QUOTE OF THE DAY: “ We can’t lose a golf course to Mexico.” — Rep. Mike PUMFORD (R-Newaygo) on why he believes expanding the Sales Tax base to include some services would create a more stable revenue base for Michigan Information & Research Service, Inc. the state. Tuesday, January 20, 2004 Web Site: http://www.mirsnews.com Volume XXII, Issue 011 Capitol Capsule regulatory climate under which businesses and communities can thrive.” Granholm Sends Special Message To The proposed Water Legacy Act would be Lawmakers Over Water Protection “prospective” according to Granholm, and would Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM today announced cover the Mecosta County Nestle water plant only that she sent a “special message” to the Michigan if the plant were to expand. The measure would Legislature asking them to take action to better cover any future “Nestle-type operations” accord- protect the state’s natural waters. ing to Granholm. The “special message,” a technique used often While a draft isn’t available of the new Michigan by former GOP Gov. William MILLIKEN to call Water Legacy Act, Granholm did say it would allow for action from the Legislature, requests lawmak- the Department of Environmental Quality to regulate ers adopt a six-point plan, the corner of which any water withdrawals that surpassed 2 million would be a Michigan Water Legacy Act to regulate gallons per day, or 100 million gallons per year. the withdrawal of water. Other components of the governor’s six-point The Water Legacy Act would be patterned water protection special message included: after the 1985 Great Lakes Charter. An agreement that the state signed onto, but never took the act of - Asking Attorney General Mike COX to join in a adopting a water withdrawal statute as called for lawsuit filed by the Northwest Environmental in the Charter. Advocates, or file a separate lawsuit, to force the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “The Great Lakes fuel our economy, color our to regulate ballast water discharge from ships character, and literally define the shape of our state,” and thereby better protect the Great Lakes from Granholm said. “They are our most vital resources new invasive species. which makes their preservation and protection all too important to approach haphazardly.” - Granholm signed an executive directive today prohibiting state agencies from authorizing the Currently, Michigan is the only state in the open water dumping of contaminated dredge Great Lakes basin without a comprehensive water materials into the Great Lakes. DEQ Director withdrawal statute. In her message, Granholm Steven CHESTER said he is aware that such vowed to deliver to the Legislature such a pro- posed statute by the end of February. MIRS Inside “Because we are the only state in the Great 2 Gov. To Appoint Superintendents Lakes basin without a statutory framework, our 3 Wenke: ‘We Should Look At That’ inability to effectively manage this resource leaves 4 Health Savings Accounts On Deck 5 Buzz Is Beaming, Dean Backer Questioning us vulnerable and without legal or moral authority 6 Senate Passes Theology Bills to meet future threats and protect our economy 7 Giving Sexully Active Kids A Break and our environment,” Granholm wrote in her HOUSE REPORT message. “A fair and balanced approach to water SENATE REPORT withdrawal will allow us to protect our water CAPITOL CALENDAR resources while also providing a predictable 910 Ottawa St • PO Box 19303 • Lansing, MI 48901-9303 • Phone (517) 482-2125 • FAX (517) 374-0949 • E-Mail [email protected] If You Don’t Read Us - You Just Don’t Get It! Page 2 MIRS Capitol Capsule Tuesday, January 20, 2004 dumping currently takes place in Lake Erie. That task force looked at the issue of water Granholm also called on the Legislature to withdrawal and exotic species control as well as enact a statute to permanently ban such open a number of other issues. (See Jan. 16, 2002 water dumping. edition of MIRS). - The governor also called on the Legislature to take Bill NOWLING, spokesman for Senate up and pass into law new permit fees to support Majority Leader Ken SIKKEMA (R-Wyoming), the National Pollution Discharge Elimination reiterated the importance of the Great Lakes System (NPDES) in Michigan. In last year’s Conservation Task Force report the senator put budget Granholm proposed fees to replace together in 2001-02. He said Sikkema is pleased general fund support for the NPDES program. the governor is using this roadmap to guide her Those fees remain in conference committee. water policies. “Each day they languish, our water and our “Everything the governor laid out today, she economy are in danger,” Granholm wrote to laid out from the Task Force report,” Nowling lawmakers. “It is essential that we enact this said. “You take out what Ken Sikkema has done legislation and make whole the budget to protect and what do you have? The governor’s announce- Michigan’s waters.” ment doesn’t happen today.” - The special message also called on the Legislature to enact a statewide sanitary code for septic systems. Presently, Michigan is the only Gubernatorial Appointment state in the country without such a code. of the Superintendent “Lack of an updated code costs our state Twenty-two Senate Republicans have signed precious federal dollars,” Granholm wrote. “With- off on a constitutional amendment giving the out an updated sanitary code, full federal funding governor authority to appoint the state’s school of the Coastal Zone Management Program is superintendent and the governor has blessed the seriously threatened. Michigan has more coastline concept, too.” than any other state, save Alaska, and yet we are our own impediment to greater federal assistance Because education is my top priority, I certainly for managing and protecting that coastline.” would be eager to support any enhancement to the governor’s ability to control education policies,” - Granholm also signed an Executive Directive Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM told reporters. asking the DEQ to develop a rule to protect from Sen. Wayne KUIPERS (R-Holland), who has harm critical, isolated wetlands on state land. been waiting for weeks to learn where the gover- - The governor called for greater federal funding nor would land on this, was notified by MIRS of from the administration of President George W. her statements and he reacted positively. BUSH for Great Lakes coastal restoration projects. ”I’m pleased. We sort of threw out an olive “The past few Congresses and Presidential branch to the governor. I’m glad she’s come on administrations have focused billions of dollars on board,” he added. the restoration of the Everglades, the Chesapeake Bay and most recently there has been renewed Kuipers drafted the amendment aimed at centraliz- Congressional focus on Gulf of Mexico coastal ing accountability on the education issue. Under the erosion,” wrote Granholm. “The Great Lakes have current system, the State Board of Education picks the not received the same bold level of attention.” school superintendent. The West Michigan Republican said “it is important to have a point person to go to Granholm said she believes her plan should be when things are good. And when they are bad you very doable, since many of the six-points encom- need to know how it is going to be fixed.” pass recommendations that were included in the bipartisan Senate Great Lakes Task Force. The governor, disclosing her stance for the first time on a plan that she did not suggest, said, Tuesday, January 20, 2004 MIRS Capitol Capsule Page 3 “I would look favorably upon anything that gives election year, but he feels there could be a basic the executive greater control over an area that is issue of fairness that broadening the Sales Tax her greatest priority.” base might address. However Granholm repeated twice that her “I do believe it’s unfair that when I sell a flat support of this GOP plan should in no way be seen of flowers in my greenhouse, I have to add the tax, as a repudiation of the current school superinten- while services don’t,” Wenke said. “I think there is dent and/or the state board. something to the idea that we need to consider spreading the burden.” “I support Tom WATKINS and the board 100 percent,” she stressed. The idea, which has been bandied about for nearly a year, would be to broaden the Sales Tax If she has fears that the GOP has a hidden base by including certain services (some believe agenda aimed of removing Watkins, Kuipers entertainment services, such as sports and theater dispels that. would be among the easiest to justify) and then He said if there were such an agenda, “We reducing the overall tax rate. The change would would have made it (the language) a little more initially be revenue neutral, but supposedly provide structured to do that.” In fact, Kuipers said, under a more stable and “possibly growing” revenue base. this plan, if the governor wanted to appoint Although he said he believes the concept Watkins, she could. deserves consideration, Wenke said he’s not “This is simply an issue of good governance,” planning on bringing the issue up in his committee he concluded. unless there are some actual bills introduced to look at and some direction provided from legisla- The proposed amendment would require a tive leadership. super majority of both houses to place it on the ballot for the electorate to decide. The governor “I’d certainly like to see some bills first,” has no veto power over it, but with her endorse- Wenke said. “I’d also want to get some guidance ment, it is expected to move soon. from the Leadership of both the House and Senate.” (Contributed by Senior Capitol Correspon- Last week when MIRS asked around about the dent, Tim SKUBICK).