Battle Creek Times

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asked the Legislature to extend her emergency authority to mid-June by expanding the state's disaster declaration.

Whitmer wants the extension in case she needed to continue the state's stay-at-home order, according to Bridge Michigan.

"I would anticipate that there's a possibility that I will have to lengthen the stay home order," Whitmer said, according to a BridgeMi.com report, "but precisely how long it is and when that announcement will be made, I'm not prepared to say right now."

Some lawmakers agreed that the governor's emergency power should be extended, but not for as long as Whitmer requested.

“Saving lives and keeping people healthy is our top priority, and that’s why I am willing to extend the governor’s emergency declaration," Rep. Matt Hall (R-Calhoun) said in a news release on April 5, "but giving her blanket authority to run the state until mid-June with no oversight or accountability is not something I can support at this time.”

He added that “A 70-day extension is too long in a situation that has been unpredictable since Day One. And the people of Michigan need some answers first."

Hall said he is concerned about the thousands of unemployed residents and asked when they will get the help that they need.

"The call center and website for filing unemployment benefits is failing them when they need it most, and it must be fixed," Hall said in his release. "Why are some businesses forced to remain closed when they could safely be open and follow social distancing guidelines?"

Hall said he supports the governor but doesn't endorse a 70-day extension to her emergency authority.

"People need more answers before being asked to potentially spend another 10 weeks shut-in at home," Hall said in the release. "The reasonable and responsible approach is to extend the state of emergency for a few weeks and adjust from there if it’s still necessary.”