This Week in Michigan Politics, Morning Edition host Christina Shockley and Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry talk about the end of the lame duck session.
Lessenberry says “this probably has been the most productive and momentous and game changing lame duck session doing back to the 1960s.”
Lessenberry says making Michigan a right to work state was probably the biggest moment in Michigan politics this year.
And that was a big reason Governor Rick Snyder’s approval rating dropped 28 points in one month according to a recent poll. That makes Snyder one of the most unpopular Governors in the nation.
But Lessenberry says that doesn’t mean Snyder won’t be reelected for another term.
“We’ve seen this before. . . Governor John Engler did some unpopular things and was trailing virtually any conceivable democratic challenger in his first term. He ended up being reelected with 61 percent of the vote.”
This week Governor Rick Snyder vetoed legislation that would have allowed people with concealed pistol permits to carry their guns in school buildings yesterday. Earlier this week he said the Connecticut school shootings would play a role in his decision on the bill. But Lessenberry says there is evidence Snyder would have vetoed the bill even if the Connecticut shootings didn’t happen.
“Before the massacre [Snyder] told the bill sponsor that unless school were able to opt out of the concealed weapons requirement that the governor wouldn’t sign it.”
Lessenberry says while similar gun legislation may be introduced next year, it probably won’t pass.
“There’s a renewed interest in gun control nationally and democrats are going to be 5 seats stronger in the state House.”
