Michigan Senate Democrats Sue Over Delayed Bills in House Clerk’s Office
In a significant legal confrontation, Michigan Senate Democrats have initiated a lawsuit against House Speaker Matt Hall, alleging improper handling of legislation in the House clerk’s office. The court battle centers around a set of bills that have not been forwarded to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, as required by legislative procedure.
The suit, filed on Monday, seeks judicial intervention to compel the transmission of these bills to the governor. The contested legislation includes provisions on public employee health care and pensions, the protection of public assistance payments from debt collection, and the authorization for Detroit to propose historical museum millages to voters.
These bills were passed last year when Democrats held full legislative control but were not sent to Governor Whitmer before Republicans gained control of the House in January.
Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks expressed the urgency of the situation during an online news conference, emphasizing the constitutional obligation to advance the bills. “I refuse to let our constitution go ignored,” she stated. “I refuse to let the hard-working men and women of Michigan continue to be actively harmed by this speaker’s inaction. Therefore, we are compelled to take legal action to see to it that the right thing gets done.”
The lawsuit accuses House Republicans of breaching Article 4, Section 33, known as the “presentation clause” of the state constitution. This clause mandates that “Every bill passed by the legislature shall be presented to the governor before it becomes law, and the governor shall have 14 days measured in hours and minutes from the time of presentation in which to consider it.”
Filed in the Michigan Court of Claims, the lawsuit faces a time-sensitive challenge, as the bills are slated to take effect in April. The outcome could potentially be elevated to higher courts upon appeal.
Responding to the allegations, Hall spokesman Greg Manz stated, “Speaker Hall is carrying out a thorough, comprehensive legal review of an entirely unprecedented situation to ensure the House acts constitutionally.”
—
Read More Michigan News
