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Michigan
Environmental Report
Volume 21 . Number 3
June 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.
The Michigan
Environmental Report is an official publication of the Michigan Environmental
Council. Copyright 2003.
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
OFFICERS
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
Director of Communications
and Development
David Holtz
Environmental Campaign Coordinator
Wendi Tilden
Project Assistant
Kristin Brooks
Computer Services Assistant
Ben Holcomb
Land Programs Assistant
Ben Stupka
MER Design & Layout
Rose Homa
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Governor,
Legislature clash over transportation priorities
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Following
through on a campaign pledge to "Fix It First,
Fix It Right" when it comes to Michigan roads,
Governor Jennifer Granholm and new Michigan Department
of Transportation (MDOT) Director Gloria Jeff this spring
introduced the Preserve First program, which deferred
construction on many major wasteful road projects, including
I-75, I-94 and I-375 in Detroit, the Grand Haven Bypass
and dozens of others. In addition, the Granholm MDOT
budget deleted funding for the I-94 widening in Kalamazoo.
Thousands
of Michigan citizens have rallied behind the Fix It
First banner, showing spectacular force at gatherings
in Detroit (5,000 people attended) and Saginaw (2,000
people).
In
defiance of strong public sentiment that our roads have
to be fixed, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Sen.
Shirley Johnson (R-Royal Oak) delivered on a promise
to restore all 34 new-and-wider road projects that Granholm
had just deferred. She also replaced funding for the
Kalamazoo project.
Her
proposal in HB 4032 easily passed the Senate, but the
House did not concur in the decision, so now six lawmakers
have to work out the kinks in a conference committee.
They are:
Rep.
Marc Shulman (R-W. Bloomfield) 517-373-1799
Rep. Judy Emmons (R-Sheridan) 517-373-0834
Rep. Gretchen Whitmer (D-E. Lansing) 517-373-1786
Sen. Shirley Johnson (R-Royal Oak) 517-373-2523
Sen. Ken Sikkema (R-Grand Rapids) 517-373-0797
Sen. Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming) 517-373-7840
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