https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/30/politics/michigan-governor-extends-state-of-emergency/index.html
Michigan governor extends state of emergency after lawmakers refuse to lengthen disaster declaration
Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended the state's coronavirus emergency declaration by executive order after the Republican-controlled Legislature advanced a bill that would not have renewed the original declaration.
Whitmer signed a new order on Thursday to end the existing emergency and disaster declarations, which were slated to expire at midnight. She then issued another executive order that cited authority under a 1940s-era state law to declare that a state of emergency continues in Michigan and to set that the order would expire May 28. A third executive order declared a state of emergency and a state of disaster in Michigan under a 1970s-era law, which is also set to expire on May 28.
Whitmer extended the state's stay-at-home order until May 15 last week.
Earlier in the day, the state's House and Senate had advanced a bill that would have required her to solicit approval from both chambers to extend such a declaration for more than 28 days, which Whitmer promised to veto. The Legislature also authorized leaders of both chambers to file a lawsuit against the governor if she decided to extend the state of emergency, potentially teeing up a legal battle between the state government's branches on top of Michigan's coronavirus response.
"While some members of the legislature might believe this crisis is over, common sense and all of the scientific data tells us we're not out of the woods yet," Whitmer said in a statement Thursday.
"By refusing to extend the emergency and disaster declaration, Republican lawmakers are putting their heads in the sand and putting more lives and livelihoods at risk," she added. "I'm not going to let that happen."
Whitmer additionally issued a fourth executive order late Thursday night that extended a previous order requiring theaters, bars and casinos to stay closed and limiting restaurants to carry-out, drive-thru and delivery service.
The intra-state clash over the declarations spotlights one of many split-party state governments that are balancing public health efforts to mitigate the pandemic with popular efforts demanding to reopen the economy -- a reflection of inconsistent directives from the White House in the federal government's response......
