Michigan House Archives | The Michigan Star

Michigan House Unanimously Expands FOIA to Include Governor and Legislature

March 20, 2021March 19, 2021 The Center Square

The Michigan House unanimously passed a flurry of bipartisan bills seeking to reform the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by including the governor and legislature under the new Legislative Open Records Act (LORA).

The House passed the package during “Sunshine Week,” which celebrates government transparency, and after reporters used FOIA to expose Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration gifting $253,000 in secret, taxpayer-funded severance packages.

The bill package is virtually identical to bills introduced in the 2015-16, 2017-8, and the 2019-20 legislative session other than technical changes and effective dates.

Those packages all failed.

Michigan House Approves over $4 Billion of COVID-19 Recovery, Sends to Gov. Whitmer

March 5, 2021March 4, 2021 The Center Square

On Wednesday, the Michigan House passed over $4 billion of COVID-19 recovery spending that ties over $1 billion of the funding to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer relinquishing the pandemic powers she’s held for nearly a year.

Federal funding comprises about $3.4 billion of the funds.

Legislative Oversight Committees Assume Subpoena Authority in Election Investigations

December 19, 2020December 18, 2020 The Center Square

The Michigan House and Senate Oversight Committees are assuming authority to issue subpoenas, administer oaths and examine books and records related to the 2020 election.

The committees immediately proceeded to issue subpoenas to election clerks in Detroit and Livonia. Detroit Clerk Janice Winfrey and Livonia Clerk Susan Nash have until the end of business on Jan. 12 to turn over documents pertaining to their respective elections.

Senate Republicans Block ‘Gun-Grabber’ from Leading Michigan’s Natural Resources Commission

March 3, 2020March 2, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

The Michigan Senate voted to reject Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s appointment of former Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell to lead the Natural Resources Commission last week.

Michigan Dems Want to Follow New York’s Lead in Banning Cat Declawing

February 26, 2020February 25, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Michigan House Democrats have introduced a bill that would ban the practice of declawing cats in the state.

Michigan Dems Want to Amend Sex Ed Curricula to Be ‘Inclusive of Same-Sex Relationships’ and ‘Gender Expression’

February 21, 2020February 20, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Michigan House Democrats have introduced a slate of bills to provide what they describe as “much-needed updates to the sexual education curriculum” taught in the state’s public schools.

Michigan Democrat Pleads Guilty to Drunk Driving Charge

February 19, 2020February 18, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

State Rep. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) pleaded guilty Tuesday to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a lower charge than she initially faced.

Michigan Bill Responds to Student Facing Up to 20 Years in Prison for Posting Picture of Gun Online

February 16, 2020February 15, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A bill making its way through the Michigan House seeks to tighten the state’s definition of terrorism after a Lake Superior State University student was charged for posting a picture of his AR-15 on Snapchat.

Republican Resolution Would Make Michigan ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary State’

February 15, 2020February 15, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

House Republicans are sponsoring a resolution that would declare Michigan a “Second Amendment sanctuary state.”

Republicans React to Gov. Whitmer’s $61 Billion Budget Proposal

February 8, 2020February 7, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Michigan Republicans said they are committed to working with the governor to avoid more budget drama, but expressed a number of concerns with her new budget proposal.

Michigan Democrat Accuses Republican Colleague of Sexual Harassment

January 22, 2020January 21, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A Michigan Democrat filed a sexual harassment complaint Tuesday against State Sen. Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Township) just a week after he was accused of making “sexist” and “belittling” comments towards a female reporter.

Michigan Bill to Make Public All Executive Branch Salaries Clears First Hurdle

January 20, 2020January 19, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A Michigan bill that would require every executive branch department and division to post the salary and benefit information of their employees unanimously cleared its first hurdle Thursday. House Bill 5015 easily cleared the House Oversight Committee and is now on its way to the House Ways and Means…

Michigan Rep Wants to Phase Out State’s Income Tax

January 16, 2020January 15, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Michigan’s state income tax was raised in 2007 in what was supposed to be a temporary fix, but it ended up being permanent. More than a decade later, one Republican state lawmaker plans to change that.

Effort to Recall Larry Inman Officially Over After Coming Up Short on Signatures

January 12, 2020January 11, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

The Michigan Bureau of Elections announced Friday that a group seeking to recall Rep. Larry Inman (R-Grand Traverse County) from office did not submit enough valid signatures, officially ending the months-long effort.

Michigan Providing State Documents, Self-Service Kiosks in Spanish and Arabic

January 8, 2020January 7, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

The new self-service stations being installed across Michigan will allow customers to complete their transactions in Spanish or Arabic, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced.

State Supreme Court Allows Recall Effort of Larry Inman to Move Forward

December 31, 2019December 31, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

The Michigan Supreme Court allowed a recall effort against Rep. Larry Inman (R-Grand Traverse County) to move forward in a Monday decision, quickly reversing a lower court’s decision.

Michigan Democrat Spent the Night in Jail After Being Arrested for Drunk Driving

December 29, 2019December 30, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A Michigan Democratic lawmaker spent Thursday night in jail after being arrested for suspected drunken driving.

Michigan Bureau of Elections Rejected Inman Recall Petition Because of Typo, Group Plans Appeal

December 5, 2019December 5, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A group seeking to recall Michigan Rep. Larry Inman (R-Grand Traverse County) plans to take its case to the Michigan Court of Appeals after the state’s Bureau of Elections rejected the group’s recall petition because it contained a typo.

Speaker Chatfield Ordered to Testify in Rep. Inman’s Trial

November 28, 2019November 27, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A federal judge has ordered Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) to testify in the trial of a fellow Republican lawmaker set to begin next week.

Former Lawmakers Sue to Overturn Michigan Term Limits Passed By Voters

November 24, 2019November 23, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A bipartisan group of former lawmakers filed a lawsuit last week in an effort to overturn Michigan’s “draconian” term limits law.

Michigan Lawmaker Calls on National Park Service to Establish Moose Hunt on Isle Royale

September 19, 2019September 19, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Michigan State Rep. Steve Johnson (R-72) recently introduced a resolution calling on the National Park Service to establish a moose tag lottery hunt on Isle Royale National Park in an effort to help control the island’s exploding moose population.

New Texts Describing Sale of Votes in Michigan House Back Up Bribery Claims in Inman Case

August 10, 2019August 9, 2019 Jordyn Pair

New texts have been revealed in the case of Michigan State Rep. Larry Inman (R-Traverse City), who was indicted earlier in May on charges of extortion, bribery and lying to a federal agent. The texts back up claims that Inman had attempted to sell his vote.