Gretchen Whitmer’s husband made typifies the ever souring relationship between her office and the Republican leadership in the legislature. Whitmer called it a poor attempt at humor -- and a top Republican said her staff lied. He jokingly asked if being married to me might move him up in the queue.”Sen. Tom Barrett put up a post detailing what he said Whitmer’s husband said last Friday. He said late that night he was called on by Whitmer’s staff to remove it because it wasn’t true. The boat drama continued to explode on social media over the weekend and Whitmer’s staff tried to brush it off.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addressed a controversial request by her husband, who reportedly name dropped Whitmer to try to get his boat out of storage and into the water sooner. Whitmer said her husband’s comments were a “failed attempt at humor.”“Obviously, with the motorized boating prohibition in our early days of COVID-19, he thought it might get a laugh,” Whitmer said. “It didn’t, and to be honest, I wasn’t laughing either when it was relayed to me, because I knew how it would be perceived. On Friday, she extended the state’s stay-at-home order until June 12.

UPDATE -- May 26, 2020: Michigan coronavirus cases up to 55,104; Death toll now at 5,266While speaking Tuesday during her daily coronavirus (COVID-19) press briefing, Whitmer addressed the story. “I do feel compelled to address the most recent one about my husband, Marc,” Whitmer said. "My husband made a failed attempt at humor last week when checking in with the small business that helps with our boat up north, knowing it wouldn’t make a difference. He jokingly asked if being married to me might move him up in the queue." “Obviously, with the motorized boating prohibition in our early days of COVID-19, he thought it might get a laugh,” Whitmer said.