These days, it sometimes seems as if the 19th century wars among competing steel and railroad interests are being re-enacted among hospital systems. That’s particularly true in Michigan, where lame-duck Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, a Republican from Monroe, is pushing something that is not in the public interest.

For years, Michigan has had a sensible way of trying to make sure that people in all areas of the state have access to health care. Anyone who wants to open a hospital must get a “certificate of need” from the state’s Department of Community Health.

McLaren Health Care, an aggressively expanding Michigan-based chain, wants to open a new hospital in Clarkston, a largely affluent Detroit suburb, and transfer beds from its facility in poorer Pontiac. The community health department rightly said no; there is no shortage of hospital beds in the Clarkston area.

McLaren has gone to courts and the Legislature twice to get the decision overturned. McLaren has lost both times.

But Senator Richardville is pushing the Legislature hard to pass a bill that would give McLaren a special exemption from the certificate of need process. Executives of other hospitals oppose the legislation; they rightly fear not only empty beds, but also higher costs.

The timing is highly dubious. Suspicions are rife in Lansing that McLaren has made a large contribution to the Senate Republican caucus, or will make one if the bill goes through. Some statehouse observers wonder whether Senator Richardville, who will be out of a job when his term ends in three months, has thoughts of working for McLaren.

Mr. Richardville needs to address these questions. And the Legislature needs to reject this demand by a health-care system that is quickly setting new standards for arrogance.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder also has something to answer for. Mr. Richardville reportedly has told other senators that the governor supports the exemption bill. If so, Mr. Snyder would betray his own pledge not to have government “pick winners and losers” — the reason he gave for drastically slashing tax breaks for what was a booming state movie industry.

Giving in to McLaren would be bad for Michigan. State lawmakers should take a page out of Nancy Reagan’s book, and just say no.

First Published September 27, 2014, 4:00 a.m.