GOP blasts Democrats’ plan to close panel critical of Whitmer opioid efforts

• Internal emails obtained by Bridge Michigan reveal a Democratic plan to dissolve the Opioid Advisory Commission
• The commission, launched by Republicans, has at times been critical of the administration’s drug-fighting efforts
• Republican leaders in the Legislature are blasting the proposed move as a way to silence criticism

Republicans are condemning a behind-the-scenes effort to dismantle a council overseeing the state’s drug-fighting efforts as a “a huge step backward in our fight against addiction and overdose deaths”

Three Republican members of the House and one GOP senator blasted the effort to disband the Opioid Advisory Commission, which Bridge Michigan first reported.

The group was formed to advise the Legislature on how to spend its share of a $1.6 billion settlement coming into Michigan over 18 years from opioid manufacturers and distributors.

The commission was created in 2022 when Republicans controlled the Legislature. 

Since then, its members have called for greater transparency and accountability in spending the settlement and clashed with the administration of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat.

“I am extremely disappointed that there are even discussions about dissolving the commission,” Mark Huizenga, R-Walker, the sponsor of the bill that created the Opioid Advisory Commission in 2022, said in a statement this week. 

“I would fight any effort to remove this important oversight tool.”

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• Michigan Dems blast Mike Rogers over opioid stance in Congress

In a separate statement, Rep. Jamie Thompson, R-Brownstown Township, called dissolution efforts a “power play” by Whitmer to “consolidate more power while Michigan faces this crisis.”

Requests for comment to Whitmer’s office, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and Democratic leadership in the Senate were not immediately returned.

Amber McCann, spokesperson for House Democrats, said she is “not aware of any discussions amongst House leadership on this matter.”

Whitmer formed her own panel, the Michigan Opioids Task Force, to advise her administration how to spend the settlement over the drugs that kill some 3,000 residents per year.

One of her advisers, Tommy Stallworth, wrote in a May email that he has met with Senate Democrats about disbanding the separate, Republican-formed group, according to documents obtained by Bridge through the Freedom of Information Act.

“The current structure of two separate councils clearly isn’t working,” Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, told Bridge this month.

“The reason they were both created was because of a political fight (between the then Republican-controlled Legislature and the Democratic governor) over control of the process (of how to spend settlement funds).  I don’t think that ever works.”

No lawmakers have introduced a bill to dissolve the council. But legislators have rarely met in recent months and most instead expect a flurry of legislation after the election.

Plans to eliminate the council came as a surprise to its members and Republicans.

“The people of our state deserve effective management of these historic resources to combat addiction and save lives,” Huizenga said. “If anything, we should be increasing transparency and accountability regarding these funds — not skirting our oversight responsibilities.”

“This commission is made up of experts who have dedicated their careers to combating the opioid crisis, and they provide essential oversight,” said Rep. Kathy Schmaltz, R-Jackson, in a news release. “Dismantling the Opioid Advisory Commission would be a huge step backward in our fight against addiction and overdose deaths. The governor and the state should not have complete authority over how this money is used or where it goes.”

Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton, was equally critical of the move, saying in her own news release that “dismantling this commission would send the wrong message to everyone who is struggling with addiction or has lost a loved ones.”