Michigan lawmakers want to strip Gov. Whitmer of her powers

Michigan lawmakers plan to strip Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of some of her powers on Friday, with her decision to extend the state’s stay-at-home order until May 15 sparking armed protests outside her home.
Whitmer, a Democrat, signed an executive order Friday morning extending Michigan’s stay-at-home order for two weeks beyond its original April 30 expiration as the state continues to battle a large coronavirus outbreak that has killed 3,000 Michiganders.
The Wolverine State has been rocked by protests and unrest for weeks over the restrictive measures, with Republican state lawmakers calling a special legislative session on Friday where they will consider bills that would strip Whitmer of some of her powers.

Lawmakers will create an oversight committee to investigate how Whitmer has handled the pandemic, while the Senate will consider bills stripping the state chief executive of her ability to declare a state of emergency, the Detroit Free Press reported.

 

Whitmer said she will veto the bills if they reach her desk. Democrats are furious they were being dragged to work after at least one member of the House died from suspected coronavirus.
Armed protesters descended on the governor’s home Thursday after news of the extended order broke in a demonstration dubbed “Operation Queen’s Castle.”
The small group waved American flags and Trump signs and said they were concerned that small businesses were being bankrupted by the strict social distancing orders.
“We wanted to send Gretchen Whitmer a message, we didn’t want to surrender our liberties just for a little temporary safety,” one protester told Fox 2 Detroit.
https://nypost.com/2020/04/24/michigan-republicans-want-to-reduce-gretchen-whitmers-power/