New Michigan legislation “threatening workplace, environmental protections”

Tuesday afternoon, a press conference alongside the Grand River brought representatives from the Sierra Club, We Are the People and the Blue Green Alliance together to challenge new Michigan legislation (HB4326/SB272) that destroys crucial environmental, consumer and worker protections and strip the governor’s authority to protect the Great Lakes. According to Sue Levy, representing the UAW, “4326 prevents the state from adopting standards that are tougher than federal standards. We will have to rely on Washington to protect Michigan’s resources and workers. It will tie our hands from protecting the Great Lakes. Fewer environmental resources will mean fewer workers on the job.”

Mike Berkowitz, chapter organizer for the Sierra Club, stated, in a press release circulated at the start of the press conference, “This legislation sends a clear message that state politicians don’t think the Great Lakes are worth protecting. Washington bureaucrats are not better equipped to protect the Great Lakes than the people who live right here in Michigan. This ‘one-size fits all’ approach won’t protect ‘Pure Michigan’ and it won’t create a single job.”

Berkowitz recapped that statement when he took the podium. He also shared examples from recent history that reaffirmed the dangers of the new legislation. Because Michigan’s governor has the authority to protect the Great Lakes, in 1976, Governor Milliken was able to save Lake Erie by instating limits on phosphorous. Berkowitz noted that Governor Granholm’s stronger-than-federal mercury limits have prevented even higher levels of this deadly toxic metal to enter the food supply of Michigan populations dependent on fish for sustenance. And, Michigan’s more stringent regulation of CAFOs has protected the Great Lakes, inland lakes and rivers, like the Grand, from being turned into manure filled dumping grounds. (CAFO stands for concentrated animal feeding operations, i.e. huge factory farms.)

“Imagine the Grand River here, filled with feces and urine,” Berkowitz said.

Last, Mark Schaur, from the Blue Green Alliance (a front group for the Democrats) took the podium. He reiterated his quote from the same press release, “Racing to the bottom on environmental protection and worker safety isn’t a jobs plan for Michigan. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Instead we need to build on Michigan’s unique assets—its people and its natural resources—to create the good jobs of the 21^st century here.”

He went on to say that Michigan’s people and natural resources “power our economy,” stating that this legislation would ultimately make the US economy less competitive and cause us to lose the “race” for green jobs to China and Germany.

During the question and answer period following the presentations, GRIID asked if any of the speakers knew of industries or entities who had lobbied to get HB4326/SB272 passed. No one had an answer. However, the easily accessible minutes of the May 18, 2011 Committee on Regulatory Reform listed the following supporters of the bill:

• Michigan Association of Home Builders.
• Telecommunications Association of Michigan.
• Michigan Chamber of Commerce
• Michigan Farm Bureau
• National Federation of Independent Business,
• Michigan Manufacturers Association

Clearly, HB4326/SB272 is a dangerous affront on Michigan’s environment. Combining the environmental impacts with the call for more jobs and a stronger economy may be a good strategy in this instance. However, the environmental crises we now face–locally and globally–require an immediate and radical shift in our patterns of consumption. Green jobs and new technologies are not enough.