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Senate GOP authorizes lawsuit against Whitmer

"Michigan Capitol" by MittenStatePhototog is licensed with CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

The Michigan Senate voted along party lines today (THU) to authorize a lawsuit against Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

The Senate Republican majority OK’d a potential challenge to Whitmer’s use of line-item vetoes in budget bills. The bills were meant to rein in Whitmer’s use of emergency powers during the COVID-19 crisis. 

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey said it’s time to let people and businesses make their own decisions on how to be safe during the pandemic.

“This governor does not trust the citizens of Michigan to do the right thing,” said Shirkey .

Whitmer has said she won’t bargain away the power of her office. Republicans hope for a repeat win following an earlier challenge to Whitmer’s use of COVID-19 executive orders that led to a state Supreme Court victory.