Michigan Senate forges ahead after House melts down due to Democratic infighting

BY KYLE DAVIDSON, MICHIGAN ADVANCE

MICHIGAN—While House Democrats failed to achieve the majority needed to hold session on Thursday—even after approving an order to bring absent members to the House floor—the Michigan Senate worked late into the night, sending dozens of bills to the Governor’s desk in an effort to finish out their policy agenda.

With Republicans walking off the House floor last Friday after demanding action on road funding and changes to the state’s tipped minimum wage and paid sick leave laws, Democrats were able to continue passing legislation without the 54 GOP members present.

However, with Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) declining to attend session on Wednesday, and failing to report to the floor for the House’s final session day on Thursday, any hopes of passing legislation died as the House failed to achieve the majority needed to conduct business. The chamber is set to return on Dec. 31 at 1:30 p.m. for sine die, where they will adjourn for the year.

While the House’s adjournment marks the death of a number of Senate bills — including efforts to address racial disparities in maternal health, bar firearms from the state Capitol and House and Senate Office Buildings with limited exceptions, ban bump stocks and subject the Legislature and the Governor to the state’s Freedom of Information Act — Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) refused to call it a day.

“I am deeply disappointed that the House of Representatives called it quits while so many great pieces of legislation were ready for the green light. Legislators are tasked with the responsibility of using every tool available to advocate for their constituents and communities, and ‘frustrated’ is too light of a word to describe my dismay that the House failed to meet its obligations in this historic moment,” Brinks said in a statement released at 4:19 p.m. Thursday.

“The Michigan Senate is still in session, and we have the opportunity to do good – a lot of good. In the coming hours, residents can count on us to act on key items that will protect the state’s children, improve on-the-job rights for workers and more,” Brinks said.

Among the bevy of House bills passed by the Senate during the chamber’s lengthy session, was a package of bills to support maternal and infant health, expand insurance coverage to cover hormonal contraception and allow pharmacists to issue prescriptions for various hormonal contraceptive methods and a set of bills requiring schools to provide information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on the best practices for storing firearms, the requirements of Michigan’s safe storage law and where individuals can purchase gun locks and safes. 

A slate of bills expanding unemployment benefits were also returned to the Senate and enrolled on Thursday, with the chamber concurring with changes made to one of the bills in the House.

Despite the Senate’s sustained effort to move legislation after being hung out to dry, it’s not guaranteed that every bill will become a law, with multiple sources indicating that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer may withhold her signature on bills until the Legislature delivers on promised economic development reforms and road funding legislation.

After adjourning near midnight, the Senate resumed its work early Friday morning, just hours before their 10 a.m. start time for Friday’s session. The final session day on the Senate calendar is Dec. 23.

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This coverage was republished from Michigan Advance pursuant to a Creative Commons license.