LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan’s House of Representatives is meeting for the last week of scheduled session, but action has stalled because not enough lawmakers showed up to gavel in.
The House opened the board for attendance at 10 o’clock this morning, but Republican representatives never showed up for attendance roll call.
To hold session, the House has to have a majority of its representatives present to reach a quorum. The House was called at ease around 3 pm after the quorum failed, with Democratic leaders saying they’d return Thursday at noon to address the same agenda.
On Friday, House Republicans walked out as Democrats refused to vote on a minimum wage law, and minority floor leader Matt Hall said they are holding firm.
Democrats have been working to vote on any bills they believe have the support to pass in Michigan’s House, with bills related to housing, higher education financial aid, and criminal sentencing on the schedule.
With a week left in the legislature’s schedule, Hall said Republicans won’t participate in any more votes until Democrats meet with them to discuss local road funding or a new minimum wage law.
Hall himself introduced bills to address local road funding last month. The focus has also been on the state’s tipped wage system because without a new wage bill Michigan’s minimum wage will see a boost in February, and tipped wage will start to be phased out. Both changes some believe will be detrimental for restaurant owners and workers in the state.
Hall said Speaker Joe Tate has been unwilling to work with Republicans on any of the issues he’s presented.
