Oops: Democrat State Rep. Accidentally Introduced Bill Eliminating DEI Hiring In Michigan Government

Erin Byrnes 

 By Brandon Hall

(Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

On May 1st, in a 105-1 vote, the State House overwhelmingly passed legislation banning the use of DEI hiring practices in state government, as well as requiring merit
based decision-making.

State agencies that break the proposed law would be fined up to $10,000 for every violation.

Sources tell West Michigan Politics that the bill was accidentally sponsored and introduced by Erin Byrnes, a House Democrat from Dearborn. 

Apparently, Byrnes mistakenly thought it was a gender-based pay mandate bill.

Democrats actually tried to avoid admitting or drawing attention to the embarrassing mistake by agreeing to vote for the bill---and then tried to lie about what it does. 

That ridiculous plan did not work, obviously.  

And in many ways, the fiasco was a sign of what was to come from the Senate a few weeks later---first with a supplemental budget bill designed to cover up for their past mistakes--- then with their horrendous, error-filled 2026 spending plan.

Interestingly, Byrnes legislation was originally introduced last session by State Rep. Angela Rigas, though the bill went nowhere under Speaker Joe Tate.

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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com