Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been known to be a hypocritical leader during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Laws for thee but not for me” has been her doctrine. “Do as I say but not as I do.” At the start of the pandemic she demanded that residents stay indoors but then herself marched along side maskless BLM protestors shoulder to shoulder. No social distance maintained.
Now, Michigan legislators have stripped Whitmer of the emergency powers that she has possessed during the pandemic.
The Michigan state Senate approved their “Unlock Michigan” initiative on the 15th of July. The vote was 60-48 in the Republican majority house. The goal, obviously to open Michigan and free the state from Whitmer’s emergency action.
These powers allowed Whitmer to enforce serious “health and saftey” measures. These measures seriously restricted not only the economy but the life of every Michigan resident, revoking their freedom.
Fox News reported, Whitmer faced immense pushback and public protests against lockdowns in April. Armed protesters gathered at the state’s Capitol to demand Whitmer repeal stay-at-home orders.
The governor had repelled a similar push to limit her powers in March 2020 when Senate Bill 1 made its way to her desk: The bill aimed to amend the state’s public health code by limiting orders from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to no more than 28 days of effect unless approved by both houses of the State Legislature.
The Governor responded by saying that “epidemics are not limited to 28 days.”
Well then what would be a valid time frame? 3 months of economic destruction? 6 months of freedom rescinded? 1 year of lost education for America’s youth?
Whitmer would likely work to hold these emergency powers as long as possible were it not for the state legislature.