By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING, MI –
Leaders in the state Legislature have called lawmakers back to Lansing for one final lame-duck meeting to correct some procedural missteps. The state Senate has a few bills sent back from the House for final approval, including a measure that would lower the minimum age for blood donation from 17 to 16.
Republican state Senator Wayne Kuipers sponsored the measure. He does not think the Senate will re-approve his bill because Democrats in the House tied it to a controversial autism-insurance-reform bill.
"You know I've had a lot of conversations with leadership in the House and they assured me that they would move it. This last-minute ploy on their part to somehow connect it with the autism language is a real problem. And I'm disappointed that they felt compelled to do that."
The House also needs to meet Wednesday to approve a resolution to adjourn for the year. But it's unclear if enough lawmakers can be wrangled on short notice to return to the state Capitol to vote.