GRANHOLM LOOKS TO MAKE BIG BUCKS FOR PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS, SAYS MICHIGAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
LANSING, MI – The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today released the following
statement by Wendy Block, Director of Health Policy and Human Resources for the
Michigan Chamber, in response to Governor Granholm’s call in her State of the
State address for the Michigan Senate to make it easier for personal injury
lawyers to sue drug manufacturers:
“On a night when the Governor stressed the need to work cooperatively to move
Michigan forward, we are disappointed that she chose to highlight a highly
divisive political issue designed to benefit personal injury lawyers’
pocketbooks by making Michigan a liability lawsuit magnet.
“Michigan law already allows a person to sue when a drug manufacturer
knowingly tries to hide information or deceive the FDA about a product’s safety.
Companies that knowingly try to mislead consumers must continue to be held
accountable. But life science companies whose mission is to research and develop
drugs with the purpose of helping people lead healthier, more productive, lives
and have followed and met rigorous FDA approval standards, should not be
subjected to endless litigation.
“Repealing Michigan’s FDA defense law will make personal injury lawyers
millions of dollars while taking the state of Michigan and our economy one giant
step backwards.”
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business advocacy
organization representing over 7,000 employers, trade associations and local
chambers of commerce. The Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be a
strong advocate for Michigan’s job providers in the legislative, political and
legal process.
CONTACT: Betty McNerney
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
517-371-7663
STATE LAWMAKERS, GOVERNOR MUST IMPROVE THEIR JOB PERFORMANCE, MICHIGAN CHAMBER MEMBER SURVEY SHOWS
LANSING, Mich. – An overwhelming majority – 90 percent – of respondents to a
Michigan Chamber of Commerce member survey gave state lawmakers a grade of “D”
or worse on their overall job performance in 2007. Forty-two (42) percent of the
800 business leaders who responded to the poll gave state lawmakers an “F”.
Nearly the same percentage of respondents – 88 percent – gave Governor a grade
of “D” or worse on her overall job performance. Sixty (60) percent of
respondents gave the Governor an “F.”
When asked, “What do you think is the most important problem facing state
government?” the largest number of respondents (roughly 30 percent) said lack of
fiscal responsibility and the state budget.
“Our members are deeply dissatisfied with the performance of both the governor
and state lawmakers,” said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Jim Barrett. “The
results of our poll strongly indicate that job #1 for the governor and state
lawmakers in 2008 is to get state government’s financial house in order by
reducing spending, restructuring state government and avoiding tax increases.”
“Many of the 800 business leaders who responded to our survey offered compelling
commentary on the economic and regulatory challenges they are facing as job
providers in Michigan,” noted Rich Studley, Michigan Chamber Executive Vice
President. “What they want to see from the governor and state lawmakers boils
down to two things: competency and certainty.”
“There is a window of opportunity for the governor and state lawmakers to deal
with some key issues in the months ahead, like health care, energy and the Great
Lakes,” said Jim Holcomb, Vice President of Business Advocacy & Associate
General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber. “These are issues state lawmakers and
the governor ought to be able to tackle.”
“It’s time for the governor and state lawmakers to get their act together and
take action to encourage job creation and economic growth in Michigan, like
strengthening our state’s legal reform laws,” Studley concluded.
This poll is the second online statewide survey conducted by the Michigan
Chamber of Commerce through its interactive web site,
www.michamber.com. The Michigan Chamber
of Commerce is a statewide business advocacy organization representing over
7,000 employers of every type and size in all 83 counties in Michigan. The
Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan’s job
providers in the legislative, political and legal process.
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Poll Results
How would you rate the overall job performance of state lawmakers?
A = 0%
B = >1%
C = 9%
D = 40%
E = 8%
F = 42%
How would you rate the overall job performance of Governor Jennifer Granholm?
A = 1%
B = 3%
C = 8%
D = 22%
E = 6 %
F = 60%
What do you think is the most important problem facing state government?
Top 5 Responses:
· Lack of fiscal responsibility/state budget
· Taxes/unfriendly business climate
· Jobs: loss/creation/retention
· Economy
· Government reform/inefficiencyTop of Page
