LANSING, Mich., — As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to significantly impact the health and well-being of Michiganders, our communities and economy, the Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic has wasted time, resources and taxpayer dollars creating distractions and political theater. Michigan Democrats are calling for an end to the partisan political antics as the lives and livelihoods of countless Michigan residents remain in jeopardy.

Following months of meetings and data gathering, the Republican-controlled Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic has not demonstrated any interest in fulfilling its important mission to examine the status and efficacy of governmental actions and provide recommendations to prevent or prepare for similar emergencies in the state. The months of meetings has once again laid bare the Republican agenda of political gamesmanship and “gotcha” tactics.

On Sept. 9, 2020, Michigan Democratic committee members sent a letter to Rep. Matt Hall (R-Battle Creek), committee chairman, to express their ongoing concerns regarding their exclusion from information requests and access to responses and requested a copy of the final committee report prior to the committee’s vote.

“Unfortunately, it has become abundantly clear in the past few meetings that this committee will not seek solutions, but rather was created to serve as a stage for Republicans to attack the governor and her administration,” said Rep. Vanessa Guerra (D-Saginaw) and minority vice chair of the Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic. “We were given a real opportunity to evaluate what has worked, what hasn’t and how to handle COVID-19 or any public health crisis in the future. Regrettably, my Republican colleagues have squandered that opportunity with their political antics rather than complete this critically important work to help save lives.”

A video of a recent committee meeting is available here. The letter is available here.

# # #