The following statement is from: Jamie Brown, RN, President, Michigan Nurses Association; Dina Carlisle, RN, President, RN Staff Council, OPEIU Local 40; and Pam Campbell, RN, President, Registered Nurses and Registered Pharmacists of Hurley Medical Center

We feel a responsibility to go on the record with what multiple people have confirmed and what many others in Lansing likely already know: House Speaker Joe Tate appears to be blocking bills important to frontline nurses from moving forward during the limited days left in the lame duck session.

It gives us no pleasure to conclude that Speaker Tate is misusing his power in this way; furthermore, he is violating many residents’ trust in his party. Like many organizations, especially unions, we had faith that Democrats having the majority meant they would do the right thing – and not just when it was easy.

Speaker Tate’s actions are turning that trust into disappointment. We are speaking specifically of the Safe Patient Care Act – a bipartisan package of bills that are all sponsored by Democrats, cosponsored by the majority of Democrats in both chambers, and supported by multiple unions and the Michigan AFL-CIO.

After these bills got a committee hearing in the House last year, we jumped through hoops and played nice – only to be left behind in favor of hospital corporations and their wealthy CEOs.

It is no exaggeration to say that these bills are a matter of life and death. Forty-two percent of Michigan nurses report knowing of a patient who died because of hospitals’ understaffing. There is too much at stake to remain silent.

Speaker Tate still has time to do the right thing. We hope he can find the integrity and courage to do so, for the sake of the tens of thousands of patients and nurses who are relying on their Legislature to act.

Contact: Dawn Kettinger (MNA), dawn.kettinger@minurses.org, 517-721-9688