Bill Text: MI SCR0004 | 2021-2022 | 101st Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A concurrent resolution to censure Senators John Bizon, Tom Barrett, Kevin Daley, Kim LaSata, Dan Lauwers, Rick Outman, Jim Runestad, Lana Theis, Curt VanderWall, Roger Victory, and Dale Zorn and condemn their efforts to undermine American elections.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-01-26 - Referred To Committee On Government Operations [SCR0004 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2021-SCR0004-Introduced.html
senate Concurrent Resolution No.4
Senators Geiss and Hollier offered the following concurrent resolution:
Whereas, On January 4, 2021, Senators John Bizon, Tom Barrett, Kevin Daley, Kim LaSata, Dan Lauwers, Rick Outman, Jim Runestad, Lana Theis, Curt VanderWall, Roger Victory, and Dale Zorn submitted a letter to Congress and the Vice President of the United States to request that the Joint Session of Congress investigate the credibility of the November election results; and
Whereas, In signing this letter, the Senators actively fueled baseless claims of election fraud, which have been universally debunked and disproven. They have undercut faith in our institutions through their blatantly unjustified dismissal of the security and accuracy of election outcomes in Michigan and other states; and
Whereas, In calling on Congress to investigate the credibility of the November 2020 election in this manner, the Senators who signed the request were asking members of Congress to obstruct the peaceful and orderly transition of power. Congress' role in counting the Electoral College votes is ministerial under the U.S. Constitution and federal law; and
Whereas, The Senators contributed to the atmosphere that led to the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol during the Electoral College vote count on January 6, 2021. The Senators' letter was part of a broader and dangerous campaign to overturn the will of the American people. The riot at the U.S. Capitol resulted in physical and emotional injury, caused significant destruction of public property, led to a shaken the faith in the stability of our democracy at home, and dealt an enormous blow to the nation's reputation abroad. The months-long effort to delegitimize the election has also distracted from the important work of responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic and taken important resources and attention away from our state's efforts to combat this public health crisis; and
Whereas, Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963 provides:
All officers, legislative, executive and judicial, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of this state, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of .......... according to the best of my ability. No other oath, affirmation, or any religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust.
; and
Whereas, Rule 1.301 of the Standing Rules of the Senate provides:
Each Senator shall conduct himself or herself to justify the confidence placed in him or her by the people and shall, by personal example and admonition to colleagues, maintain the integrity and responsibility of his or her office.
; and
Whereas, Rules 1.311 of the Standing Rules of the Senate provides, in part:
A Senator determined to have violated the provisions of the rules regulating ethics and conduct may be reprimanded, censured, or expelled.
; and
Whereas, Senators Bizon, Barrett, Daley, LaSata, Lauwers, Outman, Runestad, Theis, VanderWall, Victory, and Zorn failed to meet the high standards of conduct expected of their office by the people of Michigan. Their participation in efforts to undermine the democratic process are clear violations of their oaths of office and the Standing Rules of the Senate; and
Whereas, The Legislature must send a clear signal that efforts to undermine the democratic process and obstruct the will of the American people through baseless and disproven allegations of fraud are wholly unacceptable and should be met with the strongest possible condemnation; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Senator John Bizon of the Nineteenth Senate District; Senator Tom Barrett of the Twenty-fourth Senate District; Senator Kevin Daley of the Thirty-first Senate District; Senator Kim LaSata of the Twenty-first Senate District; Senator Dan Lauwers of the Twenty-fifth Senate District; Senator Rick Outman of the Thirty-third Senate District; Senator Jim Runestad of the Fifteenth Senate District; Senator Lana Theis of the Twenty-second Senate District; Senator Curt VanderWall of the Thirty-fifth Senate District; Senator Roger Victory of the Thirtieth Senate District; and Senator Dale Zorn of the Seventeenth Senate District are hereby censured; and be it further
Resolved, That we condemn their efforts to undermine American elections; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to Senators Bizon, Barrett, Daley, LaSata, Lauwers, Outman, Runestad, Theis, VanderWall, Victory, and Zorn.
