LANSING (WWJ) — With the so-called “lame duck” session nearing a close in the Michigan legislature, state representatives will not be back on the House floor until the final day of the year.
Last Friday Republican representatives walked off the floor over what they said was the Democrats’ failure to negotiate certain bills pertaining to the state’s tipped wage law, paid sick leave and fixing the roads.
Early Thursday afternoon outgoing Democratic Speaker Joe Tate issued a “call of the House,” ordering all members of the House of Representatives back to the floor. But a short time later, after failing to reach a quorum, the House was adjourned until 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31.
Democrats were hoping to pass another round of legislation before giving up the majority to start the new year to the GOP, but any movement will have to wait until the final hours of the session.
All 54 Republican representatives, along with Democrat Karen Whitsett of Detroit, had been boycotting the lame duck session.
Whitsett, who was not initially planning on attending Thursday, told WWJ Newsradio 950's Ryan Wrecker that Tate lied to her about what bills would be considered in order to get her to the House.
"He called me right before he did that. He lied to me and said, 'the first bill we're going to put up is the school bill.' Lies. Nothing but lies," Whitsett said, noting she was frustrated with the legislature's failure to consider bills that are important to her and her constituents.
Overall, she said she has been disappointed with Tate during his time as Speaker of the House.
"There are some people that had some really great bills that will never see the light of day. And it's sad," Whitsett said. "Even in the Senate, if they came over, he wouldn't do them. He has no clue what he's doing and that whole two years, we had no leadership."
Thursday morning, a group of Republican representatives spoke at American Coney Island in Detroit, taking a stand against the tipped wage law that is currently slated to take effect in February.
Rep. Joe Aragona of Clinton Township was among those to speak at the coney, saying Republicans would return to Lansing if there was a deal in place to take action on tipped wages.
"At this point, we're the ones who want to be at the table, we're coming to the table, but nobody's sitting across the table from us," Aragona said.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest updates. >>> LISTEN LIVE!