Republicans in the Michigan Senate, still upset over Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus restrictions that she’s implemented for months without their input, have rejected more than a dozen of Whitmer’s picks to serve on various boards and commissions.
By a party-line vote of 19-14, the Senate blocked the appointment of Thomas Baird and David Cozad to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission; Cheryl Kobernik to Michigan Agriculture Commission…Amy Cox to the Michigan Travel Commission…and Erin Kricher to the Rural Development Fund Board.
They also said no to Kristin Totten to the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board…and Suzanna Shkreli to be director of the Office of Children’s Ombudsman….and rejected James Pearson to the Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board…Emily McDonough to the Data Collection Agency Governing Board…Terry Gilligan and Dennis Mowbray Jr. to the Board of Mechanical Rules…Richard Corriveau to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, and Ronald Campbell to the Barrier Free Design Board.
The GOP majority used the Advice and Consent clause in the Michigan Constitution to reject Whitmer’s nominees.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Dan Lauwers (R-St. Clair) says this is one of the only tools they have to “hold the governor accountable.”
“Instead of working with the Legislature, the governor has used unelected bureaucrats like those on the State Administrative Board or her health director to implement policy.
“I am unable to speak and vote on behalf of my constituents when the governor continues to ignore the Legislature —a co-equal branch of government.
“Until the governor understands that compromise, while at times difficult, is a necessary part of executive leadership, the Legislature will use every tool at our disposal to fight back against her unilateral governance, including rejection of unelected bureaucrats when necessary.”
The governor is scheduled to deliver her State of the State address Wednesday night. Her spokesman, Tiffany Brown, says “now is not the time for partisan games. It’s time to get to work.”
Whitmer, at a Monday news conference, vowed not to “barter” loosening restrictions with Republicans in exchange for her nominees being approved.
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