Gov. Whitmer: 'We will not be making decisions based on political or legal pressures'

LANSING, Mich. — While giving a statewide COVID-19 update, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer denounced the protest with rifles, nooses and racially-charged signs at the Capitol Thursday, April 30, 2020, and fired back against the Legislature for threatening her with potential litigation.

The protest Thursday brought hundreds of people the Capitol and some people packed the lobby outside the House Chamber, demanding to get inside.

“Swastikas, rifles do not represent who we are as Michiganders,” Whitmer said. “Yesterday’s scene at Capitol was disturbing.”

She wasn’t alone in frustration. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, issued a statement Friday afternoon condemning some of the actions of the protesters Thursday as well. While there were some people Shirkey said “protested safely and responsibly,” others did not.

“Several other so-called protesters used intimidation and the threat of physical harm to stir up fear and feed rancor. I condemn their behavior and denounce their tactics,” Shirkey said via statement. “Their actions hurt their cause and steal from the rights of others by creating an environment where responsible citizens do not feel safe enough to express themselves.

“They do not represent the Senate Republicans. At best, those so-called protesters are a bunch of jackasses,” he said.

However, the similar sentiment between the two leaders stops there. Thursday evening, the governor issued a new executive order, declaring another state of emergency through May 28 after lawmakers allowed the previous order expire Thursday night. During session, the House and Senate did not take a vote on the emergency extension, of which the governor had asked for another 28 days; but voted to allow each chamber to file a lawsuit against the governor.

Whitmer called the action in the chambers of the House and Senate political games, including passing a bill codifying some of her executive orders, extending protection to health care workers, but not giving it immediate effect, as well as the potential litigation.

“We will not be making decisions based on an arbitrary timeline, or political or legal pressures,” Whitmer said.

House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, and Shirkey said they wanted the governor to work with the Legislature; ensuring they had a seat at the table before she extended emergency orders or future stay-at-home restrictions. The GOP-led Legislature wanted to require Whitmer to get their permission. She dismissed that idea, made public in a string of emails leaked Wednesday afternoon by her communications director.

“The next step is dependent on the governor, but we’ve also authorized myself to take action on behalf of the House to take this to court should the governor overstep her constitutional limits. We hope she doesn’t do that, we would rather work with her, no one wants to go to court,” Chatfield said Thursday after session. “But it’s something we’re willing to do if she oversteps her constitutional limits.”

Neither Shirkey nor Chatfield had filed a lawsuit as of Friday, May 1.

“I am not here to play games,” Whitmer said. “We are not out of this crisis, important we do the next right thing driven by facts, not political moves like you saw yesterday at the Capitol.”

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