A branch-war has erupted in the state of Michigan. The conflict pits Michigan’s Governor, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, against the GOP-controlled state legislature. The conflict concerns two elements of Michigan’s response to COVID-19.
The first pertains to what to do next. Whitmer wishes to extend most of the restrictions she implemented since March at least through the month of May. A number of legislators wish to ease those restrictions, especially in areas less affected by the virus.
The war’s second front concerns who gets to decide which of these routes to take. Whitmer asserts the power to unilaterally extend Michigan’s state of emergency, opening to her extensive powers under such a state. The legislature refused to approve an extension past April 30 and now claims that doing so ends both the state of emergency and Whitmer’s attendant authority. With the legislature suing, the dispute now heads to court.
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