LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Attorneys for Michigan House Republicans and Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) filed a response motion on Friday challenging the lawsuit brought by the Michigan Senate and Majority Leader Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids). That lawsuit admonishes the House for allegedly holding bills passed in the final days of the 2024 lame duck session and not sending them to the governor’s desk.

Law and disorder.

The lawsuit stems from actions in the House and Senate as the final days of the Democratic majority in both chambers dissipated in December 2024. The period between an election (Nov. 5, 2024) and the new legislative session (Jan. 1, 2025) is known as “lame duck.” Democrats attempted to push through bills during this time period which reflected their party’s agenda.

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House Republicans walked out of session after they said then-House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) would not take up the tipped wage bills affecting Michigan’s restaurant industry workers. New minimum wage and sick time laws are set to go into effect on Feb. 21 if the legislature does not take action. While the Democrats raised a stink about the walkout, Democrats did not need Republicans in session to pass their bills.

In addition, infighting among Democrats fractured its remaining stronghold. Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) became upset when she found out the House would not take up one of her bills, so she failed to show up to session. State Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) also broke ranks. Rep. Whitsett’s move kept Democrats from a quorum, and the lame duck session died. A Republican majority, elected by Michigan voters on Nov. 5, took over leadership of the House on Jan. 1.

Previous reporting by Michigan News Source showed that former Speaker Tate “did not formally transmit the bills in question to Gov. Whitmer’s desk.” The legislature requires a specific way that bills must be “presented” to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature and Democrats failed to do this by Jan. 1.

Republicans: It’s not our mess.

The Democrat-led Senate claims there are nine bills that passed in the last session that Speaker Hall is not sending to Whitmer. In the filing, attorneys for the Republican chamber argue that Sen. Brinks’ ordering of a court to intervene in this matter “lacks merit” and that “this case should be dismissed.”

The motion states that Democrats essentially dropped the ball and are trying to strong-arm the courts into having it land in the laps of the Republicans. It states, “the new 103rd Legislature [wants Republicans] to clean up the mess left by the 102nd.”

It continues, “While the Senate may be frustrated with the failures of the 102nd Legislature, the 103rd Legislature has no duty to correct those failures.” A communication to Michigan News Source from Speaker Hall’s office clarifies that “The House doesn’t have to do anything a previous House says.” It also states there is no timeline to present the bills.

What about the leftover bills?

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The motion asserts that questions popped up after the 102nd Legislature adjourned and the 103rd took over. Speaker Hall started a legal review of the bills that were not prepared for the governor’s presentation. It states,
“The House was in the process of conducting a legal review when, on January 22, 2025, the Senate introduced a resolution to commence legal action and ‘compel the House’ to ‘present to the Governor the nine remaining bills passed by’ the 102nd Legislature.”

It also asserts “The Senate and Senate Majority Leader lack standing to turn an intra-branch political dispute into a lawsuit.”

Additionally, communication from Hall’s office outlines the motion, saying, ”Brinks doesn’t have standing to sue. The Senate did its job and now they’re done.”

Michigan’s restaurant workers continue to play the waiting game.

Meanwhile, a Feb. 21 deadline is looming for Michigan’s restaurant workers if the Senate doesn’t take up House-sponsored legislation to axe new minimum wage and sick time laws and keep tipped wages for the industry, which most workers prefer.

State Senator Michele Hoitenga (R-Manton) blasted chamber leadership on social media and urged Michigan residents to contact their elected officials. “Senate Democrats are reluctant to act and time is running out,” Sen. Hoitenga wrote. “Government has no business interfering in the employer/employee relationship. It typically ends up with increased costs, which get passed on to the consumer, or loss of jobs.” Sen. Hoitenga continues, “These initiatives are no different, but [the House bills] attempt to lessen the blows.”

The House and the Senate resume session on Tuesday, Feb. 11.