LANSING, Mich. (Great Lakes News) – Republicans are concerned about transparency in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Michigan Senate Republicans are scrutinizing the appointment of Elizabeth Hertel as director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed Hertel after Robert Gordon abruptly resigned in January.

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Gordon received a $155,506 payout for his resignation and signed a clause forbidding him from talking about his tenure at MDHHS.

State Sen. Ruth Johnson (R-Holly) expressed disappointment that Hertel was not more transparent with data and wouldn’t be specific about what criteria the state is using to make decisions. So far, roughly one third of Republican senators opposed Hertel.

Also in Lansing, lawmakers want Gov. Whitmer to work with the Legislature as outlined in the Constitution.

Legislative Republicans say Gov. Whitmer is going to have to work with them to decide on how $10 billion in federal coronavirus dollars will be spent. Republicans passed a spending bill that also restricted the governor’s power, which Whitmer vetoed.

Republicans are attempting to use the dollars as leverage to force Whitmer to work with the legislature, which she has largely ignored during the coronavirus pandemic and made decisions unilaterally.