Tales from Lansing
A quick review of our representative's actions in the state capitol
Editor’s Note: Forgot to catch up with July, so this is a “twofer”, July and August. Luckily, summer is pretty slow in Lansing.
Sen. Ed McBroom
Email: SenEMcBroom@senate.michigan.gov
Phone: 866-305-2038
Sponsored bills introduced
Sen. Ed McBroom has introduced only two bills since the end of June.
Senate Bill 0595 would allow county taxes on hotel and motel rooms to be extended to short-term rentals (commonly called AirBnBs). It was referred to the Senate Committee on Economic and Small Business Development in mid-July and hasn’t seen any action since.
Senate Bill 0594 would allow counties to impose a 3% tax on short-term rentals, too. It was referred to the same committee.
You can see all the bills Sen. McBroom has sponsored by clicking here.
Votes of note
On July 15, Sen. McBroom voted in favor of repealing the 1945 emergency powers law.
He also supported a bill to spend money supporting auto crash injury rehab facilities after insurance reforms threatened their financial stability, and the waiving of drivers license renewal late fees until the Secretary of State fully reopens (for walk-in service).
You can review Sen. McBroom’s voting record by clicking here.
Rep. Greg Markkanen
Email: GregMarkkanen@house.mi.gov
Phone: 517-373-0850
Sponsored bills introduced
Rep. Greg Markkanen has introduced one bill since the last update.
House Bill 5256 establishes new rules for debt collectors, specifically, that written notice must be sent to debtors five days ahead of any other contact. The notice must include the amount of the debt claim, the name of the original creditor, the name of the collection agency, and more.
It also requires the collection agency to “contact a debtor” about claims of economic abuse but doesn’t specify what action should be taken if that economic abuse is proven. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Regulatory Reform and has seen no action since.
The bill is tie-barred with House Bill 5257.
Votes of note
Rep. Markkanen voted in favor of House Bill 4788, which would allow for local voter initiatives that could place term limits on village councilors. It passed the House 59 to 49 and is now in the Senate Committee on Elections.
Rep. Markkanen also favored making some drunk driving convictions expungable by voting for HB 4219 and 4220, and extending the .08 blood/alcohol content limit for drunk driving. The BAC limit was originally lowered from .1 to .08 to maintain access to federal gas tax dollars. These three bills have all been signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Bills on unemployment, property tax, wolf management, and more
What’s been happening in Lansing during June?
Michigan Legislative Action, June 2021
Sen. Ed McBroom
Email: SenEMcBroom@senate.michigan.gov
Phone: 866-305-2038
Sponsored bills introduced
Sen. Ed McBroom introduced Senate Bill 531 early in June. This bill would require the unemployment insurance agency to get background checks on independent contractors, and their employees. It was referred to the Committee on Economic and Small Business Development and there has been no further movement.
Sen. McBroom introduced Senate Bill 541, which creates a homestead property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a person who dies on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces if they have not remarried. It is currently held by the Committee on Finance.
Sen. McBroom also introduced Senate Bill 540, which would shift the cost of property tax exemptions granted to disabled veterans from the county to the state through reimbursement. This bill was referred to the Committee on Finance. Tie-barred with it is Senate Bill 539, which prescribes more of the process.
At the end of June, Sen. McBroom introduced Senate Bill 590, which would require conservation officers to wear body cameras while on duty. It has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
Sen. McBroom also introduced Senate Bill 581, which sets the penalty for someone who injures a “vulnerable roadway user” as not more than 5 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. It is tie-barred with Senate Bill 580, which defines a vulnerable roadway user as pedestrians, bicyclists, people using wheelchairs, or others “operating or riding a transportation device in compliance with this act [the law]”.
Votes of note
Sen. McBroom voted in favor of Senate Bill 458, requiring the governor to notify legislators when traveling out of state, and against Sen. Jeff Irwin’s proposed amendment to waive the requirement for legislators believed to be “a security risk to this state because of his or her affiliations with a domestic terrorist organization.” The bill and amendment passed and failed, respectively, along strict party lines. The bill has been received by the House and referred to a committee.
Sen. McBroom’s bill to limit the membership of the Wolf Management Advisory Council to residents of the Upper Peninsula until studies find a wolf population in the Lower Peninsula passed the Senate along party lines and has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation.
Sen. McBroom voted with a mix of Democrats and Republicans that supported waiving driver’s license fees until the Secretary of State offices are “fully open”, which includes at least 25 hours a week of walk-in service. The bill passed the Senate, was amended and passed by the House — where Rep. Greg Markkanen also voted in favor — and has now been returned to the Senate for confirmation.
Sen. McBroom voted in favor of Senate Bill 393, which would grant a tax break to restaurants, taverns, hotels, and other commercial businesses that had to close under pandemic orders for at least six weeks, along with other restrictions. The bill passed with solely Republican support and is now in the House Committee on Tax Policy.
Sen. McBroom supported Senate Bill 285, which would require identification to vote with some exceptions. It passed along party lines with Republican support. The bill is now in the House Committee on Elections and Ethics.
Sen. McBroom also voted yes on Senate Bill 379, which prohibits the governor from selling bonds to fund road repairs without approval from two-thirds of the House and Senate. It passed on party lines and is now in the House Committee on Transportation.
Finally, Sen. McBroom supported Senate Bill 28, which would grant $25 million to certain rehab clinics that are reported to be in danger of closing after fee caps in the 2019 auto insurance reform law take effect this year. It was presented to the governor on July 1.
Rep. Greg Markkanen
Email: GregMarkkanen@house.mi.gov
Phone: 517-373-0850
Sponsored bills introduced
Rep. Greg Markkanen, with fellow U.P. representatives Sara Cambensy and Beau LaFave, proposed House Bill 4978, which would exempt interstate truckers from a fuel tax reciprocity agreement. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation and hasn’t received a vote or any fiscal analysis yet.
House Bill 4976, which exempts truckers from state sales and use tax on fuel if they are subject to fuel tax reciprocity agreements, has also been referred to the same committee and has not been analyzed.
Likewise, House Bill 4977, which amends the rules for entering into fuel tax reciprocity agreements, has not seen any action since being introduced.
Rep. Markkanen is also a sponsor of House Bill 5046, which has support from both major political parties. It sets a time limit of 90 days for child care centers or group homes to come into compliance with new rules.
Votes of note
Rep. Markkanen voted in favor of House Bill 4667, to prohibit state or local governments from issuing COVID-19 “vaccine passports”. While the bill passed mostly along party lines, it did have some support from a handful of House Democrats as well. The bill passed on to the Senate but has yet to receive a vote there.
Rep. Markkanen also supported House Joint Resolution D, which would let voters decide if a two-thirds majority of the House or Senate could suspend the salary and expense allowances of another member. It would also require roll call votes to give a law immediate effect after passage. The bill moved on to the Senate but has not received a vote there.
House Bill 4685 also received a ‘Yes’ vote from Sen. Markkanen. This bill would impose a personal financial disclosure mandate on state officers from the governor to members of state university governing boards. It passed the House with a mix of support from Democrats and Republicans but has not been voted on in the Senate.
The story is nearly the same for House Bill 4684, which would impose similar disclosure mandates on members of the legislature. However, these reports would be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
Rep. Markkanen and other Michigan House Republicans joined with two House Democrats to pass House Bill 4434, which will cancel the state’s participation in the federal $300 boost to unemployment benefits. The bill was originally introduced to require the unemployment agency to use plainer language in its communications but was amended before being passed. It was amended again by the Senate — where Sen. McBroom also supported it — and concurred to in the House.
McBroom on election security, wind turbine discussion, and WUPHD presents about the New Points program
Houghton County Commissioners meeting, June 15, 2021
I meant to record the full video, but I’m afraid that due to a technical SNAFU, I missed the first fifteen minutes. Most of what happened during that time was routine, but if you’re interested, we’ll have to get the recording from someone else. My apologies. Here’s the rest of the meeting, with documents, notes, and video bookmarks following.
The county administrator, after months of pressure, finally posted some actual documents as part of the information packet. It’s fairly complete, but there are still a couple of things left out of it. One thing left out was a correspondence the board received from the Michigan Press Association lawyer, at my request. Since the county didn’t choose to share this with their board packet, I’d like to share it with you. I had it sent to the board of commissioners after May’s regular meeting. More about this letter and my work for transparency in Houghton County in The Inside Scoop, the editorial and opinion section I’m debuting this week that will be the paid portion of Late Edition in the future.
Meeting Highlights
Senator Ed McBroom attended the meeting via Zoom from his office in Lansing to talk about the commission investigating election irregularities and possible fraud. The commission, which he is the chairperson of, is expected to release their full report next week. He specifically addresses Mike Lindell’s supposed evidence during the meeting. At least one person still requested a forensic audit, possibly privately funded, before the meeting ended.
You can watch the entire presentation he gave, but he gives shorter, clearer answers while taking questions.
Comments from the public got quite heated during the discussion of the development of wind turbines in Adams and Stanton townships. People commented on their concerns about the longevity and effectiveness of the turbines, the impact on the local lifestyle and tourism industry, and the damage to property values and the environment.
The commissioner’s response, particularly Commissioner Tom Tikkanen, was similar to that in Baraga County during the L’Anse Township wind turbine issue. It’s a zoning issue, and zoning is handled by townships, cities, and villages. Permits are granted based on whether a planned project adheres to existing strictures, not the government or public’s opinion. Tikkanen did encourage opponents of the turbines to do everything within their legal rights to stop the turbines.
Representatives from the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department presented about the New Points Program, a ‘syringe service program’ or needle exchange that was recently established locally within the department. The response they received was not positive. At the tail-end of the meeting, one person proposed “reducing” the health department.
New Points program presentation
During Kate Beer’s report on the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department and local COVID-19 cases and deaths, Commissioner Tikkanen asked some clarifying questions about the expiring pandemic restrictions. While most are expiring on July 1, MIOSHA rules will remain for employers and employees.
Tom's questions, Kate's answers
The commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 21-10, which was not on the agenda or in the board packet posted on Friday. (I’ll attempt to acquire a copy of the resolution to follow up). It sold a portion of Houghton County land to the Copper Island Academy. The entire discussion lasted less than 30 seconds.
Editor’s note: Resolution 21-10 is in an updated version of the board packet posted to Houghton County’s website before the meeting. It’s now also available here.
The commissioners also unanimously approved a tax millage increase of .2268 mills, the summer property tax levy, and to establish an “Enduring Gifts Funds Program” to accept charitable donations on the county’s behalf.
Commissioner Tikkanen offered an update on the 5th Street fire cleanup and recovery. He included an effort to “dispel some rumors”, including saying there was no insurance on the buildings lost in the fire.
During the airport manager’s report from Dennis Hext, he made an interesting observation about the availability of rental cars this year, with a “word to the wise” recommending early reservations.
Legistlative Update, May 2021
Sen. Ed McBroom
Email: SenEMcBroom@senate.michigan.gov
Phone: 866-305-2038
Sponsored bills introduced:
Senator Ed McBroom introduced three bills during the month of May.
Senate Bill 443 - This bill would require the secretary of state to develop a license plate that featured the outline of the Upper Peninsula, and offer that license plate to vehicle owners. The proceeds from the specialty fundraising plate would go to the Great Lakes Sports Commission. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, led by Sen. Tom Barrett(R).
//I might actually need to find someone to explain this one to me. The Headlee Amendment is already near-incomprehensible. From what I can discern, the bill is intended to more clearly define what an unfunded mandate from the state is, and create a legal path for municipalities to hold the state accountable for not meeting those obligations.
An excerpt from S.B. 449
The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Oversight, led by Sen. McBroom himself.
Senate Bill 486 - This bill would require that all members of the Wolf Management Advisory Council be residents of the Upper Peninsula, until such time that tracking finds a wolf population in the Lower Peninsula. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, of which Sen. McBroom is the chairperson, and has already been reported back to the Senate.
Sen. McBroom also offered an amendment to Senate Bill 90 which would require the state to pay the legal fees of Enbridge if the company wins the lawsuit currently being fought over Line 5. The bill passed the Senate along party lines with Republicans in support, but the Senate unanimously voted against a substitute approved by the House which only budgeted $100.
//A full list of Sen. McBroom’s sponsored legislation is available on legislature.mi.gov.
Votes of note:
May was a full month of legislative sessions, and there were many, many votes in the Senate. Many of them were for appropriations and spending. Below I’ve highlighted votes on items you may have seen elsewhere in the news, or that you might expect to see soon.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently signed legislation that Sen. McBroom proposed. Senate Bill 118, to reduce the sanctions on schools that hire staff that doesn’t meet licensure mandates, passed the Senate and House unanimously before being signed by the governor on May 19.
Another bill from Sen. McBroom may also be destined for the governor’s desk soon. Senate Bill 400, which would allow for the expungement of a first drunk driving offense under some conditions, passed the Senate 35-1 and the House 91-18, where Rep. Greg Markkanen also supported it. It needs another concurring vote from the Senate before heading to Gov. Whitmer.
Sen. McBroom voted in favor of Senate Bill 428, which would ban the state or local health department from requiring children under the age of 5 to wear a mask.
Sen. McBroom supported the recently-vetoed legislation that would have exempted high school graduation ceremonies from state pandemic restrictions.
Senate Bill 457, to ban requirements for minors to get vaccinated under emergency orders, also received a stamp of approval from Sen. McBroom. The bill is now in the House.
Sen. McBroom supported House Bill 4448, which prohibits the limiting of open records disclosures under the Freedom of Information Act during emergencies, as was done for two months in 2020. The bill was forwarded to the governor and vetoed.
In an interestingly split vote, Sen. McBroom and six other Republican senators voted against the rest of their party and Senate Bill 429. The bill would establish a state permit mandate for sand and gravel mining that would preempt locally imposed restrictions and mandates. It passed the Senate, 19-17. Sen. McBroom also opposed two related bills, Senate Bills 430 and 431.
Sen. McBroom is also among the majority who support making county commissioner terms four years instead of two, with Senate Bills 242 and 245, having sponsored SB 242 himself.
Rep. Greg Markkanen
Email: GregMarkkanen@house.mi.gov
Phone: 517-373-0850
Sponsored bills introduced:
House Bill 4788 - This bill would create a process for putting term limits on elected village officers through a ballot initiative. It’s been referred to the House Committee on Elections and Ethics, led by Rep. Ann Bollin.
House Bill 4748 - This bill waives the written driver’s license test in addition to the skills test for “an individual with military commercial motor vehicle experience…” It’s been referred to the House Committee on Transportation, which is led by Rep. Jack O’Malley.
House Bills 4806 and 4807 - These bills revise the law that prescribes the steps and requirements to acquire easements under condemnation to install power lines. More specifically, it changes the definition of who can undertake the process.
//I’m not sure of the significance of this, but it must be important to someone for Rep. Markkanen to spend time on it.
The bill has now been forwarded to the House Committee on Energy, led by Rep. Joe Bellino.
//A full list of Rep. Markkanen’s sponsored legislation is available at legislature.mi.gov.
Votes of note:
Rep. Markkanen cast more than 100 votes in May, many of them on budget and appropriations bills. The following are votes that stand out.
Rep. Markkanen voted with the rest of the House to pass House Bill 4591, which would prevent the state from entering severance and confidentiality agreements similar to the one entered with former MDHHS Director Robert Gordon. The bill has been sent to the Senate, and is now in the Senate Committee on Oversight, chaired by Sen. McBroom.
Rep. Markkanen voted in favor of the newsmaking House Bill 4728, which would have exempted high school graduation ceremonies from pandemic restrictions had it not been vetoed by Gov. Whitmer.
Rep. Markkanen also supported House Bill 4001, which expands the conflict of interest rules to prohibit members of the legislature from voting on an issue in which they have a personal or professional interest. It passed the House 105-3 and is now in the Senate Committee on Government Operations, led by Sen. Mike Shirkey.
Rep. Markkanen supported House Bill 4293, which would add substitute teacher jobs to the things teachers’ unions cannot bargain over. The bill passed 56-52 and is now in the Senate Committee on Education and Career Readiness, led by Sen. Lana Theis.
Rep. Markkanen was one of the 62 representatives that support House Bill 4667, which prohibits the creation or issuing (or even the incentivization to use) a “vaccination passport.” The bill is now in the Senate Committee on Health Policy and Human Services, led by Sen. Curtis VanderWall.