I think it’s unfortunate that outside influences have had so much effect in this process. I think it’s unfortunate that the long arm of the NRA comes all the way down into this body and gets to choose who’s on the Natural Resources Commission. I think that’s inappropriate. Again, that might be a reasoning, but someone has to get up and actually explain it. At the end of the day, I think that what we’re looking for is an independent voice. You’re looking for somebody who’s going to take issues, look at them, and do what they think is right. George certainly fits into that. It’s impossible to think that he isn’t. If an avid fisherman who’s been an independent voice in this state and an avid outdoorsman isn’t qualified for the NRC, then I don’t know where you’re going to find someone to actually approve at the end of the day. Again, I’m just going to ask somebody to get up and explain what’s the standard for rejecting.
At the end of the day, we have real problems to solve in this state. We’ve got to work together in order to solve them, but we’re not going to solve them by playing politics. We’re not going to solve them by backroom political deals. We’re not going to solve them by insulting the citizens who are willing to serve for free in this process. These are people who are willing to give of their time just because they love the state of Michigan. I hope we get to a better place and I hope we get to a better place where the history of this body and the history of this process will be respected. I think we’ve reached a place where that’s not the case today, and I think that’s sad.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Third Reading of Bills
Senator MacGregor moved that the Senate proceed to consideration of the following bill:
Senate Bill No. 712
The motion prevailed.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 712, entitled
A bill to amend 1895 PA 3, entitled “The general law village act,” by amending sections 10 and 13 of chapter II and section 5 of chapter V (MCL 62.10, 62.13, and 65.5), section 13 of chapter II as amended by 2003 PA 305 and section 5 of chapter V as amended by 1998 PA 255.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows: