Michigan
Detroit NAACP demands legislature reconvene, criticizing lawmakers who walked out
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The Detroit chapter of the NAACP released a statement calling the Michigan House of Representatives to be reconvened before the end of this year’s legislative session on Dec. 31. On Thursday after a tumultuous week of walkouts and absences, House Democrats adjourned with no plans for further voting.
House Republicans and state Rep. Karen Whitsett, D-Detroit, failed to attend sessions this week, walking out in protest.
The Republicans walked out together, hoping House Democrats would put up for a vote bills meant to preserve the tipped minimum wage in Michigan for servers and bartenders. Whitsett skipped Wednesday and Thursday for different reasons, telling reporters earlier this week that she left because she felt legislation on the table had been rushed.
Reverend Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit NAACP, chastised those who missed the legislative sessions and demanded the House reconvene.
“Staying at home when you should be at work, hanging out in the halls or in a secure office when you should be doing the work for the people is shameful politics,” his statement reads.
In their plea for the legislature to return to Lansing, the NAACP floated the use of Joint Rule 15, a facet of the Joint Rules of the Michigan Senate and House that grants the Senate majority leader and the House speaker power, acting together, to convene either chamber of the legislature at any time in case of an emergency.
“In a final plea before the year ends, we respectfully call upon Speaker of the House Joe Tate and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks to exercise their power and call the House back to session per Joint Rule 15,” the statement says.
“Power means nothing if you don’t exercise it,” Anthony said in the statement. “Leaving bills stacked on the table when they should be voted on, passed, and signed into law is your job undone.”
Breaking news reporter Liam Rappleye can be reached at LRappleye@freepress.com