Michigan Senate calls for compromise, blocks more Whitmer appointees
Lansing Michigan Senate Republicans demanded Wednesday that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer work more closely with lawmakers on responding to COVID-19 before blocking a second slate of her appointees.
The GOP-controlled Senate voted along party lines, 20-14, to reject five of the Democratic governor s appointees, another sign of the deteriorating relationship between the legislative and executive branches during the pandemic. A week earlier, the Senate nixed 13 of Whitmer s appointees.
Before the Wednesday vote, Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, said the Senate was using its power to pressure Whitmer to compromise with the people s representatives. GOP lawmakers want the governor to ease restrictions on businesses and school athletics more quickly.
For the second time, the Republican majority in the Michigan Senate rejected several of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer s appointees to state boards, the latest front in an ongoing political battle about executive power.
The GOP leaders acknowledged during Wednesday s floor session their arguments are not with the qualifications of those appointed but with the governor and how she is choosing to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Democrats blasted the move, pointing out the decisions are political and arguing they will only hurt residents who benefit from boards that are not fully staffed.
Last week, lawmakers rejected 13 appointees. The appointments voted down on Wednesday were:
Republicans block more Whitmer appointees, won’t name specific goal of ‘political gesture’
Updated Feb 03, 2021;
Posted Feb 03, 2021
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey speaks during a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2020 in Lansing. Nicole Hester/Mlive.com
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LANSING, MI - The Michigan Senate blocked another five of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s appointees Wednesday in an ongoing protest of her COVID-19 restrictions.
That’s at least the general rationale from Senate Republicans. There is no specific order Whitmer could rescind that would satisfy GOP lawmakers, according to Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey’s office.
“The Majority Leader has not identified any specific compromise or goal,” said Shirkey spokeswoman Amber McCann to MLive.
cbleck@miningjournal.net
MARQUETTE Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday announced appointments to the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees and the Michigan Tech University Board of Trustees as well as the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents and the boards of trustees of Ferris State, Grand Valley State and Western Michigan universities.
Named to the NMU Board of Trustees was Gregory J. Seppanen of Marquette, a retired teacher who taught U.S. history, government, world history and economics in the Marquette Area Public Schools for 24 years. Seppanen has also served as a Marquette County commissioner, supervisor of Chocolay Township and as a member of the U.S. Army Presidential Honor Guard. He remains an active member of both the Marquette County Planning Commission and the Central U.P. Planning and Development Regional Commission.
Dec 28, 2020
MARQUETTE The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees approved 2021 committee assignments and charges at a special meeting on Wednesday.
The board also supported a resolution authorizing a loan of up to $10 million to the NMU Foundation, on an as-needed basis, so that it is better positioned to support capital projects that benefit NMU and are consistent with previously approved master plans.
NMU Board of Trustees Chair-elect Tami Seavoy will serve as chair of the Executive Committee. She will be joined by Vice Chair-elect Steve Young, Alexis Hart, Robert Mahaney and NMU President Fritz Erickson.
The Academic Affairs Committee will be composed of Hart as chair, Lisa Fittante and a third member pending the governor’s appointment of new trustees to fill two vacancies created by terms that expire Dec. 31.