North Michigan News

Rep. Sue Allor (R-Wolverine) is, along with many of her colleagues, concerned about the exercise of power and disregard for the Legislature by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer during the COVID-19 state of emergency.

"I cannot support the governor having unlimited and unchecked powers -- especially when she refuses to release certain data and information to substantiate her decisions," Allor said in a column she wrote on the Michigan House Republicans website. "While recently loosening some of her more comprehensive restrictions is a good start, the governor must do more to work with the Legislature moving forward."

Allor and her colleagues believe several of Whitmer's executive orders are excessive, beyond what is necessary to protect the public.  

This isn't the first time Whitmer has made decisions on her own executive authority. Last year, she refused to work with the Legislature on a budget. She also bypassed the Legislature to implement a road repair plan that could leave generations of Michiganders indebted.

Allor said in her column, "It is increasingly evident that this go-it-alone attitude has become her trademark."

Allor said she believes greater harm can be avoided in this situation if the governor would work with the Legislature to pass appropriate-response legislation. Many families are already bearing the crushing weight of the financial stress the pandemic has caused. Other Michiganders are not receiving the care and services they need, especially health care unrelated to the coronavirus.

"Since COVID-19 began to spread and to gain significant influence in reshaping how we conduct our daily lives, I  have been on countless conference calls, spoken to concerned mothers and fathers, business owners, out-of-work employees, local officials, medical professionals, school administrators and many others about the serious challenges they are facing. Listening to them has provided me with much insight to offer on their behalf. Right now, the governor has made it clear that she does not want to hear those voices while in her decision-making process. That is both frustrating and deeply disappointing," Allor wrote in her column.

To justify the governor's independent decision-making, Whitmer is using a decades-old statute. The Senate recently passed a bill to address the issue of the statute, but the governor has already said she will veto it. Allor believes this goes against the government system of checks and balances. 

Allor voted for a measure, led by Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering), to take legal action challenging Whitmer's recent actions.

"I agree with some of the executive orders and strongly disagree with others," Allor wrote on Michigan House Republicans. "Many of our differences could be addressed by simply working with the Legislature -- which she [Whitmer] refuses to do and which is unacceptable in times like these. I have a record of working across the aisle,  especially when it’s in the best interest of the people I serve. The governor shouldn’t shy away from this approach -- it works."