Democratic control of the Michigan Legislature crashed to a halt on Thursday, Dec. 19, after GOP lawmakers and Democrat Karen Whitsett of Detroit refused to show up to session. MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow uncover why things went so poorly during these legislative sessions with Gongwer staff writer Elena Durnbaugh.

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In this episode:

• The Michigan House adjourns without voting on major items.
• What caused the dysfunction in the Michigan House.
• How things are looking for the Democrats come the new legislature in January.

Many state legislators expressed disappointment and shock after lone Democrat Whitsett and 54 Republicans walked out of session on Thursday, leaving everything on the agenda dead on the floor. 

House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) attempted to force the House members back to session by issuing a “call of the House,” but failed to rally the quorum needed to conduct business, resulting in the body adjourning until next year.

Durnbaugh said many lawmakers — including Whitsett — were frustrated by House Democrats’ lack of action on their own legislative priorities.

“Whitsett was told that the [water affordability bill] was something that was going to be voted on,” Durnbaugh said. “She was apparently under the impression that it was going to proceed, but those negotiations fell a part and so [did] Whitsett’s cooperation with the House.”

Gorchow noted how the lack of cooperation in the house also affected bipartisan legislation, including a bill that would have provided greater public funding and assistance for juvenile justice.

“[The bill] was sponsored by a House Republican and it went to Senate, where it passed with bipartisan support,” Gorchow said. “The Senate made one tiny change, they took out an effective date that was outdated — which meant it had to be approved again by the House — but the House couldn’t do it because they didn’t have a quorum and now that bill is dead.”  

Democrats will lose their majority in the House in January when the new legislative session begins.

More from WDET:

• Democrats, Republicans kill lame duck in Michigan House
• Michigan House Republicans stage walk out
• MichMash: Democrat Karen Whitsett facing backlash over abortion stance