St. Joe-Benton Harbor News

Brad Paquette, a Michigan state representative, used his social media account on September 9, 2025, to address several issues concerning state governance and public health policy.

In a post published at 11:46 a.m., Paquette criticized his political opponents' fiscal priorities. He wrote, "My neighbors on the other side of the aisle want to increase taxes today because they prefer to blow what the state already takes in on lobbyist priorities and obscure pork projects for the politically connected." This statement reflects ongoing debates within Michigan's legislature over tax policy and budget allocations.

Shortly after, at 11:49 a.m., Paquette commented on recent positions taken by the American Medical Association (AMA). He stated, "The American Medical Association is wrong to support mRNA shots for 6 month old babies... they are wrong to support the shackling of healthy children to pharmaceuticals to appear more like the opposite sex." The AMA has been an advocate for childhood vaccination programs and has supported medical care options for transgender youth in line with current scientific guidelines.

At 12:24 p.m., Paquette reflected on his responsibilities as an elected official during challenging times. He posted, "All the confidence in the world is gained when one remains close to one's constituents. The best lesson learned during covid is that we signed up to take the arrows for them. They don't need to take the hard stances in the public eye that are best for their livelihoods.. we do."

Brad Paquette serves as a member of Michigan's House of Representatives. The issues he addressed in these posts have been subjects of national debate. For example, legislative discussions about tax increases and spending priorities are common across many states. The role of mRNA vaccines in young children continues to be debated among policymakers and some segments of the public despite broad scientific consensus supporting their safety and efficacy for most age groups; major medical organizations such as the CDC and FDA recommend COVID-19 vaccination beginning at six months old.

The reference to "pharmaceuticals to appear more like the opposite sex" relates to ongoing discussions about gender-affirming care for minors—a topic that has seen legislative activity both in Michigan and nationwide. Professional medical associations including the AMA have endorsed evidence-based approaches supporting transgender youth under appropriate clinical supervision.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, elected officials often cited constituent engagement as critical while navigating public health measures and economic challenges.