Thursday, April 30, 2020

Michigan House Won’t Extend State of Emergency, Votes to Sue Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Instead

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her State of the State address to a joint session of the House and Senate, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)


The Michigan House of Representatives declined to extend Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s state of emergency another 28 days, and instead voted on Thursday to sue her.
Whitmer’s initial state of emergency order, which is separate from the stay-at-home order, expires on Thursday and requires legislative action to be lengthened.
Negotiations on that front fell apart on Wednesday when Whitmer refused to make any concessions on the matter, asserting she has the ultimate control of emergencies.
So the House voted to authorize Speaker Lee Chatfield to sue the governor, saying Whitmer’s “unchecked and undemocratic approach” is not the best way, ABC 12 reported.
“The current status quo relies on one-size-fits-all edicts that unfairly punish millions of people across the state without giving them any recourse or voice in the process,” Chatfield said.
“The people deserve a better solution, and we can provide it.”
The House also passed a resolution restricting a governor’s state of emergency declarations to 14 days. Whitmer has vowed to veto that legislation.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the capitol and demanded the state be reopened.
“We want Michigan open, we want Michigan back to work,” Jason Howland, one of the protest organizers, told Fox 17.
“We put the event together, we put it on Facebook, and we heard that they were taking down events that had to do with protests or rallies against the wishes of Whitmer,” he said.
Facebook confirmed it removed the protest page “because the event would have defied government guidance on social distancing,” the site reported.
“If I go to a protest social distancing and follow the rules created by the people I’m protesting against, I look pretty silly at the end of the day I feel,” Howland said.
State Sen. Dayna Polehanki, a Democrat from Livonia, posted on Twitter that “men with rifles” were in the Senate gallery and “yelling at us.”
Senator Dayna Polehanki ✔ @SenPolehanki
Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today.
26.7K
· Lansing, MI
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Polehanki claimed some of her colleagues “who own bullet proof vests” were wearing them.
The Senate is expected to vote on a similar resolution authorizing leaders to pursue legal action against Whitmer’s orders.

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From Valuing a Degree in Gender Studies to Valuing a Job at the Supermarket: COVID-19 Has Changed Things Overnight

Thought provoking article.

JUST YESTERDAY a university degree in gender studies was valuable. Today a job at the supermarket is valuable.
Yesterday a share portfolio was prized. Today a stash of toilet paper, hidden away in a bathroom cupboard, is prized.
Yesterday all a woman wanted was Chanel. Today all a woman wants is hand sanitizer.
Yesterday we dreamed of taking a holiday in Italy. Today we just hope the Government will let us out of our homes.
Yesterday we dreamed of being CEO of a major corporation so as to dominate the business world. Today we dream of hosting a Zoom meeting so as to mute everybody.
Yesterday we aspired to live in a trendy apartment in a major city like New York. Today we envy people who live in the middle of nowhere, far from anything and anyone.
Yesterday manufacturing was unimportant because the Chinese did it all for us. Today grey and grimy local factories would be a source of community pride.
Yesterday public transport was for everybody. Today everybody wants to travel in their own car, if at all.
Yesterday teaching our children to be LGBTQ allies was a priority at school. Today we are worried about how to teach our children numeracy and literacy skills at home.
Yesterday we never thought about Communism because China was sending us cheap stuff we couldn’t live without. Today we recognise Communism for the evil that it is because China sent us a virus that could kill us all.
Yesterday we understood that transnational organisations like the United Nations and the European Union were the hope of world peace and security. Today we understand that it’s every nation for itself.
Yesterday the World Health Organisation was trusted to warn us if a weird flu-like bug popped up 10,000km away. Today we don’t trust anyone but our local GP.
Yesterday food magically appeared on supermarket shelves. Today we are suddenly aware that someone has to grow it and harvest it and process it and package it and deliver it.
Yesterday we were in awe of beautiful celebrities who told us how to be virtuous like them, if only we had their life. Today we are in awe of non-descript truck drivers who spend all night at the wheel getting pasta and flour to our local store.
Yesterday universities boasted that huge numbers of international students gave them diversity. Today diversity doesn’t necessarily seem to be an inherent good.
Yesterday there was nowhere better to be than aboard a cruise ship with a thousand other people. Today there is nowhere better to be than at home with your family.
Yesterday dress sense was incredibly important. Today the top doesn’t need to match the bottom and the shoes are completely irrelevant, provided I get the webcam angle just right.
Yesterday what was hailed as genius was actually madness. Today what had been dismissed as madness is clearly genius.
Covid-19 – Sorting the wheat from the chaff since January 2020
https://caldronpool.com/from-valuing-a-degree-in-gender-studies-to-valuing-a-job-at-the-supermarket-covid-19-has-changed-things-overnight/
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Michigan protesters storm state Capitol in fight over coronavirus rules: 'Men with rifles yelling at us'

Dozens of protesters, some of whom were armed, gathered Thursday inside Michigan's Capitol building to voice their opposition to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order, with tensions high as lawmakers were poised to debate an extension of the declaration.
Holding American flags and handmade signs, the demonstrators in Lansing first congregated shoulder-to-shoulder outside before demanding to be let inside the building. Some chanted "Let us in," The Detroit News reported.
Dennis Sigler, 66, of Mason, told the newspaper he attended the protest out of respect for others and not because he was worried about the COVID-19.
"I love freedom," he said. "In America, we should be free. Don't let them try to protect us from ourselves."
State Sen. Dayna Polehanki, a Democrat, tweeted a photo of what she described as armed demonstrators yelling above her. She said some of her colleagues were wearing "bullet proof vests" inside the House chamber.
"Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today. #mileg," she posted.
Senator Dayna Polehanki ✔ @SenPolehanki
Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today.
25.5K
· Lansing, MI
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Michigan has allowed guns inside the Capitol building but banned protest signs several years ago.
State House lawmakers eventually adjourned their meeting without taking up the extension. However, the House approved a resolution giving Speaker Lee Chatfield, a Republican, the ability to challenge Whitmer's actions legally, MLive reported.
"Members of the Michigan House of Representatives must defend the Legislature’s role as the sole lawmaking body and as a co-equal branch of government in Michigan’s constitutional system," the resolution stated.
Whitmer claimed she had the emergency authority regardless of what state lawmakers did.
Thursday's rally came as some people living in Michigan have continued to demand Whitmer roll back her stay-at-home order in an effort to reopen the state's economy and allow residents to resume daily activities. Last week, she extended the mandate through May 15 but loosened some restrictions beginning Friday.
Residents will be allowed to travel between residences, but it will be "strongly discouraged."
Rod Meloni @RodMeloni
Protest moves inside Michigan Capitol. Crowd attempts to get onto Hoise floor. Lots of Michigan State Police and House sergeants at arms blocking door.
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Similar gatherings have sprouted up across the country with participants denouncing stay-at-home orders in their respective states. Many activists have framed their discontent as a civil-rights issue. The orders have mandated that people stay home and that businesses temporarily close, resulting in massive job losses and employee furloughs.
A rally on April 15 called "Operation Gridlock" drew thousands outside Michigan's Capitol, in addition to another gathering outside Whitmer's home.
A protester carrying his rifle at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Thursday. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
A protester carrying his rifle at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Thursday. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The governor said following the earlier demonstration that she respected their right to protest but raised concerns about those who ignored social distancing rules.
"We know that this demonstration is going to come at a cost to people's health," she said at the time.
Rashida Tlaib ✔ @RashidaTlaib
Black people get executed by police for just existing, while white people dressed like militia members carrying assault weapons are allowed to threaten State Legislators and staff.

📣Our gun laws are so broken. https://twitter.com/RodMeloni/status/1255901755474403328 …
Rod Meloni @RodMeloni
Protest moves inside Michigan Capitol. Crowd attempts to get onto Hoise floor. Lots of Michigan State Police and House sergeants at arms blocking door.
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Following Thursday's events, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan, voiced her frustration with the treatment of the armed protesters compared to African-Americans.
"Black people get executed by police for just existing, while white people dressed like militia members carrying assault weapons are allowed to threaten State Legislators and staff," she tweeted. "Our gun laws are so broken."
https://www.foxnews.com/us/michigan-lansing-coronavirus-protest-capitol-guns-rifles
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