The substance of the legislation in question seemed to take second-place to the procedural maneuvering by House Republican and Democratic leaders for a portion of this week’s session. House Democrats had promised to request a record roll call vote on all immediate effect votes for the remainder of session and were provided the first opportunity to do so this week.
The bill in question, House Bill 5063, is legislation to require a committee distributing petitions for a constitutional amendment or initiated act to have the language approved by the Board of Canvassers. The legislation passed on Wednesday; however, the vote for immediate effect was delayed when Minority Floor Leader Representative Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) submitted signatures requesting a record roll call vote.
Thursday’s session began with Majority Floor Leader Representative Jim Stamas (R-Midland) making a parliamentary inquiry of Representative John Walsh (R-Livonia), Speaker Pro Tempore and in the Chair at that moment. Representative Walsh ruled that the House would continue to operate under their rule that a motion must be made orally from the House floor and that submitted signatures would not constitute a properly made motion. This was also the practice during previously legislative sessions when the Democratic Caucus had a majority control of the House.
Ultimately, the legislation was given immediate effect over loud objections by the Democratic Caucus.
In potentially related news, for the first time this legislative session House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) prohibited House staff from photographing or videotaping Thursday’s floor session. Permission is routinely granted when requested by either party, however, all staff technically is employed by the Speaker of the House who is empowered to determine if permission will be granted.