Michigan

Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s name has frequently surfaced in talk of possible Obama administration appointees. The odds that she will be appointed to the Obama administration are now limited, whether by her choice or not. However, if Granholm were to leave Lansing to take up some other job a quirk in Michigan law may make it impossible to fill the vacancy created in her office.

When asked how the Lt. Governor would be replaced if Granholm resigned, Kelley Chesney, spokeswoman for the Secretary of State’s office, pointed to a state law that indicated that the Senate [which is controlled by Republicans] would be responsible for appointing a Democrat to serve as acting lieutenant governor.

But Andy Doerr, chief of staff for the Senate Republicans, said the this law has been found unconstitutional by multiple state attorney generals. Doer said that the Senate could only appoint someone to fulfill the Lt. Governor’s duties when it comes to presiding over the Senate.

Political pundit and former Republican state senator Bill Ballenger agreed, stating in an e-mail, “The President Pro Tem of the Senate would be the “acting” Lt. Gov. for various purposes, but he would NOT be in line to succeed Cherry.”

“This is a problem that should have been fixed long ago, which it was at the federal level with the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution back in the 1960,” Ballenger said.

The last time a Michigan governor was picked for a cabinet position was bank in 1969 when Republican Governor George Romney resigned to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Richard Nixon. In that case Lt. Gov. William Milliken of Traverse City became governor and the Lt. Gov. position remained empty until James Brickey was elected to the position and took office in 1971.

Lawmakers in both parties have expressed support for a constitutional amendment that would address how to fill a vacancy in the lieutenant governor post.