State Rep. Bradley Slagh, of Zeeland, has requested legislation to limit the use of the state’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) to true emergencies.

The bill comes in the wake of Gov. Whitmer’s continuing use of the system to notify Michigan citizens about her executive orders, including her newest order mandating the use of face masks in all public places statewide.

“This sets a dangerous precedent,” Slagh said. “The EAS should be reserved for use by our brave first responders, who are trying to prevent immediate loss of life and property, or are trying to locate missing persons, not by governors issuing unilateral mandates that have already been widely publicized.

“The governor’s recent use of the system caused more harm than good by instigating unnecessary fear across the state, which is not helpful for people who are already struggling with the effects of the pandemic.”

Slagh’s request for this legislation is one of many efforts the legislator has made to rein in the governor’s unchecked power. In May, he supported the Legislature’s legal action against the governor after she unilaterally extended emergency declarations amid the COVID-19 crisis. That same month, he also called on the governor to safely reopen the economy in Ottawa County.

The representative has also sent letters urging the governor to reopen routine health care and to reform her nursing home policies, which put seniors across the state in grave danger.

Once introduced, Slagh will work with his colleagues in hopes that the bill will move quickly through the legislative process.

###