The Michigan Senate moved forward with its lawsuit against House Republicans Monday, kicking off what appears to be an unprecedented legal fight between the two chambers.
The dispute centers on nine bills that were passed last year by the Democratic-controlled Senate and the then-Democratic-controlled House.
Those bills were set to be delivered to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for a signature or veto, but had yet to be formally presented to her when Republicans retook the House in January.
Now, Senate Democrats are taking Republican Speaker Matt Hall to court, saying that his actions go against the Michigan constitution.
“The constitution makes it abundantly clear — every bill passed by the Legislature is required to be presented to the governor," said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, (D) 29th District. “And to make myself abundantly clear, no one, especially an elected public servant in legislative leadership, is above the law.”
Hall has argued that the situation hasn’t occurred before, and that his team would review their legal options as well.
The main bills in the package would increase retirement benefits for corrections officers and require public employers to put more toward their workers’ healthcare costs.