Tri-City Sun

State Representative Bill G. Schuette expressed concerns over new laws that classify caregivers under Michigan’s Home Help Program as public employees for collective bargaining purposes. The legislation mandates that caregivers attend union orientations within 45 days and strongly encourages union membership. This program provides Medicaid-funded personal care services for elderly and disabled individuals.

Schuette criticized the reforms, describing them as a financial burden on family caregivers who provide constant care to their loved ones without significant benefits from union dues. He noted that many families hire their own caregivers, including relatives, to meet specific needs.

“These laws will simply drain hundreds of dollars of financial support from each of these households as they already face higher cost of living expenses from high inflation over the past several years,” Schuette stated. “They’re a flawed approach to the challenges faced by Michigan families living with disabled relatives. They put individualized care at risk, and they’re another thinly veiled ploy by Democrats to line lobbyist pockets.”

Efforts similar to these were rejected by Michigan voters in 2012 when a ballot measure was defeated decisively.

“Democrats clearly are the threat to democracy as they do not respect the will of voters," Schuette said. "The people of Michigan recognized in 2012 that this policy only further complicated an already delicate issue." He added, “Unfortunately, the governor and Democrats in the Legislature decided to ignore this clear viewpoint from voters and ram through these reforms anyway.”

Senate Bills 790 and 791 passed along partisan lines before being signed into law, with opposition from Republicans and organizations like AARP.