NEWS RELEASE
STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN DAMOOSE
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LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, issued the following statement calling on his colleagues in the Senate and House of Representatives to immediately pass legislation addressing dire concerns within the Michigan Department of Corrections:
“We need to demand the Senate immediately take up and pass Senate Bills 165-167 to allow our corrections officers to participate in the state police pension fund. We do not need any lip service about the challenges faced by our corrections officers — we need action to actually address these challenges.
“Since my first visit to the Kinross Correctional Facility, the numerous meetings there since, and in talks with dozens of prison employees, I have never seen a more frustrated and demoralized workforce — and they are rightfully angry.
“The problem is simple: Without additional pay and benefits, our prisons are not able to hire or retain enough officers. That means forced overtime for those who do actually work — which usually occurs without notice and in a terribly difficult and stressful work environment. We cannot keep pushing and pushing these workers and then expect a positive outcome. This needs to be addressed right now.
“Everyone I have spoken with has told me that giving access to the state police pension fund is a big part of the solution. I’ve been working with Sen. John Cherry, who sponsored one of the bills, to get this legislation moving.
“There are a lot of politicians saying they are concerned for our corrections officers, but it’s up to all of us to make sure they don’t get away with just talk — that they’ll actually do what it takes to fix the problem. Please join me in calling for the Senate leadership to bring Senate Bills 165-167 up for a vote as soon as possible.
“I’m ready to immediately get back to work and to vote YES on these important bills.”
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