Lansing Sun

The veto of a bipartisan bill extending whistleblower protections to Michigan state employees has ended with disappointment for Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte).

Barrett, who was a sponsor of Senate Bill 686, sounded off on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s veto of the bipartisan bill that reached her desk with unanimous support. The Michigan Whistleblower Protection Act, created 40 years ago, protects employees against employers who seek retribution for reports of wrongdoing. It is extended to public and private employees but leaves out state classified civil service employees.

“The Legislature unanimously approved this measure to guard the rights of state employees, yet the governor has chosen to reject this bipartisan agreement out of spite,” Barrett said in a press release on MiSenateGOP. 

Sen. Tom Barrett | #MiSenateGOP

“I sponsored Senate Bill 686 to protect state employees who communicate with members of the Legislature, and I am publicly calling for the Legislature to override this ridiculous veto. Unfortunately, given the governor’s recent decisions, this action to suppress speech is not entirely surprising, but it should worry citizens everywhere," he told MiSenateGOP.

The press release pointed out there has been protective language in state budgets since 2006. This language indicated that departments could not take actions against the employers for communication to the Legislature.

The protective language, however, was not placed in the 2020 budget, allowing departments to take punitive actions against employees, which would fall upon the governor’s shoulders.

“The governor’s action will have a chilling effect on state employees who want to report concerns they have within state agencies,” Barrett said in the press release. “What about employees who contact their legislative representation for help with issues unrelated to their state employment or advocating their personal position on legislation? There should never be retribution for these activities. What a disappointment from someone who is supposed to be a leader in our state.”

Barrett also took exception to the governor’s statement that the bill was an effort to score political points. In response, Barrett said the governor either has something to hide or is retaliating against the Legislature -- or perhaps him personally.

“None of those reasons is acceptable,” Barrett told MiSenateGOP.