LANSING — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson gave an update Friday on the Michigan Transparency Network, a new campaign finance database with a so far rocky rollout.

The website launched lacking many basic functionalities, causing lawmakers to criticize the project and its development.

“We are dedicated and committed to getting this right, and I am personally ensuring that we can do this consistently with our team over the months ahead,” Benson said.

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The website from the Michigan government — known as MiTN, pronounced ‘mitten’ — is set to receive updates in the coming weeks, adding features that some lawmakers say are coming far too late.

“The new MiTN system was supposed to be the state of the art transparency system, and it has been something worse than a broken Fitbit,” said Rep. Jaime Greene, (R) District 65, Richmond.

The website launched earlier this year to replace a decades-old — but functioning — system.

Since its launch, website users have had issues with filing and accessing reports.

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“Our vendors’ initial planning of this project did not sufficiently measure the risk of combining all of these data sources across the 25 years of legacy data, and that led to delays and performance issues,” Benson said.

Benson and her office have drawn heat on the issue from lawmakers. The Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee heard from developers last month, while the full Legislature passed a new law to accommodate their issues with the website.

Benson says the site has received some fixes since its launch in March, and it set to receive new features next month.

The July update will include easily viewable totals for campaign contributions and automatic summaries for each report.

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“That release will enable users to search cumulative contributions using the campaign finance search function, and it will be easier for users to scroll through public search results and download data into spreadsheets,” she said.

Benson says that she wants the website to be a one-stop-shop for Michigan campaign finance information.

“When all is said and done, Michiganders will have a consistently modern, easy to use and transparent tool to track the use of the influence of money in the political arena,” she said.

But Greene and other House Republicans say that they’re still not impressed with the project.

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“It is time that the secretary of state is held accountable for her debacle of a launched failed website,” she said. “She doesn’t have very many jobs to do. This is one of the most important jobs she has, and she has failed to do it.”

Benson is set to testify before the House oversight committee Tuesday morning, likely to face some tough questions from lawmakers.

However, her department has conceded the new “Michigan Transparency Network” (MiTN) is not yet delivering what its name promises — or what is envisioned for the ongoing five-year, $9 million overhaul.

“We’re not where we expected to be at this point in the transition,” Michigan Department of State spokesperson Angela Benander said in a statement, adding the department’s “top leadership” is now working on the issues.

“Once we’ve gotten through this bumpy transition, MiTN will be easier for everyone to use and much more transparent than the old system,” she promised.

At issue is the state’s new online portal that allows the public to access documents on ethics issues including campaign finance records, lobbyist spending and lawmakers’ personal financial disclosures.

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Put to the test during recent campaign finance deadlines, users complained about the functionality of the system, and the public was able to access less information than before.

For instance, the public can no longer view a lobbyist’s registered clients, or how much money a candidate raised or spent in a given period. Descriptions of transactions and fundraisers are severely truncated, obscuring key information.

“Not having access to campaign finance tools for months impedes investigative journalism into the influence of money on politics and makes it easier to hide corruption,” said Neil Thanedar, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a money-in-politics watchdog.

Benson, a Democrat, called the regression in the amount of publicly available information about campaign finances and lobbying “a temporary feature as we upgrade the system.”

“It’s my understanding, and the briefings I’ve received, that won’t last for more than a few months,” she said. “We have been given consistent assurances that a lot of the challenges that we’ve been encountering will be addressed.”

‘Challenging to build things with’

Broken functions and limited features that Bridge documented last month still persist with the new system, hamstringing the ability of ethics watchdogs, activists and the public to access disclosure data. Campaign finance records are also explicitly exempt from Michigan’s public requests law, potentially complicating the public’s ability to get the data through other means.

In a press conference last week, Republican House Speaker Matt Hall of Richland Township suggested the lower chamber’s oversight committee “should pull in Jocelyn Benson and try to figure out what the hell happened to the $9 million” spent on the new system.

He called the new portal “less transparent” and “not user-friendly.”

Tyler Technologies, one of the largest government software contractors in the country, is revamping Michigan’s system under a state contract.

The Texas-based firm was the only company to bid on the project but has been “challenging to build things with,” according to Benson.

“All that said, I’m really proud of the folks in our department who have worked with limited resources to build out this system, and I think they’re going to continue to see it improve over time,” she added.

A spokesperson for Tyler Technologies previously redirected questions from Bridge about the portal to the Michigan Department of State.

While Benson’s department signed the contract with Tyler Technologies, procurement is overseen by the Michigan Department of Technology Management, which Benson said “we have to collaborate with but we don’t have total control over.”

Bloomberg Businessweek reported Tyler Technologies has a “near-monopoly” on the lucrative business of developing software for governments. But governments from North Carolina to Illinois have reported dissatisfaction. The company’s overhaul of the North Carolina state court software allegedly led to wrongful arrest and is now at the center of a class-action civil rights lawsuit.

‘Growing pains’ or something more?

As she seeks the Democratic nomination for governor next year, Benson defended her transparency initiatives in government. As Secretary of State she testified before the Legislature advocating for making the weak disclosure laws for public officials more robust.

“You have to also see it in the broader context of how our office has done more than any other agency in state government to meet the moment and be transparent,” she said.

Benson noted her department posts some Freedom of Information Act requests online and is launching a website for “election transparency, where everyone can see all the training materials and everything else that we provide.”

At the same time, her office is facing a subpoena from the GOP-controlled Michigan House for allegedly not being sufficiently forthcoming about their requests for election training documents.

Brett McRae, who owns the compliance company Campaign Finance Services, said the new filing system was slower than the last one when he used it during the most recent campaign finance filing deadline at the end of April.

July 7: At Michigan SOS, walk-up service does not mean you can walk in

July 1: GOP, Democrats agree: Return walk-ins at Michigan Secretary of State’s branches

June 10: Michigan GOP to Secretary of State: Extend licenses, end appointment system

June 8: As complaints mount, Michigan Secretary of State adds 350K branch appointments

LANSING — The pandemic may be winding down, but a backlog at the Michigan Secretary of State caused by it continues to vex lawmakers in Lansing.

Both Democrats and Republicans acknowledge they need to fix a system that has left an unknown number of 7 million drivers with lapsed car registrations — and waits for appointments that can take weeks at Secretary of State branches.

Democrats want to divert federal stimulus funds to hire more staffers and increase the number of branch appointments that are made available every day. Republicans want to reopen more branches and oppose Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s end of walk-in service.

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The standoff comes as two Democratic representatives, Julie Brixie, of Okemos and Stephanie Young of Detroit, this week introduced bills to spend $25 million to pay for overtime and hire 200 workers through Sept. 30 to provide 500,000 additional appointments over the next three months.

“We’ve never been in a situation where the Secretary of State’s office has been forced to process a 13-month backlog on top of their normal business, much less requiring them to meet this unprecedented demand with huge staff reductions,” Brixie told reporters. “As legislators, our job is to identify problems and work with the parties involved to solve that .”

Brixie said budget cuts implemented by the Legislature over the last decades have led to the elimination of 46 percent of branches and 40 percent of branch staff, leaving 130 branches and 1,322 total department employees (including 833 in branches).

The backlog was created after lawmakers repeatedly extended registration deadlines during the pandemic, and many drivers waited until they ended to renew licenses, said Tracy Wimmer, a Benson spokesperson.

She couldn’t quantify the backlog.

“It is a … bottleneck, but ultimately will be temporary once we can work through it,” Wimmer said.

House Oversight Committee chair, Rep. Steve Johnson, said he has “no interest” in considering the bills as long as Benson refuses to allow walk-in service at branches.

“Quite frankly, I’m not interested in throwing more money at the Secretary of State,” said Johnson, R-Wayland. “You have an appointment-only system now that requires you to wait for months before you get in, and she’s refusing to allow walk-in visits.”

Last summer, Benson moved the department to an appointment-only system in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, she announced the move was permanent.

Benson and her department have received criticism from Republicans and customers who can wait weeks or even months to get advanced in-person appointments to get a driver’s license or to transfer a vehicle title.

Every branch in the state releases next-day appointments twice a day but they tend to be booked quickly. Republicans and others say the system hurts older drivers and those without reliable Internet access.

Johnson said he’s not sure the Secretary of State needs more money. The department’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2022 is $252 million.

“I get that’s how Democrats think, they see a problem, they think we just need more taxpayer dollars,” Johnson said. “Let’s try to allow for the walk-in visits again.”

Benson said she doesn’t want to go back to that system, which she said routinely caused long waits for service.

“Reverting to a take-a-number system does not address the underlying supply and demand issue,” Benson said this week. “It merely creates more avenues for partisan politicians to attack a broken system.”

Benson is trying to encourage more people to use the internet for basic transactions. She said people seem to approve of her plans to modernize the Secretary of State because its online ratings have increased.

“The answer is not — as we have repeatedly told lawmakers — to reject a new model that is working and very popular and replace it with a failed system that was inefficient and broken,” Benson said. “That’s why I’ve asked our legislators to support our work, because if they listen to their constituents, they’ll find that it is what they support, too.”

Thursday, June 17

Republicans seek end to Secretary of State appointment-only system

A new measure making its way through the Legislature would require Michigan Secretary of State branches to open for walk-ins.

The Republican proposal comes in response to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s decision to shift to an appointment-only system to modernize the agency and end pandemic-related transaction backlogs.

“If you want to use the appointment system that works, you still have that option,” House Oversight Committee Chair Steve Johnson, R-Wayland, said Thursday during a hearing.

“But for some people that don’t work, they need that walk-in option.”

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The House measures would require the Secretary of State’s branches to provide a minimum of eight hours in-person without the need of an appointment.

It will also waive late fees on registrations until walk-ins are reinstalled and would extend the grace period for expired driver licenses, enhanced licenses, state IDs, permits and certifications to September. The proposals will apply retroactively from April 1.

Adam Reames, the legislative policy director at the Secretary of State, told lawmakers the agency supports waiving late fees and a “staggered” extension of grace periods.

But the appointment-only system is “the best operational model” and should remain, Reames said.

“The appointment model has helped enormously prepare people and prepare our staff and, so that’s driven down the transaction time to under 20 minutes.” — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Tuesday, June 15

Senate OKs $4.3 billion for education

The Michigan Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would assign $4.3 billion in COVID-19 federal relief funds for education.

“Many Michigan students struggled and continue to struggle with the sudden and confusing change to virtual or hybrid learning for more than a year during the pandemic,” said Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The proposal includes $840 million for Title I programs, $180 million for nonpublic schools, and $5.5 million in administrative funding for the Department of Education.

Democrats and Republicans and Republicans praised the plan, but the K-12 Alliance of Michigan, a coalition of superintendents from southeast Michigan, encouraged lawmakers to approve funding for the upcoming school year.

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The state budget is supposed to be approved by July 1 for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

“While it’s nice to see this funding move closer to being made available to schools across Michigan—albeit months overdue—the reality is that federal relief money alone is not going to allow school districts to plan for the upcoming year,” the coalition said in a statement.

Lawmakers still have to approve some $7 billion in federal funding allocated to Michigan because of the COVID-19 pandemic. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Thursday, June 10

Whitmer wants $250M for parks

Governor Gretchen Whitmer wants Michigan to use $250 million in federal coronavirus relief dollars to invest in state parks and trails and address a massive maintenance backlog in the parks system, she announced Thursday.

During a press conference at Straits Area State Park in St. Ignace, Whitmer said such an influx of cash would drive down a $264 million maintenance backlog at Michigan’s parks.

As Bridge Michigan has reported, Michigan’s parks have long lacked the funds to keep up with basic maintenance, resulting in crumbling roads, aging buildings and other issues.

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The same is true of recreation lands in Michigan managed by the National Parks Service. Those issues reached crisis mode last year as record visitation strained staff resources and old, unmaintained infrastructure.

New investment, Whitmer said, is badly needed.

“Investments in public spaces make Michigan more competitive and attractive for tourism and position us as a recreation leader,” Whitmer said, noting that recreation lands are “critical components to our seasonal and rural economies.”

A fact sheet from the administration highlighted only a few, small specific projects, from $1 million to repave surfaces at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park south of Norton Shores to $4 million to restore the Lake Linden Trail in Houghton County, which was destroyed during a flood in 2018.

Whitmer noted that the proposed spending is not enough, and called for a long-term, bipartisan effort to boost investment in parks.

“We need to have a sustainable solution that helps the department handle maintenance requests going forward,” she said.

The Republican-led legislature would have to sign off on the funds. Abby Walls, spokesperson for Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, called the governor’s proposal “a good start.”

Money for Whitmer’s proposal would come from the federal American Rescue Plan, which is expected to infuse state government with $6.5 billion.

Visitation at state parks and recreation areas spiked 30 percent last year, to 35 million, as COVID fears and travel restrictions pushed people to recreation in the great outdoors.

Clay Summers, executive director of the Michigan Recreation & Park Association, called the spending proposal “a retention method” that will help keep all those new parks users coming back.

“Nobody wants to walk into a place and see something that’s not up-to-date,” he said.

Investing in the backlog, he said, would also reduce competition for dollars from the Natural Resources Trust Fund, a pot of oil and gas leasing money that funds state and local public recreation lands throughout the state.

With less need for state parks to backfill budget holes with money from the trust fund, Summers said, local parks and recreation agencies would stand to receive more. – Kelly House

Thursday, June 3

Whitmer vetoes graduation, FOIA bills

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have exempted high school graduation ceremonies from the state’s emergency restrictions.

In a letter to lawmakers Thursday, Whitmer said the emergency orders issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services “have played a key role in mitigating the spread of COVID-19.”

Part of her dismissal stems from the fact that this week the state lifted restrictions on outdoor gatherings and increased indoor capacity to 50 percent.

Related:

“Rather than sending me half-baked and punchless legislation like HB4728, I encourage the Legislature to join me in eradicating this pandemic and making transformational investments in our economy,” Whitmer said.

The measure received the support of Republicans in the Legislature and of multiple school superintendents, who were hoping to not worry about hosting indoor ceremonies with students and families.

Many schools are hosting outdoor ceremonies, but some school leaders had hoped for an exception in the event of rain.

Shawn Wightman, the superintendent of Marysville Public Schools, told Bridge Michigan on Thursday he was disappointed by the veto because districts have followed social distancing rules and other guidelines to protect students.

“We were hoping that this would be something that we would be able to be rewarded with at the very end of the year,” Wightman said. “I understand that this is still not over yet, but you know we are in a different situation than we were, say for example, a year ago.”

Whitmer also vetoed a bill that would’ve prohibited the extension of the response time under the Freedom of Information Act during an emergency.

Last year, Whitmer signed an executive order that allowed a public body to extend the response period for “as long as the public body deems necessary,” but no longer than the expiration date of the order, which was in effect for 60 days.

Whitmer said the order was signed to protect those tasked with responding to records requests during the pandemic. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Tuesday, June 1

Whitmer orders implicit bias training

Starting next year, Michigan health care workers will be required to attend implicit-bias training in order to practice in the state.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Tuesday in a news conference that the new requirement is meant to address the “glaring” disparities that impact health outcomes of Black, Hispanic and Native Americans in the state.

“By addressing implicit bias head on, we can improve people’s lives and power our state to new highs,” Whitmer said.

Other states have considered similar requirements. The Maryland legislature, for example, passed a measure that would mandate health professionals to attend similar training. Meanwhile, New Jersey passed legislation that requires maternal health care workers to undergo implicit bias training.

Related:

According to the Michigan Coronavirus Racial Disparities Task Force, throughout the pandemic, “the cumulative COVID-19 case rate in Black and African American populations has been over 40 percent higher than the rate in white populations.” The rate in Latino populations has been over 70 percent, in comparison to white communities.

The announcement comes a little over 11 months after Whitmer had instructed the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to create rules “to establish implicit bias training standards as part of the knowledge and skills necessary for licensure, registration, and renewal of licenses and registrations of health professionals in Michigan.”

The state currently has about 400,000 licensed health care professionals. Under the new rules, which will go into effect in June 2022, all new and existing licensed and registered health workers have to take one to two hours of training annually.

The training must be provided by a health organization, accredited college, diversity, equity and inclusion organization, or a state or federal agency.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, the chair of the task force, said everyone has implicit biases and that they are not limited to race. He said the new requirement is another step towards creating a culture of inclusion.

“By raising awareness and providing these tools to healthcare workers on how to recognize and mitigate implicit bias we can help them carry out their mission of providing the best health care to every patient who they serve,” Gilchrist said. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Friday, May 21

Michigan Supreme Court to hear redistricting petition to extend deadline of new districts

The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to consider a petition for relief by the state’s redistricting panel that seeks a three-month extension of its deadline to publicize proposed congressional and state legislative maps that will be used for the 2022 elections.

The court’s decision Thursday comes almost exactly a month after Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, in conjunction with the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, filed a lawsuit to move the date of the release of the redistricting maps to Dec. 17.

Edward Woods III, the commission’s communications and outreach director, told Bridge Michigan Friday the commission is “grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to presenting our case in court.”

The oral arguments are scheduled to take place at 9:30 a.m., on June 21.

According to the state constitution, the commission is supposed to start making maps available to the public for 45 days starting on Sept. 17.

But because of delays brought about by the pandemic, the U.S. Census Bureau has said it is not expected to release population tallies necessary to draw the districts until Sep. 30, complicating the commission’s chances of meeting the original deadline.

The Republican-controlled Michigan Senate, however, has asked the court to not grant the relief, saying it “poses a risk to our constitutional system of Government.”

The Senate’s amicus (friend of the court) brief, filed on May 14, said that the legislative body empathizes with the dilemma the delays have caused, but that the court lacks the power to rewrite the state constitution.

Woods said the commission is aware of the amicus brief, but that the state needs to acknowledge the impact that COVID-19 has had on the process.

“As an independent body, we appreciate the confidence the Michigan Senate has in us in completing this task utilizing non tabulated data within the current constitutional deadline,” Woods said. “However, it’s even more important that we honor the intentions of Michigan voters that created the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to undertake Michigan’s new redistricting process by ensuring the Commission has both accurate data and the necessary time to complete its critical work.” — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Thursday, May 20

SOS Benson to testify about move to appointment-only system

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has agreed to testify in front of the House Oversight Committee about her plan to shift to an appointment-only system.

Committee Chair Steve Johnson, R-Wayland, made the announcement Thursday during a hearing that focused on concerns from Republican lawmakers about people having to wait months for an in-person appointment.

Related: Renewing plates, licenses in Michigan can take months, despite promises

Last month, Benson announced her office was moving permanently to an appointment system that steers more customers to online services. She switched to the model in June 2020 amid the pandemic.

“It’s clear they do not want us to go backwards to the old way of doing things, where on any given day you could spend hours waiting for a basic transaction in any given branch office,” Benson said in a news release. “The branch office by appointment model is working and yes, it is a new way of doing things.”

But Bridge Michigan reported last month that delays to get an appointment vary wildly depending on the branch. All branches release daily appointments at 8 a.m. and at noon for the next day, but they are not guaranteed and some have reported waiting months for appointments.

“There’s real-life consequences for people right now,” Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly, who preceded Benson as secretary of state.

“People can’t transfer a title to buy or sell a car. They are driving on expired licenses because they can’t get into the renewals. Some of them are getting (traffic) tickets — very expensive tickets.”

Tracy Wimmer, a spokesperson for Benson, told Bridge Michigan that Benson “has called on the Legislature to propose solutions to the severe constraints that have been placed on the department, which, due to decades of disinvestment and mismanagement, has barely half the offices and staff it once did. This is the true reason wait times tripled when Senator Johnson was secretary, and it is the primary reason demand for appointments is so high.” — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Thursday, May 20

Republicans demand answers about private jet

Republicans say they are giving Gov. Gretchen Whitmer until Wednesday to answer 43 questions regarding her trip to Florida or they could launch an investigation.

House Oversight Committee Chair Steve Johnson, R-Wayland, said Thursday he has sent the Democratic governor a list of questions regarding her trip to Florida on a private jet from March 12 to March 15.

They include:

When did you make the decision to go to Florida?

Outside this trip, while Governor, has the governor’s nonprofit, Michigan Transition 2019, paid for any other travel?

Was there any official, or state business purpose of this trip?

How many people were on the plane?

“These questions are both reasonable and important to giving the people of Michigan certainty that their governor is following proper procedures and acting within the bounds of the law,” Johnson wrote in the letter.

Here are the 43 questions Chairman Johnson sent to Gov. Whitmer. He wants answers by 10:30 a.m. on May 27 (next Wednesday). #mipol #mileg https://t.co/9Vamx7aHdR pic.twitter.com/nYeoEBLIfS — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán (@SergioMarBel) May 20, 2021

Whitmer has until 10:30 a.m. Thursday to respond to the questions, Johnson wrote.

“Any failure to act in good faith or a full refusal to answer these questions may result in further investigations by the House Oversight Committee,” Johnson wrote.

Whitmer’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by Bridge Michigan.

For weeks, Whitmer and her office have refused to respond to questions from reporters regarding her trip, which she didn’t initially disclose.

Related:

Last week, Whitmer’s office said she chartered a plane to visit her father, but that it wasn’t a gift. Michigan Transition 2019, a nonprofit created to pay for Whitmer’s 2018 inauguration, foot most of the $27,251 bill.

Whitmer’s office said the governor paid $855 for her seat.

Whitmer reportedly used a private aircraft belonging to Air Eagle LLC. The jet is co-owned by the Moroun family that owns the Ambassador Bridge from Detroit to Windsor, the Cotton family, the former owners of Meridian Health and the family of James Nicholson, which owns PVS Chemicals in Detroit.

On Wednesday, a conservative group filed a complaint against the Michigan Transition 2019 with the Internal Revenue Service. The organization wants the IRS to investigate whether the nonprofit’s funds were misused. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Thursday, May 20

Tudor Dixon running for governor

Tudor Dixon, a Norton Shores resident and conservative news show host, is running for Michigan governor in the Republican primary to take on Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Dixon announced her campaign Thursday, saying she wants to “liberate Michiganders from lockdowns and unleash them to innovate, work, and reap the fruits of their labor.”

I am excited to announce that I am running for Governor to get Michigan back on track.

We will restore our state and help Michiganders build their American Dream once again!

Let’s do this Michigan!#tudordixon2022https://t.co/4Ta6qFPT5p — Tudor Dixon (@TudorDixon) May 20, 2021

Her campaign describes Dixon as a former steel industry sales executive, a working mom of four girls and a cancer survivor. She co-hosts a show on “Real America’s Voice,” a national conservative network that is also home to Steve Bannon, an ex-strategist to former President Donald Trump.

Dixon joins a GOP gubernatorial field that includes COVID regulation protesters Garrett Soldano of Kalamazoo and Ryan Kelley of Allendale Township, along with Grand Rapids businessman Austin Chenge.

Retiring Detroit Police Chief James Craig is also expected to run and would enter the race as a likely frontrunner.

The Michigan Democratic Party criticized Dixon upon the launch of her campaign, suggesting her candidacy is proof that “extremists have completely overrun” the GOP. — Jonathan Oosting

Wednesday, May 19

Group files IRS complaint about Whitmer trip

A conservative political group has filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service in connection with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s recent trip to Florida.

Last week, Whitmer’s administration confirmed the governor chartered a private jet owned by wealthy southeast Michigan businessmen in March that cost $27,251. Her office said the Michigan Transition 2019, a nonprofit created to pay for Whitmer’s 2018 inauguration, paid for most of the trip, and that Whitmer reimbursed the organization $855 for her seat.

The Michigan Rising Action group has filed a complaint asking the IRS to investigate whether the nonprofit’s funds were misused.

Related:

“The governor’s personal trip to visit her family in Florida is not within the exempt purpose of Michigan Transition 2019, and the organization’s payment for the Governor’s chartered flight was a private benefit to Governor Whitmer,” the complaint reads.

Michigan Transition 2019’s lawyers didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by Bridge Michigan. Nor did Whitmer’s office.

Whitmer has said she visited her father, but that she continued with her duties as governor.

The governor’s March trip to Florida has received criticism from Republicans because she traveled to Florida during a time her administration asked Michiganders to avoid leaving the state in order to mitigate the virus,

For weeks, Whitmer has refused to share additional information on the trip, citing security concerns.

Bridge Michigan and other outlets have reported that the jet is co-owned by the Moroun family that owns the Ambassador Bridge from Detroit to Windsor, family of James Nicholson, which ows PVS Chemicals in Detroit, and the Cotton family, the former owners of Meridian Health. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Tuesday, May 18

Biden touts electric vehicles in Dearborn

DEARBORN — President Joe Biden toured the Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and others on Tuesday to pitch his $174 billion plan to invest in electric vehicle production.

Biden’s visit came one day before Ford will debut its F-150 Lightning and as talks are underway about his $2 trillion infrastructure plan, which includes investment in electric vehicles.

“The future of the auto industry is electric,” Biden said. “There’s no turning back.”

Biden said the industry is at a crossroads, and that it will have to decide whether to build the electric vehicles and the batteries in the U.S. or abroad. He was joined by a host of Democratic elected officials.

At Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, President Joe Biden praises Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “You are so honorable… I’ll come campaign for you.” #mipol pic.twitter.com/9Nho6acSLR — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán (@SergioMarBel) May 18, 2021

According to Ford, its F-series vehicles support 50,000 American jobs. Biden also used Tuesday’s platform to encourage Congress to pass the American Jobs Plan, which would modernize the transportation infrastructure and would use union workers to put 50,000 vehicle chargers across the country.

Biden wants to build a half-million charging stations nationwide, provide grants to factories to change to produce electric vehicles, expand tax credits and subsidize research of the industry.

Some Republicans reportedly are warming to the plan, but economists including Patrick Anderson of East Lansing question heavy investment of electric vehicles that consumers have yet to demand.

Fewer than 1 percent of the 250 million cars on the road in the United States are electric, according to the New York Times, and those who purchase them tend to be higher-income.

“We should avoid wasting taxpayer money by heavily subsidizing those who are likely to get one anyways, and neglecting those for whom the infrastructure just isn’t there,” Anderson said.

Biden was greeted in Dearborn, which has the largest population of Arab Americans in the United States, by protests among those U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Human rights activist Micho Assi said she was one of the Arab-American organizers in Dearborn that helped mobilize voters for Biden in 2020.

“Normally, the Arab and Muslim American who help mobilize the Muslim and Arab vote normally fight about who wants to meet the President … and take pictures with him when he visits the city,” Assi told a small group of community leaders outside the American Moslem Society. “But his time is different.”

Biden’s visit to the factory comes amid the deadly conflict between Hamas and Israel starting its second week.

During his remarks in Dearborn, Biden didn’t mention specifics about the conflict. However, he told Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, he was praying for the safety of her grandmother and family in the West Bank and “I promise I’m going to do everything I can to make sure they are.”

According to a pool report, reporters traveling with the president asked him if they could ask about Israel, but Biden declined. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Monday, May 17

House GOP may probe Whitmer plane trip

The House Oversight Committee is deciding whether to launch an investigation into Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s trip to Florida on a chartered jet, its chair, Rep. Steve Johnson said Monday.

Johnson, R-Wayland, said he might send the Democratic governor a letter with detailed questions she has publicly refused to answer. Among them: whether Whitmer traveled with a taxpayer-funded security detail or other people.

“This is, once again, a continuation of a pattern here with this administration of trying to hide stuff, a pattern of no transparency, a pattern of hypocrisy,” Johnson said.

Related:

Johnson and other Republicans have criticized the governor for flying to Florida to visit her father in March without being vaccinated during a time her administration was encouraging people to avoid traveling.

The governor has avoided answering questions of her trip, but Bridge Michigan and other media have reported she flew on a chartered a private jet that is jointly owned by three wealthy Detroit-area families with businesses in front of the state.

On Friday afternoon, her office released a memo sent by a senior official in which she confirmed that Whitmer used a chartered jet, and that a Whitmer-tied nonprofit paid $27,251 for the aircraft. Her office said Whitmer reimbursed the nonprofit $855 for her seat.

Her office said the trip was not a gift, she visited her father because his health was failing and she used a chartered plane for security reasons.

Whitmer’s administration has faced multiple inquiries from the House Oversight committee over transparency issues, including the use of confidential separation agreements involving state employees.

“There’s a number of issues that the governor needs to come clean with,” Johnson told reporters. “In the Oversight Committee, we are going to continue to look into this administration to make sure that there are answers, to make sure that it’s held accountable to the people in Michigan.” — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Tuesday, May 11

Biden to visit Dearborn on Tuesday

President Joe Biden will travel to Michigan next week to tour a Ford Motor Co. plant that will produce the automaker’s new all-electric F-150 Lightning, the White House confirmed Tuesday.

Biden is expected to visit the Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn on Tuesday, May 18, the White House said.

Ford is set to officially unveil its F-150 Lightning the following day.

Biden, a first-term Democrat, has proposed major new spending initiatives to boost electric vehicle adoption and build infrastructure, including charging stations. — Jonathan Oosting

Wednesday, May 5

House, Senate pass bill to exempt graduation ceremonies from COVID orders

Michigan’s schools could be a step closer to having more leeway to host commencement ceremonies, after the Senate and House on Wednesday passed a fast-tracked proposal to exempt the events from pandemic emergency orders.

“Most local school boards have done a good job of mitigating the risk of COVID,” bill sponsor Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, said on the Senate floor. “We should trust them to safely manage their own graduations.”

Related: GOP wants to exempt Michigan graduation ceremonies from COVID orders

The approval in both chambers comes a day after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the state is easing restrictions on Thursday, making masks not required outdoors for gatherings of up to 100 people.

COVID-19 cases are rapidly declining in Michigan, reaching their lowest point in six weeks on Monday. Whitmer has said she won’t fully lift all the state restrictions until 70 percent of adult residents are vaccinated.

Robert Leddy, a spokesperson for Whitmer, didn’t say if the governor supports the measure, but said she “continues to encourage families and school districts to hold ceremonies to honor students’ incredible achievements while ensuring the safety of all attendees.”

“As Michigan continues to move forward with vaccinations and sees declining cases, we are able to get back to normal and return to the things we all know and love,” Leddy wrote in an email. “Gov. Whitmer is a parent, and she understands how important it is for students, parents, and families to celebrate graduations.”

Currently, graduation ceremonies are allowed, but they have to adhere to certain capacity limits.

Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, was the lone Democrat in the Senate to support the exemption, saying her vote represents the will of her district.

“I know for a fact that all of the school districts in my community believe the science and are planning safe graduation ceremonies whether outdoors — they were drive-through graduation ceremonies last year … I know that it’s not normal,” McMorrow said. “But we have to accept the reality that this is not normal.”

In the House, only two Democrats voted in favor of the measure: Kelly Breen of Novi, and Rep. Tim Sneller of Burton.

The Michigan Education Association and the Michigan Association of School Boards oppose the exemptions.

“To know that there is health guidance to follow with (the state), with your local health department, that just makes that decision-making easier for the district and easier for the parents to understand,” Jennifer Smith, director of government relations for the school board group, told Bridge Michigan on Tuesday. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Tuesday, May 4

House votes to curb severance deals

Michigan House members voted unanimously, 110-0, Tuesday to limit separation agreements the state has used for state employees and officers.

The legislation follows controversies over severances and confidentiality agreements to former Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon and former Unemployment insurance Agency Director Steve Gray. Gordon received $155,000, while Gray got nearly $86,000.

Related: Michigan’s ex-health director: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asked me to quit

Rep. John Roth, R-Traverse City, said he sponsored the legislation to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

“Our constituents rely on the notion that we’re using their tax dollars wisely,” Roth said in a hearing last month.“This bill will help ensure that regardless of who’s in power, that we will make sure it’s transparent and good for citizens.”

The proposal caps the severance pay of employees of the executive branch and the legislative branch at 12 weeks normal wages. It also prohibits nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements.

The bill allows some exceptions, including higher severance pay if the payment serves “the best interests of this state based on the risk of litigation and the need to minimize the expenditure of public funds.”

For severance payments that are the equivalent of six weeks, the proposal requires that the agency in charge of the contract makes certain information available on its website, including the maximum amount that may be paid.

The Senate has yet to debate the legislation. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Last month, Whitmer issued an executive order that provided criteria on when to offer a separation payout based on confidential agreements and risk of litigation. – Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Friday, April 30

Unlock Michigan sues to force ballot measure

Unlock Michigan on Friday sued the Board of State Canvassers, asking the Michigan Supreme Court to break the panel’s partisan deadlock and force certification of signatures on a petition to permanently weaken a governor’s emergency powers.

The Republican-aligned group is seeking to repeal a law Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used to issue emergency health orders early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Related: Partisan deadlock blocks Unlock Michigan initiative over emergency powers

A GOP majority on the state Supreme Court already invalidated the 1945 law last year, declaring it unconstitutional, but Democratic nominees flipped the court in November and now hold a 4-3 advantage.

The Board of State Canvassers “shirked its duty” by failing to certify petitions last week despite a recommendation from the Bureau of Elections, Unlock Michigan attorneys contend in the new lawsuit.

Organizers collected more than 460,000 valid signatures, according to the bureau, easily surpassing the 340,000 signatures required to send the initiative to the GOP-led Legislature for enactment.

But both Democrats on the four-member panel refused to certify the petitions after Republican members rejected the Dems’ request to investigate questionable collection practices by paid circulation firms.

Canvassers do not have the power to investigate how signatures were gathered, Unlock Michigan attorneys argue in the new complaint, asking justices to “prevent the disenfranchisement” of voters who signed the petition.

Specifically, the group wants the court to order canvassers to declare the petition sufficient and “immediately” certify it. That would send the initiative to the Republican-led Legislature, which could enact it into law without a signature from Whitmer. — Jonathan Oosting

Thursday, April 22

Robert Gordon agrees to testify before House after subpoena

The Michigan House Oversight Committee voted Thursday to subpoena Robert Gordon, the former director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, to testify about his sudden departure in January.

April 29 update: Michigan’s ex-health director: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asked me to quit

Rep. Rick Outman, R-Six Lakes, said he hopes a subpoena will provide answers regarding Gordon’s $155,000 severance, which initially included a confidentiality clause.

“Lack of transparency has been a huge issue for the Michigan government, particularly with this administration,” Outman said, referring to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat.

Until Thursday, Gordon had refused to testify in front of the Legislature. But after the committee vote, Gordon’s spokesperson Kenneth Baer said the former director will honor the subpoena.

He’ll likely appear before the committee on Thursday.

Related:

“Robert is proud of his work during this unprecedented time and grateful to have served the governor and the State of Michigan,” Baer wrote in an email. “While Robert strongly believes that public officials should be able to receive confidential advice from their senior leaders, he will of course honor the subpoena and testify.”

Gordon managed Michigan’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s never been clear exactly what led to his resignation. Last month, he sent a letter to legislators saying there were “robust conversations about policy issues where reasonable people could disagree and did.

“This was healthy: the stakes were life and death, and different people have different roles. Michigan was hit hard by COVID early, and initially had the third highest fatality rate in the nation,” Gordon wrote.

He praised Whitmer and wrote that she deserved a director with whom she is comfortable. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Wednesday, April 21

Benson sues to give redistricting panel more time

The state of Michigan needs more time to draw political district maps because of Census delays, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday with the Michigan Supreme Court.

The suit from Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, in conjunction with the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, seeks an extension of the deadline on releasing redistricting maps until Dec. 17.

By law, the commission created by voters in 2018 was supposed to start making maps available to the public for 45 days starting on Sept. 17.

But the U.S. Census Bureau isn’t expected to release population tallies necessary to draw the districts until Sep. 30, a delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Related:

“Our state constitution guarantees the people of Michigan 45 days to review and provide comment on the maps created by the independent commission, and this time must be granted them despite the delay by the U.S. Census Bureau,” Benson said. “We launched this historic commission in a manner that was citizen led and transparent and voters across the state and across the political spectrum expect it to continue to operate this way.”

If the Michigan Supreme Court allows the move, the final maps would receive final approval on Jan. 25, 2022. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Thursday, April 15

Redistricting commission sticks with attorney

An attorney selected to advise the Michigan redistricting commission on voting rights will be offered a contract, despite opposition from Republicans.

The Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission on Thursday voted down a resolution, 4 to 5, to reconsider hiring Maryland attorney Bruce Adelson as voting rights counsel. The group voted unanimously last week to offer him the post, which is expected to to cost $425 an hour.

Related:

The state Republican party, GOP Congress members and others criticized the decision and questioned Adelson’s nonpartisanship because he donated $125 to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in 2018.

“The public needs to have a high level of trust and confidence in his ability to provide objective, independent, and nonpartisan advice, which finds a number of responses, they don’t,” said Republican Commissioner Rhonda Lange, who proposed the resolution to reconsider.

The commission’s vote last week came as news was breaking online about Adelson’s campaign donation. About 100 public written comments against Adelson were submitted to the commission before, during, and after last week’s vote, but the body didn’t receive them until the next day.

Rebecca Szetela, an independent who serves as the vice chair of the commission, said the group “needs to practice the art of discernment.”

“As a commission, sometimes we are going to get comments that are, in this case, I think politically motivated,” Szetela said. “They aren’t based in reality.”

— Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Wednesday, April 14

Whitmer says no more new restrictions

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is doubling down on her decision not to add new restrictions or regulations amid a surge of coronavirus cases in Michigan.

Currently, the state has the highest case rate in the nation by far. On Wednesday, the state reported 7,955 new COVID-19 cases.

Related: Michigan at ‘record high’ for COVID-19 hospitalizations of children

In a media appearance dominated by talks about the benefits of therapeutic treatments, Whitmer blamed the increase on the public’s fatigue and the variants of the virus in the state.

“That’s precisely why instead of mandating that we’re closing things down, we are encouraging people to do what we know works as the most important thing that we can do,” Whitmer said. “It’s not a policy problem, it is a variant and compliance problem.”

Whitmer also said the state is focusing on getting more people vaccinated.

Her decision goes against what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised the state to do.

In a White House briefing this week, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky called on the state to implement stronger restrictions and mitigation protocols.

“When you have an acute situation, (an) extraordinary number of cases like we have in Michigan, the answer is not necessarily to give vaccines. In fact we know that the vaccine will have a delayed response,” Walensky said. “The answer to that is to really close things down. To go back to our basics, to go back to where we were last spring, last summer, and to shut things down to flatten the curve.” — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Monday, April 12

Whitmer to extend workplace rules

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday she plans to extend the state’s coronavirus workplace emergency rules, which include a ban on in-person office work.

Talking to reporters, Whitmer said an extension is necessary because COVID-19 cases continue to climb. The rules are due to expire April 14.

Related:

“When we do extend them, which we will, people aren’t going to think that that means you can’t go to the office for another six months,” Whitmer said.

“But by law, we have to give this second extension so that we’ve got some of the tools.”

The current emergency rule by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration was signed on Oct. 14 and requires employers to “create a policy prohibiting in-person work for employees to the extent that their work activities can feasibly be completed remotely.”

The emergency rules also establish health monitoring protocols for employers and require the use of personal protective equipment. Whitmer said her administration is working with businesses and public health experts to come up with a new order.

Her comments have already received pushback from the Reopen Michigan Safely coalition, which was formed by the Michigan Chamber to Commerce and local chambers. The group called the decision “bad news” for the state’s economy.

Kara Beer, the president of the Battle Creek Chamber (a member of the coalition), said in a statement the extension of the rules will further the economic loss in the state.

“Michigan businesses have been dealt another defeating blow with the extension of the MIOSHA ruling,” Beer said in a statement. “Another mandate for an additional six months of working from home and prohibiting employees to safely return to the office may cause businesses to never recover, closing more brick-and-mortar businesses in our communities.” — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán and Jonathan Oosting

Wednesday, April 7

Biden kills Medicaid work rules in Michigan

Michigan cannot require Medicaid recipients to report proof of employment to qualify for the government-run health insurance program, President Joe Biden’s administration decided this week.

A 2018 law approved by the Republican-led Legislature and signed by former Gov. Rick Snyder sought to require people on the Healthy Michigan expanded Medicaid eligibility plan to work at least 80 hours per month or risk losing coverage.

A federal judge had suspended the law in early 2020, and the Biden administration effectively killed it on Tuesday by revoking a waiver that had allowed it in the first place. The decision follows revocations of similar rules in states including Arkansas and New Hampshire.

Elizabeth Richter, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, told Michigan the work requirements are “infeasible” given ongoing COVID-19 restrictions requiring coverage. She also said the administration has “serious concerns” that people could lose health coverage due to reporting errors.

The Trump administration had opened the door to work requirements in 2017 by inviting states to submit waiver requests. Republican legislators who pushed the Michigan law championed it as an economic tool to help businesses struggling to find workers.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who opposed the policy as onerous to lower-income residents, celebrated its demise.

“The Biden administration’s decision to uphold crucial access to health care is life-changing news for the tens of thousands of Michiganders who were in danger of losing their health coverage if the requirements were implemented,” Whitmer said in a statement.

“No one deserves to be kicked off their health insurance when they need it most, especially in the midst of a global pandemic and historic recession.” —Jonathan Oosting

Saturday, March 27

Weiser apologizes for ‘witches’ comments

Update: Weiser: ‘I won’t be canceled,’ after U-M regents call for his resignation

Michigan Republican Party Chair Ron Weiser apologized Saturday for referring to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel as “witches” and joking about assassination.

Related: Michigan GOP chair calls Whitmer, Nessel, Benson ‘witches’ who should be burned

“In an increasingly vitriolic political environment, we should all do better to treat each other with respect, myself included. I fell short of that the other night,” Weiser said in a written statement.

“I apologize to those I offended for the flippant analogy about three women who are elected officials and for the off-hand comments about two other leaders. I have never advocated for violence and never will. While I will always fight for the people and policies I believe in, I pledge to be part of a respectful political dialogue going forward.”

Weiser is facing criticism and calls to resign from his other post as a University of Michigan regent for a Thursday speech to Oakland County Republican activists that went viral.

Weiser said Republicans are recruiting GOP challengers to “soften up” the “three witches” so they’re “ready for the burning at the stake.”

He also joked that “other than assassination, I have no other way” of removing Republican U.S. Reps. Fred Upton of St. Joseph and Peter Meijer of Grand Rapids Township, who upset Republicans for voting to impeach former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The apology is more direct than Friday, when Weiser wrote on Twitter that he “should have chosen my words more carefully,” added they were “clearly being taken out of context” and claimed they “received more scrutiny from the media and leftists in the last 24 hours than the governor’s handling of COVID.”

Benson’s spokesperson, Jake Rollow, issued a statement later Saturday asking “the people of Michigan deserve more than a half-apology when the leader of one of our two major political parties suggests violence over democracy.”

At least four U-M regents, all Democrats, have called on Weiser to resign. He said he won’t.

Wednesday, March 24

Whitmer vetoes bill to limit her COVID powers

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday vetoed a Republican bill that would have prohibited the Michigan health department from extending COVID-19 orders beyond 28 days without legislative approval.

The veto was expected — Whitmer rejected nearly identical legislation last year — but the GOP tried to apply more pressure this time by tying the measure to $347 million in spending on coronavirus contact tracing and lab testing, which is now in limbo.

“Unfortunately, epidemics are not limited to 28 days,” Whitmer wrote in a veto letter. “We should not limit our ability to respond to them.”

The fate of the $347 million in COVID-19 relief spending that was tied to the bill is not immediately known. Earlier this month, in vetoing another bill that Republicans linked to $841 million in federal school funding, Whitmer said her legal team was reviewing that question.

The nearly $1.2 billion won’t need to be returned to the federal government anytime soon. How and when it is spent will likely depend on future negotiations by Whitmer and GOP legislative leaders, who are locked in a feud over her ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. — Jonathan Oosting

Tuesday, March 23

Senate approves Hertel as health director

Senate Republicans on Tuesday continued their protest against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 orders but stopped just short of rejecting the appointment of her new state health director.

Elizabeth Hertel, a former GOP legislative aide who Whitmer appointed in January, will remain director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Related:

Sixteen Senate Republicans voted to block Hertel, with several voicing concerns she will work in “lockstep” with Whitmer to continue restrictions they deem overly onerous.

But GOP Leader Mike Shirkey and three colleagues joined Democrats to approve the appointment in a 18-16 vote. It was a symbolic move because the upper chamber only has the authority to “disapprove” appointments within 60 days, and the GOP did not have the 19 votes needed to do so.

“My vote in favor of Elizabeth Hertel’s appointment does not reflect agreement with her decisions as deputy director and now as director of MDHHS, but rather my belief that her background and expertise make her qualified for the job,” Shirkey said in a statement.

“In our conversations, I have made it clear to Elizabeth that I will continue to push for an end to the nonsensical loophole that allows the department director to control and harm the lives and livelihoods of Michiganders for months or even years on end.”

Earlier Tuesday, the Republican majority approved separate legislation that would prohibit the state from limiting family gatherings at sporting events, restaurants or private residences. That measure now heads to the House. — Jonathan Oosting

Senate panel OKs open records reforms

A bipartisan package to allow the governor and Legislature to be subject to open records requests has advanced in the Michigan Senate, although its fate remains unclear.

Related:

On Tuesday, the Senate Oversight Committee voted to send the measures to the Senate floor after the House approved identical protocols last week.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, has blocked similar reforms before and hasn’t publicly said whether he would allow a vote this term. His office didn’t immediately return a request for comment Tuesday.

Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, told Bridge Michigan he is in conversations with Shirkey to help clarify any concerns.

“(Shirkey) also is, I think, properly concerned about the ability for senators and legislators to get the work done and maintain the confidentiality of their constituents and their ability to have discussions — plain and frank discussions — among themselves,” said McBroom, the Upper Peninsula lawmaker who chairs the Senate Oversight Committee.

McBroom the package has provisions that “will not unduly impact those activities” and is optimistic about its prospects.

Michigan is only one of two states that exempt the legislative and executive branches from open records laws. Under the reform, both branches would have to provide documents and records upon request and payment of costs and fees.

However, the proposal includes a lengthy list of exemptions. Additionally, the bill forbids lawsuits if the Legislature rejects records requests.

The bills are supported by Republicans and Democrats, as well as a coalition that includes the Michigan Press Association, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and the American Civil Liberties Union.

But Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has said she is concerned about loopholes she said would allow lawmakers to delete emails before they become public records. Liberal group Progress Michigan has also criticized the proposal, saying it doesn’t go far enough.

McBroom pushed back, saying the exemptions “are, in my mind, quite small.”

“Progress Michigan in particular is a little laughable because they supported the exact same bills in the past, so now they decided to complain,” McBroom said. “Progress should be progress, and we are making some progress here.”

Progress Michigan announced plans to collect signatures to require a ballot proposal in 2022 to fully repeal exemptions to the governor’s office and Legislature in the state’s Freedom of Information Act, which governs open records requests. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Thursday, March 18

House passes bills to allow bars to stay open later

Bars could serve alcohol until 4 a.m. under bipartisan legislation advanced Thursday by the Michigan House.

The proposal, approved in a 61-47 vote, would require “opt-in” by cities, villages or townships, where local leaders could adopt resolutions if they want to allow liquor license holders to serve beyond 2 a.m.

Qualifying bars or restaurants that decided to serve until 4 a.m. would also have to pay an extra $250 a year for a night permit on top of their annual liquor license fee.

Similar proposals have bounced around the Legislature for years, but House sponsors say the plan is especially timely given COVID-19 closure orders that have been particularly brutal for bars and restaurants.

The legislation now heads to the Senate, which did not vote on similar House-approved bills last year. — Jonathan Oosting

Tuesday, March 16

Holland man charged with threats to Democrats

A Michigan man faces up to 20 years in prison on allegations he threatened the lives of President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on a meme-based social media site.

Attorney General Dana Nessel on Tuesday announced felony charges against Joshua Doctor of Holland, who is accused of threatening to commit an act of terrorism and using a computer to do so.

In a statement, Nessel said the case was initiated by the FBI, which received tips about posts on a social media site called iFunny and handed the investigation over to Michigan State Police.

Those posts detailed threats to kill Biden, Pelosi and Whitmer — all Democrats — while claiming to be “the catalyst” for a new American revolution. Nessel alleged Doctor also had “information on how to make a bomb and where to find the necessary materials” on his phone.

“Threatening elected officials is against the law and my office will prosecute those who attempt to intimidate or terrorize our state and federal leaders,” Nessel said in a statement. — Jonathan Oosting

Monday, March 15

Nessel won’t investigate Whitmer’s nursing home policies

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Monday rebuffed Republican lawmakers calling for her to investigate Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s policies for nursing homes hit hard early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Though I will not hesitate to act when justified, I also will not abuse the investigatory powers of this department to launch a political attack on any state official, regardless of party or beliefs,” Nessel said in a five-page letter to the eight state senators who had sought the probe.

The request was spearheaded by Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, who had joined colleagues in raising concerns over Whitmer’s nursing home orders, the accuracy of death data reported by the state, compliance with federal health guidelines and the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.

Michigan has reported more than 5,500 COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities since March, which is about 1 out of every 3 pandemic-related deaths to date.

According to federal figures, Michigan has had the 16th highest rate of nursing homes deaths per 1,000 residents.

Republicans have questioned the Michigan data amid revelations of an undercount scandal in New York under embattled Gov. Andrew Cuomo. But “the situation here is completely different,” Nessel told the GOP lawmakers, noting Whitmer’s office complied with a previous request for information from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The GOP has also criticized an initial Whitmer policy that directed Michigan nursing homes to accept COVID-19 transfers from hospitals if they had established dedicated isolation units to care for the contagious patients.

But there is no evidence to suggest state policies resulted in increased deaths, Nessel said.

“In any event, bad policy alone would not be grounds for an investigation by my office,” she told legislators.

“The suggestion that these public health policy decisions, by themselves, should be investigated because different approaches could have resulted in fewer deaths is inappropriate and violates well-established ethical guidelines for investigations by law enforcement agencies.”

Runestad, in a statement, accused Nessel of an “abdication of responsibility” and said her refusal to investigate “is an insult to every family member who lost a loved one to COVID-19 in a nursing home.”

“Upholding the law shouldn’t be about Republicans versus Democrats. It should be about making the right choice, holding public officials accountable and standing up for the most vulnerable and their families,” he said. — Jonathan Oosting

Thursday, March 11

GOP leaders may sue Whitmer over pandemic

Michigan’s Republican-led Senate is gearing up for another potential legal fight with Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over her pandemic powers.

The Senate on Thursday adopted a resolution allowing Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, to sue Whitmer if she tries to spend $1.2 billion in federal aid for schools and testing that Republicans had conditioned upon her approving separate bills to limit the state health department’s authority.

Whitmer vetoed one of those bills Tuesday, rejecting a proposal that would have prohibited the state from closing schools or sporting events in the event of future outbreaks. The bill would have only allowed local officials to do so.

The governor also expected to veto a bill that would prohibit her administration from extending epidemic orders beyond 28 days without legislative approval.

The standoff has put $841 million in federal funding for K-12 schools and $347 million for testing in limbo because Republicans had used a legislative procedure called a “tie-bar” to attach the policy bills to a $4.2 billion spending plan that Whitmer signed parts of this week.

Whitmer said Tuesday her legal team is still reviewing whether the administration can spend the money anyway. Democratic attorney Steven Liedel has argued the governor could declare the tie-bars unconstitutional and therefore unenforceable because the policy bills are not directly related to the spending legislation.

But Senate Republicans, in a resolution sponsored by Appropriations Chairman Jim Stamas of Midland, argued that spending those federal relief dollars now would be “contrary to both law and Michigan’s constitutional system.”

The Michigan Senate “must defend the Legislature’s role to appropriate moneys as a co-equal branch of government,” said the resolution, which was approved in a party-line vote. — Jonathan Oosting

Thursday, March 4

Democrat says Gordon left because of restaurant policy

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won’t say why she gave a $155,000 severance to a health director who claimed to resign effectively, but one fellow Democrat says the reason is “obvious.”

Former Michigan Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon was effectively fired because he did not want to reopen restaurant dining rooms as soon as Whitmer did, said Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, who acknowledged his claim is based on “circumstantial evidence.”

Gordon abruptly resigned Jan. 22, the same day he signed — and Whitmer announced — a new COVID-19 order allowing restaurants to reopen their dining rooms at 25 percent capacity.

The former health director declined to explain resignation at the time, and later signed a separation agreement that prohibits him from discussing the circumstances that led to his departure.

“Isn’t it obvious what happened here?” Irwin said Thursday. “The governor wanted restaurants reopened more quickly. Director Gordon wanted to be more cautious, and so he lost his job and a severance was granted.”

Emails from his final days in office, first reported by The Detroit News but obtained by Bridge Michigan, give no indication Gordon was planning to resign.

He did, however, tell a colleague it would be a “relief” if Whitmer did not want him to attend the morning press conference in which she announced the new restaurant rules.

Gordon’s successor, Elizabeth Hertel, on Thursday acknowledged that Whitmer and Gordon may have had policy differences on issues like reopening the economy and schools.

“Yes, it’s possible,” Hertel said in testimony before the Senate Advice and Consent Committee, where Republican majorities are considering whether to reject her appointment by a March 23 deadline.

Irwin said he did not know enough about Gordon’s separation agreement and circumstances to determine whether a payout was appropriate, but he questioned why Republicans are so mad at Whitmer considering they too had wanted Gordon to relax COVID-19 regulations faster.

“It’s contrary to their whole message, which is that the governor is a tyrant and kept us under lock and key for a whole year, which is not true,” Irwin said.

Republicans have decried the deal as “hush money” intended to prevent Gordon from discussing controversial COVID-19 orders that were developed behind closed doors by the Whitmer administration.

Whitmer has said there were “no improprieties” with Gordon’s work and claimed separation agreements are “used often,” which experts say is not the case in government, where they are less common than the private sector. — Jonathan Oosting

Wednesday, Feb. 24

Michigan House votes to rein in lame duck

The Michigan House on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a reform proposal by Speaker Jason Wentworth that would rein in so-called lame duck sessions by forcing bipartisan agreement to pass legislation.

The plan, now heading to the Senate, would require 2/3 majority support from lawmakers in both chambers to approve bills in the two-month period following even-year presidential and gubernatorial elections.

Wentworth, R-Farwell, said the proposal would end the kind of partisan hijinks that dominated the Legislature when his own party had total control of state government from 2011 through 2018.

Democrats are optimistic that new district boundaries will give them an opportunity to secure legislative majorities of their own, but limiting lame-duck is good policy no matter who is in charge, said Rep. Terry Sabo, D-Muskegon.

Lawmakers have used the sessions to approve some “pretty terrible” bills, and rushing to pass a flurry of legislation in the immediate aftermath of an election is “just not the way state government should be operating,” Sabo said.

“This is not a Republican lame-duck issue, and it’s not a Democratic lame-duck issue. It’s about what’s right.”

The plan passed the House in a 102-7 vote, but still faces a long road. Because it proposes to amend the state Constitution, the plan also requires supermajority support in the Michigan Senate, where longer tenured Republicans have been hesitant to enact structural reforms to the Legislature. If the Senate does adopt, the proposal would go to the next statewide ballot for voters to decide. – Jonathan Oosting

Tuesday, Feb. 23

Attorney General Dana Nessel charges two men for presidential election threats

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Tuesday announced misdemeanor criminal charges against two men accused of making threats against public officials in relation to the November presidential election.

Daniel Thompson of Michigan is accused of leaving a threatening message for U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and making vulgar and threatening calls to U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin’s office.

In a Jan. 5 voicemail to Stabenow, a man who identified himself as a Republican said he was angry about the results of the November election, which Congress certified the following day despite rioting by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

The caller said he “joined a Michigan militia and that there would be violence if the election results were not changed,” according to Nessel’s office, which said he also reiterated threats in a follow-up email to Stabenow’s office.

In a separate Jan. 19 call to Slotkin’s office, a man told a congressional staffer that “people will die” and used violent references while describing the Capitol insurrection, according to Nessel’s office which said he had made another threatening call to Slotkin nine months earlier.

Thompson, who is presumed innocent until proven guilty, is charged with three counts of malicious use of a telecommunications service, a misdemeanor punishable by up to six-months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A second man, Clinton Stewart of Georgia, is charged with one count of the same crime for allegedly leaving a threatening voicemail message for Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens on Sept. 18 as she considered a lawsuit over absentee ballot deadlines.

“It is unacceptable and illegal to intimidate or threaten public officials,” Nessel said in a statement. “To those who think they can do so by hiding behind a keyboard or phone, we will find you and we will prosecute you, to the fullest extent of the law.” – Jonathan Oosting

Wednesday, Feb. 17

Joe Biden delays visit to Michigan by one day

President Joe Biden will return to Michigan on Friday, rather than Thursday, to tour a Pfizer manufacturing site in Portage, according to the White House.

The White House announced the new schedule on Wednesday night but did not specify a reason. The Detroit News reports the trip was delayed a day because of a snowstorm expected to hit the Washington region on Thursday.

Biden is expected to meet with Prizer workers producing the pharmaceutical company’s COVID-19 vaccine, one of two currently approved for use in the United States. — Jonathan Oosting

Saturday, Feb. 13

President Joe Biden coming to Michigan

President Joe Biden will travel to the Kalamazoo area on Thursday to tour a Pfizer manufacturing site and visit with workers producing the pharmaceutical company’s COVID-19 vaccine, according to the White House.

Additional details of the trip are expected later in the week.

Biden visited Michigan multiple times during his 2020 campaign, but this will be his first trip to the state since winning the presidential election.

Pfizer, headquartered in Portage near Kalamazoo, developed and produces one of two COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the United States. To date, about 25 million Prizer doses have been administered nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — Jonathan Oosting

Friday, Feb. 12

Statewide audit affirms Michigan 2020 election result

After months of false allegations of election fraud, a statewide audit has confirmed the accuracy of Michigan’s Nov. 3 election results, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced on Friday.

In the statewide risk-limiting election audit, Michigan officials hand-counted more than 18,000 ballots randomly selected from 1,300 jurisdictions. The process affirmed President Joe Biden’s victory in the state by 154,000 votes, Benson said.

The percentage of votes for the Democrat Biden and former President Donald Trump, a Republican, was within fractions of a percentage point of the results tabulated by machines.

The Bureau of Elections began conducting the risk-limiting audits during the 2018 midterm elections. In her latest plans for election reform, Benson has proposed allowing for audits before the certification of election results, which election law now bars.

Benson and other elections officials have called the 2020 presidential election the most secure in the nation’s history.

“The work of elected leaders now is to tell voters the truth and move forward with nonpartisan election policy to advance the will of Michigan voters, who have demonstrated clearly and unequivocally that they want our elections to continue to be secure, strong and accessible,” Benson said. — Madeline Halpert

Update: Lee Chatfield fought LGBT rights in Lansing. He’s on board in Kalamazoo.

Update: Southwest Michigan First admits it has ‘work to do’ after Chatfield flap

Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield, seen by some Republicans as a potential candidate for governor in 2022, has landed a new job outside of state government.

Southwest Michigan First has hired Chatfield as its new Chief Executive Officer, the Kalamazoo-based economic development organization announced Thursday.

Chatfield, who hails from Levering in northern Michigan, was term limited out of the state House last year. He was a teacher and athletic director at a Christian school in Burt Lake before winning election to the Legislature in 2014.

“There’s so much more we can do to grow and assist people in these challenging times,” Chatfield said in a statement celebrating his new job in Kalamazoo.

“I’m ready to get to work with a very talented team that’s already serving on the frontlines and impacting people’s lives daily. I can’t wait to be in this community with my family and serve alongside this incredible team.”

Republicans are struggling to recruit a top-tier candidate to challenge Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer next year. Former Congresswoman Candice Miller, who is now Macomb County’s public works commissioner, announced last month she will not seek the job. —Jonathan Oosting

A federal judge on Wednesday granted a defense lawyer’s request to push back the trial of five men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer by nearly seven months.

U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker delayed the trial from March to October after defendant Brandon Caserta asked for more time to sort through evidence including thousands of hours of audio recording, thousands of pages of messaging, videos and information from paid informants.

The decision comes two weeks after a Hartland Township man and airline mechanic Ty Garbin pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with the plot. According to the plea agreement, Garbin admitted to conducting surveillance at Whitmer’s vacation home and attending training sessions, and agreed to fully cooperate with the FBI.

Garbin and five other men were first arrested in October on charges of plotting to kidnap the governor.

In all, 14 people were charged with crimes at the federal and state level in connection with the plot. Some had ties to the militia group Wolverine Watchmen.

The trial for the five men is set to begin Oct. 12 in Grand Rapids. — Madeline Halpert

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday again called on the Republican Legislature to distribute all of the state’s federal COVID-19 funds to get students back to school and support vaccination efforts.

“Delaying efforts to fully appropriate these resources and leaving dollars on the table that are so crucial to our economic recovery, it threatens the progress that we have made to date,” she said.

The criticisms come hours after Senate Republicans unveiled their own proposal on Tuesday with plans to distribute $2 billion of the funding, while the Democratic governor has proposed $5 billion in her supplemental spending plan. GOP lawmakers have suggested holding funds back would allow for more oversight of the spending.

Whitmer pushed back on the claims and said the delay could hinder Michigan’s vaccination effort. The state is 22nd among states in the number of vaccinations per 100,000 people.

Whitmer on Tuesday said the state has had a 16 percent increase in vaccination rates which is “not nearly as fast” as necessary but “headed in the right direction.” Overall, 11 percent of Michiganders 16 years and older have been vaccinated.

Overall case numbers and deaths are declining, according to Chief Medical Executive Joneigh Khaldun.

Khaldun sounded alarms about the variant cases, which she said are now associated with individuals with no recent travel history, indicating a spread in the general community.

Still, Whitmer repeated her calls for all school districts to offer in-person, safe learning options for students by March 1.

She said she is continuing to reach out to the Republican Legislature, and remains hopeful for more funding negotiations in the future.

“But that hasn’t really happened in any meaningful way at this juncture,” she said. —Madeline Halpert

Michigan House Republicans on Thursday approved a $3 billion coronavirus relief plan that would use nearly $2 billion in federal school funding as leverage in an attempt to force policy concessions by Democratic Gov. Gretechen Whitmer.

Whitmer would likely veto the proposal should it also pass the Senate and reach her desk. She’s called on the Legislature to approve a larger $5.6 billion plan that would utilize all federal funding made available to the state by Congress.

The House proposal would allocate only a portion of available federal funding, leaving roughly $2 billion in COVID relief dollars to be negotiated later.

The plan would send $1.8 billion to K-12 schools, but only if Whitmer signs a separate bill that would prohibit her state health department from closing schools or high school sporting events in the future. Instead, only a local health department could do so, and only if the region met certain metrics for COVID-19.

Democrats accused Republicans of holding the COVID relief funds “hostage,” but House Appropriations Chair Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, denied the claim.

“God willing, we will get this package quickly to the governor’s desk, and she will have a choice,” Albert said. “Nothing is being withheld here.”

State Rep. Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, tried but failed to force a vote on a separate bill that mirrors Whitmer’s larger spending plan.

“Instead of trickling out available funds, we have an opportunity today to dispense all of the funds that Michiganders deserve and without delay,” Rabhi said. “We cannot keep pretending that this pandemic will magically end in a month or two. We know that isn’t true.” — Jonathan Oosting

Feb. 3, 2021

Rep. Peter Meijer defends impeachment vote at town hall

During U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer’s first virtual town hall Wednesday evening, the freshman lawmaker defended his vote to impeach former President Donald Trump for his role in the siege of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

“The attempted insurrection, the involvement of a sitting American president . . . required a significant response,” he said.

Meijer, R-Grand Rapids, was one of 10 Republican representatives who voted to impeach the former president after he incited a mob of supporters who breached the Capitol building and clashed with police officers in a siege that left five dead.

But Meijer’s explanation wasn’t enough for some residents from his 3rd Congressional District in west Michigan. One said he “could not have been more disappointed” in Meijer.

“I went against people who told me not to vote for you because I believed in you,” another constituent told Meijer. “And I’ve lost that belief.”

Meijer stood his ground, saying read several reports of election fraud, but “I struggled to substantiate anything.”

Other constituents lauded Meijer for voting his conscience.

“I know that must’ve been a really hard decision,” a constituent said. “I just wanted to let you know that I think you did the right thing. I didn’t vote for you but right now I’m sure glad you’re my representative.” —Madeline Halpert

Monday, Feb. 1

Jocelyn Benson calls on lawmakers to pass elections reforms

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Monday called on the Legislature to adopt election reforms she said will make it “easier to vote and harder to cheat” for citizens in Michigan.

Benson had advocated for several of the measures before the 2020 presidential election, including an additional two weeks for clerks to process absentee ballots and a ban of firearms within 100 feet of polling places.

The Republican-led Legislature, though, rejected calls from Benson and a group of bipartisan clerks to allow for more time to count ballots in preparation for a surge of absentee ballots due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey has since said he supports the measure.

Other changes proposed by Benson on Monday include:

Requiring absentee ballot applications to be mailed to registered voters every federal election cycle

Making Election Day a statewide holiday

Allowing for a statewide risk-limiting audit of election results prior to certification

Allowing military ballots to be returned electronically

Benson said she hopes Republicans can “work from the same set of facts” as the Secretary of State’s office when determining how to advance the vote and protect democracy.”

She also called on Michigan lawmakers — some of whom endorsed unsubstantiated election fraud allegations from President Donald Trump and his supporters during the November election — to acknowledge the claims are false.

“If these legislators truly want to support elections, their task is simple: Tell the voters the truth,” she said. — Madeline Halpert

Wednesday, Jan. 27

Militia member pleads guilty to Whitmer kidnapping plot

A Michigan militia member accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pleaded guilty to federal charges on Wednesday and agreed to testify against his alleged co-conspirators.

Ty Garbin, 25, an airplane mechanic from Hartland Township in Livingston County, pleaded guilty to a federal kidnapping conspiracy charge punishable by up to life in prison with no parole in front of U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker in Grand Rapids.

Garbin was arrested in October and charged with a plot to kidnap Whitmer and either strand her on a boat in the middle of Lake Michigan or put her on trial in another state. Prosecutors alleged defendants called the governor a “tyrant” for imposing stay-at-home restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He is among 13 total militia members facing federal and state charges in the plot prosecutors allege involved surveillance of Whitmer’s vacation home in northern Michigan, plans to buy $4,000 worth of explosives and firearms training at a property Garbin owned near Luther in Lake County.

Court documents allege Garbin was a member of the Wolverine Watchmen and met the accused leader of the group, Adam Fox, at a Second Amendment Rally outside the state Capitol in June. Prosecutors said Fox initially planned to recruit 200 men to storm the Capitol and capture politicians to put them on trial on television. — Madeline Halpert

Tuesday, Jan. 26

Auditors criticize Michigan spending during pandemic

Michigan auditors released a report Tuesday criticizing the Department of Technology, Management and Budget for how it spent millions of dollars on emergency COVID-19 purchases.

The report from Michigan Auditor General Doug Ringler said the agency wired $96.9 million to 15 vendors before goods and services were received, and allowed credit cards to be used by more than one employee when purchasing pandemic emergency supplies.

“Assigned cardholders allowed other employees to use their procurement cards to make emergency purchases of $35.2 million, exposing the state to potential abuse and misuse of state funds,” Ringler wrote in the report.

The report also alleged that, as of September 2020, the state lost $24,896 after it wired $4.9 million to an out-of-state vendor. The money had been spent by the vendor before the state stopped payment when a financial institution flagged the vendor.

In response, the audit recommended DTMB “strengthen its internal control” and revise policies to address risks related to emergency purchases, which DTMB said it agreed with the report.

But the agency pushed back on another recommendation to ensure credit cards are only assigned to one person.

“During the height of the pandemic, there was an extraordinarily high level of demand for personal protective equipment *(PPE) which far exceeded the supply. . .DTMB needed to have additional buyers available to make purchases at a moment’s notice,” the agency wrote in response.

Ringler disagreed, saying the agency’s delay in providing documentation and valid receipts for the purchases, and its failure to ensure the emergency credit cards were canceled, suggested a need for continued review of the agency’s transactions. — Madeline Halpert

Friday, Jan. 22

Judge upholds Michigan’s term limit law

A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit from 10 former lawmakers seeking to overturn Michigan’s term limits law, which is among the strictest in the nation.

U.S. Judge Janet Neff of Michigan’s western district ruled the case is without merit, noting that a court already upheld the limits that voters approved in 1992.

In Michigan, representatives cannot serve more than three two-year terms, while state senators are limited to two four-year terms.

“Michigan voters took action three decades ago to change our state constitution, and that amendment has now held up twice in a court of law,” Attorney General Dana Nessel after the ruling.

“I appreciate the court’s ruling and review of the case law on this matter, and while the legal challenges have failed, the Michigan Constitution – and term limits for our lawmakers – remain something voters can revisit and amend through lawful means as they deem appropriate.”

The suit from former Democratic and Republican lawmakers was filed in 2019 against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Overall, 15 states have some form of term limits and Michigan’s are thought to be among the most severe because of the six-year limit on House members.

Wednesday, Jan. 20

Judge approves Flint water crisis settlement

Flint residents can start registering to receive their share of a landmark legal settlement tied to the Flint water crisis, after a federal judge on Thursday granted preliminary approval of the $641.2 million settlement with the state of Michigan and other parties.

Residents have until March 29 to register to participate in the settlement.

Not everyone in Flint is eligible to receive money. The proposed settlement includes 30 claims categories (listed on pages 379 to 422 of this document) to account for people harmed by the water crisis.

The bulk of the settlement money, about 80 percent, will go to people who were minors when Flint switched its water source in 2014. Much of the rest will go to adults who can prove they suffered physical harm or property damage as a result of the crisis.

Once registered, residents have until Aug. 26 to submit documents supporting their claims. That could include medical records, evidence of property damage or other paperwork.

Before funds can be released, U.S. District Judge Judge Judith Levy must grant final approval. First, she’ll hold a public hearing July 12.

Some Flint activists have criticized the settlement, arguing it excludes too many city residents who should be eligible for money. Proponents of the settlement say it’s good for the city.

Most of the settlement funds come from Michigan’s state government, which has agreed to pay $600 million for the crisis that tainted the city’s water with lead. Three other parties — City of Flint, McLaren Regional Medical Center and Rowe Professional Services Co. — have also signed on to the settlement to bring the total pot to $641.2 million.

Lawyers for Flint residents continue to pursue lawsuits against two engineering firms that did not join the settlement, as well as a separate lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“This is another important day for the residents of Flint, and a further step in the process of receiving justice,” co-lead counsel Ted Leopold said in a statement. “I encourage anyone who believes they may be eligible for financial relief to visit flintwaterjustice.com to learn more.” —Kelly House

Tuesday, Jan. 20

Republican chair-to-be defends running mate

The incoming chair of the Michigan Republican Party is standing by his future co-chair despite her role in the “stop the steal” movement that spread conspiracy theories to try and overturn President Joe Biden’s election.

In a Monday email to supporters, obtained by Bridge Michigan, Ron Weiser doubled down on his partnership with Meshawn Maddock. She is co-founder of the Michigan Trump Republicans who was in Washington ,D.C. on Jan. 6 amid protests but has said she was not part of the group that stormed the U.S. Capitol.

Weiser and Maddock, who organized bus trips to Washington for the Trump protest, are set to take over the GOP leadership following the state convention in February. Maddock’s pending leadership role has caused a rift within the Michigan GOP, but Weiser urged Republicans to unite to defeat “those who are working to undermine and destroy the very values that built our country.”

Weiser, a real estate magnate, has faced public pressure to resign his post as a University of Michigan regent because of his initial response to the insurrection. He appeared to address the controversy in his Monday email, accusing Democrats and “mainstream media” of “launching an all out assault on everyone who doesn’t think exactly as they do with their cancel culture.”

“I along with Republicans across our state and nation have been mocked, threatened and attacked” over the past three weeks, Weiser wrote.

“They want us divided. They want us unfocused. They want us fighting one another instead of fighting their disastrous policies. We cannot allow that to happen. I will not mince words: We are facing the greatest threats to freedom that our Republic has ever seen.” — Jonathan Oosting

Tuesday, Jan. 19

Whitmer to attend inauguration

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is headed to Washington, D.C. to attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Wednesday.

Whitmer will serve as co-chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Biden recently nominated Whitmer to serve as the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Security measures include 15,000 National Guard troops and steel fencing after a mob of Trump supporters breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. in riots. Enhanced security remains in place at state capitals nationwide, including in Lansing.

The inauguration will begin at 11:30 a.m. and Biden and Harris will be sworn in at noon, when President Donald Trump’s term comes to an end. You can watch the ceremony here.

“I am honored to attend the inauguration of President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and ready to begin working closely with each of them to fight this virus, save lives, and put the country back on track,” Whitmer said in a statement. —Madeline Halpert

Whitmer names new GOP canvasser

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday appointed Republican Tony Daunt to succeed Aaron Van Langevelde on the Michigan Board of State Canvassers.

On Monday, Van Langevelde told Bridge Michigan he was not surprised by the Michigan Republican Party’s decision not to renominate him for the role after he certified Democrat Joe Biden’s win in November.

Daunt, executive director of the Michigan Freedom Fund was appointed for a four-year term to the four-member board that is paid $75 per meeting. The Dewitt resident is one of three GOP activists nominated by the Michigan Republican Party for the post, along with Tori Sachs and Linda Lee Tarver, who endorsed several unproven allegations of election fraud.

Daunt has spoken out against false fraud claims and said the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol “was an outgrowth of the rhetoric, lies, and conspiracies spread by the President and other elected Republicans.”

On Monday, Van Langevelde said in a statement that although his decision to certify the state’s election results angered many in the Republican Party, his “conscience is clear.”

“I hope the next appointee upholds the oath of office, tells the truth, and follows the law just as I have tried to do,” he said. — Madeline Halpert

Snyder wants Flint charges dropped

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s legal team signalled an aggressive defense Tuesday, arguing misdemeanor Flint water crisis charges issued last week should be immediately dismissed on the grounds they were filed in the wrong venue.

In a pretrial hearing in Genesee County, Snyder attorney Brian Lennon argued the former governor should not be tried in 67th District Court because he worked in Lansing — and the attorney promised motions requesting dismissal and access to secret evidence presented to a one-judge grand jury.

“The indictment is fatally flawed because it’s charged Gov. Snyder with crimes that allegedly occurred in Genesee County,” Lennon told Judge William H. Crawford II. “At all times through the indictment Gov. Sndyer was in his office in the Romney Building in downtown Lansing.”

Lennon called the accusations against Snyder “false” and questioned whether prosecutors had access to communications that should have been shielded by attorney-client privilege.

Lennon first raised those and other concerns in a Monday night email to Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud, who last week announced willful neglect of duty charges against Sndyer, along with other felony and misdemeanor indictments against eight other state and local officials.

State prosecutors signalled they were not prepared to respond to Lennon immediately because the defense had not yet filed the promised motions.

“We don’t intend to litigate this by email and informal discussion, but rather as we would any criminal case,” said special assistant attorney general Molly Kettler. “We would like to have motions filed.”

Crawford, saying he’d like to “keep this case on the normal track” as much as possible, asked prosecutors and defense attorneys to discuss the motions and evidence requests in a private break-out room before returning in virtual court for additional public discussion later Tuesday.

“I don’t know how long this case might take, but in August or September or this time next year, somebody might look back and say, ‘Whoa… we should have done more,’” Crawford said. — Jonathan Oosting

Monday, Jan. 18

Republicans move to replace canvasser who certified Biden victory

A Republican member of the Board of State Canvassers said on Monday the Michigan Republican Party plans to replace him after he voted to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s win in November.

Aaron Van Langevelde was one of two Republican members of the four-member Board of State Canvassers who faced pressure from party activists to block the certification of the state’s election results on Nov. 23. Norm Shinkle, the other Republican canvasser, abstained from the vote, while Van Langevelde said he carried out a “clear legal duty” by voting to certify.

Van Langevelde’s four-year term expires Jan. 31, and he told Bridge Michigan in an email the party’s decision not to renominate him is no surprise.

He said his choice to certify election results upset many in the Republican Party who “have not reached out since then.”

“While some are critical of my decision to certify the election, I am convinced that I did the right thing regardless of personal or professional consequences and despite the pressures and dangers faced,” Van Langevelde, a policy adviser and lawyer for the House Republican Caucus, wrote in his statement.

“I upheld my oath of office, told the truth, and did what I could to defend the rule of law.”

The statement comes after a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 while Congress convened to count the nation’s Electoral College votes. The riots left five dead, including a police officer.

Van Langevelde said attempts to undermine election results led to the siege and endangered his safety and the security of his family members.

“What has happened over the last few months is tragic; a dangerous and dishonest attempt to undermine election results fanned the flames of discontent and put people at risk of harm, including my family, and ultimately led to violence and the loss of life. It was clear in November that the political games needed to stop – it is even more clear now,” Van Langevelde wrote in his statement.

The Detroit News reported on Monday that the Michigan Republican Party is considering several party activists to replace Van Langevelde, including Linda Lee Tarver, an ardent supporter of Trump who repeated numerous false allegations of election fraud during a Michigan Senate Oversight Committee hearing in December. — Madeline Halpert

Sunday, Jan. 17

Capitol safe after tiny protest

Police officers and National Guard troops far outnumbered demonstrators Sunday at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, where officials had braced for a violent gathering of far-right activists and supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump.

While some people carried long guns onto the Capitol lawn, there were no arrests or incidents as of mid-afternoon, said Lt. Michael Shaw, a state police spokesperson who estimated there were no more than 20 protestors.

“We have enough people to deal with five protestors or enough to deal with over a thousand,” Shaw said.

Around 1 p.m. a small group of armed demonstrators that included self-described Boogaloo Bois marched to the front of the capitol building, where one man read a manifesto outside a 6-foot-tall security fence that protected the building. They complained about both major political parties.

Elsewhere, a handful of Trump supporters waved flags, and one even danced alone on the Capitol lawn. With Democratic President-elect Joe Biden set to take office Wednesday, the FBI has warned of armed protests at all state capitals. Police plan to maintain an enhanced presence at the Michigan Capitol until “at least” February, Shaw said.

“We’re just here making sure that everybody is safe exercising their constitutional rights, you know, airing grievances toward the government,” he said. “But we’re also here to make sure that those who want to break the law are dealt with as well.” — Jonathan Oosting

Friday, Jan. 15

Gov. Whitmer activates National Guard at Michigan Capitol

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has activated the National Guard ahead of planned armed protests at the Capitol building in Lansing this weekend, her spokesperson said Friday.

The announcement follows a Dec. 29 internal bulletin from the FBI warning of violence in all 50 state capitals this week until President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20.

Several other states, including California, Ohio, Oregon and Pennsylvania, also have activated National Guard units around their state capitol buildings.

The Michigan State Police have increased their security presence at the Capitol and staff are installing a 6-foot fence around the building ahead of the potential protests.

Michigan State Police Col. Joseph Gasper said during a Friday news conference that state and local law enforcement officials in Lansing are working together to avoid a “repeat” of the U.S. Capitol siege last week that left dozens injured and five dead, including a police officer.

Tuesday, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor petitioned Whitmer to deploy the guard in preparation “for the worst.” Read more > — Madeline Halpert

Wednesday, Jan. 13

Protest expected to draw hundreds

Multiple Michigan militia groups are planning an armed protest Sunday at the Lansing Capitol that could draw “several hundreds” of protesters, Michael Lackomar, team leader of the Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia, told Bridge Michigan.

Lackomar’s group and several other Michigan militia organizations including the Michigan Home Guard, Michigan Liberty Militia and Michigan Militia Corps Wolverines will likely be in attendance, he said.

He said the group’s main grievance is the state Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 restrictions, which have “destroyed businesses.” Lackomor said they are also dissatisfied with “the way the state government handled the election” although he said that Democrat Joe Biden “probably” won.

The plans come amid warnings from an internal FBI report about armed protests in all 50 capitals nationwide and in Washington, D.C, this weekend until Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday.

The planned protests follow a chaotic week in D.C., when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol while Congress convened to count the nation’s Electoral College voters.

Before the siege, Trump told supporters that Congress should toss out the election results, and urged them to march to the Capitol and “show strength.” The riots left five dead, including a police officer.

On Wednesday, the House voted to impeach Trump for a second time for his role in inciting the insurrection. The timing of a trial in the U.S. Senate remains uncertain.

The Michigan State Police have already increased their security presence at the Lansing Capitol in light of the memo and Capitol staff have installed a six-foot perimeter fence around the building. Lansing Mayor Andy Schor has petitioned Whitmer to request support from the National Guard.

The Capitol will be closed on Sunday due to COVID-19 orders from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Lackomar said the group has no plans for violence unless they are “forced to defend” themselves.

He said the protests will likely start about 9 a.m., with more people arriving around 2 p.m. — Madeline Halpert

Wednesday, Jan. 13

Rick Snyder charged with misdemeanors in Flint water crisis

Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder was charged Wednesday with two charges of willful neglect of duty stemming from an investigation into the 2014 Flint water crisis, which exposed residents in the Black-majority city to toxic lead.

Court records posted online Wednesday evening indicated Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed both charges against Snyder, each of which are misdemeanors punishable by up to one year imprisonment or a fine of up to $1,000.

It’s the first time in Michigan history a governor has been charged with crimes related to his or her time in office, according to The Associated Press.

Several appointees and aides of the former Republican governor were bracing for charges as well, but as of late Wednesday, records only showed charges for Snyder and former Flint Public Works Director Howard Croft, who is also charged with two counts of willful neglect of duty.

Snyder attorney Brian Lennon on Tuesday argued any charges against his client would be “meritless” and politically motivated.

Nessel, Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy are expected to detail all new charges Thursday at an 11:30 a.m. press conference. — Jonathan Oosting

Upton says ‘enough is enough,’ plans to vote to impeach Trump

Republican Rep. Fred Upton of St. Joseph plans to vote to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

Upton, who is Michigan’s most senior representative, will join House Democrats for the historic second impeachment, which centers on Trump’s comments to supporters last week that many believe incited a riot at the U.S. Capitol that killed five, including a police officer.

“It is time to say: enough is enough,” Upton said in a statement Tuesday. “The Congress must hold President Trump to account and send a clear message that our country cannot and will not tolerate any effort by any President to impede the peaceful transfer of power from one President to the next.”

The Congress must hold President Trump to account and send a clear message that our country cannot and will not tolerate any effort by any President to impede the peaceful transfer of power from one President to the next. Thus, I will vote to impeach. pic.twitter.com/NqxyoB4ncv — Fred Upton #WearYourMask (@RepFredUpton) January 13, 2021

U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Grand Rapids, who took office this month, also said he is strongly considering backing impeachment during the vote that is expected to begin after debate starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Meijer has criticized Republican colleagues on social media and in a Detroit News opinion piece for spreading lies about voter fraud after the Nov. 3 election.

“Blood has been spilled, and those who encouraged this insurrection are in too deep,” he wrote in The Detroit News piece Saturday.

Meijer and Upton did not object to Electoral College results when Congress convened last Wednesday to receive and count the votes. Three Michigan Republicans, U.S. Reps Lisa McClain, R-Bruce Township, Tim Walberg, R-Tipton and Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, signed onto objections. McClain said Tuesday she would vote against impeachment. — Madeline Halpert

Friday, Jan. 8

Charlotte man charged with bomb scare, threats to Rep. Johnson

A Charlotte man was charged with three felonies on allegations that he called in a false bomb threat at the Michigan Capitol on Thursday and threatened the life of state Rep. Cynthia Johnson, D-Detroit, and her relatives.

Michael Varrone, 48, was arraigned Friday in Lansing on two counts of false report or threat of terrorism, a 20-year felony, and one felony count of false report or threat of bomb or harmful device, which is punishable by four years in prison. Varrone’s bond was set at $50,000 cash.

According to Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office, one of the errorism charges was related to a phone threat from Varrone to Johnson on Dec. 12.

Johnson served on the House Oversight Committee, which launched an inquiry into the presidential election in November amid

Lansing — A Republican-led Senate panel on Tuesday advanced fast-tracked legislation that would guarantee the Michigan Legislature can intervene in any state legal cases when a law it approved is challenged in court.

The proposal would give the GOP-led House and Senate a power typically reserved for the state attorney general. It comes as Plymouth lawyer Dana Nessel prepares to assume that office and become the first Democrat to hold the post in 16 years.

Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, said the push was inspired by legal disputes with term-limited Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration, but he acknowledged guaranteed intervention could take on new significance with Nessel taking office.

“Let’s be clear, the attorney general-elect has already said there are certain things she’s not going to defend and there’s other places she’s going to intervene,” Meeekhof said earlier Tuesday. “By all means, we should have the priority status to defend the stuff that we’ve done, and I think that is important.”

Nessel said during her campaign she may not defend state laws she views as unconstitutional, including a 2015 law that allows faith-based adoption agencies to decline working with gay residents. Same-sex couples have sued the state over the law, and the litigation remains in court.

The proposal would not “diminish” Nessel’s authority, Meekhof argued, “but we should have standing there, because you cannot ignore laws.”

The legislation, approved last week by the House, was revised by the Senate committee and advanced in a 3-2 vote despite Democratic objections.

“It’s not the Legislature’s job to tip the scales in court,” said Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint. “We have a system of checks and balances that’s worked for 200 years, and I think encroaching on that is just wrong.”

The modified bill gives the Legislature the authority to intervene in any state legal battles when a party “challenges the constitutionality of a state statute, or the validity of legislation or any action of the Legislature.”

In those cases, the Legislature could prosecute an appeal, apply for a rehearing or take “any action or step” available to other parties to the litigation, including Nessel or Democratic Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer.

But the proposal specifies that it “does not limit any right or duty of the attorney general provided by law.”

Sponsoring Rep. Rob VerHeulen, R-Walker, said the changes better reflect his goal of making sure the House or Senate can intervene in legal cases involving Michigan laws, which currently requires court approval.

VerHeulen called it “regrettable” his bill has been “lumped in” with other power play bills in Michigan and other states where Republicans are working to weaken the authority of Democrats who won election in November and are set to take office Jan. 1.

“I ask the Senate to consider the bill on its merits, without regard to what might be happening in Wisconsin or South Dakota or anywhere else,” he said.

The Legislature already can instruct the attorney general to intervene in a legal case, VerHeulen noted, so “it’s not as if the House or Senate are muzzled.”

He pointed to an ongoing lawsuit from the Michigan auditor general, the independent oversight arm of the Legislature, which in January took the rare step to sue the Snyder administration after the state Department of Health and Human Services declined to hand over requested records. In cases like that, the attorney general would defend the state department but the Legislature would side with the auditor.

“There are times where the attorney general may not be the appropriate spokesperson for the House or Senate,” VerHeulen said. “They may have a sincerely held belief the position taken by the House or Senate is not constitutional.”

Snyder on Tuesday again declined to weigh in on the legislative intent bill and other controversial measures until they reach his desk. But the term-limited governor said he is “not a horse trader” and told reporters he’ll review each bill to determine “is it good for the people of Michigan or not?”

The vast majority of bills sent to him over the past eight years have cleared the Legislature with bipartisan support, but the recent fury in lame duck appears to be “somewhat of an aberration,” he told reporters in an end-of-year round table discussion, his last before leaving office.

Snyder acknowledged public outcry over the GOP power play proposals, but with protesters flooding the Michigan Capitol in recent days, he said there have also been some “errors” by Democratic critics.

“I think there’s a civility question across the board in some ways, because one of the ways people are trying to convince me why I should veto bills or be against it is to come yell at me,” the governor said.

The legislative intervention bill is among a handful of Republican measures that have sparked protests and garnered national attention, including a Senate-approved bill that would strip campaign finance oversight from Democratic Secretary of State-elect Jocelyn Benson and give it to a new bipartisan committee.

In cases where the Legislature disagrees with the attorney general or administration, the House or Senate could file a legal brief asking the court to allow it to intervene in the dispute, Ananich said before giving a hypothetical to reporters after the committee meeting.

“Let’s say … you were the speaker of the House and were running for attorney general and you want to weigh in on a case. What would stop you from using your power and your seat to make a political point in a case, wasting taxpayer dollars intervening on behalf of the Legislature when maybe the Legislature doesn’t feel that way?”

Several citizens spoke out against the bill in committee, arguing it contradicts separation of powers spelled out in the Michigan Constitution, disrespects voters who elected Nessel and could essentially create a “shadow attorney general.”

Sen. Morris Hood, D-Detroit, echoed those concerns and said the attorney general’s office has the appropriate power and expertise to handle complicated cases on its own.

“As of November, we elected an attorney general to do a certain job under the rules that are there, and now after the election we want to change the rules, and I think that is unfair to the people,” Hood said.

joosting@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @jonathanoosting