Xiong Unveils Hall’s Defense in Lawsuit Over Nine Limbo Bills Has Cost Taxpayers Over $291,000

The nine bills unconstitutionally held hostage from the governor’s desk include lower health insurance costs for public workers, benefits for correction officers

 

LANSING, Mich., April 10, 2026 — State Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren) provided transparency for residents by revealing in a social media post that House Speaker Matt Hall has cost Michigan taxpayers $291,152 in legal fees to defend his unconstitutional refusal to present nine bills that passed both the House and the Senate to the governor. 

The lawsuit was previously decided in the Michigan Court of Claims and again in the Court of Appeals in 2025. Both courts stated that these bills must be presented to the governor, with the Court of Claims issuing a writ of mandamus to Michigan House Republicans to do so. Hall has continued to refuse to comply with these court orders and has filed a petition to the Michigan Supreme Court, which will be hearing the case in May.

In condemnation of Hall’s refusal to comply with these court orders and his ongoing legal costs on taxpayers’ dime, Xiong issued the following statement:

“It is absolutely impermissible that the Speaker is wasting hundreds of thousands in taxpayer money to continue to defend his actions to withhold bills from law that would directly benefit Michiganders. My bill, House Bill 6058 of 2025, would help to lower health insurance costs for public employees. Right now, our teachers, firefighters, police officers and health care workers are paying more for their health insurance because the Speaker is unconstitutionally and deliberately withholding this bill. 

“I am fighting for transparency around these costs because residents deserve to know where their tax dollars are going. The Speaker has said he has no interest in passing FOIA legislation that would allow Michiganders to request information like this. He does not want the costs of his decision to act unconstitutionally to be public. I will continue standing up for public employees and every Michigander who would benefit from these bills being signed into law.”

 

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