St. Clair Today

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer rejected legislation aimed to strengthen the whistleblower protections for employees of the state, but Republican legislators are looking to override her veto.

The bills in question both passed the House and Senate, which gives Republican legislators enough power to override Whitmer's decision, Bridge Michigan reported.

While Republicans have wide enough margins to override Whitmer's decision, it's not entirely clear how the Democrats would vote for the veto override. 

But "multiple caucus members have expressed interest" in overriding the veto, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, Amber McCann, told Bridge Michigan. Rep. Jim Lower (R-Greenville) is one member urging to do so. 

Whitmer chose to veto the bills because they "suffer from fatal constitutional flaws," but Lower said the bills were crafted during a work session with representatives from government and that the Treasury just doesn't want to do the extra work, Bridge Michigan reported. 

"If the administration needs help meeting some of the deadlines, then we can adjust the timing later. Flood victims and those affected by the COVID-19 shutdown need relief now. They need us to stand up and override this veto," Lower told Bridge Michigan.

Other legislation also aims to increase the strength of whistleblower protections for government employees, and Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) is planning to use a veto override on his bill, Bridge Michigan reported. 

While it remains unclear how most Democrats would vote for a veto override, Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. (D-East Lansing) made it clear he would not support the override. 

"I'm not a constitutional scholar," Hertel told Bridge Michigan. "The governor's legal team and attorney general's office recommended that it violated the constitution, and I don't have any reason to believe they were wrong."

But since the House unanimously passed the legislation, there theoretically should be enough bipartisan support for an override.