Michigan House reopens gallery to public after security concerns prompted closure

Beth LeBlanc and Craig Mauger, The Detroit News on Dec 11, 2024

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LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan House reopened its gallery to public observers Wednesday evening after closing it for a few hours earlier in the day over security concerns as lawmakers tackle an agenda of nearly 100 bills in what was expected to be a late-night session.

In a statement, the House Democratic caucus said it had closed the gallery, "with reluctance" and in consultation with House sergeants and Michigan State Police, over undisclosed security concerns. The House does not disclose details of security concerns, House Speaker Joe Tate's spokeswoman Jess Travers said when asked what the specific security concerns were.

"This does not violate the Open Meetings Act, as the constitution provides its closure for safety matters," the House Democrats' statement said about the gallery closure. "It is the utmost priority of the House police to keep people safe, and that is always their top concern. The viewing gallery will be reopened as soon as the security professionals determine it is safe and secure to do so."

House Democrats provided a reporter a copy of a portion of the state constitution pertaining to open meetings that dictates "the doors of each house shall be open unless the public security otherwise requires."

The gallery was reopened nearly three hours later. Travers said she does not know what changes triggered the reopening by House leaders.

Wednesday's House agenda includes nearly 100 bills, including several controversial criminal justice reforms that would allow prisoners re-hearings based on their age at the time of a crime and their behavior in prison.

It's not clear why the security concerns that prompted a closure of the House gallery didn't also cause the Senate to close its gallery.

The Michigan Capitol in recent years has installed weapons scanners at each of its entrances and barred open and concealed carry of firearms within the building by members of the public. Lawmakers with concealed pistol licenses are still permitted to carry firearms inside the Capitol.

A Detroit News reporter attempted to interview a person who was seated outside the House chamber and not being allowed in, on Wednesday, and a House sergeant interrupted the interview.

The sergeant said reporters are no longer allowed to conduct interviews outside the front door of the chamber, a long-standing practice for credentialed media under both Republican and Democratic control of the House.

Barry Rubin of West Bloomfield said he came to the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday to watch the House pass a series of bills related to the affordability of drinking water.

Rubin said he was told the gallery was closed because of threats to disrupt the House's proceedings.

Rubin also said he was disappointed that he wasn't being allowed in the gallery. He had been outside the House chamber for about two hours by 3:45 p.m. Wednesday.

"I've been working on this for years," Rubin said of the water bills.

Several groups have been protesting in the Capitol in recent days as the Legislature wades through a rush of bills during the final weeks of Democratic control of the state House. Among the bills prompting protests are demands to make changes to the paid sick leave and tipped wage laws, requests for changes to the Legislature's 2019 no-fault auto insurance reform law, efforts to pass water affordability legislation and a push to provide driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Last month, individuals in a small demonstration dropped small yellow papers from the House gallery encouraging lawmakers in Spanish and English to resist voting on any legislation until a law providing drivers licenses for all is passed.

Earlier Wednesday, at a House Appropriations Committee meeting, several individuals opposing state funding for an Upper Peninsula mine on environmental grounds yelled "shame," "sellouts" and "your time is coming" after the money was transferred for the development. Occasional loud protests at committee hearings and session alike are not unusual in Lansing.

Still, the closure appeared to have begun prior to the Wednesday morning meeting, when individuals demanding changes to the paid sick leave and tipped wage laws said they were also locked out of the gallery.

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