Senators Whitmer, Clark-Coleman, Switalski, Hunter, Barcia, Prusi, Thomas, Brater, Olshove, Cherry, Jacobs, Scott, Gleason, Basham, Clarke and Anderson offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 139.

            A resolution to condemn bigotry, violence, and hate speech with regards to the political discourse surrounding the health care reform process taking place in Congress.

Whereas, Congress recently passed a health care reform bill, and the President of the United States has signed this legislation into law; and

Whereas, Violence has been threatened against our elected officials who voted to support this legislation; and

Whereas, Extremists are inciting hate and violence, resorting to throwing bricks through windows, hurling racial epithets at members of Congress, and making death threats against those who supported the bill, including threatening their families; and

Whereas, Radical elements of the body politic, members who are out of step with the majority of Americans, are preaching a doctrine of hate; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body condemn bigotry, violence, and hate speech and proclaim their support for Congress and all elected officials who have respected the deliberative debate and political discourse surrounding health care reform. We urge that ideological disputes be resolved at the ballot box, not by resorting to fear and intimidation; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.