St. Joe-Benton Harbor News

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy recently published a Mandate for Legislative Action advocating for immediate action by Michigan’s Legislature to guide the state’s approach in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last spring, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer assumed unilateral control of Michigan’s policy response to COVID-19. The Michigan Supreme Court recently struck down her approach as unconstitutional and ordered the governor to work with the Legislature. Since then, she has been leveraging other administrative powers to retain control.

As rates of COVID-19 cases continue to surge, Whiter has disagreed with lawmakers and the court, but very little in regards to policy has actually changed since the court’s decision. The numbers suggest that the governor’s approach has failed, but Whitmer and her supporters believe that residents are not complying with the mandates.

The Mackinac Center urges the the Michigan Legislature to take immediate action. House Republicans recently released a proposal, which sets thresholds and mandates for local health officials to enact if case rates rise too much in their region. This proposal hasn’t been taken up yet by the Legislature.

Jared Skorup, director of marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center, believes now is the time for the Legislature to move forward with legislation for the state to take a different approach to the pandemic. Skorup says the Legislature should take this chance to push forward bills to the governor that actually represent the interests of the people. He believes that inaction condones the governor’s use of the administrative state, handing the job over to unelected bureaucrats.

Skorup suggests the Legislature should release a plan that is consistent, explained in detail and easy to comprehend. Whitmer’s governing has been inconsistent, lacking in transparency and confusing at times, according to the Mackinac Center.