Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Is Stripped of Emergency Powers
Meanwhile, Whitmer sends letters of gratitude to small businesses across the state.
Back in California, the recall election has effectively stripped Gov. Gavin Newsom of his COVID-19 emergency powers. There are no more daily COVID-briefings and no state mandates.
In contrast, Michigan’s legislature has more directly removed these powers from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
In a rebuke to Gretchen Whitmer, the Republican-led Michigan state House of Representatives repealed a 76-year-old law that gave the governor broad emergency powers used to lock down much of the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a 60-48 vote mainly along party lines, the Emergency Powers Act of 1945 was officially scuttled. The state Senate had already voted to kill the act last week.
Though the legislation does not take effect immediately it was a clear shot at Whitmer, whose strict shut-down policies stirred protests last year, but also made her a political darling among Democrats.
The 1945 emergency powers law came to the state legislature via a petition drive. Therefore, under Michigan law, it cannot be vetoed by Whitmer and will go into effect 90 days after the legislative session.
Conservatives will still be busy dealing with Whitmer’s antics for a while longer.
A conservative group that organized the ballot drive next plans to target a public health law that enabled Whitmer’s administration to keep intact capacity restrictions and mask requirements for eight additional months until voluntarily lifting them in June after infections subsided amid vaccinations.
…Rep. Andrew Fink, a Republican from Hillsdale County’s Adams Township, said the ‘idea that we need the governor to do our job for us once into the outbreak of a new virus … is disturbing in its distrust of the citizens of this state.
‘I think that idea is depressing in its view of the Legislature’s capacity to conduct its work in difficult circumstances.
Of course, progressives insist this move is going to cause death and disease.
An organization that opposed the change called Keep Michigan Safe decried the move, saying in a statement, “Today, House Republicans voted to eradicate an important tool for elected leaders trying to save lives and stop the spread of deadly, infectious diseases like COVID-19, Legionnaire’s, tuberculosis and anthrax.”
Meanwhile, as small businesses in Michigan begin recovering from the COVID-19 restriction, Whitmer is sending nicely worded letters thanking them.
Business owners across the state will soon be opening up letters of gratitude from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The letters were sent July 23, 2021, to more than 200 small businesses owners who Whitmer determined stepped up in exceptional ways during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am completely in awe of the resilience and determination of Michigan’s small businesses to stand strong and push forward during such unprecedented times,” said Whitmer. “Small businesses are crucial to the success of our economy, and we are more than ready to get back on track and uplift our local entrepreneurs to continue to make this state a great place to work and live.”
I have a feeling most of those businesses are celebrating the end of her COVID-reign.
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Comments
Liberal Playbook: Once you have power never give it up.
I don’t see this totalitarian says OK I get it you win.
Progress is an [unqualified] montonic process.
Too bad she was not stripped of all her powers. Perhaps that will be next.
How many of those small business owners who are being blessed with this letter will find it to be an insult, or did her staff pick them so carefully as to avoid that?
You mean, like the self-congratulatory letter I received from Sleepy Joe, thanking himself for sending me a COVID check the country couldn’t afford?
Kissing some like minded companies ass to make it look like some where on her side and it’s only h8ers against her.
Every State legislature should be reforming their emergency power laws. Set a firm and non renewable period to allow a Gov to take steps in the wake of an actual emergency; a black swan event.
After say 21 days it expires. The Gov should then be forced to present evidence to the committee of the whole and seek approval for specific further action for 30 days.
Then the policy is reviewed on a pass/fail basis. It either accomplished or is accomplishing the stated purpose and could be renewed by the legislature for another 30 days or it failed and is dismissed.
Whatever the ultimate mechanics, the legislature must pass laws that apply a limiting principle to the doctrine of emergency powers to preclude the power hungry Govs, Mayors, County execs and public health community from repeating their performance.
Here in New York State, as I understand, a Governor’s emergency powers are a component of our state Constitution. And allows for apparently unrestrained use of the state’s resources for a duration of time limited only by himself.
The legislature – presently being dominated by Democrats – *could* take action to stop the “emergency” (eventually) but they seem to have disappeared for months at a time. Those political “leaders” prefer to not face the ire of #CaesarCuomo. Or maybe voter resistance just hasn’t been a factor; a possible majority in the state may even prefer being bossed about and watching the previous daily award-winning cranky lectures on TV.
So it seems the proper process here is a formal Constitutional amendment to place time limits, at the least, on these powers (as you mentioned). All of these dominating Democrats just are not interested enough in doing that. (Yes, I’ve asked, and the strongest reply I’ve received is there has (or HAD) been some “quiet talk” about doing that.)
This type of abuse of power will only come to a complete stop when people like this governor are sentenced to the stocks for 30 days.
Dunking her right before wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.
I’m afraid she’d float.
Or ClubFed for 30 years.
Wish someone could have stopped Wolf, but he has the State Supreme Court on his side.
Same for NM. In every case brought forth, the state supreme court has sided with the governor. About 20 businesses asked the court to decide if a forced closure from the governor constituted a regulatory taking and they concluded that if the governor closes businesses during a public health order, even if it’s done for months or years at a time, it’s not considered a “taking” and it would be “absurd” to compensate any business harmed by the actions of the governor.
In a just world, the word “Fascist” would be carved on her giant forehead.
Lot of rinos in the legislature. At one point a couple years or so ago the rinos put up a law to give HHS law enforcement powers. Guns, no knock entry the whole 9 yards.
Seems someone took a shot at an hhs employee (child care services) who came to remove their child from their home. We already have enough cops that even the cps employee basically scooted out of there and called the cops who handled the situation.
Not good enough for the republican rinos. No siree bob, they had to come up with a plan to give hhs guns and police power.
Senate passed it but it was finally shot down in the house.
Now imagine wHitler having an unaccountable agency in hhs with police powers. Our state troopers have shown a rather nazi like bent. Used to be they were admired as some real professionals, wHitler has trashed that reputation, not that the troopers did much to refuse her demands. That dental plan is important don’t you know.
deadly, infectious diseases like COVID-19, Legionnaire’s, tuberculosis and anthrax
Ummmm, let’s all sing the Sesame Street song… “One of these things is not like the other ones, one of these things does not belong…”.
Every time an ‘expert says “Covid is deadly” another five Americans lose their faith in SCIENCE!.
small businesses owners who Whitmer determined stepped up in exceptional ways during the COVID-19 pandemic
So… NOT to the owner of Marlena’s Bistro and Pizzeria or the owner of Ardor+Grit Salon and Lounge, in Holland?
A year late and, an audit short.
It seems to have gone largely unremarked that the shut-downs across the nation were a massive assertion of “no confidence” by the Governors over their residents. The Governors do not trust the people who elected them, and whom they are supposed to govern.
I see no reason to ever trust them again. I am no longer convinced of any ‘good faith’ in their efforts, nor their proclamations. They rejected and repudiated us: we should return the favor, and right quickly.
Why would they trust them? They might choose the wrong deodorant or something. The people might not choose to do with their cash what the elite think should be done with it. Then where would their utopia be? Nowhere!