{"id":2993,"date":"2020-11-09T15:30:33","date_gmt":"2020-11-09T15:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peoriamag.com\/?p=2993"},"modified":"2020-12-14T15:31:16","modified_gmt":"2020-12-14T15:31:16","slug":"senate-targets-virus-restrictions-oks-jobless-water-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peoriamag.com\/?p=2993","title":{"rendered":"Senate targets virus restrictions; OKs jobless, water bills"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Senate Republicans voted to limit the length of coronavirus restrictions issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer\u2019s administration, unless they were extended by the GOP-controlled Legislature.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The bill, which would be vetoed if it reached the Democratic governor\u2019s desk, cleared the chamber on a party-line 22-16 vote late Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Senators did find common ground, though, on other pandemic-related measures \u2014 voting unanimously to keep intact unemployment changes for an additional three months and to provide\u00a0$250 million\u00a0to continue funding a maximum 26 weeks of benefits in a year for the jobless instead of 20 weeks. Water shutoffs would be prohibited statewide under a bill that passed 30-8.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The voting set the stage for final House action next week before lawmakers adjourn for the year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Since the state Supreme Court\u00a0declared unconstitutional\u00a0a law that was the basis for Whitmer\u2019s unilateral orders to curb COVID-19, she has instead used the state health department\u2019s epidemic powers to require masks and limit gatherings. Most recently, amid a spike in infections, Health and Human Services director Robert Gordon has\u00a0prohibited in-person instruction at high schools\u00a0and colleges, barred indoor restaurant dining and closed various entertainment venues, through at least Dec. 20.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Legislation\u00a0sponsored by Sen. Lana Theis would require legislative approval to extend such orders beyond 28 days, similarly to a provision in a 1976 law that applies to a governor\u2019s emergency declarations. She said the Supreme Court majority was clear that Whitmer should work with legislators to combat the virus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cUnelected and accountable DHHS bureaucrats should not, in perpetuity, be able to issue freedom-restricting and business-killing emergency orders that disrupt lives and threaten livelihoods,\u201d said Theis, a Republican from Brighton.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Democrats tried to amend the bill to add a face covering mandate to law but were blocked by GOP senators.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cFor us to stymie and prohibit the primary department also responsible for promoting and protecting public health, from not only a pandemic but clearly from us and the legislative majority\u2019s lackadaisical attitude to a pandemic that is ever present and continues to rage on, it\u2019s not just irresponsible. It\u2019s absurd,\u201d said Sen. Erika Geiss of Taylor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Senate Republicans voted to limit the length of coronavirus restrictions issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer\u2019s administration, unless they…\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2994,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nSenate targets virus restrictions; OKs jobless, water bills - Lansing Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/peoriamag.com\/?p=2993\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Senate targets virus restrictions; OKs jobless, water bills - Lansing Report\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Senate Republicans voted to limit the length of coronavirus restrictions issued by Gov. 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