Holland Reporter

Sen. Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) indicated that the failure of the Senate to override a veto by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of a bill protecting whistleblowers was a disappointing turnabout that would make transparency in government operations more difficult, according to MiSenateGOP.

“I am disappointed in the governor’s veto of these employee protections, and more so with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, who refused to override the veto, despite voting for the bill when it passed the Senate,” Nesbitt told MiSenateGOP. “Reviewing important information about how state programs and services are operating is critical to ensuring government is operating both effectively and responsibly.”  

Nesbitt voted in favor of Senate Bill 686, which would have amended the Whistleblower Protection Act enacted 40 years ago. It would protect state employees who report wrongdoing from acts of retribution from their employers.

Sen. Aric Nesbitt | #MiSenateGOP

An override of Whitmer's veto failed in the Senate after the proposal fell short of a two-thirds vote majority.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) would have barred State Department, House or Senate supervisors from punishing an employee for communicating allegations of wrongdoing with members of the Michigan Legislature.

Initially the bill passed the Senate by a 37-0 vote in February and the House by a 108-0 vote in June, but Whitmer vetoed it, saying it violated the Michigan Constitution.

“Whether and how to discipline employees is a core executive power entrusted in part to the governor and in part to the Michigan Civil Service Commission,” Whitmer was quoted in an MLive report. “Because this legislation violates the constitutional separation of powers... I am vetoing it.”

The final vote 22-16 on July 23 killed the bill. 

Senate Republicans said that Democrats had blocked the bill's passage. They said fear of reprisal among state employees wishing to report criminal or unethical behavior would have a chilling impact on government accountability.

“State employees should be allowed, and even encouraged, to come forward about corruption or wasteful spending without fear of repercussions,” Nesbitt said, according to MiSenateGOP. “I can’t imagine why our governor chose to veto a bill allowing state employees to talk to their legislators about wasteful spending or other problems.”