Author: Astead W. Herndon / Source: New York Times
Jocelyn Benson became the first Democrat to be elected secretary of state of Michigan in more than 20 years last month. Brittany Greeson for The New York Times
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Republicans, following the tactics of conservative lawmakers in Wisconsin, moved on Thursday to start limiting the power of the incoming Democratic secretary of state and set the stage for additional curbs on the Democrats who will take over as governor and attorney general in January.
The G.O.P.-led State Senate in Michigan, voting largely along party lines, passed a bill that strips the incoming secretary of state of the authority to oversee campaign finance issues and hands it to a new bipartisan commission. Other bills, which are likely to be approved next week, include proposals that would weaken the ability of the governor and attorney general to control the state’s position in court cases.
Using a similar political playbook as their counterparts in Wisconsin this week, Michigan Republicans are responding to their Election Day chastening in top statewide races by trying to curb the power of leaders from the opposing party. The move has alarmed ethics watchdogs, who have called it a power grab, and has fueled protests among Democrats. But it is unclear if Republicans would pay a political price, given that many are in safe districts.
A major difference between Wisconsin and Michigan, however, may be their Republican governors.
In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker, who was denied a third term in November, is now weighing the bills to limit his successor, Tony Evers; Mr. Walker has not indicated how he will act, but he has worked in concert for years with Republican legislative leaders there.
In Michigan, however, the outgoing governor, Rick Snyder, has long portrayed himself as a relatively pragmatic former businessman, rather than a hard-right ideologue like Mr. Walker. Michigan Democrats think their best chance of success lies with Mr. Snyder, who has, at times, broken with the most conservative members of his own party.
A spokesman for Mr. Snyder said Thursday that the governor has not taken a position on any legislation yet, nor indicated whether he would sign it.
In November, Jocelyn Benson became the first Democrat to be elected Michigan’s secretary of state in more than 20 years. Gretchen Whitmer, a former member of the state legislature, was elected governor, and Dana Nessel is the attorney general-elect.
All three are women, while the Republican legislative leaders and outgoing governor in Michigan are men — a dynamic that could be in the spotlight next week, when Democratic-led protests are expected at the State Capitol.
State Senator Dave Robertson, a Republican from Grand Blanc, Mich., rejected accusations that proposed bills were aimed at Democrats.
“I reject this incivility and discord,” Ms. Whitmer said in a statement Thursday. “This legislation needlessly divides and won’t deliver results. It won’t clean up our water. It won’t improve literacy or fix the roads.”
Wisconsin Republicans also used their postelection lame-duck session to force through several proposals that would…
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