LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In the wake of several key U.S. Supreme Court rulings last week, Michigan lawmakers responded with statements that highlight sharp partisan divisions on key legal and cultural issues.
Mahmoud v. Taylor: the opt-out ruling.
In Mahmoud v. Taylor, the Supreme Court ruled that parents have the right to opt their kids out of reading sexualized literature in their schools.
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In a statement, Michigan Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) applauded the Court’s decision and called it “a major victory for conservative values and parental rights.”
“For years, parents across the country have raised serious concerns about age-appropriate content, particularly related to gender and sexuality, being introduced to young students without notice or consent,” he said in the statement. “This decision confirms that it is parents, and not the far left, who should decide what’s appropriate for their children.”
In a tweet, U.S. Rep. and gubernatorial candidate John James (R-Macomb County) shared Sen. Runestad’s belief that parents, and not the government, should decide what’s right for their children.
“As Michigan’s next governor, I’ll stand with President @realDonaldTrump in upholding these core values: safeguarding parental rights, keeping politics out of classrooms, and restoring academic excellence,” James said in the tweet.
Regarding this case, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tweeted: “LGBTQ+ Michiganders: I see you, I support you, and I’ll never stop fighting for you. Visibility matters—and so do you.”
Birthright citizenship: Trump v. Casa, Inc.
In Trump v. Casa, Inc., the Court curtailed the power that district courts have to block Trump’s executive orders, such as the one on birthright citizenship.
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U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) tweeted: “You get what you pay for. Trump’s corrupt SCOTUS cronies want to make it nearly impossible to meaningfully challenge his illegal actions in court. Dems need to get serious about running on packing the Court and unrigging this system that only serves the wealthy and hateful.”
Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) shared Tlaib’s sentiments.
“Birthright citizenship is a fundamental right in the Constitution, and I will always fight to defend it,” Thanedar said in a tweet.
But Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-Van Buren) had a different reaction to the Court’s decision.
“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court is a win for our constitution, separation of powers, and our system of government as a whole,” Rep. Huizenga said in a tweet. “This decision delivers a clear knockout to the dramatic overuse of national injunctions by some district court judges.”