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4 May, 6 tweets, 3 min read
New: Gretchen Whitmer + GOP legislative leaders were so close to a big deal.

Framework was in place for board deal on easing COVID-19 rules, allocating billions in fed. $ and formalizing new role for #mileg on health orders.

Today? Everything's in flux freep.com/story/news/pol…
Sources tell me the two sides were to the point of negotiations where they discussing wording on planned joint statements.

Then, the governor announced her plan to tie vaccine metrics to easing COVID-19 rules. It caught some GOP lawmakers off guard freep.com/story/news/pol…
But that plan essentially shows the governor and health leaders acquiescing to a longstanding GOP-request: publishing specific benchmarks for rolling back COVID-19 rules.

freep.com/story/news/pol…
The state's plan also relies on a key idea sources say was proposed by GOP lawmakers: pegging COVID-19 rollbacks to the percentage of Michiganders who've received their *first shot* of a vaccine, not their second.

freep.com/story/news/pol…
The takeaway:
- Tensions remain high.
- Trust remains low.
- The prospects of quickly and efficiently distributing billions of dollars to those in need remain slim. freep.com/story/news/pol…
.@ZachGorchow has been all over this story, make sure you check out his piece as well

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More from @Dave_Boucher1

Dave Boucher Profile picture
6 May
At 1030 am, a Michigan House cmt will discuss vaccine passports. They're set to hear from a conspiracy theorist who has suggested, among other false ideas:
- Bill Gates helped created mosquitos that can inject people w/the vaccine
- Vaccines might be used to implant microchips
The list of espoused conspiracies from Naomi Wolf is long, varied and wildly inaccurate. I'll share snippets of some during the hearing.

Also, at no point has Gov. Whitmer or Michigan health department leaders suggested they would implement vaccine passports.
Here's comment from Bobby Leddy, Whitmer's press secretary, on today's House Oversight Committee hearing. Image
Read 49 tweets
Dave Boucher Profile picture
26 Feb
New: You've heard about the "hoax," the contemplated fistfight with the governor, the "bat-shit crazy" remark.

They're from a man asked to lead lawmakers and the GOP, emblematic of comments made for years.

They show us the real Mike Shirkey, sources say
freep.com/story/news/pol…
When I asked @SenRuthJohnson, R-Holly and the ex-MI SOS, if Shirkey still has the confidence of the Senate GOP caucus, she hesitated.

"I’ve gotten some texts and calls that, you know, people are concerned and suggested that maybe he be replaced." freep.com/story/news/pol…
There's a Shirkey that sings gospel, runs home from Lansing for family time, crafts intricate parodies to compliment D/R colleagues.

But a source says the man calling aspects of the Jan. 6 insurrection "staged" is the real Shirkey.

"He's lost his way" freep.com/story/news/pol…
Read 5 tweets
Dave Boucher Profile picture
25 Feb
Now: Senate committee discussing the appointment of Elizabeth Hertel as director of the Department of Health and Human Services. She was appointed after Robert Gordon resigned the role in January freep.com/story/news/hea…
Sen. @SenAricNesbitt asks Hertel to offer 3 specific things she would've done differently to fight pandemic.

- I would have worked to partner more closely with one or two hospitals on the TCF site; would've made process easier.
- Beta-tested messaging for lab and state system
Last point from Hertel: Would've started planning earlier to send employees home. "We weren't sure how tenacious and aggressive this virus was. We ended up having to make that decision very, very quickly."
Read 25 tweets
Dave Boucher Profile picture
25 Feb
Full Senate begins process of taking up two COVID-19 funding relief bills. Bills offer some, but not all, of the billions already provided by federal government. Plan still differs from House, governor's proposals freep.com/story/news/pol…
The Senate Advice and Consent Committee is supposed to meet right now to discuss the appointment of Elizabeth Hertel as new director of the state health department.

But, given lengthy caucus meetings this morning, the full Senate is still in session.
Alright, here we go. Senate taking up their version of the COVID-19 school funding bill. Offers some, not all of the billions available from Congress.

Dems/Whitmer opposes. House GOP agrees w/withholding some funds, but disagrees with Senate GOP on how much
Read 37 tweets
Dave Boucher Profile picture
24 Feb
Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, attempting to amend a Senate bill so that the state could not distribute vaccines based on race, gender, socioeconomic status or a litany of other factors.

Right now, state uses a "social vulnerability index" to help determine distribution
Sen. Runestad, R-White Lake, arguing a 20-year-old in perfect health who has "minority status and you don't speak English that well" has a higher priority in the index than someone over 65.

Right now, a 20-year-old likely isn't eligible to get a vaccine in Michigan
.@CurtisHertelJr notes the index is used to determine how vaccines are distributed, not to decide to whom vaccines are administered.
Read 12 tweets
Dave Boucher Profile picture
24 Feb
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is giving another update on the state's fight against COVID-19. Watch live here: freep.com/story/news/loc…
Whitmer notes US surpassing 500,000 deaths due to COVID-19.

"It's enough to fill the Big House in Ann Arbor five times over."
Whitmer: "If we took one minute of silence to recognize each life, it would last" more than 10 days.

Says it is important to remember the cost of the pandemic and to stay vigilant against its spread.
Read 16 tweets

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