Fed up with government-imposed lockdowns and health department mandates, Michigan residents have launched a petition drive to put control over departmental orders into the hands of their elected representatives. The proposal preserves the authority of public health professionals to initially determine the need to control an outbreak of an infectious disease by public health orders, but would require the determination to be in writing. The change would not hinder the health department’s ability to quickly respond to a health emergency. Under the proposal, all emergency public orders to fight an epidemic would expire after 28 days. It would then be up to health officials to request approval for an extension for a specific number of days from either the state legislature, or, in the case of local departments, from elected county commissions and municipal councils. The Michigan constitution gives citizens the right to initiate legislation by petition. If the petitioners …