Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive order to extend Michigan’s state of emergency. In a statement Thursday, Whitmer extended the state’s emergency and disaster declaration after it was originally set to expire on Friday.
Michigan.gov on Twitter
Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives. @MichiganHHS reports today, April 30, 2020, 980 new COVID-19 cases & 119* deaths. For * details see https://t.co/2tAAcYRyCj. #Michigan’s total cases are now 41,379 & 3,789 deaths. Find the latest data & #COVID19 news at https://t.co/niRBexCYOy.
The move came despite major pushback from GOP legislators, who voted to authorize a lawsuit challenging Whitmer’s recent actions. A state judge recently cleared the way for Whitmer by shooting down their lawsuit, which claimed the restrictions were unconstitutional.
The Democrat governor defended her decision and called out Republican lawmakers for “putting more lives and livelihoods at risk.”
“It doesn’t matter what crisis there is, you only have the power that you have and you can’t take more,” she stated. “If people are going to die, I’m sorry, you only have as much power as you have.”
Michigan’s stay-at-home order has been extended until May 28th.
A local Republican leader slammed the governor on social media following this announcement. In a Facebook post, Sen. Mike Shirkey (R-Mich.) claimed Governor Whitmer is “drunk on the addiction of unfettered power” and acted “unilaterally” to lock down Michigan’s economy culture and society.
Shirkey went on to say Whitmer has a complete disregard for the law and will mark April 30th as a day that will “last in infamy.”
Jonathan Oosting on Twitter
More Shirkey: “With breathtaking disregard for the law, our Governor took an action yesterday which will memorialize Michigan’s spot in dubious, embarrassing history.” https://t.co/C4aNwqzbUW
https://www.oann.com/mich-gov-whitmer-extends-emergency-declaration-until-may-28th/