Michigan to Strip Governor of Reopening Powers | Eastern North Carolina Now

Publisher's note: This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal, and written by Polizette Staff.

    In a very personal form of lobbying state officials, protesters held a demonstration outside the home of Michigan Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday. This was the same day news broke that Whitmer plans to extend the state's virus stay-at-home order until May 15th. Meanwhile, the state legislature will meet to likely strip Whitmer of certain powers to close and/or reopen the state.

    Protestors were not happy about the two week extension until mid-month, "We wanted to send Gretchen Whitmer a message, we didn't want to surrender our liberties just for a little temporary safety," Brian Pannebecker, a protest leader, told the local Fox television affiliate in Lansing, Michigan.

    "Younger people, healthy people, without putting anybody else in danger, including ourselves, and others in danger, should be able to go back to work," said Pannebecker.

    Whitmer has run afoul of state lawmakers as well.

    The state legislature has scheduled a special session for Friday to create an oversight committee to review Whitmer's diktats and very possibly strip her of some executive powers, the Detroit Free Press reported.

    Michigan House Speaker Republican Lee Chatfield of Levering said, "The House & Senate will convene tomorrow to create a special oversight committee on COVID-19 to examine our government's response. Michigan needs to handle this pandemic seriously yet properly. It's what the people deserve, and we will see that it happens."

    Whitmer has clearly exceeded her authority with a series of draconian actions. An April 9th revision to her stay-at-home order included bans on visiting friends and relatives, traveling to vacation homes, and halts on sales of items such as furniture and gardening supplies. That is a ridiculous way to fight a virus and is such overkill that it is amazing she even considering these over the top moves in the first place.

    To top that off, in an interview Whitmer also said abortions should continue during the virus crisis because they were "life-sustaining" health care for women. "Healthy" abortions and no furniture purchases. This is the Michigan governor's way of fighting the coronavirus.