LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In a 21-18 party line vote, the Democrats voted against the Hauck budget amendment on Thursday that would have banned the state of Michigan from using taxpayer money to fund Chinese-linked projects.

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State Senator Roger Hauck (R-Mt. Pleasant) introduced his amendment amidst a flurry of Republican amendments during budget voting on Thursday. In all, about 200 amendments offered by the Republicans were shot down during budget boting, but perhaps this one was the most consequential of all.

The MI Senate twitter feed described what happened yesterday and posted the amendment which said, “No appropriations in part 1 may be expended on, or obligated to, economic development projects that involve or include a business entity supportive of the Chinese communist party as reflected in that business entity’s bylaws or articles of incorporation.”

Democrats rejected the amendment and unanimously agreed that Michiganders would continue to fund Whitmer-supported economic development projects, even when linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

This amendment comes on the heel of opposition to the Chinese-linked Gotion project in Big Rapids and the discovery of Gortion High-Tech’s Articles of Association that establish a “Party Committee” that ensures the company’s adherence to the Communist Party doctrine. The wording reads, “The Party Committee of the Company shall perform its duties in accordance with the Constitution of the Communist Party of China and other Party regulations” and goes on to say they will “Ensure and supervise the implementation of the Party’s guidelines, principles and policies in the Company, and implement major strategic decisions of the CPC (Communist Party of China) Central Committee and the State Council as well as relevant important work arrangements of the Party organization at the higher level.”

Former Ambassador Pete Hoekstra who has been opposed to the Gotion plant because of security concerns said about the failed amendment, “With the defeat of the Hauck amendment, Michigan Democrats are doubling down on investing Michigan taxpayer dollars into the Chinese Communist Party. A very risky and stupid strategy.”

Michigan News Source also reached out to State Senator Lana Theis (R-Brighton) who said, “The amendment could not have been more straight forward. State Republicans believe taxpayer dollars should not be used to encourage Chinese Communist Party affiliated companies to do business here in Michigan. Apparently, Senate Democrats disagree.”

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With control of the Michigan House, Senate and the Governor’s office and a record surplus of $9 billion of tax payer money, Democrats are poised to spend big money in the Michigan budget with no voting opposition that can stop them.

Because of that, they seemed a bit irked that the Republicans brought up so many amendments during the two days of budget voting in the Senate. During that time, not a single Republican amendment was approved including the Hauck amendment but the Republicans still kept offering them.

Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown) didn’t see a reason why the Republicans spent so much time and energy on the amendments and said, “When we were in this position, we did not offer 200 amendments on budgets. We actually tried behind the scenes or even in local subcommittees…We tried to use the process the way that it’s intended. They have not quite figured that out, which I think they’ll get used to.”

The Democrats are so comfortable about their budget agenda going through, in fact, that they were seen relaxing and playing Euchre in the chamber of the Michigan Senate. State Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) tweeted a photo of the Senate Democrats playing Euchre and said, “While we are voting on the budget, the dems are enjoying a game of euchre on the house floor WHILE speeches are still happening. They are literally gambling away 81 billion dollars of YOUR money. This is just plain wrong. It’s exactly why people don’t trust Lansing.”