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The Michigan Capitol in downtown Lansing as seen on November 18, 2014.
(Jonathan Oosting | MLive.com)
LANSING, MI — Michigan lawmakers are expected to debate a trio of controversial bills this week that would change the way electoral votes are awarded in presidential elections, add anti-discrimination protections for gay residents and reinforce religious freedom rights.
With three weeks remaining in the so-called lame-duck session, the House Elections and Ethics Committee will meet at noon Tuesday for its second public hearing on a proposal that would divide Michigan's electoral college votes among the top two finishers in a presidential election.
Sponsoring Rep. Pete Lund, R-Shelby Township, says Michigan has become a “fly-over state” in presidential elections and argues that eliminating the winner-take-all system would encourage candidates to campaign here more often.
Democrats have called the bill an attempt to “rig” the system to favor Republicans, who haven’t won a presidential election — or any electoral college votes — in Michigan since 1988. At least three other states controlled by Republicans are considering similar electoral college reforms.
Under the proposal, Michigan would award at least 9 of its 16 electoral college votes to the presidential candidate that wins the popular vote in the state. The winner could receive another vote for each 1.5 points they beat the runner-up by in a head-to-head matchup. Third place finishers would not win any electoral votes.
The House Commerce Committee is expected to meet Wednesday to discuss potential changes to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination against protected classes in the workplace, housing market and places of public accommodation.
A Republican proposal would add "sexual orientation" language to the anti-discrimination law. A coalition of business and advocacy groups are pushing a Democratic bill that would also add clear protections transgender residents by adding "gender identity and expression" language.
Republican Rep. Frank Foster of Petoskey, who chairs the committee and sponsored one of the measures, has previously said he’d like to debate both Elliott-Larsen bills, but the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting has not yet been posted.
House Speaker Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, is expected to testify before the Judiciary Committee on Thursday in support of his proposed Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which he has said he wants to pair with any potential Elliott-Larsen update.
The Michigan RFRA, modeled after a federal version, would give citizens and business owners greater ability to challenge laws they feel substantially burden their free exercise of religion as motivated by a “sincerely held religious belief.”
Road funding will also be a hot topic in lame-duck with Gov. Rick Snyder pushing for action, but the House is not expected to act immediately on a Senate-approved plan that could double fuel taxes by 2018.
House members are still studying the proposal, and Bolger has floated an alternative that would shift the sales tax on fuel to a wholesale fuel tax. That would generate more money for roads but limit future revenue available for schools and cities.
Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.