The Legislature passes two voter initiated laws, rather than let them go to the November ballot. The “straight ticket” option won’t be on November ballots. Kalamazoo County’s state Senator proposes a bond to pay for environmental cleanup and repairing water systems. A recount means a new supervisor for a Kalamazoo County township.
(MPRN) Two measures that were headed to the November ballot are now law. The state Legislature voted to increase the state’s minimum wage and allow employees to get earned sick time. Because the Legislature passed the measures instead of the voters – it can make changes to the laws with a simple majority. But if the voters had passed the measures, the Legislature would have needed a three-fourths majority for any amendments. So now some supporters of the proposals are worried the Republican-led Legislature will gut the laws. But Speaker of the House Tom Leonard says right now there is no plan in place. He says by approving the measure, the Legislature will continue to have a say in the process. There are still some proposals for voters in November. So far a measure to change how the state draws its district lines and a measure to legalize marijuana are on the ballot.
(Gongwer News Service) Michigan voters will not have the option to check one box to cast a “straight ticket” ballot in November. The Gongwer News Service says the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has granted a request from Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson for a stay on a lower court ruling. The Legislature approved the change in 2015 to remove the straight ticket option. A federal district court has ruled that unconstitutional. The decision is being appealed. Wednesday’s 2-1 decision from the appeals court means the law can go into effect while the court case continues.
(Bridge) State Senator Margaret O’Brien is proposing that the state borrow up to $2-billion for cleaning up polluted sites, fixing water and sewer systems and removing hazards that could cause lead contamination. Bridge reports that the Portage Republican’s proposal would pay for those projects through a bonding program. That would require voter approval. It would probably not get on the ballot until November of 2020. Governor Rick Snyder has proposed increasing fees on landfill dumping and on water and utility bills. The governor wants that money to be used for cleanups and improving infrastructure.
(MLive) The City of Otsego is checking its municipal water system for dioxin. MLive says the city ordered more tests because earlier checks didn't look for the kind of dioxin that has been found in 19 private wells in the area. Tests of earlier samples of the city's water system didn't find any problems with dioxin, a toxic chemical linked to some kinds of cancer and other health problems. A group called Justice for Otsego has pushed local officials to look into the issue.
(WCMU) Over 4,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline assessed by the Environmental Protection Agency have been deemed impaired. A new EPA report found miles of Great Lakes shoreline and open water are contaminated by PCBs, dioxin, mercury, and pesticides. The EPA report showed of the 86% of Great Lakes shoreline surveyed 97% was deemed impaired.
(Kalamazoo Gazette) A recount shows that Kalamazoo County’s Ross Township will have a new supervisor. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that write-in candidate Robert Baker defeated current Supervisor Gary Moore in the Republican primary by one vote. Baker will be on the November ballot, no Democrat is running for Ross Township Supervisor. The original results showed a tie. An August 14th drawing gave Moore the primary victory. Baker requested the recount. Yesterday it showed him with 554 votes and Moore with 553. Baker says he ran a write-in campaign because of concerns about Ross Township’s process to pass ordinances regulating medical marijuana facilities.
(Michigan Radio) The Trump administration has again rejected Michigan’s request for federal assistance. Governor Snyder had asked for help for Upper Peninsula residents hard hit by flooding in June. More than seven inches of rain fell on Father’s Day. It caused tens of millions of dollars in damages to three U.P. counties. The president authorized help repairing infrastructure. But FEMA has denied a second request for assistance for homeowners and businesses.