Holland Reporter

State Representative Angela Rigas from Caledonia has presented her case to the Government Operations Committee regarding a bipartisan bill intended to modify hiring practices for state employees. House Bill 4288, introduced by Dearborn Representative Erin Byrnes, aims to implement a system where hiring decisions are exclusively merit-based. Rigas endorses the bill, asserting, "State government should be hiring people based on whether they can do the job well."

The legislation marks the return of a previous proposal by Rigas, focusing on merit as the primary criterion for employment and aiming to remove Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives from state hiring processes. Rigas expressed her support for Byrnes' reintroduction of the bill, stating, “It’s high time we stop wasting money on DEI programs that divide people and start hiring based on what really matters: qualifications and performance."

The bill has already passed through the Government Operations Committee with strong bipartisan backing and will now progress to the House floor for consideration. Rigas views this development as the beginning of a significant change away from what she describes as "unfair hiring practices and left-wing identity politics."

In her remarks, Rigas thanked her Democratic colleagues, particularly Byrnes, for setting aside partisan differences. She commended their willingness to acknowledge discrepancies in their previous approach by aligning with a merit-based hiring perspective. "I am glad they’re aligning with President Trump’s vision for a greater America based on merit, not skin color," Rigas stated.