By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING, MI – LANSING, MI (MPRN) - Michigan Senate Republicans put drug company immunity legislation on the backburner Tuesday, delaying action until October.
State Senate Democrats say the GOP was showing cowardice by further delaying a vote on the legislation. The bills would repeal the law protecting pharmaceutical companies from being sued over FDA-approved drugs.
But Republicans say Democrats are playing partisan games when they should be focused on budget issues and a collapsing auto industry.
State Senator Alan Cropsey said, "If there is any industry that has defined Michigan at it's very core, it's been the automobile industry. And we have a very serious, very serious situation on our hands. The future of the state of Michigan - as we have known it - is going to be changing dramatically."
Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop says a repeal of the drug company immunity law would push more businesses out of the state, and cause more job losses.