Clinton torches Michigan GOP for ‘dangerous’ moves limiting new Dem leaders’ power

Updated, 10:49 p.m.

Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, has weighed in on Lame Duck legislative sessions in Michigan and Wisconsin.

In a series of tweets on Thursday, she attacked Republican efforts in both states to limit the power of incoming Democrats who won major statewide elections in November.

Clinton, who narrowly lost in Michigan by 10,704 votes to now-President Donald Trump in 2016, said Republicans in both the Mitten State and Wisconsin are “using their last few weeks in office to pass laws limiting the power of new governors” and are putting “roadblocks on voting.”

In Michigan, voters chose Democrats to be governor, attorney general, and secretary of state. Since then, the Republican-controlled legislature has passed bills to gut minimum wage, slash paid sick leave, and limit the new secretary of state’s powers. https://t.co/P979PIvCrY

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 6, 2018

In Michigan, the GOP-controlled Senate passed legislation Thursday to strip campaign finance oversight from incoming Democratic Secretary of State-elect Jocelyn Benson. On Wednesday, the House approved a measure to allow the Republican-controlled Legislature to intervene in court cases — potentially limiting the authority of incoming Democratic Attorney General-elect Dana Nessel and Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer.

The Senate approved another measure Wednesday that would shape how Benson would implement a new voter-approved law to create an independent redistricting commission meant to form fairer political districts.

Earlier in the week, Republican lawmakers in Michigan also adopted laws that essentially gut minimum wage and paid sick leave laws. The Legislature had adopted the two citizen-initiated petitions before the election, preventing them from landing on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Clinton called the power plays “anti-democratic.”

“In Michigan, voters chose Democrats to be governor, attorney general, and secretary of state,” Clinton tweeted. “Since then, the Republican-controlled legislature has passed bills to gut minimum wage, slash paid sick leave, and limit the new secretary of state’s powers.

“This is not in line with American values, and it’s a dangerous path. It’s a fundamental building block of democracy that elected representatives respect the outcome of elections,” she continued. “To ignore those outcomes is to silence voters and endanger the health of our democracy itself.”

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) also spoke out against Republicans over the same issue in an interview on MSNBC.

“This is a complete insult to the people of Michigan who voted a month ago for change,” Stabenow said.