I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
As it prepares to release its 2009/2010 Michigan Environmental Scorecard in May, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters is calling the attention of voters to the voting record of two state legislators — Rep. Paul Opsommer (R-DeWitt) and Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge). In a press release, MLCV Executive Director Lisa Wozniak said:
“We’re doing what most environmental groups cannot do, which is call attention to environmental voting records. While both Representatives have taken strong stands on some key natural resources and public health issues, they have also cast a number of key anti-environmental votes over the last two years. As a result, both representatives have, at best, mixed records on protecting Michigan’s magnificent places. We are here to let the Representatives know that Michigan’s citizens are watching them. We remain vigilant about our clean energy future, children’s health, and protecting our water.”
Of their voting records specifically, the MLCV said:
Rep. Opsommer’s record is inconsistent. When you go online, you’ll see that he has been good on energy efficiency while at the same time pushing for coal plants. He voted for the Great Lakes Compact, but against water conservation (and has been largely absent on the Asian Carp issue). He serves as Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee, but is not taking a leadership position on desperately needed public transportation. He has been good on some children’s health votes, except when it comes to lead. While we are grateful to Rep. Opsommer for his vote to protect Michigan’s most vulnerable citizen’s from some toxic chemicals, when polled Michigan citizens consistently voice concern for the next generation, wanting their children and grandchildren to have clean lakes and rivers to play in and jobs to keep them in Michigan. Rep. Opsommer earned a 43% Michigan LCV score on the 2007-08 Michigan Environmental Scorecard.
Rep. Jones’ record is equally as haphazard. While he has been outspoken on the Asian Carp and the conservation of our land, he has voted against several bills that seek to conserve and protect our water and stop harmful water withdrawals and keep it clean, despite his position on the Great Lakes and Environment Committee. Rep. Jones has also made a number of anti-environmental statements in relation to dirty coal-burning power plants, and he is against increasing the surcharge on out-of-state trash being imported into Michigan landfills. Rep. Jones earned a 43% Michigan LCV score on the 2007-08 Michigan Environmental Scorecard.
The MLCV has gone so far as to create two new websites — www.eyeonopsommer.com and www.eyeonjones.com — to track their records on environmental issues.
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