The Michigan Legislature has devolved into chaos, putting Democrats’ lame duck priorities in jeopardy with just a handful of session days left.

Republicans and at least one Democrat walked out in disgust on Friday over a convoluted mad dash to approve unvetted legislation they claim will hurt Michiganders and install progressive policies that don’t align with their values.

“We’re voting on bills that had never been through committee … I put my foot down, because they were trying to confuse people on the bills,” Rep. Karen Whitsett, D-Detroit, told Gongwer News Service. “People didn’t read anything. Amendments were popping up, and people didn’t know what the amendments were. It was crazy.”

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“Had this exchange w/Speaker Tate in May,” Rep. Betsy Coffia, D-Traverse City, posted to X along with a screenshot of her texts in which she referenced Speaker of the House Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit. “We were repeatedly told wait till Lame Duck. Now, except Hate Crimes bills I’m watching us fail those who need us the most in favor of monied interests & rightwing entities. Dem leaders should be fighting like HELL for these Michiganders.”

Had this exchange w/Speaker Tate in May. We were repeatedly told wait til Lame Duck. Now, except Hate Crimes bills I’m watching us fail those who need us the most in favor of monied interests & rightwing entities.
Dem leaders should be fighting like HELL for these Michiganders. pic.twitter.com/LQVlSLLm2V

— Betsy Coffia (@BetsyCoffia) December 13, 2024

It was a similar take from Rep. Emily Dievendorf, D-Lansing.

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“Everything we do can’t just be for those who have the power and stability to vote for (or fund) us,” she posted to X.

“I hope we do more good,” she wrote. “I hope that the hope of those who keep waiting in the balcony isn’t for nothing.”

House Speaker-elect Matt Hall, R-Richland Twp., told the media Friday it was obvious from House Democrats’ agenda that leadership is “focused on the wrong issues,” pointing to legislation to criminalize sextortion, provide driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, codifying the name change process for LGBTQ+ Michiganders on state IDs, and other outlandish legislation.

Prioritizing those issues over taking action on changes to Michigan’s minimum wage laws and earned sick leave that’s expected to cost up to 60,000 jobs convinced Republicans to call it a day.

“I think the people of Michigan, they don’t want their politicians doing this, which is why they elected Republicans to take over the House next year, so they’ll focus on the real issues that people care about, like keeping their jobs,” he said, according to Michigan Advance.

Whitsett blamed Tate for the dysfunction in the lower chamber on Friday and throughout Democrats’ two-year government trifecta, alleging Tate abdicated his leadership responsibilities to chief of staff Shaquila Myers, who some Democrats have blamed for the chaos.

“You don’t care about us at all and you’re playing games,” Whitsett said, noting bipartisan legislation was shelved in favor of “the best of the crap” on Friday.

“I said, ‘You’re not going to keep throwing people’s bills up there to watch them fail, because you’re doing it on purpose,’” Whitsett said. “I said, ‘I’m done.’”

Whitsett and others have also raised issues with Tate running interference on important legislation like a Land Value Tax, short term rental reforms and road funding.

Tate is now unfairly blaming Whitsett and Republicans for the mayhem in the lower chamber on Friday, instead of taking ownership of his failed leadership, she said.

“The speaker is letting me take the blame. He hasn’t even picked up the phone to call me to see how I’m doing,” she said. “But Matt Hall called me. I talked to him for 45 minutes. He saw how I was doing. He actually cared.

“The best thing that could ever happen to us is to be under Matt Hall’s leadership,” Whitsett told Gongwer.

Whitsett contends Tate ultimately cost Democrats the majority in the lower chamber.

“And I thank God he did,” she said. “We are sitting here doing bills on the same crap the Democratic Party lost on.”

Tate defended his leadership in the House over the last two years in comments to Gongwer and Michigan Advance, pointing to legislation approved to boost the Earned Income Tax Credit, repeal right to work and the senior pension tax, reinstalling prevailing wage, repealing the state’s abortion ban, and legislation to codify Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s climate goals as major accomplishments.

“We came into a trifecta for the first time in 40 years,” he said. “We wouldn’t have gotten the things done we’ve gotten done if I weren’t in charge.”

Members of his own party clearly disagree, noting in some cases Tate is the only obstacle to enacting important changes for Michiganders.

“He is the only no vote on my short-term rental fix, which had bipartisan support as of earlier this week,” Rep. Joey Andrews IV, D-St. Joseph, posted to X. “When I asked if his opposition was on the substance of the bill, he said ‘no.’”

What the dysfunction will mean for the final days of Michigan’s legislative session remains unclear, though Tate told Gongwer he expects “to come in and finish the work we can finish for this final week of the legislative session, and get good things done.”

“If I do go in, I’m absolutely not voting on anything. I’m not voting on garbage bills. I’m not voting on bills that will eventually hurt people. I’m not raising taxes on Michigan,” Whitsett said. “I’m not having my record tarnished for him.”