While some Democrats joined Republicans in voting to change the policy, others did not including State Representative Laurie Puhutsky.
June 18, 2020
Michigan House Passes Resolution Urging Gov. Whitmer to Change Nursing Home Policy
Today the Michigan House of Representatives passed House Resolution 276 urging Governor Gretchen Whitmer to change the state’s policy of placing COVID-19 positive patients in nursing homes with residents without the virus.
While some Democrats joined Republicans in voting to change the policy, others did not including State Representative Laurie Puhutsky. Pohutsky’s district is located in Wayne County where Hometown Life reports there have been at least 1,033 confirmed cases in nursing homes with 427 deaths.
As Bridge Michigan reports, the actual number is likely higher since the state has not said how many cases or deaths have been recorded in hundreds of other facilities that house seniors or the disabled, such as homes for the aged or assisted-living centers.
It’s clear that Gov. Whitmer’s nursing home policy is placing seniors at the greatest risk from COVID-19 in immediate and ongoing danger. It’s encouraging to see the Michigan House of Representatives support changes to Whitmer’s dangerous policy and concerning that there are members who support continuing it. – Tori Sachs, executive director of Michigan Rising Action. “
Previously, Detroit Democrat Rep. Leslie Love stated that Michigan’s policy was the “most idiotic thing we could come up with.”