end of the day, I really did expect everyone to put partisan differences aside and work together in the best interest of the state.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to work that way. That needs to change.
Of all the states hit hard by the recession, none has been hit harder than Michigan, which has the highest unemployment rate in the nation. Fixing our state will not be easy.
But it would be a lot easier without all the childish game playing.
I look forward to hearing your comments on these important issues. Please feel free to contact me by calling (888) 373-0078 or e-mailing sharontyler@house.mi. gov.