Senate blocks 5 Whitmer nominees to protest virus rules
By DAVID EGGERTFebruary 3, 2021 GMT
LANSING, Mich. (AP) Senate Republicans on Wednesday rejected five more appointees nominated by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in a renewed attempt to voice displeasure with not having input into her administration’s pandemic restrictions.
The move came a week after the Senate blocked 13 gubernatorial nominees to send a message. Those disapproved Wednesday include appointees to three university governing boards Grand Valley State, Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan and the state cosmetology board.
The state health department has lifted many gathering restrictions that were imposed in November to curb spiking coronavirus cases. But the GOP opposes remaining limits such as a 25% capacity limit at restaurants and a ban on youth contact sports and contends that Whitmer has circumvented the Legislature after losing a major emergency-powers case at the state Supreme Court.
Michigan s GOP-controlled Senate blocks 18 of Whitmer s appointees in attempt to combat virus restrictions Print this article
Michigan Senate Republicans voted to reject five of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s appointees to state positions, continuing their effort to force the governor to the negotiating table over her COVID-19 restrictions. This governor has done everything possible to avoid working with the elected members of this chamber,
said Republican state Sen. Aric Nesbitt of the effort, noting that the governor should be forced to work with the “people’s representatives.”
At issue is Whitmer’s continued COVID-19 restrictions, which now limit indoor dining capacity to 25% and have
A state Senate Democrat has sponsored a bill to ban display of the Confederate battle flag in the state Capitol building or on the Capitol grounds. Senator
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
Facebook Share
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.