Whitmer vetoes 9 bills at heart of Supreme Court case, which had been ordered to be presented

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed the nine bills that were stuck in limbo from the 2023-24 legislative session and were the subject of a Michigan Supreme Court order on Friday, potentially roiling unions and other groups who had hailed the court’s inaction on Friday as a way to let previous court rulings – which had ordered the bills be sent to Whitmer — stand.

Her veto reverses efforts by the Democratic-led Senate, which initially sued the Republican-controlled House when it decided to not present the enrolled bills to the governor. However, Whitmer also castigated Republican House leadership for playing political games with the bills in the first place.

Whitmer on Friday afternoon sent a veto letter notifying the House that she would not sign House Bills 4177, 4665, 4666, 4667, 4900, 4901, 5817, 5818 and 6058.

Michigan Supreme Court declines to take up case on 9 bills in limbo, withheld from the governor

“The session during which the Legislature passed these bills has adjourned, and therefore my disapproval means they will not become law (1963 Const. Art. IV, sec 33). I stand ready to work with the Legislature to consider new versions,” Whitmer wrote. “House Republicans spent the last 18 months sitting on these bills, spending taxpayer dollars on costly lawsuits, and creating unnecessary uncertainty and preventing action on issues that matter to Michigan families. These bills would have lowered costs for Michiganders and strengthened public safety. Had the House presented these bills to me in a timely manner, as the Constitution requires, today would have looked much different.”

Whitmer added that, if she were to sign the bills, the effective date would be April 2, 2025, which is more than 15 months ago, citing language in the state constitution’s Article IV, Section 27. 

“Implementing these bills retroactively would impose an insurmountable administrative burden on the state and all Michiganders affected,” Whitmer wrote. “It would give rise to endless litigation. It would overwrite law that has since gone into effect. Many of these bills have statutory deadlines that have long since passed. Lastly, many of these bills have significant fiscal impacts now spanning three fiscal years that have not been accounted for in the newly negotiated and passed budget for Fiscal Year 2027.”

For those reasons, Whitmer said she “must regrettably veto these bills. This was political gamesmanship at its worst.”

“Michiganders deserved better from the House,” Whitmer concluded.

Michigan’s labor movement, including the Michigan AFL-CIO, UAW and the Michigan Education Association, issued a statement condemning Whitmer’s decision to veto the bills.

“Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s veto of these nine bills, following a long legal battle waged by leaders in her own party, betrays democratic values and abandons the very people who have supported her in office,” the unions said in a joint statement. “This veto is an insult to every hard-working Michigander fighting for economic justice. We condemn her betrayal of Michigan workers, and call on political leaders who value our state’s working families to do the same.”

Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township), who had not commented when the court ruled earlier on Friday, issued a statement following Whitmer’s veto, which thumbed the House’s collective nose at the Senate.

“I’m not sure why the House and Senate Democrats could not or would not do their jobs back in 2024, but I decided I would help them out today after they helped me pass a new state budget that’s smaller than last year and without any of their tax and fee increases,” Hall said, referring to the House transmitting the bills to Whitmer, only for them to die on her desk. “My sympathies to the Democrats that they went through all of this work just for the bills to end up vetoed.”

Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) on Friday morning praised the high court’s decision to let the Court of Appeals ruling stand. 

She issued another statement filled with profound disappointment after Whitmer’s veto.

“The Constitution prevailed today. And that is a great thing worth celebrating,” Brinks said. “Unfortunately, quality policy that would lower costs and improve life for millions of Michiganders met an end at the governor’s desk.  To say I am extremely disappointed is an understatement. But I want to assure everyone that no matter the hurdle thrown at us, Senate Democrats will never give up the fight for the hardworking men and women who make our state great.”

State Rep. Will Snyder (D-Muskegon), who sponsored HB 4665 of 2023, echoed Brinks.

“Today’s ruling is a major victory for the Legislature and the people of Michigan. It was clear this was an unfair and illegal method of interference with the legislature and its processes,” Snyder said in a statement. “That excitement is tampered by the profound disappointment that the Governor has decided to side with the House Republicans and veto these bills.”

Snyder also indicated that Whitmer had “always hesitated to take a supportive position, which could be why they were not transmitted to begin with.”

“This is a tragic result for Michigan’s democracy and the people of Michigan,” Snyder said. “It was meant to be a major win for the teachers, first responders, and other public employees  directly affected by these bills. For example, my bill adding corrections officers to the State Police Pension System, which would help with the staffing and retention crisis at our correctional facilities.”

Snyder added that “this fight is not over, but today was a disappointment.”

“I plan to reintroduce my vetoed legislation again, and will continue to fight for Michiganders,” he said.