Michigan Environmental Council

Michigan
Environmental Report

Volume 21 . Number 6
December 2003

PURPOSE
Founded in 1980, MEC is a coalition of over 60 environmental, public health, and faith-based organizations with nearly 200,000 individual members. For over 20 years, MEC has provided a voice at the State Capitol. In addition to serving as a clearinghouse of environmental information, MEC develops public policy, educates elected officials and the public, and provides training and support to member organizations.

SUBSCRIBE

OFFICERS

Chairperson
Chris Graham,
Michigan Natural Areas Council

Vice Chair
Vicki Levengood,
National Environmental Trust

Vice Chair
Kathryn Savoie, Ph.D.,
ACCESS

Treasurer
Tanya Cabala,
Lake Michigan Federation

Secretary
Brian Imus,
PIRGIM

MEC STAFF

President
Lana Pollack

Policy Director
James Clift

Associate Director
Patrick Diehl

Land Programs Director
Conan Smith

Special Projects Coodinator
Brad Garmon

Office Manager
Judy Bearup

Member Services Director
Michele Scarborough

Policy Specialist
David Gard

Policy Advisor
Dave Dempsey

Communication & Development Associate
Amber Shinn

Environmental Campaign Coordinator
Wendi Tilden

Project Assistant
Jacquie Styrna

Land Programs Assistant
Ben Stupka

MER Design & Layout
Rose Homa

POLICY BRIEF
CLIMATE CONTROL BILL • ENERGY BILL • DOVE BILL • LEAD POISONING

U.S. Senate Narrowly Defeats
Climate Change Control Bill

In its first major vote on global warming control legislation October 30, Congress failed to deliver what 79% of Americans who were recently polled said they wanted: reduced emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

But the big surprise--given the Bush Administration's opposition to climate change policies--was that the Climate Stewardship Act, sponsored by Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman, attracted 43 bipartisan supporters. Among them was Michigan's Debbie Stabenow, who clearly demonstrated her commitment to addressing this emerging global threat.

Flawed Federal Energy Bill Defeated -- For Now
By David Gard, MEC Policy Specialist

Despite a full court press by its majority leader and the Bush Administration, the U.S. Senate failed to overcome a threatened filibuster of the energy bill (HR 6) before moving on to Medicare legislation in November. Michigan Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow voted to block the bill, which had a number of significant problems.

Among other things, HR 6 set aside more than $37 billion in tax incentives and subsidies for the oil, nuclear and coal industries. By comparison, programs to expand energy efficiency and renewable power received only modest funding. This spending scheme would have forced the nation backward instead of establishing a meaningful plan to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Another contentious provision sought to limit the liability of producers of the gasoline additive MTBE, a groundwater contaminant. Yet another, the so-called Barton amendment, aimed to undercut important protections in the Clean Air Act. Many MEC member groups were instrumental in helping both Senators block the energy bill.

Unfortunately, its demise may not be final. Supporters of the legislation have vowed to try again in January, likely with additional provisions to attract crossover votes

Sikkema Says Mourning Dove Hunting Bill on Hold

Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema (R-Grandville) said in November he will not schedule action on legislation authorizing a mourning dove hunting season until the Senate addresses other matters.
House Bill 5029 lifts a ban on mourning dove hunting that has been in place since 1905. It passed the State House of Representatives by a vote of 64-44 on November 4.

Saying he wanted to focus on budget and job creation issues, Sikkema added, "We will take up the mourning dove issue at the appropriate time. But we owe it to the people of Michigan not to get sidetracked by other issues right now."

Senate Takes Up
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bills

The West Michigan Environmental Action Council testified at a State Senate hearing December 4 on a bipartisan package of five bills designed to curb childhood lead poisoning in Michigan. MEC also indicated support for the bills as a member of the advocacy coalition, the Michigan Lead Safe Partnership.

State Senator Bill Hardiman (R-Kentwood) chaired the December 4 meeting of the Families and Human Services Committee on Senate Bills 753 through 757. Hardiman said an additional hearing or hearings will be held later to consider action on some or all of the bills.

The bills would create a childhood lead poisoning prevention commission, require laboratories to report electronically the results of blood lead tests for children, punish landlords who knowingly rent lead-contaminated housing, increase lead screening of children enrolled in Medicaid and create a lead-safe housing registry.

There are more than 20,000 children with confirmed elevated blood lead levels in Michigan, and estimates range as high as 40,000. Lead poisoning can damage children's brains with lifelong consequences. MEC has been promoting lead poisoning prevention since 1998, when we successfully advocated $5 million for lead abatement be added to the state's Clean Michigan Initiative.