Capitol News

According to the Michigan House Republicans website, Rep. Matt Hall (R-Marshall) recently voted for a plan to restore the balance of governmental powers among the branches of state government. He says he is aiming at ending unchecked control given to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to NBC News, Michigan residents took to the streets to protest Whitmer's extended stay-at-home order that many said "went too far." The governor received "severe backlash" due to the order.

Hall says the Legislature did all it can do, but it takes two parties to reach an agreement. He added that Whitmer gave lawmakers no other option but to intervene.

“The Legislature did everything we could do to reach an agreement on the state of emergency continuations, but it takes two parties together to negotiate, and the governor did not give us any other option,” Hall said, according to Michigan House Republicans. “It is important to reestablish a balance between legislative and executive branches as it pertains to decision-making during this pandemic when so many people are being affected. Better decisions for our region will be made if local elected representatives are able to be the people’s voice and give them a spot at the table.”

Hall also voted to approve a plan ensuring measures protecting public health and families who have been impacted by the pandemic remain in place.

“I have received thousands of calls and e-mails from concerned people about the governor’s executive orders,” Hall told Michigan House Republicans. “People want to know when they can go in for a preventative surgery or why a particular region of the state must remain closed, if the amount of cases are low compared to other regions. If the Legislature is not allowed to be a part of this process, it is difficult for those concerns to reach decision-makers. That’s not an effective way for our state government to operate.”