Dems Hold Out On Vote: Stalemate For Decision On State Reps Sex Scandal
LANSING (WWJ) - Six votes short. That's where Republican lawmakers in the Michigan House, looking for the ouster of two of their own, found themselves Thursday night.
A resolution to expel Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat remains in a stalemate -- as dozens of Democrats in the minority have abstained from voting.
Michigan House lawmakers continued to stay in session into the evening; at a standstill over whether or not to expel Republican Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat, who've admitted to having an affair. Sixty-seven members have supported expulsion for the pair, but that is still six votes short of the "two-thirds" supermajority needed under the state constitution.
WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick reports that 28 Democrats are refusing to vote and it's clear that Republicans need at least some of those votes to make their case for expulsion.
The board has been left open - none of the Democrats have changed their mind -- it's a stalemate in our town said Skubick.
Lawmakers have been ordered to stay inside the chamber (Thursday), indefinitely. A special House committee investigating the case recommend both be expelled.
House Speaker Kevin Cotter, a Republican, said lawmakers are responsible for "cleaning up this mess." In a plea to the House Thursday, Courser said he had "fallen short" and apologized for the "disrepute" he brought to office.
Democrats are not supporting the behavior of the embattled lawmakers but take issue with the process.
One representative told WWJ's Skubick in previous issues, where people were ousted from the legislature, the investigation took two months - this one took two days of testimony.
Rep. Sam Singh, of East Lansing is among the Democrats who said they are not ready to vote.
"I understand people want to get this over with. I want to get this over with. But until I have the two people that started this whole thing under oath - under oath - than I don't think we've done our due diligence," said Singh.