Power Failure New “Clean” Energy Law Hikes Costs
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A popular Government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps both. JAMES MADISON A review of the votes and proposals of the Michigan Legislature — Vol. 2, No. 6 — November/December 2008 POWER FAILURE New “Clean” Energy Law Hikes Costs n Sept. 18, the Michigan most 26 percent of the electricity O Legislature overwhelmingly generated in Michigan and pro- approved Senate Bill 213, which duces none of the carbon emis- mandates that by 2015 electricity sions that some believe cause a suppliers acquire at least 10 per- harmful rise in global tempera- cent of their power from “clean” tures. (The new law would also and “renewable” sources and allow for some restricted use of pass along the additional costs clean coal technology to meet to their customers. the mandate.) In addition to wind and solar, To offset anticipated cost the alternative power sources increases from the alternative allowed under the mandate in- energy mandate, the electric clude biomass, geothermal, and utilities, whose prices are regu- more, but not nuclear energy, lated by the Michigan Public which already accounts for al- See “Power Failure,” Page 4 ©2008 Email: [email protected] Arlan Meekof, R-West Olive, on SPECIAL INTERESTS PAID PAID INSIDE THE ISSUE Right-to-Work Sept. 16 sponsored an amend- Fenton, MI U.S. POSTAGE POSTAGE U.S. Permit #1776 Permit ment to tie-bar House Bill 4454 to NONPROFIT ORG. 3 Bill Rejected House Bill 6256. Us v. Them 14 House Republicans Attaching a tie-bar would have The People and the vote “nay” meant that the latter bill would not become law unless the former Political Class espite evidence that a majority one was approved as well. Tie-bars Dof union members support are sometimes used as a means by Jack McHugh Random Acts the right of a worker to opt out of of forcing lawmakers to support union membership and dues, a legislation that they do not want he fundamental problem sizable majority of the Michigan as a condition of getting votes for T facing our nation is that true The Lowdown 5 House of Representatives recently bills that they do want. representative government has rejected an amendment that House Bill 6256 was one bill in been supplanted by an inbred, would have turned Michigan into a larger package of legislation that self-serving, self-perpetuating a right-to-work state. would “add a number of require- political class that does not rep- According to the MIRS Capitol ments for nursing home licensees resent the people. As a result, Capsule daily newsletter and applicants for nursing home the government has escaped the (www.mirsnews.com – subscrip- licenses,” according to a House control of the people. tion required), House Bill 4454, Fiscal Agency memo. The Demo- Evidence is all around. For ex- introduced by state Rep. Jack cratic leadership of the House ample, whether or not one agrees 10 Hoogendyk, R-Portage, would supported passage of the nursing with the policy, for decades term Your Legislators “give workers in a union shop an home bills, while the Health Care limits have been consistently fa- opt-out of participating or paying Association of Michigan and the vored by an overwhelming ma- dues to a union.” Since it was un- Michigan Association of Homes jority. Yet they are opposed and likely that this right-to-work bill and Services for the Aging both sabotaged by the political class at would be taken up for consider- opposed them. Michiganvotes.org every opportunity (most recently ation by the Democratic major- and MIRS each note that the bills in New York City, where the city ity in the state House, state Rep. See “Right-to-Work,” Page 9 See “Us vs. Them,” Page 8 Mackinac Center for Public Policy Mackinac Center for Public Main Street 140 West Box 568 P.O. Midland, Michigan 48640 Capitol Confidential Capitol Michigan Capitol Confidential NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2008 | 2 Are you new to Michigan Capitol Confidential? Many of you have already e-mailed, written or phoned us to say that you’d like to remain on the mailing list for Michigan Capitol Confidential. If you haven’t contacted us yet, but would like to remain on our mailing list, please let us know! If you are reading this newspaper for the first time, thank you for taking the time to look over this news publication from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. 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Their preservation requires vigilance during each generation from both us and citizens like you. If you share this goal, we would welcome your generous contribution to the Mackinac Center in any amount. Even a $40 donation is a tremendous help. The Mackinac Center is a 501(c)(3) educational institute, and your donation is deductible on your federal income taxes. Thank you for any help you may be able to give us – and don’t forget to let us know if you want to continue your FREE subscription to Michigan Capitol Confidential! Sincerely, Kenneth M. Braun, Senior Managing Editor, Michigan Capitol Confidential [email protected] 989-631-0900 Michigan Capitol Confidential NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2008 | 3 House Bill 6130 would impose $500 fines on retailers who sell “novelty lighters,” such as the one pictured here. It is shaped You Can’t Handle the Truth! like a hand grenade and makes shooting noises when lit. Do you tell your lawmaker about what you read in this newspaper? ship of groundwater “over to the WE WERE RIGHT; YOUR REPRESENTATIVE WAS WRONG government.” As before, the con- fronted legislator allegedly denied the act; this time, according to our caller, telling her that “you can’t believe what you read” in Michi- gan Capitol Confidential. [name redacted] Once again, we checked right July/August 2008 Issue away and verified that Michigan Friday, August 29, 2008 Capitol Confidential and the [email protected] Journal of the Senate both agree on how the senator in question Dear Michigan Capitol Confidential: voted. In this case, the legislator This evening I had the occasion to talk to State was one of two GOP senators to Representative [name redacted], at an [name redacted] vote in favor of the amendment, Republican Club Event. I questioned him about your with the 18 other Republicans in article in the above listed issue of your newspaper. the senate voting against it. These stories and other feed- You stated that State House Representative [name redacted] voted yes in favor of a K-12 budget that back indicate that a lot of you are overspent estimated revenue by $32.2 million. talking to your lawmakers about what you’re reading in these pages. I asked Representative [name redacted] why he voted Of course, we want to know all the yes on this matter. He told me that your reporting on juicy details about that! So we’re this matter is incorrect. He stated that he definitely going to start a little contest. voted “No.” If you reference what you’ve I believe that you should make an apology to read in Michigan Capitol Confi- Representative [name redacted] for your error, especially dential while writing a note to a at a time like now, reelection time. politician or in a published letter Thank you for your follow-up as to this matter. that appears in one of Michigan’s Novelty Lighters, newspapers, then we want a copy. Sincerely, [name redacted] If the politician writes you back, Annie Oakley we want to see that as well. Dear Readers: regarding what they read. Please send your entries to: The graphic above shows the But the truth of the matter is Michigan Capitol Confidential and Other text of a recent e-mail sent to that the lawmaker in question c/o Contest Michigan Capitol Confidential. did vote as we reported, at least 140 West Main Street A reader reports confronting a according to the Journal of the Midland, MI 48640 Random Acts Republican state representative House of Representatives, the or email [email protected] about his spending record as re- official — and thus far uncontested ported in the article titled “Are — record of the event.