I rise today to give my “no” vote explanation on Senate Bill Nos. 429, 430, and 431. This issue has been debated in my district and in this chamber for many years, but specifically in the Metamora community. For the last few sessions we have seen legislation stripping away local control. This session we have legislation that not only strips away local control, but hands it over all to the authority of a department. I, for one, don’t believe that handing over the permitting process to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is in our best interests. After the last year, I think we need less state centralized control, not more. I understand the frustration our local officials and the Metamora community are facing with this bill. They know what’s best for our communities and we should not take away their right to have a say in matters like these. And we definitely shouldn’t be letting the department make decisions on what’s best for them. It’s too late to encourage a “no” vote, but I would have encouraged a “no” vote on this bill today.
Senator Lauwers moved that the Senate proceed to consideration of the following bills:
Senate Bill No. 212
House Bill No. 4224
House Bill No. 4225
Senate Bill No. 458
The motion prevailed.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 212, entitled
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled “Michigan election law,” by amending section 558 (MCL 168.558), as amended by 2018 PA 650.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows: