Urge Senators to Vote NO on Bill to (Continue) to Allow Fox to Guard the Hen House

By MUUSJN on Sunday, February 10th, 2019

On February 4th, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2019-2 that would restructure the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), renaming it the “Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy”.  The newly organized Department would include new offices of Climate and Energy, Clean Water Public Advocate and Environmental Justice Advocate. 

The part of the Order that reportedly most concerned conservatives was the abolition of industry dominated panels created last year by legislation (opposed by MUUSJN) that could make decisions on permits and rules. The panels, which have the power to overrule decisions by the Department Director, were described by environmental activists as “polluter panels”.

On February 6th, the Michigan House (on a party-line vote) passed HCR 1 that would reject the Governor’s order.  Reportedly, their main concern about Executive Order 2019-2 was that it eliminated industry dominated regulatory panels, the classic “Fox Guarding the Hen House”. 

MUUSJN joined the League of Conservation Voters and other environmental groups to urge its statewide justice leaders to make phone calls to Michigan Senators to oppose the rollback of Gov. Whitmer’s proposed reforms.

HCR 1 is now in the Government Oversight Committee where there was robust discussion about this attempt to undermine environmental reform. A vote on HCR-1 was postponed until next Wednesday, February 13th. A staff from the League of Conservation Voters indicated that this delay was due the pressure of phone calls, emails and media coverage. Our phone calls are making a difference!   But we need to continue to make more phone calls!

CALL THESE KEY SENATORS: (dial “1” first) 
Tier I
  • Schmidt – 517-373-2413
  • Bumstead – 517-373-1635   
  • Zorn – 517-373-3543
  • Lucido – 517-373-7670
Tier II
  • Bizon – 517-373-2426
  • Victory – 517-373-6920            
  • Johnson- 517-373-1636
  • MacGregor – 517-373-0797

If you’d like to quickly send a message to your State Senator, click HERE.

(This is an electronic service provided by the League of Conservation Voters.)

Tell Senators:
  1. 1. VOTE NO ON HCR 1
  2. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an opinion that the current environmental review panels “would significantly affect how the DEQ administers the federal Clean Water and Clean Air acts”.
  3. Over the last 20 years, the Michigan legislature has never overturned a Governor’s Executive Order, according to House Clerk Gary Randall. 
  4. Michigan’s Constitution explicitly says the Governor “may make changes in the organization of the executive branch … necessary of efficient administration”. 
  5. By allowing businesses to have the final say about environmental permits and rules that affect their bottom line, we’re letting the Fox Guard the Hen House.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION!

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