LANSING – On a straight party line vote, the Senate decided on Thursday to delay any action on legislation that would end Michigan’s civil immunity on prescription drugs until June 2, arguing the state needed to focus on fixing its budget before acting on the controversial issue.
Senate Democrats failed last week to discharge HB 4316, HB 4317 and HB 4318 from the Government Operations and Reform Committee when Senate Republicans then were able to hold off action for the day.
On Thursday, the majority GOP argued that because of the ongoing budget crisis officials should focus on that before getting into another potentially complex issue.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Alan Cropsey (R-DeWitt) said the issue of prescription drug liability would need negotiating that would have to include the Executive Office.
But Governor Jennifer Granholm has also said lawmakers need to be “laser-focused on the budget and I think she is correct on that,” Cropsey said.
Sen. John Gleason (D-Flushing) said if he had any confidence the Senate would actually work on the proposal in June he would reluctantly support the delay. But he said he suspected the issue would be delayed one more time.
Sen. Deborah Cherry (D-Burton) also said the Senate was capable of working on more than one issue at a time.
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