“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.”

“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.”