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Whitmer pushes for Michigan legislature to focus on COVID relief bill

Courtesy Governor Gretchen Whitmer's Facebook

The Whitmer Administration wants Michigan’s Republican-led legislature to work out a Covid-19 relief bill worth  hundreds of millions of dollars before the end of the year. The House and Senate leaders have had their focus elsewhere.

In an attempt to get some control over Michigan’s pandemic response, State Republicans sued Governor Gretchen Whitmer over her executive orders. Their challenge was successful. But they haven’t offered up much in the way of Covid-related solutions.

Both the GOP-led House and Senate have been holding hearings on non-existent voter fraud in an election that's already been certified. Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist the 2nd says it's time to move on.

“The election is a settled matter," Gilchrist said. "The people of Michigan have spoken in Michigan State Board of canvassers has spoken. The election is over. Donald Trump lost.”

Gilchrist been urging Republican legislators to pass 400-million dollars in pandemic relief for struggling families and small businesses in Michigan.

That might be difficult because last week’s election hearings brought people carrying misinformation and the coronavirus. House Speaker Lee Chatfield canceled session for this week. Due to procedural rules… that might mean there isn’t enough time for a bill to be passed with the current schedule.

Gilchrist says the GOP can change it, IF they want to.

“Anything that the Republican leadership in the legislature wants to do, they can do,” said Gilchrist.