(The Center Square) – Two dozen Michigan House Republicans are urging the Committee on Government Operations to consider a constitutional amendment requiring all bills considered during lame duck sessions receive a two-thirds vote of approval from the legislature to become law.
HJR Q, which passed the House with bipartisan support during the previous term, is intended to prevent the exploitation of lame duck sessions, when lawmakers on their way out will sometimes pass politically unpopular and divisive legislation they would not otherwise support for fear of voters’ disapproval.
“Popular government depends upon the people holding their elected representatives accountable for their actions,” the lawmakers wrote to the committee. “Lame-duck sessions should not be used to circumvent our system designed to make legislators answerable to their constituencies.”
The letter comes as Democrats have scrambled to push through legislation unlikely to pass in a divided congress, including bail reform, changes to sex education in schools, and mandatory electric vehicle charging capacity in all new residential buildings.
State Reps. Andrew Fink, R-Adams Township, and Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Township, both commented on how HJR Q continues to await consideration in the committee, despite its referral in April of this year, and accused Democrats of acting in bad faith.
“This same measure passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House last term,” Bollin said. “Some of the very same Democrats who supported it then refused to sign onto the letter now. It’s a shame to see partisan games being played here rather than advancing this proposal.”
“This isn’t a partisan issue,” Fink added. “Republicans will be at the helm in the House next term, and we still believe this proposed amendment is the best course of action for the people of Michigan represented by the Legislature. At the very least, the committee should allow for public discourse on this measure by taking it up for testimony instead of sweeping it under the rug.”
