PWIR: Election Week In Review!
If all politics are local, it was great to see so many communities with local issues on the ballot last Tuesday. With over 80% of the ballot questions that sought higher property taxes in return for improved services being approved by voters, what does this Election Day tell us about voters' thoughts, in general? Does this throw off the conventional wisdom of what voters really want?
Those questions, and accompanying answers, in this week's Political Week in Review:
- Mayor George Heartwell is re-elected in Grand Rapids, Michiganders support local millage proposals, and Rep. Paul Scott is recalled in Grand Blanc.
- The Legislature hamstrings the Governor’s ability to protect the Great Lakes by passing the dangerous “No Stricter Than Federal Standards” bill.
- Three environmental victories to celebrate at the federal level: The Keystone Pipeline decision was delayed, the U.S. Senate defeated Sen. Rand Paul’s effort to block EPA clean air regulations, and, shucks, what was the third one? It was...uh,uh...
- The EPA finds fracking chemicals in a Wyoming town’s aquifer. Does this change anything in how we continue to work on fracking issues in Michigan?
Michigan Elections
As we emphasized last week (and every week, really), elections matter. Michiganders turned out on Tuesday - in admittedly shamefully low numbers - to vote in local elections and to prove they care about community issues. Michigan voters approved over 80% of local ballot questions seeking additional revenue for important services. While it is true that not many of these questions dealt with conservation issues specifically, the signal of voters' willingness to support slightly higher taxes in return for causes they deem important is a powerful indicator of what's to come.
Michigan LCV Board Member George Heartwell handily won a third term as mayor of Grand Rapids on Tuesday. Mayor Heartwell’s leadership continues to guide smart redevelopment in the midst of a national and statewide economic downturn, offer increased public transit options to improve the city’s economic and environmental climate, and uphold Grand Rapids’ status as America’s most sustainable mid-size city. We’re sure Mayor Heartwell’s third term will lead to similar success and innovation. Congratulations, Mayor!
On the other hand, State Representative Paul Scott will not be returning to office due to a recall election influenced by a number of wealthy and powerful special interests on both sides of the question. With recall petitions for another half dozen elected officials currently circulating, we can only expect further degradation of what is left of responsible debate in Lansing. But get this: even the recently-recalled Republican Rep. Scott recently said that the recall effort against Democrat Lisa Brown is a waste of taxpayer time and money. And, really, who knows better than the guy who was just recalled?
No Stricter Than Federal
On Thursday, the Michigan Senate passed HB 4326, a bill that prevents the Governor from issuing protections for the Great Lakes that are stricter than those currently on the books at the Federal level.
Federal regulations are only intended to be the lowest standard that states must meet; they are the floor that states can't slip below. Unless Governor Snyder vetoes this bill, no Michigan governor will be able to protect the Great Lakes in the same way that Governor Milliken did when he issued a rule in 1976 that limited the amount of phosphorus flowing into Lake Erie. At that time the algae blooms threatened the Lake’s entire ecosystem. His requirements were stricter than those at the federal level, and have since been adopted legislatively in Michigan.
As the state most defined by the Great Lakes, we should be a leader in their protection and not shirk that responsibility. We need Governor Snyder to veto this bad bill, and affirm his commitment to protecting the Great Lakes that he campaigned on in 2010. Contact Governor Snyder today and urge him to veto this short-sighted bill!
Federal Victories
President Obama announced on Thursday that he would delay making a decision on the Keystone Pipeline until after the 2012 election.
The State Department is studying alternatives to the proposed route that currently runs through the ecologically-sensitive Nebraska Sandhills. However, NASA scientist James Hansen noted correctly that it is the tar sands themselves that are the real issue here. The pipeline is just another symptom, even a bit of a distraction, from the fact that we remain so reliant on oil that awful scenarios like thousand-mile long risks like this must even be considered. In Hansen's own words, burning the tar sands oil, regardless of the pipeline route, would still be “game over” for the planet.
In other federal news, on Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted down Sen. Rand Paul’s resolution to block the EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, a rule that requires a reduction in smog and toxic air pollution from power plants in 27 states. This is important news for Michigan, since a Grand Rapids plant was recently named the fifth-biggest mercury polluter in a national study by the EPA. Thank you to the Senate who voted in a bipartisan way to move forward in improving the quality of the air we breathe. (Both Michigan Senators voted correctly).
Finally, in case you missed it, Texas governor and alleged presidential candidate Rick Perry had one of the great political blunders in history. Right here in Michigan, CNBC’s Republican primary debate put him on the spot when he forgot which federal departments he would eliminate if elected. When he finally remembered, he recalled he would eliminate the Department of Energy. Unfortunately, the Department of Energy is responsible for a number of essential programs that help Michigan job creation in regard to renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. I hope others who want this important department eliminated quickly become equally forgetful.
EPA Finds Fracking Chemicals in Wyoming Aquifer
EPA monitoring wells near Pavillion, Wyoming, found chemicals commonly used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the aquifer beneath the town. This finding underscores the need for sensible chemical reporting requirements in drilling operations here in Michigan, particularly in the deep drilling that is being done in Northern Michigan. Transparency in the use of hazardous chemicals allows us to test for them and prevent the kind of contamination found in Wyoming.
This problem requires a bipartisan solution in Michigan, as contaminated water makes no distinction between Republican and Democrat. Our leaders need to work together to craft a solution worthy of the Great Lakes State.
Until next week,
Ryan Werder
Political Director
P.S. Are you frustrated with all the anti-environmental bills passing through the state legislature these days? If so, sign up for the new Conservation Action Team and join others who are getting active and making progress on these issues. Learn More.
