(WWJ) Petition language is being considered by the state Board of Canvassers in Lansing today in another recall campaign against the governor.
Jim Makowski, with the group GAGE (Guarding Against Government Excess) wants Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and others in state government recalled because of executive orders dealing with longterm care facilities in Michigan.
"Emergency orders with regard to COVID-19 and nursing homes have actually harmed nursing homes residents, and they're not doing anything to stop the spread of the disease," Makowski said.
"Her arbitrary, capricious emergency acts have harmed Michigan's businesses," Makowski added. "We've destroyed the economy in this state, and none of her actions have proven to be helpful."
If the language is approved, GAGE would need more than 1 million signatures to trigger a recall vote, and WWJ's Charlie Langton reports that Whitmer would likely appeal the board's decision if it was to approve the petition.
Whitmer has been criticized for her handling of longterm care facilities, including for sending COVID-19 patients back into nursing homes rather than otherwise placing them under quarantine.
At a news conference last month, Whitmer urged residents not to sign these petitions. "As a resident of this state, I would want my governor to do what they have to do to save lives, and that is what we have done," Whitmer said. " I ask people to decline to sign if you see that (petitions) out there. We know that these actions save us. A vast majority of the people in this state support this, and that is exactly why we are going to fight to keep these executive powers in this office."
State records show nursing home residents account for 31% of Michigan's confirmed or probable deaths related to the virus.
While the governor has maintained she did what she had to do with respect to nursing homes, she concedes that some changes may be needed to prepare for a potential second surge of the coronavirus.
On Tuesday, a state task force she formed to look into the issue sent Whitmer a couple dozen recommendations, including exploring options for creating dedicated facilities/alternative care settings for COVID-19 patients.
The federal government is also looking into the nursing homes issue.
The U.S. Justice Department last week sent letters to the governors of Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey seeking data about "orders which may have resulted in the deaths of thousands of elderly nursing home residents.
Officials said the Justice Department's civil rights division is evaluating whether to initiate investigations under a federal law that protects the rights of people in state-run nursing homes and other facilities, and prosecutors are trying to determine whether state orders requiring admission of COVID-19 patients to nursing homes could have led to deaths.
Whitmer pointed out that the letters were only sent to Democrats, calling the feds' actions "political."
An earlier effort to recall Whitmer focused on the closure of businesses was approved by the Board; and a third, focused on the governor's stay-home order, was denied due to a lack of specificity and some factual errors.
