LANSING– I was looking into upcoming committee meetings this week and saw something odd in a bill that will be read at the House Committee on Health Policy this week.
As if Governor Whitmer hasn’t weaponized the MDHHS enough, this bill would give the governor the power to appoint a Rare Disease Advisory Council. A rare disease is any disease that affects 200,000 Americans or less nationwide. For example, sickle cell anemia affects 100,000 people in the United States. This bill is not specific on what rare disease the council would be for.
She would have the power to appoint the director, designee, and members. The governor will also be able to add additional members as needed, yet she can also remove any member for incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or “any other good cause.”
This Rare Disease Advisory Council will also be able to accept and apply for grants, and can receive gifts from both government and private sources.
This new proposed Council will be able to consult with experts on rare diseases to assist the council in developing recommendations under this section, including, but not limited to, experts from the private sector, organized labor groups, government agencies, and institutions of higher education.
This seems to be a bit concerning with how much power and corruption there already is within the State of Michigan.
This bill is sponsored by Cara Clemente (D), and other dempcrats Laurie Pohutsky, Tim Sneller, Abraham Aiyash, William Sowerby, Rachel Hood, Felicia Brabec, Samantha Steckloff, Lori Stone, Mari Manoogian, Julie Rogers, Angela Witwer, Jim Ellison, Padma Kuppa, Kevin Hertel, Karen Whitsett, and Kevin Coleman.
The House Committee on Health Policy meeting will be this upcoming Thursday, October 14th at 10:30am in the House Office Building, Room 519, Lansing, MI.