Michigan Political Week in Review: Nov. 9 - 15

Michigan is still digesting the results of the election while Lansing works to finish the work still left on its plate.

While we must focus on the new leadership being selected in the Legislature and the new appointments being made by the governor-elect, the ongoing lame duck session also requires our attention. That, and the giant Rubber Ducky which made an appearance on the Capitol lawn this week.

Lansing’s New Leadership

As the Snyder campaign transitions quickly into its far more difficult role of actually governing, the governor-elect is making a number of key appointments that bear watching. Although in past PWIRs, I noted the presence of old Engler faces, it was encouraging to see Snyder appoint Bill Rustem --- Governor Milliken’s very capable lead advisor on environmental issues --- to the role of chief strategist. The responsibilities of the post remain a bit vague, but his role in the key decisions made by the Snyder Administration looks to be both prominent and promising.

Earlier in the week, Snyder also installed Dick Posthumous --- the 2002 Republican nominee for governor --- as a senior advisor to manage his legislative affairs. It appears as if Snyder is first consolidating his inner circle before moving forward on other major appointments to departments. As he does, Michigan LCV will be paying particularly close attention to his deliberations regarding the role of the director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

On the legislative side of things, the Republican leadership in the House will be lead by Speaker Bolger and his team. On the Democratic side, in the House, Richard Hammel will serve as Minority Leader. Across the Capitol building, Randy Richardville is Senate majority leader for the Republicans and Gretchen Whitmer will lead the small contingent of Democrats.

Lame Duck Legislation

Alterations to a segment of environmental remediation law --- “Part 201” --- continued to progress in the Legislature over the past week. This package of bills would impact the reporting and management of contaminated properties across the state and their transition to redeveloped, productive sites.

These “brownfields” are a key component of rejuvenating post-industrial areas. The catch here, though, is that the continued funding of this kind of work will draw from other sewage and stormwater bonding money. If nothing else, these kind of difficult decisions only further highlight the need for more reliable funding for the DNRE.

An extension of the Refined Petroleum Fund is also tied to the above questions. The fund allocates dollars for the cleanup of underground petroleum storage tanks that have the potential for leaking into the ground and groundwater. With so many sites in need of such remediation, the Legislature should extend the funding for this for a minimum of two years, with a preference for a more enduring appropriation.

On Tuesday, Michigan LCV joined the Ecology Center in Lansing to lobby for the Children’s Safe Products Act. This essential legislation that would protect kids from toxic substances like lead, arsenic, and cadmium is stalled in the state Senate (click here to see the culprit behind the roadblock!). Accompanied with a 25-foot-tall inflatable duck, concerned citizens, parents, and advocates took to their legislators' offices urging them not to be lame ducks themselves. (For the sake of some levity, here is a link to when kids and parents felt awfully fond of rubber duckies, rather than worrying about the debilitating chemicals they may contain.)

Coming up next

There is word that the Michigan Senate is looking at adjourning after only a few more sessions. Given the enormous hurtles that Majority Leader Bishop has erected over the past years, it is all the more unfortunate that he is again prepared to shut down state government. His thought, of course, is that given the upcoming Republican-dominated Legislature he may as well stall for time. Sadly, on so many issues, there isn’t time to wait for a new set of officials to get comfortable and reintroduce the legislation.

Whether legislation on electric vehicles, wind power, or redistricting makes any headway is largely dependent on the length of time that Lansing actually remains open for the business.

Regardless of when the legislators go home, though, we’ll still be open here at Michigan LCV. Please stop by our website often for updates on the remainder of the lame duck session and other interesting developments across the state.

Until next week,

Ryan Werder, Political Director