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.
A major Michigan environmental group is criticizing Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Synder for picking Rep. Brian Calley (R-Portland) as a running mate, saying that Calley has a bad track record on energy and pollution issues.
“Choosing Brian Calley—with his abysmal record of support for polluters—is extremely disappointing and says that Rick Snyder is putting corporations and profits ahead of Michigan’s natural resources, clean energy jobs and our public health,” Cyndi Roper, Michigan director for Clean Water Action said in a statement. “Snyder’s choice lifts the veil on his real environmental political agenda. He claims to be a champion for protecting Michigan’s natural resources but his first real decision as the Republican nominee stands in stark contrast with his rhetoric.”
Calley received a 40% rating on Clean Water Action’s 2009-2010 Legislative Scorecard. The Michigan League of Conservation voters gave Calley a 17% rating in its 2009-10 legislative scorecard. In that time, Calley:
Voted to overturn the Governor’s Executive Directive on coal plants (HB 5220, Roll Call #679, 12/18/09)
Voted against funding Michigan’s Air Permit program (HB 5220, Roll Call #622, 12/10/09)
Voted against regulating mercury in products (HB 4277, Roll Call #165, 4/22/09)
Voted against the Children’s Safe Products Act (HB 4766, Roll Call #225, 5/13/09) which creates framework for a consumer’s right-to-know about chemicals of the highest concern present in children’s products. The bill doesn’t actually phase-out or ban these chemicals.
Voted against a compromise bi-partisan initiative to fund state parks (SB 389, Roll Call #99, 3/24/10) that created a voluntary vehicle registration charge which is less than the current state park fee.
Voted against Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) legislation (HB 5640, Roll Call #150, 4/22/10) that gives Michigan communities the option of creating clean energy loans in Michigan. PACE allows more people to put small clean energy installations on their home and businesses.
Snyder, a former board member of The Nature Conservancy, has argued that protecting Michigan’s environment is important to the state’s economic well being and was endorsed by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters and Republicans for Environmental Protection during the primary.
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