The Republican-controlled Michigan Senate voted Thursday night to put a 28-day time limit on orders to combat the COVID-19 pandemic issued by the leader of the state’s health department.
The Senate approved the bill in a party-line 22-16 vote after a fierce debate among lawmakers. The proposal hasn’t passed the GOP-controlled House yet and is likely to be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, whose administration has relied on the epidemic orders in recent weeks to respond to a surge in coronavirus infections that have tested hospital capacity.
After the Michigan Supreme Court struck down Whitmer’s ability to keep emergency executive orders in place without lawmakers’ support, state Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon began signing epidemic orders to require masks and suspend indoor dining at restaurants and in-person instruction at high schools.
Sponsored by Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, the bill would require the Legislature to approve epidemic orders if the director of the state Department of Health and Human Services wants them to continue for longer than 28 days. The bill was introduced last week and was discharged to the Senate floor without a committee vote.
The Senate approval marked the latest development in a months-long feud between Republican lawmakers and Whitmer over the reach of her executive powers and how to respond to COVID-19.
