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LANSING, Michigan – Michigan Republicans, following the tactics of conservative Wisconsin lawmakers, decided Thursday to limit the power of the new Democratic Secretary of State and pave the way for further restrictions. for the Democrats who will take over. Governor and Attorney General in January.
The Michigan Senate, led by the GOP, largely voted in favor of the ruling party and passed a bill denying the new Secretary of State the power to oversee campaign finance issues and entrusting it to a new bipartisan party. commission. Other bills, which should be approved next week, include proposals that would weaken the ability of the governor and attorney general to control the state's position in court.
Using a political notebook similar to that of Wisconsin this week, Michigan Republicans react to the presidential election day election in the highest spheres of the state by attempting to limit the power of the leaders of the opposing party. This decision alarmed the guardians of ethics, who called it a takeover, and fueled Democrat protests. But it is unclear whether Republicans would pay a political price, since many of them are in safe neighborhoods.
Republican governors in Wisconsin could, however, be a major difference.
In Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker, who was denied a third term in November, now weighs bills to limit his successor, Tony Evers; Mr. Walker did not specify how he would act, but he worked with Republican legislative leaders in that country.
In Michigan, however, the outgoing governor, Rick Snyder, has long been described as a relatively pragmatic former businessman. rather than a right wing ideologue like Mr. Walker. The Michigan Democrats believe that their best chance of success lies in Mr. Snyder, who has sometimes broken with the most conservative members of his own party.
A spokesman for Mr. Snyder said Thursday that the governor had not taken a stand. on any legislation to date, nor indicated whether he would sign it or not.
In November, Jocelyn Benson became the first Democrat to be elected Secretary of State of Michigan in more than 20 years. Gretchen Whitmer, a former member of the state legislature, was elected governor and Dana Nessel is elected attorney general.
The three women are women, while the Republican legislative leaders and the outgoing Michigan governor are men – a dynamic that could be in the limelight next week, while democrat-led demonstrations are expected to Capitol of the State.
"I reject this incivility and discord," said Whitmer in a statement Thursday. "This legislation divides uselessly and will not yield results. It's not going to clean our water. This will not improve literacy or repair roads.
The Wisconsin Republicans also used their lame post-election session to impose several proposals that would limit the power of the new Democratic administration and limit early voting, which generally benefits candidate Democrats. Republican leaders claimed that the state had let too much authority pass to the executive, while it had acted after eight years of Republican control under Mr Walker.
In Michigan, however, the proposed bills are even larger. In addition to those for new Democratic legislators, there is also a wealth of legislation on conservative legislative priorities, including limits on benefits to unionized workers and the reduction of certain environmental protections.
State Senator Dave Robertson, Great White Republican, Mich., Rejected the accusation that the measures were aimed at Democrats. When asked if he was trying to limit the power of Democrats, Mr. Robertson laughed.
"We've been talking about it for a while," Robertson told local journalists on Wednesday night. "And frankly, I'm able to inspire at any time, including now." Robertson, who drafted the campaign financing bill passed on Thursday by the Michigan Senate, himself been penalized for violating campaign funding.
The maneuvers, which critics have described as subversion of democratic principles, test the limits of American partisanship, while party lawmakers attempt to pass proposals of the eleventh hour instead of severe criticism. A mass protest action is planned in Michigan for next week, when the majority of bills will have their final vote before going to Mr. Snyder's office.
"BLADE DUCK WATCH", read a t-shirt worn at the shop. Capitol by Sam Inglot, Progress Michigan's Assistant Director of Communications, who works to organize progressive groups to lobby lawmakers.
"It's a last hold on power," said Christine Greig, Democratic Party leader at Michigan House. in an interview. "It really makes you think that they are losers and that they just want to take their ball and go home with it."
The challenge for Ms. Greig and groups like Progress Michigan is to to bring the Republican legislators to separate from theirs. Party. As in Wisconsin, state lawmakers who advance on controversial bills are not only Republicans, but also deep red conservatives who represent narrowly gerrymander districts designed to produce conservative results.
In Wisconsin, Democrats chose to demonstrate in front of the capitol. build, pack the rotunda and sing at committee hearings to shame Republicans in different actions. The Michigan Democrats, however, plan to try to persuade Mr. Snyder to take sides and prevent the proposed bills from becoming law.
In a statement, a spokesman for Mr. Snyder said the governor would carefully consider upcoming bills and take the necessary steps. a non-partisan approach.
"In this case, where the authority of different branches of government is affected, he will consider the bills as he continued to fulfill his duties as governor," said the spokesman, Ari Adler. "He will not look at the bills according to who is in the governor's office or party they represent."
Democratic state leaders hope that a mass action could prompt him to challenge his party. Brandon Dillon, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, said Snyder's decision was critical to the legacy.
"The governor will have to make a decision if he wants his inheritance to be identical to that of Scott. Walker – or as someone who leaves his position with the respect that is due to him for the position he occupies, "said Mr. Dillon. "The legislature will do what the legislature will do. But that's his decision to make.
Two notable Michigan bills have already come out of the lame duck session and are awaiting Snyder's final decision.
One of them radically alters the state law on paid sick leave, making it applicable only to businesses with 50 or more employees and adding other exemptions. . Another slows down a previously agreed minimum wage increase, which was also expected to raise the minimum wage for rocking workers.
The two measures were supposed to move towards the November ballot for the electors to take into account, but were removed after the legislators passed laws identical to those in force. the voters would approve. Then, once the elections were over, the Republican legislators reversed the original wording of the bill, ensuring that both measures would be decided in their favor without the participation of voters.
At the Michigan Capitol building on Thursday, several Republicans avoided or refused maintenance requests. The Democrats said what they called cynical actions on the part of Republicans had not only left them without much political but personally stunned recourse.
"It's definitely discouraging," said Nigel Tann, political director of Good Jobs Now, a Detroit-based group protesting against recent bills. "But again, everyone who has been involved in this work has been feeling discouraged for a while now. We are used to it. "
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