Michigan Democrats received heavy backlash from residents for approving a $170 million Chinese-backed green energy project, with furious citizens pleading with the committee to "do what is right."
Residents gathered for the hearing at the Michigan Senate's appropriations committee to condemn using $175 million in taxpayer funds to construct an electric battery plant owned by Gotion, a Chinese tech company, in Big Rapids Township.
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Hannah Saez, the clerk for Big Rapids Township, appeared before the committee saying she was "gravely disappointed" that the negotiation was on the agenda at all.
"'I can attest, however, that our community is now united in ways they would have never been before. They do not want this," Saez said, citing that more than 50% of citizens who responded to a survey did not want the plant built.
Saez said she was disappointed in "dishonest" local lawmakers siding with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), who had announced in October that Gotion High Tech, the parent company of Gotion, would invest $2.4 billion in order to build two production plants in the state.
The Big Rapids clerk drew on national security concerns as a reason to vote against the measure.
"Quite frankly, this is not what any of us were elected to do. I'm certain that when taking an oath, giving American dollars to a foreign company that puts our national security at risk was not in question," Saez said.
"I do not understand the urgency to vote on something that even our governor cannot say whether or not she supports," Saez continued. "Our community is outraged."
She "begged" committee members to vote no or vote to postpone the measure.
"Thousands of Michiganders will be watching today," she said. "I know you all receive daily emails and phone calls. I know you're under pressure. I know you've probably been coerced. I beg of you to do what is right here even if corruption is knocking at your door."
Despite hearing several heated comments from Big Rapids citizens, the committee approved the measure in a tight 10-9 vote. Three Democrats joined all of the Republicans in voting against the construction.
Cheryl Vitito, a resident of Big Rapids, said the project would help the Chinese Communist Party in its mission to "overthrow the United States without firing a shot."
"This CCP-controlled company represents communism and is a threat to our way of life and our God-given and constitutional freedoms," Vitito said. "We don't want the CCP here by way of the Gotion plant as they have no regard for the value and dignity of human life."
The corporate bylaws of Gotion High Tech reportedly require it to conduct "Party activities in accordance with the Constitution of the Communist Party of China," per Fox News.
Kyle Luce, the supervisor of Barton Township, which is located near the proposed facility, said 85% of his residents polled are opposed to Gotion's project.
"Our citizens are concerned with the time frame that's going on here. The timing seems to be sped up exponentially to, in our opinion, try to seal the deal and get this done before people have a chance to speak out, residents have a chance to speak out," Luce said.
"We're very concerned as a small municipality in the middle of Michigan. We're primarily a farm community, and we're concerned about our environment. I'm here just to speak and ask you to either turn this down or table it until further investigation could be done," he said.
Marjorie Steele, a Big Rapids resident, said she was "angry" that the measure got quickly scheduled without assessing "due diligence" over the risks.
"I'm angry that you, our elected officials, have ignored my community's pleas to table this vote until some small semblance of due diligence can be performed."
Steele blasted Green Charter Township Jim Chapman, who called the project the "opportunity of a generation," for calling her a "paid protester."
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"I'm angry that he had accused myself and my neighbors of being paid protesters. I assure you, I have lost money on my advocacy on this issue," Steele said.
"I can promise you that we will not stop at the local level. We are tired of being abused, and we are not alone. This is not just a Mecosta County issue. Townships and counties across the state are uniting, sharing resources, manpower, and grassroots activism. Your votes today, senators, are lines drawn in the sand," she said.