Tag Archives: Rick Snyder

The Detroit Free Press reports: Republican Gov. Rick Snyder on Friday signed a law making it harder for groups to put proposals on the Michigan ballot, imposing a geographical-based requirement that could prevent them from gathering signatures for petitions mainly from the most populated areas. The move followed voters’ passage of three Democratic-backed proposals last month and Republicans’ unprecedented tactic …

USA Today reports: The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit Wednesday against the state of Michigan challenging a law that allows adoption agencies to spurn potential LGBT parents under the guise of religion. Religious exemption laws let people, churches and sometimes corporations cite religious beliefs as a reason not to enforce a law — such as declining to marry a …

The Detroit Free Press reports: Days after Flint Mayor Karen Weaver served notice that her city might file a lawsuit against the State of Michigan over the Flint drinking water crisis, the state removed Flint’s ability to sue. Though Flint has not been under a state-appointed emergency manager since April 2015, the state still exerts partial control over the city …

Whoa. The Detroit News has the exchange: Democrats on the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee attacked Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Thursday as he testified over the Flint water contamination crisis, with one member calling on him to resign. “I’ve had about enough of your false contrition and your phony apologies,” Rep. Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania told the governor. …

Via press release from Snyder’s office: Gov. Rick Snyder today signed legislation ensuring Michigan children up for adoption have the greatest opportunity to be placed in loving homes. “The state has made significant progress in finding more forever homes for Michigan kids in recent years and that wouldn’t be possible without the public-private partnerships that facilitate the adoption process,” Snyder …

Yesterday the Michigan Senate approved a trio of anti-gay adoption bills that will soon head to the desk of Gov. Rick Snyder.  LGBT groups are calling on Snyder to veto the bills, but so far he hasn’t tipped his hand. Gov. Rick Snyder has been coy about whether he’ll support the bills if they reach his desk. He said earlier …

Via the Detroit News: The state Senate gave final approval Wednesday to legislation allowing faith-based foster care and adoption agencies to invoke “sincerely held religious beliefs” to turn away gay and lesbian couples wanting to adopt children. Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, said the legislation “protects the valuable role” of the state’s many adoption agencies with varied goals …

Via the Washington Blade: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder announced in a legal brief filed late last week he opposes state recognition of the marriage of gay man in the Wolverine State who’s terminally ill. In a five-page brief dated April 16 and submitted to the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Michigan, Snyder argues Michigan shouldn’t be required …

Last month a federal judge ruled that Michigan must recognize the 323 marriages that took place on the one day that it was legal. Snyder’s 21-day appeal window would have expired tomorrow.

This afternoon the plaintiffs in the Michigan and Kentucky marriage equality cases both filed petitions with the Supreme Court which request a review of the Sixth Circuit Court decision that upheld the bans in their states. Late last week plaintiffs in the Ohio and Tennessee cases filed their petitions. Hit the above links to read the petitions. GOP Michigan Gov. …

The state of Michigan yesterday filed an attempt to void the 300+ same-sex marriages that took place there  during the brief period that it was legal. According to the office of Gov. Rick Snyder, last week’s ruling by the Sixth Circuit invalidated those marriages. “Consequently, from a legal standpoint, because the marriages rested solely on the district court’s erroneous decision, …

Via Michigan Live: Michigan’s gay marriage ban remains in place after a federal court ruling on Thursday, and Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette both made clear they will continue to defend it. “When I became governor, I took an oath to support and defend our state constitution, without exceptions,” Snyder said in a statement, referencing the …

Just in via White House press release: “I have determined that the same-sex marriages performed last Saturday in Michigan will be recognized by the federal government. These families will be eligible for all relevant federal benefits on the same terms as other same-sex marriages. The Governor of Michigan has made clear that the marriages that took place on Saturday were …

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says that while he considers the 300+ same-sex marriages conducted last week to be legal, he won’t allow state agencies to recognize them. Snyder acknowledged same-sex couples “had a legal marriage.” But because of the court’s stay, he added, the gay marriage ban has been restored. The governor’s move closes the door, at least for now, …

The office of GOP Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is ordering state agencies to wait before recognizing the 300+ same-sex marriages that took place on Saturday but the Sixth Circuit Court issued its stay. Via the Associated Press: About 300 couples wed Saturday in four Michigan counties before a federal appeals court placed a stay on a Detroit federal judge’s decision …

GOP Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has filed a motion asking a federal court to uphold a ban on domestic partner benefits for state and local government employees. The motion asks Judge David Lawson to rule in favor of the state in a lawsuit filed by five same-sex couples. The motion argues that the 2011 law banning the benefits “eliminates local …