(Source: MIRS.news, Published 12/17/2024) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told legislative leaders Tuesday that they “should not expect to see signatures on any more bills" until they have fulfilled their promises to pass certain pieces of legislation, a source told MIRS.

With lame duck nearing its end and House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) mentioning to his caucus the passage of an early sine die motion, Whitmer made it clear to both Tate and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) this morning that they promised economic development reform legislation and a long-term road funding package by year's end and have not delivered.

Among those things is some type of reiteration of the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund (SOAR), an innovation fund and other business attraction pieces of legislation. She wanted a long-term deal on roads and was working with House Minority Leader Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) on some ideas. She also hasn't seen the Public Safety Trust Fund, which has been sitting in the Senate for some time, the source indicated.

Three bills that create the $60 million innovation fund – HB 5651, HB 5652 and HB 5653 – are on the Senate agenda for action on Wednesday.

For those who think Whitmer could be bluffing, remember in 2019 when then-Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and then-House Speaker Lee Chatfield sent the Governor a non-negotiated budget. She ended up vetoing $947 million in spending, including $375 million for roads, proof that she has vetoed priorities.

House Democrats met briefly in an online caucus Tuesday to discuss plans for the rest of lame duck. A source told MIRS that the upshot is they plan to hold a session at 10 a.m. Wednesday and possibly Thursday to take votes on second-chamber bills from the Senate only. The hope among some caucus members is that some of the Senate bills can be passed, but “tempers are definitely high and patience is definitely thin.”

The feeling from the caucus room is that if “anyone tries to play games, it's over.”

Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) indicated to the caucus that he could take up a sine die resolution and end the session.

Meanwhile, Hall said Tuesday in a statement, “House Democrats are neglecting workers and spending their time on a ridiculous and out-of-touch woke wish list. House Republicans will not be back until they agree to address the most pressing issues facing our state.”

House Republicans didn't show up to House session on Friday in protest against Democrats for not negotiating to preserve the tipped wage for restaurant workers.

Also threatening to not show up for the session on Wednesday is Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit), who said that until she sees a supplemental with some in-district spending for each of the 110 members of the House, she will not be voting for.

Tuesday, she amended her prior comments in a conversation with The Detroit News, saying she wants votes on tipped wage, paid sick leave, road funding, water affordability and public safety funding on Wednesday's Senate agenda.

Asked to assess the situation, Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield) quipped, “I feel like I had to learn a new language when I got elected. Too many people like to communicate via smoke signals around here.”

Both the House and Senate each have around 60 bills on their agenda for Wednesday's session. The House agenda includes:

 - Legislation banning the sale or possession of bump stock and banning firearms from state buildings

 - Expanding the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to the Legislature and the Governor's office

 - The Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor)-led “Momnibus” package.

 - Giving seniors and “vulnerable adults” who are unable to live on their own access to a restraining order system.

 Over in the Senate, the agenda includes:

 - The recreation passport fee change to make the program an “opt-out” as opposed to an “opt-in".

 - The hate crimes bill that Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield) has been working (See “Expanded Hate Crime Preventions Bills Get 3rd Try In House,” 11/13/24).

 - Bills requiring retailers of tobacco products to obtain a license before being able to sell.

 - The House version of the charter school accountability package.

Hertel: 'I'd Give A Kidney To Be In Their Position'

Having served in the minority for his entire time in the Legislature, former state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. urged Democratic lawmakers to seize the opportunity in front of them to pass legislation that helps working people, despite being disappointed and frustrated that maybe not all of their priorities are happening.

Now a Michigan Democratic Party chair candidate, Hertel pointed to loosening restrictions on public employee health insurance, weakening the “Death Star” bill, protecting survivors of sexual assault and the water affordability package as examples of key legislative successes the Legislature can still pass along to the Governor.

“I'd give a kidney to be in their position,” said Hertel, who helped Democrats win the majority for the state Senate in 2022 as a leader within the Senate Democratic Fund. “We built this majority to get things done for people. I had a lot of things that were important to me, too, in the Legislature that didn't get done. Regardless of whatever personal things there are, we are the party of working people, and they have an opportunity to get things done for them. I, for one, hope they'll take it.”