The Michigan state Senate refused to confirm 13 individuals appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to various state boards and commissions on Wednesday. In a party-line vote the Senate's GOP majority defeated the nominations 19-14.

On Jan. 13, Republican state Sen. Jim Stamas stated in a press release that Whitmers appointments would be rejected until the administration ended the coronavirus lockdowns and permitted the state to reopen.

“The governor is continuing punitive lockdowns and jeopardizing lives and livelihoods — while state government has largely been unaffected,” said Stamas, R-Midland. “People have suggested that the governor and her department heads not get paid until they allow restaurants and other family businesses to reopen and their workers to earn their paychecks. However, since we are constitutionally restricted from doing that, I am calling on Chairman Nesbitt to reject appointments by the governor until our economy is safely reopened.”