Michigan Political Week in Review: Dec. 28 - Jan. 3
A new year, a new government. As of New Year's Day, we officially have an entirely new one here in Michigan. With the holidays and all their accompanying family time, gifts, (hangovers), and travels behind us, we are all returning to work with a brand new political backdrop behind us, as well.
The Inauguration of the Snyder Era
There were umbrellas under the seats in preparation for a worst case weather scenario, but it turned out that sunglasses were more in order. It is my hope that we look back on that scene in a year and find in it an apt metaphor for the new administration and Legislature. And, fortunately, things appear off to a pretty decent start.
I won’t bother excerpting and analyzing our new governor’s inaugural address; that has been done in some depth already by any number of pundits and politicos. I would, however, like to highlight one particular line:
“I've been cautioned by many that expectations are already too high. We shouldn't walk away from high expectations; it is time to deliver on high expectations.”
This is worth noting because he is absolutely right. Snyder has been accused regularly of speaking in nothing but “happy talk” and empty phrases and rhetoric. Here, however, he is embracing that lofty promise to reinvent our state. If he does, indeed, work in good faith across party lines --- on Saturday he broke tradition and invited leaders of both parties onto the dais with him and, not inconsequently, they took him up on it --- he may be able to do so.
What the Inauguration Means for Michigan’s Environment
The short answer: Still unclear. We still have to see whether he really does “deliver on high expectations.” At Michigan LCV, we’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: He can be a Milliken or he can be Engler. According to Snyder himself, we should have a good idea of which path he chooses as early as six months from now.
It is encouraging to see that one of his first acts as governor was to install Senator Patty Birkholz as the head of the Office of the Great Lakes. That office --- which is responsible for guiding and advising the state's actions around the Great Lakes --- is an ideal fit for Birkholz, who was a consistent leader on the environment from the Republican side of the aisle and made numerous bipartisan victories possible. We are looking forward to her continued leadership.
But there are still a number of outstanding questions that need quick answers from the governor. How will he respond to several permitting issues about coal plants around the state? How will his budget proposals treat the newly separated Michigan DNR and DEQ? At present, it is as if he has a hundred page questionnaire in front of him with only the first few lines filled out. We anxiously await getting to even the bottom of the first page.
Also worth mentioning: Snyder was not the only soul making an oath to faithfully execute his duties. Notably, Bill Schuette was sworn in as Attorney General and Ruth Johnson was sworn in as Secretary of State. The AG’s office has hardly been a source of smart environmental enforcement under Mike Cox’s leadership and, sadly, Schuette does not promise much better.
Bob Young and Mary Beth Kelley were also sworn in as Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court. The re-election of Young is particularly disheartening as he is already threatening to undo an important ruling made this week that allows citizens to sue the state over actions that damage our natural resources. The author of that opinion, the briefly-seated Justice Alton Thomas Davis, will be sorely missed.
An Untimely Farewell to State Rep. Kate Ebli
This weekend, State Rep. Kate Ebli passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Monroe County, Michigan, and Michigan’s natural resources --- of which she was always a great champion --- all lost a great leader. Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
Until next week,
Ryan Werder
Political Director, Michigan LCV
