Michigan House Republicans are taking a stand against lame duck Democrats prioritizing violent criminals and bureaucratic red tape over crises facing the state’s restaurant industry and crumbling roads.

“We don’t want to let violent criminals out of prison, which is what Democrats are proposing. We don’t want corrections workers to have to force prisoners to register to vote, we don’t want to kill charter schools, we don’t want to create a confusing regulatory nightmare in every different district across our state with crazy labor policies from community to community,” Speaker-elect Rep. Matt Hall, R-Richmond Twp., said at a Tuesday press conference.

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“We want to save our restaurant industry, we want to protect workers’ earned sick leave, and we want to fix our roads.”

Republicans walked out of the lower chamber on Friday when it became painfully clear Democratic leaders had no interest in addressing the state’s most pressing issues, opting instead to ram through controversial legislation that aligns with the Democratic agenda on LGBTQ issues, early release for felons, driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants and other “crazy, divisive issues.”

Without legislative intervention, up to 60,000 Michigan workers in the restaurant and hospitality industry could face layoffs in early 2025, when the state will begin to transition tipped wage workers to minimum wage and implement requirements for paid sick leave.

For months, restaurant owners, servers, bartenders and others who earn more than minimum wage under the tipped wage system have called on the legislature’s Democratic majority to take action to mitigate the damage from the changes, which were approved by voters in 2018 and upheld by the Michigan Supreme Court this summer.

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On Tuesday, Hall highlighted the consequences of inaction by the legislative majority, noting many businesses that would be impacted are still struggling to recover from government-imposed closures during the pandemic.

“Many, many restaurants, over 20%, are facing closure again come early next year,” he said. “All of those restaurant workers are going to lose their jobs and for the ones that stay open the restaurant workers are going to make a lot less money because the tipping system is going to go away.”

Hall continued: “And prices are going to go up, I mean you’re going to be paying $25 for a burger. We keep hearing it’s going to be a 25% increase for food and beverage when you come to restaurants. How many Michiganders can afford that?”

Hall juxtaposed reluctance from the Democratic leadership to address that issue with lame duck legislation to increase the burden on taxpayers for state employee healthcare costs, expand state employee pensions with billions in unfunded liabilities, and social issues that benefit a sliver of the state’s population.

“You guys should be outraged, and the public should be outraged,” Hall said. “What about the taxpayers? Why is it always we got to make sure government workers have this gold standard care and treatment, but all the people who actually pay their salaries, we’re going to take their jobs away and make sure they make less money. That’s what the Democrats are proposing. That’s why we’re not coming in.”

Hall noted it’s not just Republicans taking a stand, pointing to the refusal of state Rep. Karen Whitsett, D-Detroit, to participate in the lame duck chaos, and an ultimatum from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

“If I do go in, I’m absolutely not voting on anything. I’m not voting on garbage bills. I’m not voting on bills that will eventually hurt people. I’m not raising taxes on Michigan,” Whitsett told Gongwer News Service. “I’m not having my record tarnished for” House Speaker Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit.

“Speaker-elect Matt Hall has some great bills,” said Winsett, who walked out amid voting on Friday. “Tip wages, roads, sick leave … water affordability, public safety trust. I will not let my constituents down. Friday, I took a stand. The bills that were being pushed through only hurt Michiganders. I am proud to take a stand when no one else will. I wish my colleagues stood up for their communities and said enough is enough.”

Whitmer on Tuesday warned Democratic leaders she won’t sign bills unless they send her real legislation that addresses the state economic development and road funding problems, Crain’s Detroit Business reports.

“Kudos to Governor Whitmer for taking a stand on that,” Hall said, “because that’s very similar to our position. We want to work on meaningful issues in lame duck, like fixing our roads, saving our tips, saving our restaurant industry, and making sure workers get a fair sick time policy.

“That’s what we want to do, and it sounds like Governor Whitmer is on that team,” he said. “I give her credit for that.”

“We’re just saying enough is enough, and let’s work on something important,” Hall said.

Tate has defended his leadership amid the chaos at the Capitol, alleging Democrats “wouldn’t have gotten the things done we’ve gotten done if I weren’t in charge.”

It was the same deal on Tuesday, when Tate responded to Whitmer’s ultimatum in a statement to Crain’s.

“We are working to provide real results for Michiganders and delivering thoughtful and meaningful bills to the governor’s desk for her signature,” Tate wrote. “Ultimately, it is up to her whether she signs them or not.”