I joined my House and Senate colleagues in supporting a plan to restore the normal balance of powers between Michigan’s branches of state government.
Protecting the health of Michigan residents is – and must always be – our top priority. We must also listen to the needs of the people who are suffering as a result of the emergency response and respond accordingly. Returning to representative democracy and providing some commonsense COVID-19 protections in state law is the best path forward for protecting public health while also working to safely reopen Michigan as soon as possible.
My heart breaks for the families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19. I’m worried for the more than 1 million Michigan residents who have lost their jobs. I’m worried for the small business owners who don’t know if their life’s work will survive this crisis. We need to move forward – safely and quickly – to protect public health while reopening Michigan, and this is the best way to do it.
By working together, we can put protocols in place to protect residents and workers. We can continue the best practices put in place during the state of emergency. Our plan will put the following virus-related orders put into place by the governor into state law with specific expiration dates:
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Protections for workers: Our plan protects Michigan residents who are more likely to have COVID-19 against discriminatory practices by their employers. These workers would have protections to allow them to stay home through the end of the year. Extended and expanded unemployment benefits and eligibility would remain in place until July 30.
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Protections for taxpayers and consumers: These measures will ensure Michigan taxpayers don’t have to file their income taxes until July. There are continued protections against price gouging, and foreclosures and evictions.
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Protections for health care providers and public health: These measures continue flexibility and important liability protections for health care providers until June 30. And to continue fighting the spread of COVID-19, restrictions on public gatherings as well as certain service-related venues would remain in place until May 15. The governor’s stay home order would not be put in state law.
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Continuing education: Our plan ensures school districts will help children continue learning through online instruction or other methods even though buildings remain closed this academic year.
A new joint bipartisan oversight committee has been established in the Legislature to review decision-making and preparedness from the governor and state departments in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic features legislators from both parties in the House and the Senate and will seek legislative recommendations that better protect the people of Michigan.
Legislative oversight serves a crucial role within state and federal government. It is imperative to ensure the administration and particular departments such as the Unemployment Insurance Agency are working as effectively and efficiently as possible for the people they represent.
Government should be accountable to the people. Oversight is needed now more than ever because the governor’s administration has made critical, unilateral decisions during an ongoing public health emergency – decisions that are impacting nearly 10 million people who call Michigan home.
My colleagues and I have sent a letter to the Governor urging her to ease her restrictions on hospitals and medical facilities to allow them to resume quality of life care and preventative procedures, tests and treatments.
Under the governor’s current executive order, hospitals, primary care providers, eye care, dental care, and other doctors are unable to provide necessary preventative and routine procedures and treatments their patients need. Many patients are suffering unnecessarily and others are at risk of worsening their existing health conditions if they don’t get the treatment they need.
Health care experts should be trusted to make the best decisions for their patients, not bureaucrats and politicians. We cannot put one person’s health at a higher priority than another’s. I trust our local doctors, physicians, dentists, optometrists and all other health care providers to do what’s best for Michiganders. I wish the governor would place that same trust in them as well.
Today the legislature filed a lawsuit against the Governor over the use of her emergency powers. The governor is trying to indefinitely extend the unchecked powers she has during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Her decision has forced the Legislature to defend its role as elected representatives of the people serving as a co-equal branch of state government.
Our system of government has checks and balances for good reason. Each of the three branches of government are meant to be co-equal, with no one branch wielding unfettered power. This lawsuit is an unfortunate but necessary step the Legislature must take to ensure the people of Michigan are represented in the decisions being made as we continue to fight COVID-19.
Over a million Michiganders have been put out of work, and many still cannot get through to the unemployment agency. The long term repercussions may devastate Michigan for years to come. I hope this lawsuit will bring relief to our struggling state.
My office has now submitted 336 claims to the unemployment agency (UIA). Some of the most common issues with UIA cases include “non-monetary concerns,” “more documentation required (without clarification),” “benefits expired,” and we have even had lifelong residents who were born in the 46th district denied their UIA benefits over being classified as an “illegal alien.” This is unacceptable. Please continue to contact my office if you are having issues with the UIA system, and we will try our hardest to remedy the situation.
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