“So this might solve a political problem that Republicans have, but be clear: you are papering over the problem that is a reality faced by hundreds of kids in Michigan schools every day. In fact, not only does this not protect kids who are bullied, it further endangers them by legitimizing excuses for tormenting a student. And the saddest and sickest irony of this whole thing is that it’s called ‘Matt’s Safe School Law’. And after the way that you’ve gutted it, it wouldn’t have done a damn thing to save Matt!
This is worse than doing nothing! It’s a Republican license to bully.”
- Michigan’s Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D), re the passage of a Michigan anti-bullying bill originally drafted by Democrats, and later gutted by the majority Republican Michigan Senate. Only one Democrat voted for it’s passage.
Note: the main problem with the law resides in the license to bully inserted by Republicans:
“This section does not prohibit a statement of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction of a school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or a pupil's parent or guardian.”
SB 137 will now go to the Michigan House for a vote.
