The Michigan House of Representatives on Thursday voted against extending Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s state of emergency for another 28 days, voting instead to file a lawsuit against her.
Whitmer’s initial state of emergency order, which is different than her stay-at-home order, expires on Thursday.
“The current status quo relies on one-size-fits-all edicts that unfairly punish millions of people across the state without giving them any recourse or voice in the process,” Chatfield remarked to the station. “The people deserve a better solution, and we can provide it.”
Meanwhile, the state House passed a resolution that would limit her state of emergency declarations to 14 days.
It comes as protesters gathered outside the state Capitol in Lansing.
“This is the people’s house, you cannot lock us out,” one person said.
“Governor Whitmer, and our state legislature, it’s over with. Open this state,” Mike Detmer, a Republican U.S. congressional candidate running for the state’s 8th District spot held by Democrat Elissa Slotkin, told the crowd. “Let’s get businesses back open again. Let’s make sure there are jobs to go back to.”
Whitmer, a Democrat, has faced severe backlash for her stay-at-home order, one of the strictest in the nation, which was extended until May 15. It includes not allowing people to travel to other homes under most conditions and bars the sale of items deemed nonessential at many stores.