Following the Senate’s lead, the House of Representatives moved quickly this week to address Senate Bill 971, legislation to prohibit the unionization of graduate student research assistants (GSRAs). The legislation is sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) and codifies a 1981 decision by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) into law.
Last week the Senate moved the measure from the Government Operations Committee through final passage on a single day – all along party lines. The House followed suit by moving the legislation from their Government Operations Committee on Wednesday and through Second and Third readings on the House floor Thursday.
The final House vote was also along party lines, 62 – 45.
The measure did not leave the House of Representatives, however, as House Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas (R-Midland) requested a record roll call vote on immediate effect and then moved to pass the motion for the day. Members of the Democratic Caucus had issued warnings earlier in the week that they would utilize procedural moves to avoid the measure’s final passage, including withholding votes on immediate effect. Unlike the Senate, House Republicans do not have the numbers necessary to meet the constitutional required vote for immediate effect on legislation.