LANSING — Democratic control of the Michigan House ended with a whimper Thursday, as a combination of lawmaker boycotts and stalled negotiations left the outgoing majority with few options to advance significant legislation.
“I think it’s a real tragedy for the people of Michigan that elected this Legislature and put their trust in these leaders who turned their back on them,” said Merissa Kovach, legislative director for the ACLU of Michigan.
House Republicans walked out last Friday demanding votes on the upcoming phaseout of the state’s tipped wage, and were soon joined by one Democrat.
Combined, their absences denied the 56-member quorum required for any voting to take place, kneecapping the already fractured Democratic majority and leaving Speaker Joe Tate with few choices.
“I don’t know actually who were the winners in this gamesmanship that happened in Lansing this week,” said Jamie Lyons-Eddy, executive director of Voters Not Politicians. “But what I do know is that the losers are the voters, the citizens of Michigan, and I hope that we can do better going forward.”
Lawmakers threw in the towel around 3 p.m. Thursday, leaving more than 200 bills to die without House approval.
Proposals that were dashed with the House’s adjournment include restrictions on ghost guns and bump stocks, the Michigan Voting Rights Act, and an extension of the statute of limitations on sexual assault to allow survivors more time to bring action against their abusers.
“Folks don’t have time to wait,” said Denzel McCampbell, managing director of Progress Michigan “Our families can’t eat words. Words won’t protect folks from gun violence. Words won’t protect folks from maternal and infant mortality, so save the talk. Folks are tired of talking, and you had an opportunity to act now — and you didn’t.”
Right-leaning groups say they’re disappointed with the lack of action on upcoming tipped wage and sick time changes, which they say will lead to higher menu prices, restaurant closures and layoffs for wait-staff.
“What we need to do for those who are earning their living off tips — who choose to do that because they’re making so much more than minimum wage — we’ve got to save that exactly how it is today,” said John Sellek, spokesperson for Save MI Tips. “There’s no room for negotiation there. The workers are the ones that brought those concerns to the legislators. They need to be listened to.”
There was also bipartisan disappointment in the House’s failure to pass expansions to the state’s Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA. Michigan is one of only two states that exempt their Legislature and governor’s office from FOIA requests, denying the public and the press a crucial tool for government oversight.
“Year after year, for whatever reason, those bills continue to get delayed,” said Holly Wetzel, public relations director for the Mackinac Center. “They get held up, and they have yet to make it over the finish line. And this is a real travesty for the general public.”
Michigan’s Democratic-controlled Senate held a 29-hour session Thursday and Friday, voting on bills that had already been approved by the House. They too say they’ve finished their work for the year, and will officially adjourn after Christmas.