PWIR: The Map that Matters
Ten years ago. That was the last time a brand new map mattered this much. On Friday, the legislature revealed the new proposed lines under the redistricting process that is required by the constitution. The implications of the new districts, including yours, are huge for Michigan.
Like a boulder dropped in a stream, the changes to the course of Michigan’s future emanating from these changes will persist well after the initial ripples fade away. Downstream, in this PWIR:
- How the new lines for Michigan’s State House, State Senate, and Congress play out and will affect environmental politics
- The State House votes in favor of the bill to strip Michigan of the ability to protect our Great Lakes. The vote was primarily along party lines, but there were some key defections. Find out who stood tall for the Great Lakes.
- Michigan’s legislators get an easy weekly guide to making good votes, compliments of the environmental community. I’ll show you where to find it each Monday, too.
- What’s better than learning about protecting Michigan’s water? Doing so via an acclaimed movie, a happy hour (with Founder’s beer!), and access to statewide experts. Join us!
You would think that a cartographers’ convention had replaced the usual occupants of the capitol building last week given the intent focus on “the new maps” of Michigan’s legislative districts. This deep attention to “the lines” (not referring to the excessive line issuing from the Jimmy John’s store on $1 sandwich day) is warranted, however, as they will determine the nature of how Michiganders are represented for the next ten years.
(Links to the full maps are at the end of this PWIR, but here is a great map comparing current and future districts).
The two sentence refresher on redistricting: As mandated by the United States Constitution, every ten years a census must be conducted, and the lines that define the borders of the federal congressional districts must be adjusted to reflect the shifts in population. At the state level, House and Senate seats are also adjusted; both sets of lines are "technically" drawn by legislative committees and submitted to the Governor for his signature.
I say "technically" because, in reality, it is a tool by which to wrangle the best situation for your respective party. With the Republicans in total control of both the Legislature and the Governor’s office – as well as the State Supreme Court that hears the legal challenges – there is little question which party got the better end of the deal.
As for how this affects the future of Michigan’s protection of our water, air, parks, and forests, we can simply go back to the truism that “elections matter.” The shifting districts will open the door to more primary elections and create the opportunity for choosing the better conservation candidate between two of the same party, an exciting chance that is riper post-redistricting than any other time.
Sitting elected officials: you should be wary of future votes against Michigan’s long-term health; those votes could be coming back to your new constituents in your primary election very soon. A safe seat in a general election only makes the primary that much more appealing for others to jump into... Including us.
I hope you’re not tired of hearing about this “no stricter than federal” bill that I’ve been writing about here for the past month, because its passage in the State House on Thursday marks the next step in fighting it.
From the press release following the vote we released this quote: "As Michiganders know better than anyone, the Great Lakes are the economic and recreational heart of our state. Signing away Michigan's unique ability to protect them is nothing short of foolish.”
Governor Milliken used this power to rescue Lake Erie from strangulation by creeping algae blooms and Governor Granholm used it to defend the Great Lakes from truly hazardous levels of mercury emanating from coal plants. It seems the Legislature either does not know their state’s history or does not care about its future. You can find more background here.
The votes were largely along party lines, however there were three Republicans who broke ranks with their party to vote for the Great Lakes. Those representatives are Matt Lori, Anthony Forlini, and Wayne Schmidt. Not surprisingly, all three of these legislators’ districts depend on safe and clean water; Constantine’s St. Joseph River in Lori’s district, Lake St. Clair that surrounds Forlini’s district, and, of course, Grand Traverse Bay that defines Schmidt’s. The real question, then, is about all the other representatives’ whose constituents all depend so deeply on the Great Lakes and Michigan’s clean water.
At this point, it is important to do two things: First, thank all the legislators who voted against this sloppy bill, especially the three Republican supporters. Second, we must encourage the Governor to veto this legislation that would prevent him from protecting the Great Lakes he spoke so passionately about during his campaign.
Last week, for the first time ever, Michigan’s legislators got a handy guide to the most important pieces of environmental legislation in the Capitol for the coming week. It is a product of collaboration among organizations across the state that track this legislation closely.
The goal is to remove any uncertainty about what votes are most important every week, as well as the recommended position on each bill. In short, there is no more excuse for making a bad vote; all State House and Senate members now know what the right vote is...each week!
Don’t feel left out, though, because you can, too! Every Monday, The Hot List will be posted on GreatMichigan.org under “Capitol Conversations.” If this document is your week in review, you can think of The Hot List as your week in preview.
We’ve got you covered. Join us, WMEAC, Grand Rapids Whitewater, Powers Outdoors, and Founders Brewery for happy hour, the showing of FLOW: For Love of Water, and a brief conversation with experts (and me) on June 22nd at the Wealthy Theater in Grand Rapids at 6:00p, (or 7:00p, if you just want to catch the movie). You will also have the chance to win a kayak tour. Oh, and it’s free.
Keep fighting for children’s environmental health
Just because it’s at the end of this update, doesn’t mean it isn’t still a priority for us at Michigan LCV or the rest of the state. Stay active and engaged by attending two great Home Safe Home parties – “Keep it Green While You Clean” and “Toxic Stuff" --Thursday at Richland Area Community Center, with one at 11:30a and the next at 2:30p.
Until the week after next (I’m going on vacation!),
Ryan Werder, Political Director
