MI House Republicans legally required to present bill lowering health insurance costs for public employees for consideration

 

LANSING, Mich., Feb. 28, 2025 — A Michigan Court of Claims judge ruled yesterday that Michigan House Republicans are required to present nine bills to the governor under article 4, section 33 of Michigan’s Constitution. However, the judge denied injunctive relief that would force the House to send the bills to the governor. The decision resulted from a lawsuit Michigan Senate Democrats filed against the Michigan House of Representatives, Speaker of the House, Matt Hall and House Clerk, Scott Starr, for holding hostage nine bills that had passed both the Senate and the House last legislative session.

By not presenting these bills to the governor, the House Speaker and Clerk are withholding financial benefits that would provide breathing room for hundreds of thousands of hardworking Michiganders. State Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren) sponsored one of the nine bills, House Bill 6058, which provides immediate relief to public employees and their families from high health insurance costs. In response to the decision, Xiong issued the following statement:

“It is the constitutional duty of the House Speaker and the Clerk to deliver these bills to the governor to give her 14 days to review — this must be done for the workers of Michigan. I am grateful to Judge Patel and the Senate Democrats for standing up for our lawmaking process and for every public employee who is relying on this legislation to better support themselves and their families.

“Michigan’s teachers, police officers, firefighters and other municipal employees have felt a lot of uncertainty due to House Republicans’ decision to unconstitutionally back this relief from moving forward for Michiganders. Judge Patel’s declaratory decision serves justice to those workers. I call on the Speaker to fulfill his legal and constitutional obligation to deliver these bills to the governor. My bill will help Michigan better support, retain and attract much needed public employees in communities across the state.”

 

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