As another protest at the State Capitol approaches Thursday, two local state representatives appear to be making statements about protests of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s the stay at home orders.
State Rep. Mary Whiteford of Casco Township this week was a guest on WHTC-radio and said she supports a ban on open carry of guns inside the Capitol building. This is of particular interest because she was one of the protesters in mid-April, calling for opening Michigan businesses back up in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis.
State Attorney General Dana Nessel Monday issued a ruling in support of banning weapons inside the Capital after a group of citizens showed up April 30 in legislative chambers sporting
AR-15s and other weapons. However, a special panel dealing with the issue has tabled it.
She said, “I don’t think it’s right to allow anybody up on the gallery or up close with those guns.”
Whiteford, a Republican who represents all of Allegan County except Wayland City and Wayland, Dorr and Leighton Townships, said she wasn’t aware at the time of the April 30 about how armed the protesters were.
Meanwhile, State Rep. Steven Johnson, who lives in Wayland and represents the remaining parts of Allegan County, appeared on WXMI Fox-17 this week to talk about reopening businesses.
Interestingly, Johnson, like President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, refused to wear a mask in public enclosed spaces. He was shown on Fox in a fitness gym with three others who wore masks and in line at Harding’s Market without a mask.
Johnson, also a Republican, has been critical of Whitmer as well, and has suggested she is more interested in auditioning for the vice presidential candidacy.
Neither Whiteford, a nurse, nor Johnson, have discussed at length the virus health issue as opposed to the political issue. The spread of COVID-19 has been blamed for more than 80,000 deaths in the United States in the last two and a half months.
COVER PHOTO: State Rep. Steve Johnson is maskless (at right) while being filmed for a story that appeared on Fox-17.
We have a young kid with no life experiences, little common sense, as our State Rep. Hope someone will run against him next election that can win as he needs replaced with someone more mature at least mentally anyway. I didn’t vote for Gov. Whitmer but I believe she is doing ok on this covid-19 issue. She may be a bit over the top on some but better that than not enough. Remember, she is taking the advice from heads of the health dept to make her decisions, not just pulling things out of thin air. I would rather trust a health experts advice than some green horn State Rep.
She maybe a little over the top. Please she is way over the top. She has not given the public this so called data. Remember she is a elected official not someone who only cares about being on tv. Your governor has been on tv more than any other governor. Why cause she wants that nod from Biden.
“Remember, she is taking the advice from heads of the health dept to make her decisions, not just pulling things out of thin air.”
She allowed buying weed, vodka, lottery tickets and abortions. She banned buying garden plants, paint and getting your knees fixed. This isn’t being pulled from thin air? However you wish to understand it, I guess……..
I was just reading Rep Johnson’s bio from the State Governments web site: Very interesting read. Seems he has a fair amount of life experience, just my opinion.
PROFESSIONAL
As a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force, Johnson was responsible for leading a team of airmen to perform maintenance on our nation’s nuclear ICBM weapon systems. After being honorably discharged, Steve moved back to Michigan to finish his education. Johnson also has worked as a substitute teacher and in the construction industry.
EDUCATION
Steve is a proud graduate of South Christian High School. He received his Associates in Applied Science with a focus in Electronic System Technology from the Community College of the Air Force before graduating from Liberty University with his Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Business and Social Science. He is currently working towards his Masters in Public Policy.
PUBLIC OFFICE AND AFFILIATIONS
Johnson is a deacon at Wayland Christian Reformed Church, board member of Project Hope in Dorr and board member of Christian Neighbors in Wayland.
Cheers!!
Unless you refuse to support local small businesses, the executive order didn’t ban buying paint or garden plants.
But, then again, I didn’t supervise the maintenance of ICBMs, so what would I know about epidemiology and public health.
Shame on you Rep. Johnson. Do you know for certain, without a doubt, that you are not carrying Covid-19 into Hardings market and passing the germ to my friends and family working and shopping there? This is an appalling action by an elected official. I will not cast another vote for you. It is selfish of you, refusing to give your constituents the respect they deserve by wearing in a mask in a public space.
Let’s open our state for business. Respect your fellow Michiganders; wear a mask so we can all get back to work. It’s the responsible and respectful thing to do.