Michigan Votes Forum

Senator Warren’s statement is as follows:

I rise today to voice my strong objection to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 9. Make no mistake, this concurrent 

resolution sets a very dangerous precedent. It would be the first time in Michigan’s history that we, as a legislative body, 

have reversed the Civil Service Commission’s ruling disrupting the separation of powers that are a central tenet to our 

system of government. The Civil Service Commission decision to extend health care benefits to eligible individuals was 

not only a very lawful decision, but the right decision, as families are always stronger when health insurance is accessible 

to everyone in the household. 

We have heard time and time again from this chamber, from committees that I sit on, and from our new Governor that the 

only way to truly reform government is to run it more like a business. That is exactly what the Civil Service Commission  

decision does. The most successful businesses in Michigan, as well as around the nation, consider the extension of health 

benefits to household members a priority. A host of employers across our state already have these policies. Companies such 

as Compuware, Dow Chemical, Kellogg, Herman Miller, Whirlpool, not to mention our Big Three auto companies, and 

Michigan’s universities also recognize the need for other eligible individuals and families to have coverage, to attract and 

retain competitive and skilled workforces that our state needs to be competitive. The University of Michigan, Michigan State, 

Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Michigan Technological University, Grand Valley, Wayne State, Oakland University, 

and Kalamazoo College all offer similar policies to what the Civil Service Commission policy would do.

If we are really going to work together to move Michigan forward, we cannot afford to take a significant step back­

wards. I ask my colleagues to focus on the one thing that really helps Michigan move forward, and that is to create jobs 

for Michigan families. Overruling the decision of the Civil Service Commission will not create one single job, and it will 

not make the lives of Michigan families any better.

We can and we must do better than this for our families.

 This bill was referred to House Oversight, not Military and Veterans Affairs.

 I do think the civil service commission's ruling should have been overruled.  In this day, it doesn't matter that it has never been done before.  Citizens are looking to the government to do positive things that have never been done before, what a breath of fresh air that would be.  If the government is looking to be run as a business, one of the first things to be done is to take care of your revenue and costs, to be fiscally responsible.  Every business should be looking to cut costs, not add new ones to the mix.  Most of the citizens are happy to have jobs, not looking for extra benefits.  Families should be considered first for the health of our state. 

The government shouldn't be run as a business. A business is run to make a profit. The government should be run to serve the needs of their citizens. That's not to say a government shouldn't be fiscally responsible, but it certainly doesn't exist to make money.

This bill failed to receive a two- thirds majority in the House to overule the CSC.

 Hey gypsy.............how about sending your last message about being fiscally responsible by government to your Messiah..........Barack Obama.  He needs to get away from Cloward & Pevin while pushing Keynesian economics that is a losing cause.