STATE OF MICHIGAN
Journal of the Senate
100th Legislature
REGULAR SESSION OF 2019
Senate Chamber, Lansing, Wednesday, January
23, 2019.
10:00 a.m.
The
Senate was called to order by the President, Lieutenant Governor Garlin D.
Gilchrist II.
The roll was called by the Secretary of
the Senate, who announced that a quorum was present.
Alexander—present Horn—present Outman—present
Ananich—excused Irwin—present Polehanki—present
Barrett—present Johnson—present Runestad—present
Bayer—present LaSata—present Santana—excused
Bizon—present Lauwers—present Schmidt—present
Brinks—present Lucido—present Shirkey—present
Bullock—present MacDonald—present Stamas—present
Bumstead—present MacGregor—present Theis—present
Chang—present McBroom—present VanderWall—present
Daley—present McCann—present Victory—present
Geiss—present McMorrow—present Wojno—present
Hertel—present Moss—present Zorn—present
Hollier—present Nesbitt—present
Senator Winnie Brinks of the 29th District
offered the following invocation:
Lord, as we
gather at the beginning of this legislative term, I ask for Your blessing on
all of the people of Michigan.
Bless all who labor in support of
their families. May we value their work and afford to them dignity and respect
for their contributions to our economy and our communities. Bless all of the
families who call Michigan home. May we create an environment in which they
have the resources they need to thrive. Bless all the children among us. May we
love and cherish those in our care and may we not turn our hearts away from
those who suffer as a result of certain circumstances they have not chosen.
Bless the elderly. May they live out their days secure in their well-being and
with the knowledge that their life’s work is affirmed by those who follow them.
As we in government work together to
serve the people of Michigan, I ask that You prepare our hearts and our minds
for the hard work of service to others. I pray that we think always of the
greater good in all of our deliberations and that our decisions reflect that we
value each other and every member of this community we call Michigan. I pray
that there will be a generosity of spirit as we engage in legitimate
disagreement and debate with each other. May we listen and speak to each other
in such a way that acknowledges that each person here deserves to be heard and
understood. May we celebrate and affirm what is just and good in our state so
that our communities will be strong in times when all is as it should be, and
in times when things seem to be going wrong. Let us also turn our hearts to the
needs of those who suffer injustice. Let us not be afraid to defend the weak
and the poor. Give us courage to act for their good. Summon out our best
impulses of concern for each other, both in the Capitol and among all of the
people of our great state.
We ask these things, relying on Your
compassion and grace and confident in Your love. Amen.
The President,
Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, led the members of the Senate in recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motions and Communications
Senator
Hertel entered the Senate Chamber.
Senator
Chang moved that Senator Hollier be temporarily excused from today’s session.
The
motion prevailed.
Senator
Chang moved that Senators Ananich and Santana be excused from today’s session.
The
motion prevailed.
The following communication was received
and read:
Office of
the Auditor General
January 18, 2019
Enclosed is a copy of the following
reports:
• Performance
audit report on Rental Assistance and Homeless Solutions, Michigan State
Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), Department of Talent and Economic
Development (186-0220-17).
• Investigative
audit report on the Department of Environmental Quality BioWatch Unit’s select
employees’ time reporting and use of State vehicles (917-MDEQ-01).
Sincerely,
Doug Ringler
Auditor General
The audit reports were referred to
the Committee on Oversight.
The following communication was
received:
Office of
Senator Lana Theis
January 17, 2019
Per Senate Rule 1.110, I am
requesting that my name be added as a cosponsor to Senate Bill 1, which was
introduced January 15th, 2019 by Senator Aric Nesbitt and is currently in the
Senate Committee on Insurance and Banking.
Sincerely,
Lana Theis
State Senator
22nd District of Michigan
The communication was referred to
the Secretary for record.
The following communications were
received:
Office of
Senator Stephanie Chang
January 22, 2019
Per Senate Rule
1.110(c) I am requesting that my name be added as a co-sponsor the Senate Joint
Resolution D which was introduced on January 22, 2019, by Senator Irwin and is
currently in Senate Finance Committee.
January 22, 2019
Per Senate Rule 1.110(c) I am
requesting that my name be added as a co-sponsor the Senate Bill 13 which was
introduced on January 15, 2019, by Senator Wojno and is currently in Senate
Finance Committee.
Sincerely,
Senator Stephanie Chang
District 1
The communications were referred to
the Secretary for record.
Recess
Senator MacGregor moved that the
Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time
being 10:06 a.m.
The Senate was called to order by
the President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist.
During the recess, Senator Hollier
entered the Senate Chamber.
Resolutions
Senator Horn offered the following
resolution:
Senate
Resolution No. 6.
A
resolution to authorize the Senate Majority Leader to engage counsel to file a
motion on behalf of the Senate to intervene in League of Women Voters of Michigan, et al v. Jocelyn Benson.
Whereas, On August 9, 2011, following the 2010 Census, then-Governor Rick Snyder signed into law Public Acts 128 and 129 of 2011. These acts collectively provided for the redistricting of congressional and state legislative districts, as required by the U.S. and Michigan constitutions and in accordance with state law. Specifically, Public Act 129 of 2011, which passed both chambers of the Legislature with bipartisan support, provided for the redistricting of the Michigan House of Representatives and the Senate; and
Whereas, On December 22, 2017, the League of Women Voters of Michigan and other named individuals filed an action against the Secretary of State, in her official capacity, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Case No. 2:17-cv-14148, contending that the congressional and state legislative district maps are unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution; and
Whereas, Following the filing of the action, then-Secretary of State Ruth Johnson engaged in a vigorous defense of Public Acts 128 and 129 of 2011, including the filing of multiple motions to dismiss the lawsuit and for summary judgement. On November 6, 2018, the people of Michigan elected Jocelyn Benson as Secretary of State, succeeding Secretary of State Johnson on January 1, 2019; and
Whereas, On January 17, 2019, Secretary of State Benson, through newly appointed counsel, filed a motion to stay the proceedings. In the motion, the Secretary of State expressed a desire to settle the matter with the plaintiffs, presumably by agreeing to allow for the redrawing of congressional and state legislative districts for the 2020 elections, including potentially calling for a special state Senate election in 2020. The filing of such a motion, together with media reports indicating a desire by the Secretary of State to adopt a new apportionment plan for the 2020 election, effectively ended the adversarial role of the Secretary of State and its meaningful participation in and defense of this matter; and
Whereas, Individual members of Congress and the Michigan House of Representatives previously filed motions to intervene as defendants and those motions were ultimately granted; and
Whereas, Members of the Michigan Senate now have an additional interest in this matter, as the proposed settlement could include a requirement that the Michigan Senate be subject to a special election in 2020 in violation of Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963, which provides:
The
senate shall consist of 38 members to be elected from single member districts
at the same election as the governor for four-year terms concurrent with the
term of office of the governor.
; and
Whereas, On January 22, 2019, three current members of the Senate filed a motion to intervene in order to help fill the adversarial void and defend against claims raised by plaintiffs and to protect the interests of the Senate and its members who are elected to represent the people of Michigan; and
Whereas, The Senate must seek to intervene in this case in order to defend its unique role in Michigan’s constitutional system. Permitting the court to consider a mid-term special Senate election without hearing meaningful opposition would greatly harm operation of this legislative body and the ability of its members to carry out the duties of their office, including representing members of the public; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That the Senate Majority Leader is authorized to engage counsel to file a motion on behalf of the Senate to intervene in League of Women Voters of Michigan, et al v. Jocelyn Benson (2:17-cv-14148) and take all necessary steps incidental thereto, including, but not limited to, the pursuit or defense of any appeals.
Senator
MacGregor moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion
prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
Senators Bumstead, Daley, LaSata, Lauwers, Lucido,
MacDonald, MacGregor, McBroom, Nesbitt, Outman, Stamas, Theis, VanderWall and
Victory were named co-sponsors of the resolution.
Pursuant to rule 1.306, Senator Johnson
submitted the following:
January 23, 2019
I rise to offer an explanation for
not voting on the resolution just adopted by the Senate.
Although there may not be an actual
conflict of interest that would prevent me from voting on the resolution, I
abstained from voting to avoid any appearance of impropriety or conflict due to
my former role as Secretary of State in the subject litigation.
I ask that my comments be printed in
the Journal as my disclosure under Senate Rule 1.306. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Ruth A. Johnson
State Senator
14th District
Introduction and Referral of Bills
A bill to require all state departments and agencies to establish certain water affordability criteria; and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and entities.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Environmental Quality.
Senators Geiss, Irwin, Polehanki, Hertel, Moss, Ananich, Brinks,
McMorrow, Chang, Bayer, McCann, Bullock, Wojno, Hollier and Alexander
introduced
A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled “The Michigan penal code,” by repealing section 14 (MCL 750.14).
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
Senators Chang, Geiss, Irwin, Polehanki, Moss,
Hertel, Ananich, McCann, Bayer, Brinks, Bullock, Wojno, Hollier, McMorrow and
Alexander introduced
Senate Bill No. 51, entitled
A bill to amend 1953 PA 232, entitled “Corrections code of 1953,” by amending section 33b (MCL 791.233b), as amended by 2010 PA 94.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
Senators Bayer, Irwin, Polehanki, Ananich,
Hertel, Moss, Brinks, McMorrow, Chang, McCann, Bullock, Wojno, Hollier, Geiss
and Alexander introduced
Senate Bill No. 52, entitled
A bill to amend 1927 PA 175, entitled “The code of criminal procedure,” by amending section 16a of chapter XVII (MCL 777.16a), as amended by 2010 PA 97.
The
bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on
Judiciary and Public Safety.
Senators Brinks, McMorrow, Chang,
Bayer, McCann, Bullock, Wojno, Hollier, Polehanki, Irwin, Geiss, Moss and
Alexander introduced
Senate Bill No. 53, entitled
A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled “The Michigan penal code,” by repealing section 40 (MCL 750.40).
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
Senators Schmidt, Chang, Horn, Zorn and Irwin
introduced
Senate Bill No. 54, entitled
A bill to amend 1967 PA 281, entitled “Income tax act of 1967,” (MCL 206.1 to 206.713) by adding sections 266a and 675.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Senators Runestad, Zorn, Alexander, Bizon,
McMorrow, Daley, MacDonald, Wojno, Bullock, Johnson, Lucido, Barrett, Bayer,
Hollier, Horn, Chang and Hertel introduced
Senate Bill No. 55, entitled
A bill to amend 1967 PA 281, entitled “Income tax
act of 1967,” (MCL 206.1 to 206.713) by adding section 261.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Senators Runestad, MacDonald,
Outman, Johnson, Lucido, Ananich, Bayer and Zorn introduced
Senate Bill No. 56, entitled
A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled “The Michigan penal code,” by amending section 159g (MCL 750.159g), as amended by 2014 PA 300.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
Senators Runestad, MacDonald, Daley and Bayer
introduced
Senate Bill No. 57, entitled
A bill to amend 1978 PA 472, entitled “An act to regulate political activity; to regulate lobbyists, lobbyist agents, and lobbying activities; to require registration of lobbyists and lobbyist agents; to require the filing of reports; to prescribe the powers and duties of the department of state; to prescribe penalties; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts,” by amending section 6a (MCL 4.416a), as added by 1994 PA 383, and by adding section 6b.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
Senators Runestad, Barrett, Lucido, Zorn and
MacDonald introduced
Senate Bill No. 58, entitled
A bill to amend 1993 PA 327, entitled “Tobacco products tax act,” by amending section 7 (MCL 205.427), as amended by 2016 PA 86.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Announcements
of Printing and Enrollment
The Secretary announced that the following
bills, joint resolution, and resolution was printed and filed on Tuesday,
January 22, and are available on the Michigan Legislature website:
Senate Bill
Nos. 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48
Senate Joint
Resolution D
Senate
Resolution No. 5
Criminal Justice Policy Commission - Wednesday, February 6, 9:00 a.m.,
Senate Hearing Room, 1st Floor, Boji Tower (373-0212)
Judiciary and Public Safety - Thursday, January 24, 8:30 a.m.,
Room 1300, Binsfeld Office Building (373-5312)
Oversight - Tuesday, January 29, 2:00 p.m., Room
1300, Binsfeld Office Building (373-5312)
Senator
MacGregor moved that the Senate adjourn.
The
motion prevailed, the time being 11:25 a.m.
The
President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist declared the Senate adjourned until
Thursday, January 24, 2019, at 10:00 a.m.
MARGARET O’BRIEN
Secretary of the Senate