“Corrections officers go toe-to-toe with dangerous criminals every day,” said Markkanen, R-Hancock. “Yet, they remain wildly understaffed, underpaid, and unappreciated by the administration. Corrections officers have said they need better pay and benefits. It’s time to listen to them.”

“Corrections officers have lost faith in their own department leadership. Apparently, that failing leadership was the only input Rep. Hill sought before announcing her plan,” said Markkanen, R-Hancock. “Corrections officers said they need better pay and benefits. Normally, lawmakers talk to the people asking for help before deciding how to best solve their problems. Instead, she once again ran back to her friends in Lansing rather than talk to workers here in the U.P. At this point, I think the bill is just political cover on the issue for the coming election.”

State Reps. Dave Prestin and Greg Markkanen on Thursday joined with State Sen. Ed McBroom to announce they would be participating in upcoming informational pickets to support the Michigan Corrections Officers Union. The meetings are scheduled for next week at three prisons across the Upper Peninsula. Officials within the corrections union said they feel driven […]

“These out-of-touch justices just crippled every single small business on our side of the Michigan-Wisconsin border,” said Markkanen, R-Hancock. “What do we expect to happen when these changes take effect? People are going to get laid off. Family-owned businesses are going to close. They’re all going to pack their bags and escape to other states, where they don’t have to deal with these radical new rules. The Legislature must act before the Michigan Supreme Court becomes the single greatest contributor to population growth in Wisconsin.”

“Corrections officers cannot continue at this pace,” said Markkanen, R-Hancock. “MDOC is supposed to give corrections officers at least 32 hours between mandatory overtime shifts. Staffing shortages have caused countless violations of this policy, with many officers being required to work 16 hour shifts three to five days in a row. Five years ago, an internal survey revealed 140 corrections officers were actively planning to commit suicide. These officers go toe-to-toe with dangerous criminals every day. Yet, our corrections officers remain wildly understaffed, underpaid, and unappreciated by the administration.”

“There is no greater affront to a community than targeting those with the sole purpose of keeping our streets safe,” said Markkanen, R-Hancock. “These brave men and their families have not left our prayers since we learned of these unspeakable tragedies. Violent criminals stole more than just three law enforcement officers. They stole fathers who will never again walk through the front door to hug their excited children and husbands who will never again kiss their wife goodnight.”

“Wesley Vietti Karna made the highest sacrifice possible for the State of Michigan and his country,” said Markkanen, R-Hancock. “The least we can do is honor his sacrifice however possible. Naming this small section of highway after him will ensure knowledge of his legacy and service will live on for generations.”

“I worked alongside talented and committed educators who dutifully educated future generations for decades,” said Markkanen, R-Hancock. “The state promised a robust retirement account educators could rely on when they leave their classrooms for the final time. Democrats just threw that promise in the garbage.”

“Somehow, Democrats got it into their heads that if they all click their heels and chant, ‘there’s no place like home,’ the world would just fill with rainbows and sunshine, and all crime will magically disappear,” said Markkanen, R-Hancock. “That’s not how things work in the real world. Passing a law crippling checks and balances of our election system only further deepens public distrust. The world is full of bad people who may do bad things, including defraud our elections. Our system must be robust and equipped with all the tools necessary to uncover and investigate all discrepancies.”

“Private Karna was 22 when he was killed in action. He laid down his life and sacrificed his future serving our country,” said Markkanen, R-Hancock. “Instead of living the American Dream of buying a house, getting married, and having children, Private Karna deployed overseas with the US Army. Brave servicemen like him brought the torch of liberty to the shores of a Western Europe engulfed by a totalitarian regime. Because men like Private Karna were willing to sacrifice everything, the mainland United States hasn’t seen war since the 1800’s. Renaming this portion of highway allows us to return a small piece of legacy to this American hero from the U.P.”

“Allowing coyotes to run unchecked is simply not an option,” said Markkanen R-Hancock. “These predators don’t care about seasons or regulations; they’re a constant threat to our livestock, pets, and even our children. We can’t afford to tiptoe around the issue. It’s time to face reality: we need to hunt coyotes year-round, no excuses, no exceptions.”

“Teachers across our state, especially in the Upper Peninsula, have already lost faith that Democrat leadership would ever deliver on school safety measures. Now we know what’s taking so long. While schools are still unsafe, Democrats were too busy planning how they would drain teacher retirement accounts to fund their own radical agenda,” Markkanen said. “Teachers would give Democrat leadership an F if the governor hadn’t already outlawed letter grades.”