Michigan doctors representing the Committee to Protect Medicare are calling on Republican state lawmakers to work with Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer releasing federal COVID relief funding.
Three Michigan physicians from the Committee to Protect Medicare appeared via Zoom Tuesday.
“We’re raising our voices now because Republicans are doubling down on their game of chicken and putting public health at risk.”
Dr. Farhan Bhattie is Michigan State Lead of the Committee to protect Medicare.
The game of chicken? Last week Republican Representative Thomas Albert, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said he wouldn’t meet with the governor discussing the release of $2 billion in unspent federal funds designated for vaccine distribution and re-opening schools safely unless the governor’s pandemic powers could be negotiated. Soon after, the Michigan Senate passed a measure that if Governor Whitmer allocated the federal funds without legislative approval, Republican Majority Leader Sen. Mike Shirkey could sue the governor.
“Their will come a time in the future where it will be appropriate for the Republicans to wage political battles against the governor. But now is not that time. Not when people’s lives are at stake. We’re so close to the finish line. If we get these vaccines in arms we can really move past this pandemic. Get back to normal. Save as many lives as possible.”
The Committee to Protect Medicare says now is not the time for playing political games.