March 30, 2021
COVID-19 UPDATE
As of Monday, March 22nd, all Michiganders 50+, as well as Michiganders 16+ with preexisting conditions, are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. We also want to remind you that Ford Field will be open 7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. for eight weeks, with health professionals striving to administer 6,000 vaccines doses a day.
Additionally, the Pontiac soccer complex will be opened as a mass vaccination site beginning April 2nd. This partnership between Oakland County and United Wholesale Mortgage will be striving for 5,000 vaccines a day.
While eligibility and vaccination sites like these are becoming available, it is important that we do note that COVID-19 numbers are on the rise. Between Sunday and yesterday alone, we saw over 8,000 more cases.
Because of the rising numbers, all Beaumont Health hospitals began limiting the visitation of family and friends, effective March 25 at 8 a.m., to protect patients, staff, and the community.
While it may feel like the end of the tunnel, the pandemic is not over yet. Mask up, social distance, and if you have the chance, get vaccinated!
LAST WEEK IN THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE
Voter Suppression Bills
Last week, Senate Republicans introduced a large legislative bill package aimed at voter suppression. Some of these include strict photo identification rules for Michigan voters, new limits on absentee ballot drop boxes, and a ban on prepaid return postage.
This is not something election officials have asked for; rather, our election officials and clerks asked for more time to process and count absentee ballots. These bills do not include what election officials have recommended, and completely contradict the will of the people, who voted overwhelmingly for Proposal 3 to expand access to the ballot in 2018.
I share the concerns that many of our constituents have sent to us over the last week. We should be looking at ways to expand access to voting, not ways to limit it.
These bills have been referred to the Senate Committee on Elections.
Prescription Costs, Coverage Bills
Over in the House, a legislative package passed that would limit patient costs for insulin and some chemotherapy treatment while expanding telehealth services in Michigan. This bill package includes a $50 cap on insulin prices for Michiganders on state health care plans.
These bills have passed the House and were referred to the Senate Committee on Health Policy and Human Services.
Pay Equity Bills
Additionally, our office was a part of a large legislative bicameral package introduced to address pay equity and close the gender pay gap. Our bill, Senate Bill 328, would require a company with five or more employees to post a written job description for positions, including information about the skills required and the pay scale.
COVID-19 RELIEF UPDATE
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed Senate Bill 1, a bill that would have required the director of the Department of Health and Human Services to seek legislative approval for an emergency order once it was in place for 28 days. If lawmakers didn’t approve an extension, the order would have been lifted.
In a letter to the legislature, the governor stated that a crisis such as COVID does not end after 28 days, and that we should not limit our ability to respond to a crisis now and in the future. In addition, $300 million in federal relief money was tie-barred to this bill, which means the money between the veto of this bill and other bills in the past couple of weeks leaves $1.2 billion to be negotiated between the legislature and the Governor. As these discussions continue, we will be providing updates as we can.
One bill, House Bill 4570, introduced by Rep. Regina Weiss from Oak Park, would release $841 million in COVID-19 relief funds appropriated to our schools without conditions. This bill has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee but has yet to have a hearing.
IN THE NEWS
- With More Women in State Office, Family Leave Policies Have Not Caught Up
- Michigan Legislature’s Family Leave Policies Fall Behind Rest of State
Mallory McMorrow
State Senator
13th District