tOfficial 102th Michigan Legislation Session - Watching the Demcratic Party Govern

LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will use a Wednesday speech to call on the Michigan Legislature to repeal "politically motivated" and "medically unnecessary" laws that limit access to abortion, her office said Monday.

The second-term Democrat wants to "repeal waiting periods and other ... hurdles that make it harder for women to get abortions and for doctors to treat their patients," according to a planning memo shared with Bridge Michigan.

“With a U.S. Supreme Court that’s shown it can and will strip away basic rights, Michigan must be proactive and repeal antiquated state laws,” the memo said.

Whitmer is expected to outline plans for a new Reproductive Health Act on Wednesday as part of a "What's Next Address" that will highlight her top priorities for the fall as she continues work with the Democratic-led Legislature.

Trapper Gus wrote:

State Democratic leaders hope to muzzle the battles at local township boards that have often throttled Michigan’s green energy efforts by moving control of the siting of energy projects to the state’s Public Service Commission.

House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Abraham Aiyash, D-Hamtramck, told Bridge Michigan Monday he plans to introduce legislation in the coming weeks to move control of utility-scale wind and solar projects to the PSC.

Currently, projects must be approved by individual township boards. Since the expansive projects often involve multiple townships, renewable energy companies must wrestle for approval from multiple boards, all of which can make decisions based on different standards and, as Bridge Michigan has reported, have at times faced enormous pressure from unhappy residents.

Aiyash said the move would standardize and speed up decisions on projects that the state hopes will help the state reach a goal of a carbon-free electricity standard by 2035.

The administration of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been involved in discussions of the proposed legislation, Aiyash said. It is expected Whitmer will push for the measure in a speech Wednesday outlining her green energy plan. And a background memo sent to journalists about the speech links to a Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council report that promotes the streamlining of the  energy project approval process.

https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/after-local-pushback-michigan-dems-seek-state-oversight-green-energy

I'm somewhat, but not completely, negative on this move.  It is the arguments about one "good" competing with another "good".

I'm unsure what the reasonable local issues are, other than how solar panel farms & wind turbine towers look.  Jobs probably would favor renewable power generation.  Of course, there are people who don't like change & also the Conservative media watchers.

Having the State totally take this over seems sort of heavy handed, however the State has control over mining (gravel) and oil & gas exploration and exploitation, and renewable generation is less damaging than those activities.

I guess I would like to see a compromise where local input would be in place to mitigate certain aspects, but the State would be able to overcome local opposition if it wasn't reasonable justified.

edit - I live on a farm with gravel mines less than 2 miles away & oil & gas exploration somewhat ongoing. I have little time for residence complaining about how things look when they support, for others, mining & oil development, activities which can cause real damage to property.

Floyd Robertson wrote:

Trapper Gus wrote:

https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/after-local-pushback-michigan-dems-seek-state-oversight-green-energy

I'm somewhat, but not completely, negative on this move.  It is the arguments about one "good" competing with another "good".

I'm unsure what the reasonable local issues are, other than how solar panel farms & wind turbine towers look.  Jobs probably would favor renewable power generation.  Of course, there are people who don't like change & also the Conservative media watchers.

Having the State totally take this over seems sort of heavy handed, however the State has control over mining (gravel) and oil & gas exploration and exploitation, and renewable generation is less damaging than those activities.

I guess I would like to see a compromise where local input would be in place to mitigate certain aspects, but the State would be able to overcome local opposition if it wasn't reasonable justified.

edit - I live on a farm with gravel mines less than 2 miles away & oil & gas exploration somewhat ongoing. I have little time for residence complaining about how things look when they support, for others, mining & oil development, activities which can cause real damage to property.

Exercising eminent domain to erect wind turbines and solar farms (which I support and we can't build fast enough) doesn't seem like the way to go in the spirit of bipartisan politics and local control but I'm not sure what the alternative is, short of making offers that can't be refused.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:Dumbass contrarian goobers. Just another vaccine-like argument... nothing to back it up.

http://owossoindependent.com/local-man-offers-stance-against-possible-solar-farm-project/

Trapper Gus wrote:

Floyd Robertson wrote:

Exercising eminent domain to erect wind turbines and solar farms (which I support and we can't build fast enough) doesn't seem like the way to go in the spirit of bipartisan politics and local control but I'm not sure what the alternative is, short of making offers that can't be refused.

Have read a few articles in the Bridge on this and the property owners who have wind generators or solar farms on their property are generally happy about it as they get much more than farming provides. The issue is the people who are in the community who either cannot be bought at any price or whose price is higher than the renewable generation companies can afford. The "how things look" issue is hard to resolve with wind generators, for solar screening vegetation can be used.

Floyd Robertson wrote:

Trapper Gus wrote:

Have read a few articles in the Bridge on this and the property owners who have wind generators or solar farms on their property are generally happy about it as they get much more than farming provides. The issue is the people who are in the community who either cannot be bought at any price or whose price is higher than the renewable generation companies can afford. The "how things look" issue is hard to resolve with wind generators, for solar screening vegetation can be used.

Likewise, I've been keeping up with this via Bridge. Honestly, they've become pretty much my source for anything going on in Michigan.

Trapper Gus wrote:

Floyd Robertson wrote:

Likewise, I've been keeping up with this via Bridge. Honestly, they've become pretty much my source for anything going on in Michigan.

I open the following every morning I'm in state:

https://www.mlive.com/

https://www.bridgemi.com/

https://michiganadvance.com/

Michigan voters turned out to the polls on Tuesday, electing two state representatives as mayors of southeast Michigan communities and costing Democrats the majority in the state House as a result.

State Rep. Kevin Coleman, D-Westland, won handily over interim Westland Mayor Mike Londeau in the race to succeed longtime Mayor Bill Wild.

In Warren, fellow Democratic state Rep. Lori Stone became the first female mayor of Michigan's third-largest city, defeating human resources director George Dimas in the contest to replace term-limited Mayor Jim Fouts.

The twin victories mean that Democrats will at least temporarily lose their 56-54 edge in the state House of Representatives, putting a pause on their first majority of both chambers of the Legislature in four decades.

Floyd Robertson wrote: Michigan election results: Coleman, Stone win mayor bids; Dems lose House edge

Michigan voters turned out to the polls on Tuesday, electing two state representatives as mayors of southeast Michigan communities and costing Democrats the majority in the state House as a result.

State Rep. Kevin Coleman, D-Westland, won handily over interim Westland Mayor Mike Londeau in the race to succeed longtime Mayor Bill Wild.

In Warren, fellow Democratic state Rep. Lori Stone became the first female mayor of Michigan's third-largest city, defeating human resources director George Dimas in the contest to replace term-limited Mayor Jim Fouts.

The twin victories mean that Democrats will at least temporarily lose their 56-54 edge in the state House of Representatives, putting a pause on their first majority of both chambers of the Legislature in four decades.

Prepare for gridlock again.

Floyd Robertson wrote: Michigan election results: Coleman, Stone win mayor bids; Dems lose House edge

Michigan voters turned out to the polls on Tuesday, electing two state representatives as mayors of southeast Michigan communities and costing Democrats the majority in the state House as a result.

State Rep. Kevin Coleman, D-Westland, won handily over interim Westland Mayor Mike Londeau in the race to succeed longtime Mayor Bill Wild.

In Warren, fellow Democratic state Rep. Lori Stone became the first female mayor of Michigan's third-largest city, defeating human resources director George Dimas in the contest to replace term-limited Mayor Jim Fouts.

The twin victories mean that Democrats will at least temporarily lose their 56-54 edge in the state House of Representatives, putting a pause on their first majority of both chambers of the Legislature in four decades.

Prepare for gridlock again.

Trapper Gus wrote:

Floyd Robertson wrote: Michigan election results: Coleman, Stone win mayor bids; Dems lose House edge



Prepare for gridlock again.

How long to replace them?

Floyd Robertson wrote:

Trapper Gus wrote:

How long to replace them?

Not sure, tbh, but I saw something about Whitmer getting ready to call for special elections post-haste.

The legislature, and Democrats in particular, had a headline-making year, pushing through multiple major legislative proposals that had stalled for decades under previous Republican leadership.

If a bill cannot receive a two-thirds majority, it will automatically go into effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns for the year.

The first Democratic-majority Legislature in four decades ended a frenzied year early this month after sending the governor a slew of legislative priorities, including a clean energy overhaul, abortion rights reforms and financial disclosure requirements for state officials.

That came after an even busier first few months that saw Democrats use their narrow majorities to push through pent-up progressive priorities like gun reforms, Right to Work repeal, “pension tax” repeal, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and the biggest budget in state history.

But with the Legislature packing it in even before its traditional break for firearm deer season and the Thanksgiving holiday to ensure laws went into effect earlier — namely the Feb. 27 presidential primary — that meant that some big-ticket bills didn’t make it to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk.

There’s still time next year, as there’s more than half of the 102nd Legislature’s term to go.

There’s no shortage of bills left to take up, like community solar, FOIA reform, polluter pay, sexual assault statute of limitations, Detroit tax overhaul, charter school reforms and more. The Advance talked with lawmakers and stakeholders about dozens of measures they consider to be priorities for next year.

Floyd Robertson wrote:

Trapper Gus wrote:

How long to replace them?

Not sure, tbh, but I saw something about Whitmer getting ready to call for special elections post-haste.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter on Wednesday to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson calling for a special election to fill two vacant seats in the Michigan House of Representatives, left open by former Reps. Lori Stone (D-Warren) and Kevin Coleman (D-Westland).

Whitmer called for a special primary election on Jan. 30, 2024, with the special general election to be held on April 16, 2024.

On Wednesday, the Michigan Senate voted unanimously to advance a set of bills eliminating a $125 reinstatement fee for residents whose license was suspended due to unpaid driver responsibility fees.

The state Board of Education has approved a resolution requesting that lawmakers pass legislation to increase transparency about finances in Michigan’s charter schools, which were referred to as a “threat to democratically governed community-based schools.”