LANSING, Mich., March 17, 2022 — Yesterday, Michigan House Speaker Jason Wentworth (R-Farwell) announced that he will not be taking up any reform bills to the 2019 Auto No-Fault law, breaking his caucus’ promise to legislators and the auto-accident victim community. The enactment of this law saw hundreds of auto accident survivors lose access to life sustaining care they need for their quality of life to continue. Bipartisan reform bills, co-sponsored by a majority of Michigan House members, have been introduced this session, yet Republican leadership has refused to bring these bills to a hearing and vote. In response to the inaction and yesterday’s announcement from the speaker, state Rep. Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids) issued the following statement:
“The unwillingness to work on common-sense reform bills is unethical, and it fails our constitutional duties as representatives of the people of Michigan to protect public health. SB1 pulled the rug out from under hundreds of families and their frontline caregivers. As a result of the decision to block these bipartisan reforms, countless lives and rehabilitation services have and will be disrupted. Sadly, these negative outcomes could have been easily avoided. By taking this action, the Michigan House GOP has committed itself to ensuring suffering for vulnerable families all across the state.”