Latest news with #MichiganSenate
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bipartisan event highlights Michigan's legislative divides, instead
MACKINAC ISLAND — In a new era of divided government, state lawmakers face a binary choice between bipartisan cooperation and gridlock. When they convened for the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual policy conference in the Straits of Mackinac, where two Great Lakes meet, they remained at loggerheads. Unlike past conferences in which legislative leaders have sometimes joined the governor for a big bipartisan policy announcement, that didn't happen this year. House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton Township, described the current legislative session as uniquely unproductive. "I'm disappointed with the lack of progress," he said. Republicans control the Michigan House and Democrats hold a majority in the Michigan Senate. "You think that would be an ideal situation to find common ground," said Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids. Legislative leaders pointed fingers at each other for inaction. Puri blasted Richland Township Republican House Speaker Matt Hall's leadership style. "It's an unserious approach that's going to lead to dangerous consequences," Puri said. Hall said Michigan voters can blame Democrats for a Mackinac Policy Conference that didn't feature a bipartisan bill signing ceremony on the island. The Democratic-led legislative session that came to an end last year has continued to hover over the current one, fueling tensions between the top Republican and Democratic leaders in Lansing. Bills that passed both chambers last session never made their way to Whitmer's desk, prompting the Michigan Senate to sue Hall for refusing to transmit the legislation. Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, called it an unfortunate start to the year. Brinks said she and Hall have had informal and infrequent conversations, adding that her continued invitations to sit down have gone unanswered. "It shouldn't be that way," she said. "It's absolutely a problem." Hall has defended his leadership approach during news conferences, touting policies in which House lawmakers from both parties have come together to support in one breath and singling out some Democratic lawmakers for criticism in another. During a Mackinac Policy Conference panel featuring all four legislative leaders May 29, Hall didn't take Brinks or Puri up on their personal pleas to meet. At one point, Puri held up his phone in front of the audience, saying he had his calendar pulled up to put a date to meet on the calendar. Hall told Puri he didn't need to, saying he's worked effectively with other Democratic lawmakers. Hall also said he has set an example for bipartisanship with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, citing their Oval Office visit with President Donald Trump that preceded the announcement of a new fighter jet mission for Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Whitmer declined a request for an interview with the Detroit Free Press during the conference. But in her speeches, she emphasized her commitment to cooperating across the aisle. "This isn't a platitude. This is a philosophy," she said. Whitmer has long preached bipartisanship, but she faces a new dynamic in Lansing. For the first time during her tenure as governor, one political party controls one chamber of the Michigan Legislature and the opposite party controls the other. So far, lawmakers have sent four bills since this session began January to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's desk for her signature: Changes to Michigan's minimum wage and paid sick leave laws and a pair of bills that adjusts the deadline for politicians and candidates to file their personal financial disclosures following hiccups with the online reporting system. Whitmer's governing approach isn't the only thing on the line, so is her marquee campaign promise to "fix the damn roads" if lawmakers reach a stalemate on road funding. But she suggested lawmakers may be close to an agreement. "We're inching closer to a deal," she said. Mackinac Policy Conference: Mike Duggan, Dan Gilbert chat about downtown Detroit and what Bill Clinton saw in 1991 The Michigan House passed a road funding plan in March that would depend on steep cuts, which Puri characterized as an austerity plan packaged as a road funding solution. Brinks has previously described it as a nonstarter. Hall has blasted Senate Democrats for not putting forward a road funding plan of their own. Brinks says Hall won't come to the table to negotiate. While lawmakers may leave potholes unfilled, they face another high-stakes test for bipartisanship during budget negotiations. The Michigan House hasn't passed a budget proposal yet, and Hall hasn't committed to passing one out of the chamber by July 1, the deadline lawmakers — including Hall —imposed on themselves to help schools plan for the next year before students return to class. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@ or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Democrats say they want House Speaker to negotiate
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate passes sexual assault statute of limitations extension; Hall noncommittal on House action
Michigan Senate | Susan J. Demas Sexual assault survivors gained support from the Michigan Senate on Tuesday with the passage of bills to allow more time in filing civil lawsuits against their assailants, but it remains unclear if the Republican-controlled House plans to take up the bills. The upper chamber voted 25-9 to pass the five-bill package sponsored by Democratic Senators Kevin Hertel of Saint Clair Shores, Sam Singh of East Lansing, Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak, Jeff Irwin of Ann Arbor, and Veronica Klinefelt of Eastpointe. Together, the bills would give survivors of sexual assault or other criminal sexual conduct a 10-year window after a crime was committed, with a cutoff at the age of 42, or within seven years after discovering an injury or some other connection to the misconduct, or whichever is later. Survivors can file lawsuits to recover damages sustained from the criminal sexual conduct, which could be brought in court at any time if there was also a criminal conviction involved with the assault. Sexual abuse survivors again ask Michigan lawmakers for more time to sue perpetrators Regardless of the limitations listed in the package, the bills would allow a survivor who was victimized before the package's effective date to file a lawsuit for damages within one year after the effective date. In that case, a claimant could not recover more than $1.5 million. Other bills in the package would remove the existing 10-year statute of limitations, exempt claims to recover damages for criminal sexual conduct from the existing permanent prohibition on bringing a claim against the state, and would amend the state's government immunity law in various ways – including removing the immunity from tort liability for a public university, college or school district whose employee engaged in the misconduct while working there if the institution was negligent in hiring, supervising or training that employee. The same is true if the institution knew about the abuse and failed to intervene. In a statement, Hertel said survivors of sexual assault have for too long been denied their day in court and silenced by 'arbitrary deadlines and a system that failed them.' 'No more,' Hertel said regarding the Justice for Survivors package. 'At their core, these bills are about justice, accountability, and finally giving survivors the voice they deserve. With this legislation, we are shattering that silence and making it clear: Michigan will no longer be a place where assault is ignored and abusers get to walk free to continue their cycle of harm.' Michigan over the last several years made national headlines due to high-profile sexual assault or abuse cases, including the abuse perpetrated by the Larry Nassar scandal at Michigan State University and Robert Anderson at the University of Michigan. Attorney General Dana Nessel also spearheaded investigations into the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts of American in Michigan during her tenure, which exposed abuses across generations. The making of a monster McMorrow said in a statement that Michigan's justice system needed to be reformed to a position of protecting survivors and not shielding abusers. 'With the passage of this legislation out of the Senate, we're one step closer to securing the access to justice that survivors deserve,' McMorrow said. Irwin in a statement touted the legislation's removal of immunity for large institutions to empower survivors 'to speak their truth and pursue justice that they deserve.' Klinefelt in a statement also noted that power institutions have shielded perpetrators while abuses happened under their watch. The bills would no longer allow those institutions to hide behind legal immunity when survivors come forward. 'We're ending that with this legislation and are restoring trust, delivering justice, and making sure survivors' voices are not easily swept under the rug.' The bills now move to the House, but it's unclear if they'll get traction in the Republican-controlled chamber. In a Tuesday news briefing, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) appeared noncommittal on taking the bills up in the House. He also noted that his Democratic colleagues tried to pass similar legislation last session, but the effort died in a disastrous lame duck session that saw several key Democratic priorities grind to a halt. 'I haven't looked at it, but I think the idea of extending statutes of limitations for decades, or whatever it is, that creates a lot of questions, a lot of legal problems,' Hall said. 'We'll look at it. I haven't seen it, but you didn't see the Democrats move it when they were there, so it must have a lot of problems.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Michigan House passes bill to rename part of M-6 in honor of tow truck driver
LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) — A West Michigan tow truck driver who lost his life along M-6 near Grand Rapids is being honored by the Michigan House of Representatives. The House passed a bill Tuesday that would designate a portion of the roadway the . The bill now moves to the Michigan Senate for consideration. The parents of Keagan Spencer have been working to honor the life of their son who died in . Tow truck driver honored by community following deadly crash His father Matt Spencer and mother Kiko Garrison were the special guests of State Representative Angela Rigas, who introduced to name a portion of the highway in his memory. 'It's kind of surreal that our child had to give his life to raise awareness but there comes a certain amount of honor that distinction and I think I'm gonna be pretty dang proud,' Spencer said. The bill would make the portion of M-6 from Kalamazoo Avenue to 60th Street the Keagan Spencer Memorial Highway. 'Keagan was a servant, he was, just loved helping people. He had a passion for the towing industry like you just don't see in young people today,' Spencer said. Father of tow truck driver killed in crash: 'Move over' Keagan was a third-generation tow truck driver. Many drivers came to the House session and sat in the gallery to show their support. 'I feel like our legislators are recognizing that tow truck drivers aren't just these men in their Hi-Viz at the side of the road. These are actual first responders,' Garrison said. The family wants to bring awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and to remind people of . 'I hope that parents will let these young drivers that are beginning to drive the highways say remember that story when they go past that sign and maybe there'll be a discussion,' Garrison said. Keagan's parents are grateful for the honor and hope the designation will make an impact. 'If I get an opportunity to go down M-6 and pass my son's sign, it makes me proud. It will make me proud because he deserves that just like all these other men and women do,' Garrison said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
11-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Michigan state Rep. Joe Tate joins crowded race for U.S. Senate
2 people killed in shooting at Foot Locker, man says he killed wife with sword and more top stories 2 people killed in shooting at Foot Locker, man says he killed wife with sword and more top stories 2 people killed in shooting at Foot Locker, man says he killed wife with sword and more top stories Democratic Michigan state Rep. Joe Tate of Detroit is joining a crowded field for the state's open Senate seat. Tate launched his campaign Sunday to compete against at least three other Democrats seeking the seat left open by retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters. In an interview with the Associated Press, Tate spoke about his campaign goals and referenced his grandparents, who came to Detroit from Alabama as part of the Great Migration. "I'm running for the U.S. Senate, because I want to continue to keep that promise that my grandparents came up to Michigan for," he said. His campaign website says Tate will "show up and be a leader who will get things done for Michiganders." To become the Democratic nominee, the former Marine and NFL football player will have to convince voters to look past significant setbacks to the state party under his leadership. Tate made history in 2022 when he became the first Black speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, the highest position in the chamber. That fall, Democrats swept statewide offices and gained historic "trifecta" control of both chambers of the Legislature and the governor's office. Democrats passed significant legislation on gun control, climate change, reproductive rights and labor, repealing the state's "right to work" law. But their momentum stalled ahead of the 2024 fall elections and fell apart after Republicans won back the state House in November. Tate announced after the election that he would not seek a leadership role among House Democrats the next year. In the final days of the legislative session, internal divisions among Democrats caused Tate to abruptly end the session. The move effectively killed dozens of bills, including key Democratic priorities on economic development, road funding, ghost guns and reproductive health data. Republicans took control in January, and the Legislature has been deadlocked on most topics since. Many Democrats and Republicans alike have blamed Tate for the disastrous final days when Democrats still had control. Nine bills from the 2024 session approved by both chambers have still not been presented to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The new Republican speaker of the House has said it was Tate's job to get them to Whitmer's desk. "It's just unfortunate that some people decided to stop coming to work when the job wasn't done," Tate said in response, referencing one Democrat and the entire Republican caucus who boycotted the final days of session in order to stall it. A Michigan judge ruled in February that the state House had the legal requirement to send the bills to Whitmer's desk, but the judge stopped at forcing the House to present them. Tate said he is proud of the work Democrats accomplished while they held the majority in the Legislature, referencing legislation on universal background checks to purchase firearms and free breakfast and lunch for school children. "I see kids with full bellies in schools because of what we did," he said. A deep bench of Democrats began to eye the U.S. Senate seat after Peters this year announced plans to retire at the end of his term. U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and former gubernatorial candidate and public health official Abdul El-Sayed have all launched campaigns for the position. On the Republican side, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers is running again after losing to Democrat Elissa Slotkin in the state's 2024 U.S. Senate race by just 19,000 votes. The race for the open Senate seat is one of the most critical as the Democratic party aims to regain a majority in the 2026 midterm election. Peters made the surprise announcement that he won't seek reelection in January. He has represented Michigan in the Senate since 2015, after serving in the House.
Washington Post
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Lawmaker from Detroit joins crowded race for US Senate
LANSING, Mich. — A lawmaker from Detroit is joining the crowded field of Democrats vying for the battleground state's open Senate seat, one of the most critical races as the party aims to regain a majority in the 2026 midterm election. Michigan state Rep. Joe Tate launched his campaign Sunday to compete against three other Democrats seeking the seat left open by retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters .
