Legislative

This afternoon, the Senate, in an unannounced and unanticipated move, discharged House Bill 5386, the QAAP bill from committee, and then proceeded to defeat it in a 32-4 vote. This vote was not so much as a vote on the QAAP but could be interpreted as another major move in the revenue/cut battle between Governor Granholm and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop. Earlier this month, the Senate discharged a bill that would have increased the personal income tax, and then soundly defeated that bill as well. The two leaders have been engaging in a very public dispute over the need to cut the state budget or find revenue sources to fund certain programs. It is expected that Governor Granholm will continue to veto major portions of the six remaining bills on her desk that need to be signed by November 1. You have already seen evidence of that in recent days with the public disagreement over K-12 funding.

Please take note that this does not kill a QAAP. There are other vehicle bills that can be used, including Senate Bill 858, introduced by Senator Mickey Switalski, who was a very vocal member of the Senate MDCH Appropriations Subcommittee meeting last week, and emphasized at that hearing he was willing to listen to almost any amendment as the Senate dealt with the QAAP. However, we expect Senator Switalski to follow through on his desire to hold work groups on the QAAP. Most everyone agrees there needs to be additional protections to both QAAP bills, and work group will allow that to happen.

	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
	TALKING POINTS 1
	TALKING POINTS 2
	MICHIGAN MEDICAL MALPRACTICE REFORM