The Michigan House of Representatives effectively ended their legislative term this year by not showing up. Rather than representing their constituents and voting on key issues that have been witing for a hearing, 55 representatives were absent from their duties for several days this week.

House speaker Joe Tate said of those who failed to show up, “they refused to do their jobs.” Attorney General Dana Nessel said that failing to attend was “literally criminal,” referring to a one-year misdemeanor of willful neglect of duty. Deep divisions between the two major political parties, as well as within the Democratic party, are being blamed.

The House is officially scheduled to meet one more day on December 31, but this day will likely include nothing but formalities to end the session. The House will reconvene in January with newly elected members and new leadership.

• Michigan House Democrats order police to retrieve boycotting Republican members, December 19, 2024.
• Michigan House of Representatives sputters to an end without enough members present to vote, December 20, 2024.
• Internal divisions doom Michigan Democrats in their final days of legislative control, December 20, 2024.