9 horrible bills were left over from the Democrat Tri-fecta. They were, for whatever reason, never presented to the Governor for signature by the Democrats who where then in charge.
When Matt Hall became Speaker, he instructed the House staff to refrain from submitting them. In his view, that was the previous Legislature’s job, and under the longstanding constiutional framework of separation of powers, the current Legislature could and would not be forced to do the work of a previous Legislature.
So Winnie Brinks and Ranjeev Puri kicked in to overdrive. Lawsuit after lawsuit. Hearings, dragging on for months, which have now been going on for almost 2 years. Non-activist lower courts did not believe they had the right to tell the Legislature what to do about this – but the Democrat packed Court of Appeals thought they could. Then the Michigan Supreme Court, full of progressive activists, decided not to hear the obvious unconstitutional lower court ruling, Speaker Hall decided to call their bluff and just present the 9 horrible bills leftover from the Democrat Trifecta.
And here’s why: with the delay of nearly two years due to Dem lawfare, but then presenting on his own, the Speaker created an untenable situation for the Democrats – the bills were riddled with massive administrative issues that made them unsignable. Dates, names, and other information was either outdated or just plain wrong – making them essentially worthless. And since he did it on his own, not at the direction of any court, a Democrat Governor was forced to Veto them, and the matter is now closed.
Have you ever seen the movie The Hunt for Red October? In that movie, Sean Connery plays a submarine captain who strategically turns IN to the torpedos that have been fired at his ship, so they strike his boat before they have a chance to arm themselves. The torpedos bounce harmlessly off his hull, as the other crew are stunned at the strategic genius they have just witnessed.
And so we have Speaker Hall vs Winnie Brinks and Ranjeev Puri. He has just turned the ship of state into their torpedos, at just the right moment, so they bounce harmlessly away and are no longer a threat to blow a hole in the Michigan Budget. He also preserves the fight over legislative autonomy for another day – hopefully when we have more than just the one brilliant jurist, Justice Brian Zahra – on the bench. The other six are just politicians in black robes, so there will be better days ahead to fight this battle further.
But under Speaker Hall’s leadership, the day is saved. And Winnie Brinks and Ranjeev Puri once again have no answer for Speaker Matt Hall, and he makes them look silly.
9 bills finally presented, but so late as to do no good – they have to be vetoed.
9 bills presented, but not under court order, so, they have to be vetoed, and the fight is preserved for another time.
Speaker Hall and House Republicans are delivering for the citizens of Michigan.
It’s refreshing to have a strategic fighter leading Legislative Republicans.
Poor Winnie Brinks and Ranjeev Puri.