The state’s high court will hear arguments in July on whether the Legislature followed the rules when it watered down the impact of citizen-drafted legislation to raise Michigan’s minimum wage and require employers to offer paid sick leave. But the court stopped short of saying it will issue an opinion.
Attorney General Dana Nessel and the state Supreme Court may yet weigh in on whether the Legislature violated the Michigan constitution in passing, then gutting, these laws during lame duck. The controversy may end in court.
Bad blood still remains after the GOP-controlled Legislature adopted citizen initiatives only to gut them later. Now, they want the Supreme Court to rule on whether lawmakers have that power.
A request from the Republican-majority Legislature would sidestep the traditional litigation process, and do an end-run around Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel.
Dana Nessel, a Democrat, said she may review Michigan lame-duck laws that gutted citizen proposals to raise the minimum wage and require paid sick leave. Her stance could produce a high-impact legal showdown with Republicans.
The term-limited Republican governor said he agreed with the GOP Legislature that the original laws passed earlier this year would harm economic progress in Michigan. Advocates for workers vowed a lawsuit.
The bills passed Tuesday in the House gut laws to raise Michigan’s minimum wage and require employers to offer paid sick leave. One prominent lawmaker says governor has promised to sign the bills.
The House may vote as soon as Tuesday afternoon on bills that would largely gut citizen-pushed laws to raise Michigan’s minimum wage and require employers to offer paid sick leave. Gov. Rick Snyder hasn’t said if he will sign.
Michigan senators approved major changes to two citizen-backed laws that would increase worker pay and benefits, hours after presenting the changes to the public. Critics say the move leaves the public in the dark.
Changes are likely to the citizen-initiated laws the Republican Legislature passed in September. Proponents of the changes say they’re critical to protect small business. Opponents say they violate the will of the people.
Three statewide Michigan ballot proposals will appear in November, ranging from legalizing recreational marijuana to voting and redistricting reform. Bridge offers a quickie guide to their pros and cons, and who is funding them.
The Republican-led legislature could be in for a legal fight if they try to blunt or kill these measures after the November election. Democrats accuse GOP of foiling the will of voters by keeping measures off ballot.
The Board of State Canvassers on Friday voted to certify the proposal, following a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling this week ordering that a citizen petition to raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 appear on the November ballot.
State canvassers on Friday voted to certify a ballot proposal for November to require employers to offer paid sick leave, but deadlocked on another to raise the minimum wage.
Backers of the measures submitted statewide signatures gathered and now must wait to see if their signatures are approved to appear on the November ballot
As deadlines near, the road appears bumpier for a host of other proposals, from creating a part-time Legislature to shutting down an aging oil pipeline. Bridge updates all the state ballot measures.
Petition drives to stop gerrymandering or end prevailing wage laws are going strong. Others, like an effort to allow pot even for minors, not so much. A quickie guide to 8 potential ballot issues.