MEC Capitol Update
3/11/2005
The
second hearing by Joint House and Senate Transportation Committees
on Governor's Granholm's "Fix it First" approach
to roads will take place in Grand Rapids on Thursday. Opponents
are expected to argue for more new roads at the hearing.
House
continues hearings on a Renewable Portfolio Standard
House
Agriculture to discuss farmland preservation.
Senate
On
the Calendar:
SB
70 - Creates an Adopt-a-watershed program.
In
committee:
Natural
Resources & Environmental Affairs will meet on Tuesday
(3/15) at 3:00 pm to take up:
SB
79 – Authorizes and requires voter approval for imposing
up a fee more than $2.00 per household to fund waste reduction
programs (to a maximum of $4.00). Counties currently have
this authority for imposing the first $2.00 per household.
SB
282 – Provides for an exemption from the soil erosion
and sedimentation control program for certain residential
projects and a general permit for the maintenance of others,
such as seawalls.
And, for
presentations by:
Chuck Hersey, Manager of Environmental Programs for Southeast
Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG)
Vinsen
Hellwig, Chief of the Air Quality Division for the Department
of Environmental Quality
Appropriations:
Agriculture will meet on Thursday (3/17) at 2:30 pm to
take up the Fiscal Year 2005-06 Agriculture Budget.
Appropriations:
Transportation will meet on Tuesday (3/15) at 1:00 PM
for a presentation by the MDOT on the 2005-06 Transportation
Budget
Technology
and Energy is scheduled to meet on Tuesday (3/23) at 3:00
PM (note: week after next) for a presentation by Dr. Alan
Rosenberg of Brubaker & Associates on Detroit Edison's
business model and a presentation by American Electric Power
on wind energy.
House
On
the calendar:
In
committee:
Appropriations:
Agriculture will meet on Tuesday (3/15) at 10:30 AM Presentation
by the Michigan Department of Agriculture on Department Programs
Appropriations:
Natural Resources will meet on Wednesday (3/16) at 11:00
AM for a budget overview of FY 2005-2006
Appropriations:
Transportation will meet on Wednesday (3/16) at 9:00 AM
for a presentation by the department
Agriculture
will meet on Tuesday at 2:00 pm or after session for a presentation
on Farmland Preservation by Michigan Department of Agriculture
(MDA) and the Michigan Farm Bureau
Conservation,
Forestry, and Outdoor Recreation will meet on Thursday,
(3/17) at 8:30 AM to take testimony on snowmobiling from the
Michigan Snowmobile Association and the MDNR.
Energy
and Technology: Energy Subcommittee will meet on Thursday
(3/17) at 11:00 AM for a continued discussion of Renewable
Portfolio Standards (including testimony from the Michigan
Environmental Council)
Energy
and Technology: Energy will meet on Thursday (3/10) at
11:00 AM or after committees are given leave by the House
to meet, whichever time is later to continue discussion of
Renewable Portfolio Standards
Natural
Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment will
meet on Thursday (3/17) at 9:00 AM for a presentation by the
Michigan Environmental Council.
Joint
Committees:
Joint
House and Senate Transportation Committee will meet Thursday
(3/17) at 6:00 PM for a presentation by Michigan Department
of Transportation on the Five-Year Plan. The meeting will
be held at Grand Region MDOT Transportation Service Center
1420 Front Street NW Grand Rapids MI 49504
This is
the first of a number of hearings around the state that will
advocate for new roads instead of fixing our current roads
first.
Submitted
by:
James
Clift
Brad Garmon
Michigan Environmental Council
119 Pere Marquette, Ste 2A
Lansing, MI 48912
(517) 487-9539
