The Michigan Legislature has scheduled an extraordinary special session on Friday to debate legislation that would put limits on the governor’s authority when a State of Emergency is declared.
The Republican-controlled legislature has become increasingly unhappy with Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Lawmakers plan to form a new oversight committee to assess how the first-term Democrat has handled the crisis. House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) says the committee would include five House members and Five Senators, and is similar to action taken three years ago to assess then-Republican Governor Rick Snyder’s handling of the Flint Water Crisis.
The Senate on Friday also plans to take action on House bills that would limit the powers that governors can use under the 1945 and 1976 laws that Whitmer has been using to close businesses, schools, and force millions of Michigan residents to stay in their homes other than to do essential work and to buy groceries, medicine, and other essential supplies.
Even if the legislature passes laws to put limits on the governor’s powers, she would have to sign them for the bills to become law, something Whitmer is not likely to do. Republicans do not have enough votes to override a Whitmer veto, and would need to have many Democrats join them to do so.
Democrats were quoted in the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press on Thursday as being opposed to being called to Lansing with the number of cases rising, especially downstate.
Democratic Senate Minority leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) called the special session a “stunt”. Democratic House Minority Leader Chris Greig (D-Farmington) called it a “political ploy” and labeled it “obnoxious”.
The legislature voted unanimously April 7th to allow the governor to extend the shelter-in-place orders through April 30th. But when she extended the order two days later, the governor added tough new restrictions, including banning travel between residences and banning gatherings of any size, even in private homes.
Many GOP members say they were blindsided by the new restrictions, which the governor says are crucial to slowing the spread of COVID-19. Chatfield, state representatives Beau LaFave (R-Iron Mountain) and Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock), and State Senator Ed McBroom (R-Norway) are among those lawmakers who have been upset with the tightening of the restrictions.
The legislature was not scheduled to return to Lansing until April 30. But when the governor said on Wednesday that she planned to extend the Stay at Home Order, and that she didn’t need the legislature’s permission to do so, GOP lawmakers objected, and called the Friday session.
Chatfield issued this Tweet on Thursday:
“The House & Senate will convene tomorrow to create a special oversight committee on COVID-19 to examine our government’s response. Michigan needs to handle this pandemic seriously yet properly. It’s what the people deserve, and we will see that it happens.”
LaFave posted this on Facebook Thursday:
“As your Representative, it’s my job to drive the 428 miles to Lansing so you don’t have to. I couldn’t be more honored!”
Whitmer said that she will have more information Friday about her plans for an extended Stay at Home Order, and what restrictions, if any, she would be lifting.
We will carry the governor’s news conference live on the Radio Results Network stations.
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