Ann Arbor Times

Sen. Lana Theis (R-Brighton) expressed her support for legislation that would reduce Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s authority over Michigan’s response to COVID-19.

“It is imperative we get back to the business of governing -- Michigan was never intended to be governed as a dictatorship or monarchy, and we must restore the balance of power,” Theis said in a statement on MiSenateGOP.

The two measures that were recently approved by the Michigan Senate were Senate Bill 858 and Senate Resolution 114. SB 858 would limit a governor to declare a state of emergency for 14 days, rather than the 28 days established by the 1976 Emergency Management Act. SR 114 authorizes the Senate to legally challenge the governor’s executive actions taken during the coronavirus pandemic.

Theis said there are numerous threats to the health and safety of those in Michigan that go beyond the virus itself, including people waiting in food lines who have never been on government assistance before, a rise in the number of people contemplating suicide, an increase in domestic assaults and multigenerational businesses struggling to survive.

“I have friends who have died from COVID-19, and people very close to me that have gotten the disease,” Theis said, according to MiSenateGOP. “I am not discounting the impact of the disease itself, but we also cannot discount the impact of other issues people are dealing with. To do so would be irresponsible. We can, and must, address them all.”

Gov. Whitmer has extended the state’s COVID-19 emergency and disaster declaration through May 28, despite the Republican-led state Legislature refusing to take such action. Michigan is currently under a stay-at-home order until May 28 as well.

According to Michigan.gov, there have been more than 54,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state and more than 5,200 deaths related to the virus, as of May 25.