OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. (WXYZ) — A Michigan Republican lawmaker is requesting legislation to limit the use of the state's Emergency Alert System to only "true emergencies" and not for the governor's mandates.
State Rep. Bradley Slagh, of Zeeland, is pushing the bill following Governor Gretchen Whitmer's use of the alert system to inform Michiganders about her executive orders, including the latest order requiring the use of face coverings in all indoor spaces and crowded outdoor spaces.
“This sets a dangerous precedent,” Slagh said. “The EAS should be reserved for use by our brave first responders, who are trying to prevent immediate loss of life and property, or are trying to locate missing persons, not by governors issuing unilateral mandates that have already been widely publicized."
“The governor’s recent use of the system caused more harm than good by instigating unnecessary fear across the state, which is not helpful for people who are already struggling with the effects of the pandemic.”
Slagh’s request for this legislation is one of many efforts the legislator has made to rein in the governor’s power. In May, he supported the Legislature’s legal action against the governor after she unilaterally extended emergency declarations amid the COVID-19 crisis. That same month, he also called on the governor to safely reopen the economy in Ottawa County.
The representative has also sent letters urging the governor to reopen routine health care and to reform her nursing home policies, which put seniors across the state in grave danger.
Once introduced, Slagh says he will work with his colleagues to move the bill quickly through the legislative process.
