Things to Do!

I've decided that this blog will be a great forum to share things I have heard about that we can do as a state to keep moving forward :)   If you have news or events that you would like to share, please send them along.  It is my goal to post once a week with things to do, places to go, and good news of the good work being done in our communities.

I want to start with some good news out of Lansing!

LANSING—Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today praised the Michigan House and Senate for the passage of three House sponsored bills that are designed to put human traffickers in jail for longer and help victims of trafficking.

“The primary role of government is to protect citizens from harm. The more cases of human trafficking we investigate and the more victims we discover, the more we realize just how damaging this horrific crime is, harming virtually every aspect of a victim's life,” said Schuette. “The passage of these house bills will better protect and help human trafficking victims heal which is incredibly important.”

The bills passed today were part of the legislative fight against human trafficking and now await the governor’s signature:

HB 5542, sponsored by Rep. Laura Cox, will make it easier for victims of human trafficking to expunge local ordinance prostitution violations resulting from human trafficking from their criminal record.

HB 5543, sponsored by Rep. Gary Howell, will allow expungement of local ordinance prostitution violations of juveniles convicted of human trafficking related crimes.

HB 5544, sponsored by Rep. Nancy Jenkins, will increase the penalty to 15 years for human trafficking involving commercial sex, also known as sex trafficking.

(From a press release by The Michigan Attorney General's office.  http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-164-60857---,00.html)

So here are some actions for this week: 

1.     Senate Bills 437-438 would establish a grid charge on net metering and devastate the small-scale solar market throughout Michigan. We believe that customers should be able to produce their own energy and allowed to either use that energy themselves or sell it back to a utility company at full price, not a wholesale price. If you agree, click here to call your State Representative and tell them to vote NO on these bills!

2.     Senate Bill 853 would preempt local units of government from regulating single use plastic shopping bags. Sierra Club opposes SB 853 because we support the right of cities, counties and townships being able to take action to ban or tax single use disposable containers. The bill has already passed both the House and Senate. Call Governor Snyder at his office (517-373-3400) and his constituent relations department (517-335-7858) and tell him to veto Senate Bill 853!

3.     Senate Bills 1162-1163 would create a carve out for the AK Steel company to claim tens of millions in tax credits for their Dearborn Works plant without ensuring the plant is in full compliance with all air quality and environmental standards. This plant received countless environmental violations in recent years and is one of the worst polluters in Wayne County. Call your State Senator and tell them to "Vote NO on Senate Bills 1162 and 1163 unless environmental compliance is required." 

4.     House Bill 5987 proposes to push back requirements for egg-laying factory farms to phase out confinement cages five years later than the current law requires. Michigan's powerful agribusiness industry is breaking an agreement among all interest groups struck in 2009 to give these operations 10 years to eliminate these inhumane cages that also aggravate public health and environmental problems with factory farms. The bill would also create a new board of industry experts to determine what is best for animal enclosures.  Call your State Senator to urge him/her to vote no on HB 5987.

5.    Senate Bills 39-40 would establish new restrictions on the state's ability to acquire public land and manage existing land to protect or enhance biological diversity and ecosystem health. It guts the science-based definition of conservation of biological diversity and eliminates requirements to manage tree plantations in accordance with established sustainable forestry principles. Further, the bill would inhibit the state from limiting the access or use of specific areas of public lands. Designating and restricting uses of lands are critical tools that the state uses to protect public safety, avoid conflicts between visitor types, and safeguard ecologically sensitive habitats. Call your State Representative and tell them to "vote NO on Senate Bills 39 and 40!".

More good news! 

"Veteran-Friendly Employers honored; 76 companies hired more than 2,700 veterans this year

Gov. Rick Snyder joined MVAA Director James Robert Redford to recognize the state’s top companies dedicated to veteran employment during the 2016 Veteran-Friendly Employer Awards and Recognition Breakfast. Seventy-six organizations earned either bronze-, silver- or gold-level status as determined by their dedication to connect with and hire veteran talent."

From the December 2016 MVAA Newsletter.  For more information, visit: https://www.michiganveterans.com/p/Certified-Veteran-Friendly-Employers 

Upcoming Events! 

Sandy Hook Remembrance Ceremony
December 11, 2016 at 6:30 PM.  Saint Mark's Episcopal Church134 Division Ave N, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

Public Meeting about Line 5, the oil pipeline that runs through the Straights of Mackinac.  

December 12, 2016, meeting is at 1:30 PM. 7109 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing, Michigan 48917, Lake Michigan Hearing Room, first floor. 

*** I am organizing a carpool from Grand Rapids for this event! **** 
https://www.facebook.com/events/253837308368876/

Grand Rapids Women's March on Washington!  
January 21, 2016 at 10:00.  Fountain Street Church

Human Trafficking Commission Meeting (Open to the Public)
January 25, 2016 time TBA

Michigan Attorney General’s Office

G. Mennen Williams Building, 525 W. Ottawa St.

1st Floor Training Room, Lansing, MI 48909