Lansing Sun

Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Springport) voted for a bill that would have protected nursing home residents from COVID-19 infections by creating a dedicated facility within each of Michigan’s eight health regions for patients who've contracted the virus.

“The Legislature is stepping up to make a commonsense change to the governor’s misguided and failed policy,” Lightner said, according to Michigan House Republicans. “We’ve got to do more to protect our seniors during this pandemic. This is an important change to help keep people healthy.”

Senate Bill 956 would also have barred any COVID-19 patients from being placed in a long-term care facility, unless it has a separate building where patients can be quarantined.

Rep. Sarah Lightner | Michigan House Republicans

“Gov. (Gretchen) Whitmer’s mandate to put COVID-19 patients into long-term care facilities alongside uninfected residents was decided by her alone through executive orders — without any legislative input,” Lightner told Michigan House Republicans.

Whitmer vetoed the bill Aug. 1.

“Senate Bill 956 is nothing more than a political game that would relocate vulnerable seniors without any requirement for consent, doctor’s approval or notification to patients and their families,” the governor said, according to Michigan.gov. “It’s time for the Republican Legislature to get serious about protecting our most vulnerable and addressing the public health and economic crisis faced by our state. We look forward to continuing our work with stakeholders and legislators on the task force to develop real solutions that make sense for Michigan seniors and their families.”

Nursing home residents account for nearly a third of Michigan’s COVID-19 deaths, Lightner said.

There have been over 86,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan and over 6,200 deaths, according to Michigan.gov on Aug. 7.