Tag Archives | Immediate effect

UPDATED: Michigan Court of Appeals gives Republicans green light to ignore the Constitution

By on August 16, 2012 in Michigan Democrats, Michigan Republicans

This is what happens when you vote Republican

Today, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled against Democratic legislators and dismissed a case around unconstitutional use by the GOP of the “immediate effect” rule. As has been widely reported, including by Rachel Maddow (video and my previous coverage HERE), Republicans in the House have been implementing “immediate effect” on newly passed bills without a roll call vote. A ridiculous number of bills have been passed with less than two-thirds of the legislators voting for it. However, they go ahead and call for a voice vote and then instantly gavel it as passed, even though they need two-thirds of the lawmakers’ votes for that to happen.

Today, the three members of the Court of Appeals that heard the case voted to send the case back to the lower court with an order that they dismiss it. Their justification is that they can’t tell the Legislature what to do and House rules allow for a voice vote.


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THE BIG PICTURE – Michigan mandatory helmet law repealed today

By on April 13, 2012 in Michigan

Freedom or burden?

[Note: The Big Picture is a new feature at Eclectablog featuring the remarkable photography of Anne C. Savage.]

For 42 years Michigan has had a mandatory helmet law but today Gov. Rick Snyder repealed the law for riders 21 years or older. It was passed with immediate effect.

What are your opinions and experiences with this? Tell us in the comments.


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Michigan GOP wins a round in its appeal to circumvent the state constitution

By on April 10, 2012 in Michigan Democrats, Michigan Republicans

The Michigan Republican House caucus won a round in court yesterday. The court allowed three bills passed in an illegal and unconstitutional use of “immediate effect” to remain on the books.

The Court of Appeals has halted a lower court’s injunction ordering House Republicans to grant requests from Democrats to hold recorded roll call votes on whether to put new laws immediately into effect. [...]

“We’re disappointed with this emergency ruling, and once a full hearing has been completed we’re confident our claims will be substantiated,” House Minority Leader Richard Hammel, D-Mount Morris Township, said in a statement.

Democrats sought the injunction after repeated attempts to be recognized for motions on the House floor to hold a roll call vote instead of the standing vote the Republicans conduct.

…


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Debunking the myth that it’s OK for the Michigan GOP to ignore the constitution because “Dems did it, too”

By on April 8, 2012 in Michigan Democrats, Michigan Republicans, Uncategorized

Wrong is wrong, illegal is illegal

I have been writing about how Michigan House Republicans have been refusing to acknowledge Democrats’ request to have a roll call vote on whether or not to make a bill take “immediate effect” rather than wait until 90 days after the end of the legislative session. Our state constitution says that they can do this if 2/3 of the House votes for it. If 1/5 of the House asks, the vote must be by roll call.

Democrats have over 1/5 of the House.

Republicans do not have 2/3 of the House.

Because of this, they have been ignoring Democrats’ request for roll call votes because they know they do not have the votes for it.…


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Michigan Republicans have ILLEGALLY passed over 96% (546) of their bills under “immediate effect”

By on April 6, 2012 in Emergency Manager Law, Michigan Democrats, Michigan Republicans

It’s much, much worse in Michigan than we even realized

Last night, Rachel Maddow broke a huge story that has been happening since Republicans took over in Michigan in 2011 and has gone completely under the radar. Since January 2011, 566 bills have been signed into law. Of those, 546 of them, 96.5% were passed under “immediate effect”. Here’s the video from last night’s show that will blow your mind. Pay particular attention to around 12:30 where they show it in action. It’s astonishing.

This is new in Michigan governance. This is not the way that Michigan was set up. This is not the way it was supposed to be…Michigan Republicans are using what is supposed to be an emergency provision for everything, even for the most contentious and partisan and divisive things that they want to do…


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