Lansing Sun

Republican leaders in Michigan are filing a lawsuit against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her use of emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On May 6, it was announced by House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) that the Republican Party of Michigan would be filing a lawsuit in the Court of Claims against Whitmer, according to WXYZ Detroit. 

"We’ve attempted to partner with our governor, but she’s rejected. We offered cooperation, but instead she chose court," Chatfield said on Twitter. "This was avoidable, but today we filed a lawsuit in our state to challenge her unconstitutional actions. The law in Michigan is clear, and nobody is above it."

But Whitmer's press secretary said that the lawsuit will not distract the governor from protecting Michigan residents from the coronavirus. 

“This lawsuit is just another partisan game that won’t distract the governor. Her No. 1 priority is saving lives. She’s making decisions based on science and data, not political or legal pressure," the press secretary said, according to WXYZ Detroit. "She has brought together leaders in health care, business, labor and education to develop the MI Safe Start plan to re-engage our economy in a way the protects our workers and their families. Moving forward, the governor will continue to listen to medical experts and put the health and safety of Michiganders first.”

Chatfield said at a press conference that lawmakers and the governor's office should be working together during this time. But Democrats are not in agreement with the Republican Party.

“The Republican leadership has demonstrated once again that the only thing they have to offer the people of Michigan during this crisis is partisan political theater, dripping with hypocrisy," House Democratic Leader Christine Greig (D-Farmington Hills) said, according to WXYZ Detroit. "As Michiganders are stretching their dollars and worrying about their livelihood in the face of a global pandemic, legislative Republicans are distracting time and attention away from the state’s response to COVID-19 and squandering scarce taxpayer resources in another dubious attempt to undermine efforts to address this unprecedented public health crisis."

The lawsuit comes after Whitmer extended Michigan's state of emergency, which was not approved by the state Legislature.