Sturgis-Coldwater News

Rep. Eric Leutheuser (R-Hillsdale) recently stated that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's unilateral governance empowered by the current state of emergency is “dangerous” and that it hurts Michigan workers and families, according to Michigan House Republicans.

The ongoing state of emergency that has been declared as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic has vested the governor’s office with unprecedented and virtually unlimited power for more than five months. During that time, Whitmer has issued approximately 160 COVID-related executive orders.

Leutheuser takes issue that the governor keeps extending the terms of her power with apparent disregard for the rights of citizens.

Rep. Eric Leutheuser | Michigan House Republicans

He also said that unilateral control is “dangerous,” and the numerous executive orders issued from that unchecked position of power has impacted the lives of citizens.

“This isn’t a question about whether or not the governor had good intentions or had the best advice. Unilateral control -- rule by roughly 160 COVID-related executive orders, so far -- is not just confusing, it’s dangerous. People have lost their livelihoods, and some, their life’s work. Against a backdrop of self-contradictory or nonsensical rules, faith in our system has broken down. The seemingly arbitrary nature of the rules has needlessly pitted neighbor against neighbor," Leutheuser wrote on the Michigan House Republicans website.

Leutheuser says that back in early spring with the outbreak of COVID-19, the Legislature authorized and temporarily extended a state of emergency to effectively deal with the pandemic. During that time, the Legislature was actively engaged and passed over 50 pieces of legislation in response to the health crisis.

At the time, Whitmer invoked the 1976 Emergency Management Act to get the Legislature a seat at the table, but since then, she has claimed power under the 1945 “Riot Act.” The 1976 law permits the governor to exercise unlimited power for up to 28 days without legislative authorization, while the 1976 law grants the same authority indefinitely.

Leutheuser points out that the key difference in Michigan’s response to the health crisis compared to other states is that most states still had oversight by legislatures during the emergency. 

"If our governor had simply allowed the input of people from all over the state, through their elected officials, there would be more public agreement and a better consensus about the way forward. Instead, we have a divided citizenry, unanswered questions, winners and losers, and utterly avoidable tragedies," he wrote on Michigan House Republicans website.

Leutheuser says that the Legislature will continue to challenge the use of the 1945 act to regain public input and urges a restoration of the power balance.

"Your voice, along with millions of others, has been shut out of representative decision-making. We must restore those voices and the balance of powers we expect, deserve, and trust," he concluded his column.