{"id":1705,"date":"2025-02-03T16:58:53","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T21:58:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/shink\/?p=1705"},"modified":"2025-02-03T16:58:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T21:58:54","slug":"senate-majority-leader-brinks-files-lawsuit-against-republican-speaker-hall-for-violating-constitution-failing-to-send-passed-legislation-to-governor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/shink\/2025\/02\/03\/senate-majority-leader-brinks-files-lawsuit-against-republican-speaker-hall-for-violating-constitution-failing-to-send-passed-legislation-to-governor\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Majority Leader Brinks Files Lawsuit Against Republican Speaker Hall for Violating Constitution, Failing to Send Passed Legislation to Governor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]
NOTE: Legal documents related to today’s lawsuit filing are attached.<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
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LANSING, Mich. (Feb. 3, 2025) \u2014 Today, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks<\/b> (D-Grand Rapids) hosted a press conference where she announced that the Michigan Senate has filed a lawsuit against Republican Speaker of the House Matt Hall<\/b> for evading the state constitution and refusing to send nine bills passed by both legislative chambers<\/a><\/u><\/span> to the governor.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Michigan Constitution makes it abundantly clear: every <\/i>bill passed by the legislature is required to be presented to the governor \u2014 and no one \u2014 especially <\/i>an elected public servant in legislative leadership \u2014 is above the law,\u201d said Leader Brinks<\/b>. \u201cRepublican Speaker Matt Hall\u2019s gamesmanship is not just disrespectful to the sanctity of our constitution \u2014 it\u2019s an outright disservice to the residents of Michigan, the very people he was elected to represent. We will not let the constitution go ignored, and I want hardworking Michiganders to know that we\u2019re in their corner.\u201d<\/p>\n

House Bills 4177<\/a><\/u><\/span> and 4665<\/a><\/u><\/span>–4667<\/a><\/u><\/span> of 2023 and House Bills 4900<\/a><\/u><\/span>–4901<\/a><\/u><\/span>, 5817<\/a><\/u><\/span>–5818<\/a><\/u><\/span>, and 6058<\/a><\/u><\/span> of 2024 were passed by the Senate and returned to the House for presentation to the governor on Dec. 20, 2024. The Republican House of Representatives has taken illegal action to block these nine bills \u2014 which lower health care costs for teachers and first responders<\/a><\/u><\/span> and improve retirement benefits for corrections officers<\/a><\/u><\/span> \u2014 from being presented to the governor.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom corrections officers to firefighters to bus drivers and teachers, our public workers are the lifeblood of this state. Day in and day out, we count on them. And, as elected officials, they count on us to solve the challenges they face,\u201d said Sen.\u00a0John Cherry<\/b> (D-Flint), Chair of the Senate Labor Committee. \u201cFor the sake of our workers and their families, Matt Hall and House Republicans need to stop playing political games with peoples\u2019 livelihoods and do what they were elected by the people of Michigan to do \u2014 deliver solutions. Let\u2019s get these bills where they should have been in the first place: on the governor’s desk for her signature.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe decisions we make as legislators have a real impact on families across our state,\u201d said Sen.\u00a0Kevin Hertel<\/b> (D-St. Clair Shores). \u201cAt the end of the day, we were sent to Lansing to represent the interests of the communities we serve \u2014 to ensure that folks who work hard have a fair shot and opportunities to thrive. And at a time when too many Michiganders are struggling to make ends meet, legislators should be focused on lowering costs, not scoring political points at their expense. It\u2019s time for Speaker Hall and House Republicans to stop the political games, do their job, and put the needs of Michiganders first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHardworking Michiganders \u2014 like those we heard from last week \u2014 are being hurt by Matt Hall’s decision to play political games with their livelihood and safety,\u201d said Sen. Sue Shink<\/b> (D-Northfield Twp.). \u201cThese public servants risk their lives daily to keep our communities safe, and they deserve respect, not to be treated as pawns in the Republicans\u2019 partisan fight. My Democratic colleagues and I are committed to delivering the solutions they need and upholding our constitutional duty to serve the people of Michigan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last week, the Senate Labor Committee heard testimony<\/a><\/u><\/span> from Michigan residents impacted by Speaker Hall\u2019s illegal obstruction of this critical legislation. Firefighters, teachers, corrections officers, and other public sector professionals shared personal stories<\/a><\/u><\/span> that highlight the urgent need for this legislation to be rightfully sent to the governor.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeaker Matt Hall\u2019s inaction to send this, and other bills, to the governor\u2019s desk is inexcusable. Playing party politics with people\u2019s health care and income is deplorable,\u201d Kim Sandefur<\/b>, a public school teacher and constituent of Speaker Hall\u2019s, wrote in testimony submitted to the Senate committee. \u201cWe are struggling to recruit and retain highly-qualified teachers as it is. They should not have to choose between health care and the job that they so love doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The full video of last week\u2019s Senate Labor Committee hearing can be viewed here<\/a><\/u><\/b><\/span>, and below is a list of the people who testified and corresponding timestamps for the video:<\/p>\n

05:20: Katie Kerstetter<\/b>, widow of fallen Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Officer Daniel Kerstetter (virtual)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

16:30: Chris Jenuwine<\/b>, a firefighter from Shelby Twp. in Macomb County (virtual)<\/div>\n
21:55 (Together):<\/b><\/div>\n