Posted on 04/21/2025 1:53:01 PM PDT by Twotone
Michigan dentist Kent Wildern has filed a lawsuit against Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer's administration, challenging the state's mandate requiring health care professionals to complete ideological training to keep their licenses.
"It is unconstitutional for Michigan to weaponize its licensing powers to force healthcare professionals to choose between their careers and submitting to ideological indoctrination," Wildern's attorney, Wilson Freeman of the Pacific Legal Foundation, wrote in a Tuesday press release.
"Moreover, Michigan's mandate for implicit bias training came from an unelected agency rather than the legislature, sidestepping any public debate on the issue," the attorney added.
Wildern's lawsuit comes as President Donald Trump ramps up his crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which he has called "illegal and immoral discrimination programs," at the federal level. Trump has signed executive orders banning DEI programs across the federal bureaucracy and the military and has withheld millions in federal funding from a slew of universities for failing to abolish such programs.
The lawsuit targets a 2021 rule from Whitmer's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs that requires more than 400,000 health care workers in Michigan to complete implicit bias training for both initial licensure and any renewal. New applicants must complete two hours of implicit bias training before receiving their licenses, while renewing licensees must complete one hour each year.
Since September 2024, the Whitmer administration has fined at least 132 health professionals nearly $76,000 for failing to comply with the mandate, the Pacific Legal Foundation's press release states.
According to state guidance, the training must include, among other things, "information on implicit bias, equitable access to healthcare, serving a diverse population, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and cultural sensitivity." Licensees must attest that they've completed the training and retain documentation for six years, and they may be audited by the state licensing department.
Good. I hope he succeeds.
I hope Kent takes the lefties to the cleaners big time.
With every lib regulation COMES the associated FINES and PENALTIES.
Now here’s a lawsuit you can sink your teeth into.
I’d love to make it class action for every single college and university.
Excellent!!
Just more of HalfWhitmer’s inane policies. Are all these Democrats vying for the “Stupidest Politician of the Year” award?.
Our society crashed.
I would do it at my usual and customary fee of $800/hour + travel and any other expenses.
This mandate is probably nothing more than a payoff for the grifters. If healthcare professionals have to pay a fee to take the course, it’s a shakedown, and the suit should seek restitution plus punitive damages. If the state offers the course as a “service,” the state is paying and it is a straightforward payoff. In that case, find out how much is kicked back to the Michigan democrats.
We have implicit bias training as a requirement to keep our law licenses in Missouri and it is completely maddening.
The ghost of Bakke lives on.
Thank Scotus.
This training is only for whites
Is this dictate new.....DEI with just another name ?
According to Democrat Whitmer’s state guide, health pros training must include:
<><>information on implicit bias,
<><>equitable access to healthcare,
<><>serving a diverse population,
<><>DEI initiatives,
<><>cultural sensitivity.
<><>attest that they’ve completed the training
<><>retain documentation for six years,
<><>incur auditing by the state licensing department
<><>among other demands.
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