Author
Nessel joins group of AGs against ‘unlawful’ Trump EPA regulatory changes
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined 22 other state attorneys general in opposing a proposed rule from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which the AGs say would unlawfully hinder states’ abilities to protect water quality. In the comment letter filed this week, the attorneys general cite “grave concerns” that the President Trump administration […]
Whitmer asks Supreme Court to lift vape ban order
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has followed through on her plans to file with the state Supreme Court over her vaping ban, her office announced Friday. The emergency application seeks to lift the Oct. 15 court order blocking the enforcement of Whitmer’s flavored nicotine vape ban, in which a Court of Claims judge questioned the legitimacy of […]
GOP leaders again grouse about Whitmer’s use of executive power in budget process
Over coffee and eggs at an early Thursday morning event, GOP legislators told a politically oriented crowd at Boji Tower in Lansing that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administrative board power should be reined in. Remarks on the budget process, administration board and road funding dominated the conversation at an event hosted by Dome Magazine and Oakland […]
Bills aim to bring solar energy to more Michiganders
A group of lawmakers have announced bipartisan legislation geared at making it easier for Michigan residents to invest in solar. The bills, collectively called the “Powering Michigan Forward” package, were introduced at the state Capitol on Tuesday by state Sens. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte), Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) and Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan), and state Reps. Gregory […]
Bills you may have missed: Hate crimes expansion, judicial age limits and medical experiments on dogs
With the fast-moving nature of politics and the legislative process, it’s safe to say that many of the lesser-known legislative happenings tend to get overlooked. In an effort to give some recent bills the coverage that they deserve, here is this week’s roundup of recently introduced legislation you might have missed. Expanding Michigan’s hate crimes […]
GOP leaders, anti-gerrymandering group meet on expanding term limits
A group of Republican leaders, business groups and activists that took on gerrymandering in Michigan have held recent talks aimed at tackling term limits and broader government reform. Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) and House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) are working with Voters Not Politicians (VNP) and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce to […]
Flint native named Michigan’s clean water chief, says she’ll ‘lift up voices in our community’
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has named Ninah Sasy as its first clean water public advocate, the department announced Tuesday morning. “I feel like I’m really going to ensure that we lift up the voices of our community, and that we’re really clear on what we’re doing to improve clean […]
Bills aimed at stopping unexpected medical bills get pushback from doctor groups
A state House committee Thursday morning heard testimony from two state representatives with a bipartisan plan to protect Michigan patients from what they call “surprise medical billing.” Various state physicians’ associations, however, were not pleased and spoke out vigorously against the bill package. House Bills 4459 and 4460, introduced by state Reps. Roger Hauck (R-Mt. […]
‘Raise the Age’ juvenile justice reform headed for governor’s desk
Long-awaited “Raise the Age” juvenile justice reform bills were fast-tracked through the Senate Wednesday morning, following bipartisan compromises. The final package would raise the age limit for an offender to be tried as a juvenile from 17 to 18 years old, is expected to be on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk as soon as Thursday. “We […]
House committee still tweaking bipartisan ‘safe drinking water’ bills
The state House Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Committee took up bills on statewide drinking water quality issues Tuesday afternoon, but declined to move forward on them until certain issues raised at the hearing are addressed. The 10-bill “safe drinking water” package, sponsored by an even split of House Democrats and Republicans, proposes updates to […]
Senate panel passes bipartisan compromise on ‘Raise the Age’ legislation
Michigan’s “Raise the Age” campaign scored big Thursday morning, as a Senate committee unanimously passed bipartisan legislation that will raise the age limit for an offender to be tried as a juvenile to 18 years old. Michigan is one of just five outlier states — along with Missouri, Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin — which regards […]
Stabenow talks climate crisis impacts on Great Lakes after releasing new report
Erratic and extreme lake level fluctuations will be the “new normal” for the Great Lakes, as climate change causes more frequent and more intense storms. This is according to a new report from U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing), who hosted a climate change roundtable with local health and environmental stakeholders Tuesday morning in Lansing. Stabenow […]