2022 MI Legislative Scorecard 2021-

HJRR would amend the Michigan Constitution to reduce current term limits for state legislators to a combined total of no more than 12 years (including service in the House or Senate). Additionally, state elected officials would be required to file an annual public financial disclosure report specifying income, assets, liabilities, positions held, future employment agreements, gifts, travel reimbursements, and other payments.

The House passed HJRR on May 10, 2022, by a two-thirds vote of 76 to 28. We have assigned pluses to the nays because mandatory term limits conflict with the right of the American people to choose their representatives. Moreover, this resolution would subject individual citizens to another involuntary and sweeping layer of government-sanctioned financial surveillance, which amounts to a direct and continual violation of the personal privacy protections under the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

SB0011 would amend the state’s handgun licensing law to provide that an executive emergency order does not affect the issuance or renewal of a concealed pistol license (CPL).

The House passed SB0011 on March 10, 2022, by a vote of 58 to 43, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms should not be infringed, as guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

SB0303 would require that a voter without his or her identification for election purposes vote with a provisional ballot to be processed after the election. In addition, it would require a voter to vote with a provisional ballot if the digitized signature in the electronic poll book does not match the signature on the voter’s application to vote.

The House passed SB0303 on October 14, 2021, by a vote of 56 to 51. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because states should exercise their authority, under Article 1, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution, to implement free, fair, and secure elections, guaranteeing equal protection of the right of citizens of the United States to vote.

HB4047 appropriated $1.3 billion in federal COVID-19 funding for FY 2020-21, including $600 million to support Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The House passed HB4047 on March 3, 2021, by a vote of 85 to 25. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this spending bill was made possible through unconstitutional funds from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. States should oppose the use of federal taxpayer money for purposes not authorized under Article 1, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution.

SB0001 would limit the effectiveness of an emergency public health order to control an epidemic to 28 days unless an extension is approved by the Legislature. It would also prohibit the issuance of a new emergency order for the same epidemic without approval by the Legislature.

The House passed SB0001 on March 9, 2021, by a vote of 59 to 50, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the exercise of executive emergency powers ought to be strictly time-limited, not indefinite, and the abuse thereof checked against by periodic legislative oversight. Article IV, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution guarantees each state a republican form of government, which requires a limitation and separation of powers.