Michigan Gov. Whitmer extends coronavirus state of emergency declaration another month, takes swipe at GOP | Fox News

Michigan Gov. Whitmer extends coronavirus state of emergency declaration another month, takes swipe at GOP | Fox News

Michigan GOP prepares legal challenge after Whitmer extends state of emergency
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday extended Michigan's state of emergency and disaster declaration through May 28, hours before it was set to expire and after hundreds of protesters, some of whom were armed, gathered in the state Capitol building to voice their displeasure with the Democratic governor.

Whitmer also took shots at the Republican-controlled legislature for refusing to extend the order earlier in the day. "By refusing to extend the emergency and disaster declaration, Republican lawmakers are putting their heads in the sand and putting more lives and livelihoods at risk," she said in a statement. "I’m not going to let that happen.”

The emergency declaration gives Whitmer additional powers to issue executive orders during an emergency. She claimed she had the emergency authority regardless of what state lawmakers did.

In a rejection of the governor, the state House and Senate adopted resolutions Thursday to legally challenge her authority and also approved a bill to allow some of her mandates but not her stay-at-home order, which expires May 16. Click here for more.

Other related developments:
- California county plans to defy Gov. Newsom, lift stay-home order
- California has list of outdoor activities still permissible during coronavirus, gets panned on social media
- N.Y., N.J. residents losing patience with governors' reluctance to give firm dates for reopening