Michigan Political Week in Review: Jan. 4-10

There is hardly time to summarize last week before we dive to into this one. Already, today, we have a new Supreme Court Justice, Appellate Judge Brian Zahra. Although we are not thrilled with Governor Snyder’s selection for the high bench, we are still very happy with a different legal decision regarding an unnecessary coal plant. How long that will stand now, however, is another question. In short, this is one of those times where the judicial and the political worlds overlap with wide-ranging consequences.

Michigan LCV Launches “How Green is Your Governor?”

We tracked him in throughout the election and, as it has become a bit of a habit, we decided to just keep going. On Thursday, Michigan LCV launched a new accountability tool called “How Green Is Your Governor?” to keep an eye on the Snyder Administration as it works to reinvent our state. The good news is that, so far, he is doing relatively well.

We set up the site so that if you have enough time to check three simple numbers, you have enough time to learn how successfully Governor Rick Snyder’s administration is managing Michigan’s beautiful and valuable natural resources.

Three color-coded numbers will be at the top of the consistently-updated page and will correspond to the amount of positive, negative, or neutral actions the governor makes throughout his term.

Feel free to check out the tallies right now.

The Fleeting Glimpse of an Effective State Supreme Court

As for Zahra, he has a history of ruling in the same pattern of environmental opponents like Chief Justice Bob Young and Cliff Taylor. Already, Young has vowed to overturn Justice Davis’ important ruling that reinstated the ability of citizens to sue the state for environmental harm and hold their government responsible.

Zahra was the lone dissenter in a 2008 ruling that required industrial farms to report the contents and location of the ongoing disposal of toxic animal waste products. His position, which would hide this important information from effected Michigan citizens, is a discouraging precedent for his upcoming tenure on the state's highest court.

Snyder Administration to Continue Along Smart Path on Coal

We asked for proof that Gov. Rick Snyder was serious about his commitment to Michigan's natural resources and environment. And, only five days into his tenure, he made a decision that appeared to indicate that he really is pretty serious about it. We couldn't be happier.

On Tuesday, his administration made the decision to appeal a short-sighted lower court ruling that would help clear the way for an unnecessary coal plant in Holland. The effect of this appeal is to again put the brakes on the potential 78-megawatt plant until a full study of the alternative options and their cost are explored. We have little doubt --- nor does the coal company, which is why they're fighting it --- that a cleaner set of energy sources will prove to be more efficient and affordable for homeowners and businesses. Of course, his new appointment to the Supreme Court may make this appeal fruitless, anyway.

A Tragic Reminder

An overview of the political world over the past week is incomplete without recognizing the horrific assassination attempt of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson over the weekend and the dead child, judge, staffer, and other innocent bystanders that fell in the carnage. Our first thought must, of course, be with the grieving families and loved ones. Our second thought, however, must be applied to preventing further such tragedies.

Almost immediately, much was made of the vitriolic political atmosphere that may have had some part in bending this already disturbed individual toward violence against a public servant. At Michigan LCV, we make no judgment on that possible causation other than to say this: If our level of debate in this nation has sunk to the point where there is even a small chance that it can be remotely linked to this type of action ... that alone is enough to tell us we have gone too far.

At Michigan LCV, we are committed to maintaining a high level of discourse and to standing firm in the belief that disagreements in politics are both natural and necessary. At no point, however, are personal attacks on anyone’s character or best intentions warranted or worthy.

In observance of Saturday’s events, please note that all Michigan flags are ordered to half-staff through Friday. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the friends and families so ruthlessly savaged by Saturday’s incident.

Until next week (and with hopes for happier news),

Ryan Werder

Political Director, Michigan League of Conservation Voters