On Monday, Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Clinton Canady III issued a temporary restraining order that calls upon House of Representatives leadership to cease ignoring House Democratic caucus calls for record roll call votes on immediate effect and, further, reverses the immediate effect granted to a number of previously passed bills. On Thursday, the House Republican Caucus and Attorney General Bill Schuette appealed the ruling.
Judge Canady’s restraining order reversed the immediate effect that had been granted to two measures already public acts – House Bill 4246 (PA 45) prohibiting the organization of graduate student research assistants, and House Bill 4929 (PA 53) prohibiting school districts from deducting union dues from employees’ paychecks. The order also strips the immediate effect granted to House Bill 5063, legislation to require the Board of Canvassers to approve a petition before it is circulated. That measure; however, is currently awaiting action in the Senate.
The GOP appeal contends that the court unconstitutionally ventured into the realm of the legislature’s authority, violating simple principles of separation of powers.