The hyper- partisan schemes being displayed in the past week by the Republican Legislators in both Michigan and Wisconsin has hit the national news.. . The national media has now become focused because these two states will play an integral role in the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. These Midwest states went for Trump in 2016 and now have newly elected Dem Governors in place. The media is pointing out that current flurry of bills in both states appear to be legal but are still anti-democratic and unquestionably sabotage the will of the people in both states..
The Washington Post reported on the GOP’s efforts to strip the powers of the incoming Dem Governor, Attorney General and Secretary State in Michigan. Chris Matthew and Rachel Maddow on their MSNBC programs also reported on the controversies last evening as well. And today Vox has an article on these same Lame Duck power moves and is provided in the link below..
This display of partisanship run amok should be taken seriously by every Michigan citizen. A bill currently under consideration would allow the GOP controlled Michigan Legislature to take a role in state laws that the new Attorney General may decline to consider. Their involvement in such matters would be considered unprecedented interference and is likely unconstitutional. The GOP also wants to cancel environmental restrictions on wetlands in the state to open up some of them for development. Keep in mind that one-third of the current GOP Michigan legislators are term limited or have been voted out of office.
Furious voters in Wisconsin are reacting to their Lame Duck GOP’s efforts to emasculate the powers of the executive branch by clogging the halls of the capitol last night in protest. So far in Michigan there does not seem to be much public awareness of what is going on. It makes sense for Gretchen Whitmer to call a press conference to highlight these partisan maneuvers so that the public can start weighing in.
The majority of Michigan voters stated with their votes on Nov. 6 that they want the minimum wage to start in 2020. They expect paid sick leave. They are tired of gerrymandered districts and expect relief with the passage of Proposal 2. They in addition expect it to be much easier to vote because they voted to pass Proposal 3. And finally, they want executive officials to have exactly the same powers which Snyder and his administration have enjoyed for the last eight years. Anything less than that will elicit a firestorm among the Dems that will not be forgotten by voters in 2020.
If the GOP in Michigan manages to enact these bills into law the Dems only recourse will be to sue that the laws are unconstitutional.. What that will do unfortunately will tie the hands of the executive branch because their powers will have been put into question. The suits may drag along and significantly limit the efforts of the Whitmer Administration to enact their agenda.
Right now all eyes will be focused on Gov. Snyder. None of these laws can become laws unless he signs them. Snyder is term limited and will be leaving Lansing in a few weeks. He must now determine what he wants his legacy to be. He already is tarnished with his mishandling of the Flint water scandal. Flint citizens still do not have their universally safe water system completely restored. If he wants to burnish his legacy he will refuse to sign these bills.
If he does sign any of them, he will put his legacy in the trash heap of history. And Snyder is still not totally free of the arm of federal law with his mis-handling of Flint’s water crisis.. He likely will be called to testify by the federal Oversight Committee and if he shows up with the baggage of lame duck laws that he signed, he may run into some unhappy Committee Dems..
Get involved. Don’t pass up the chance of contacting Snyder’s office.. Let Snyder know that the Michigan GOP is in a precarious position. Voters have long memories especially when their expectations are upended by miserably dirty politics. Snyder will be much better served if he leaves office with his integrity intact, and his legacy perhaps still salvageable.
His contact info is below.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/12/4/18123784/gop-legislature-wisconsin-michigan-power-grab-lame-duck
Gov, Snyder – 517-373-3400[email protected].