DAVID EGGERT
LANSING The Michigan House voted unanimously Tuesday to curb the size of severance deals for state officials unless they limit the state’s legal exposure and details are made public.
The move came after Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration faced scrutiny over $85,000 and $155,000 payouts made to her former health and unemployment directors.
Under legislation sent to the Senate, state employees would be limited to 12 weeks of severance pay unless the attorney general determines a higher payment “is necessary to serve the best interests of this state based on the risk of litigation and the need to minimize the expenditure of public funds.” A separation contract would also, to the extent allowed by law, have to shield the state from a potential lawsuit.
In the aftermath of controversies surrounding state employee separation agreements, the Michigan House advanced legislation setting limits on severance pay and adding new requirements barring nondisclosure agreements.
Michigan House votes unanimously to curb size of severance deals
By David Eggert article
The move came after Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer s administration faced scrutiny over $85,000 and $155,000 payouts made to her former health and unemployment directors
LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan House voted unanimously Tuesday to curb the size of severance deals for state officials unless they limit the state s legal exposure and details are made public.
The move came after Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer s administration faced scrutiny over $85,000 and $155,000 payouts made to her former health and unemployment directors.
Under legislation sent to the Senate, state employees would be limited to 12 weeks of severance pay unless the attorney general determines a higher payment is necessary to serve the best interests of this state based on the risk of litigation and the need to minimize the expenditure of public funds. A separation contract would also, to the extent allowed by la
Credit michigan.gov
Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s former cabinet-level health chief confirmed Thursday that he left over differences about the state’s response to COVID-19. That was part of former Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon’s testimony before the state House Oversight Committee.
Gordon said he was asked by Whitmer to quit because she wanted to “go in a different direction.” That was at the same time the administration was easing some COVID restrictions.
“There were difficult conversations, differences of opinion, and those are matters that are appropriately confidential,” he said, “and so I thought it was a reasonable request.”
Former Whitmer Health Chief Confirms He Quit Over COVID Differences wkar.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wkar.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.