(CBS DETROIT) – The time after the election and before the new legislative session is called lame duck and is usually used as an opportunity to get a slew of bills passed before power shifts in Lansing.
But Black lawmakers and advocates say not enough work is being done.
“Keep it real! Pass the bill!” the crowd sang Monday in downtown Detroit.
Black lawmakers and advocates gathered at the Coleman A. Young Building to urge Lansing lawmakers to get to work during the lame duck session.
“That means committee hearings, that means putting bills up for a vote, that means just having an opportunity to make the Black agenda heard,” said State Rep. Donavan McKinney.
McKinney said there are more than 40 bills that could see movement before power shifts on Capital Avenue, but that hasn’t happened yet.
“We need Republicans to come on board too, so this is an everyone issue – we need everyone to show up for work. It’s not biased to be honest with you,” he said.
It’s bills such as auto insurance reforms, second look legislation, maternal health bills and improvements to the price of auto insurance that organizer Sherry Gay-Dagnogo said have seen no movement.
“I can’t say why that is the case. Maybe the governor can say why that is the case. Maybe Joe Tate can say why that is the case, but it’s unacceptable whatever the reason is,” she said.
Michigan Speaker of the House Joe Tate has pushed back against claims that bills haven’t changed as quickly this legislative session.
“If you look at the total volume of impactful legislation, I would compare this legislative session to all previous legislative sessions, just to talk about the direct impact it has had on people’s lives,” Tate said.
CBS News Detroit reached out to Republican leaders in the House of Representatives for comment but did not hear back.
The new legislative session is expected to begin on January 2.
Elle Meijers
