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Interviews with news makers and discussion of topics important to Southwest Michigan. Subscribe to the podcast through Apple itunes and Google. Segments of interview are heard in WestSouthwest Brief during Morning Edition and All Things Considered

WSW: Big Issues Waiting When Lawmakers Return From Summer Break

Melissa Benmark
/
WKAR

State lawmakers are on summer recess, but the Michigan Public Radio Network’s Capitol Bureau Chief Rick Pluta says big issues will be waiting when they return. 

One of the major tasks is passing a new energy policy. Battle Creek Republican Mike Nofs is Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, and is working to reach consensus. Pluta says getting a final bill passed is tough because

“It’s big, it’s complicated, there are a lot of components to it, and there are a lot of things for people to dislike.”

He says forces across the political spectrum have aligned to against it. Conservative groups worry that the package is too “utility friendly.” Environmental groups worry that it doesn’t do enough to encourage alternative energy.

But even if Nofs is able to get the bill through the Senate, it will have to get through the House. Pluta says it’s pretty typical that the House will have its take on how things ought to proceed.

Criminal justice reform will also be waiting for lawmakers when they return. Pluta says state Senator John Proos (R-St. Joseph) seems committed to getting something passed. Pluta says state government has moved past the era of “tough on crime” to being “smart on crime.” He says policy makers want to ensure that sentences aren’t too long, and that services are available when convicts they get out. 

rickpluta061016_mixdown.mp3
Interview with Rick Pluta - web version

Lawmakers have been working on reforms to the Michigan’s medical marijuana law. Any direct changes require super-majority because the medical marijuana las was enacted by a citizen-led referendum. Pluta says there are many problems, such as the proliferation and location of medical marijuana dispensaries. He says there’s also the question of how authorized growers can legally dispose of marijuana that exceeds the limit of what they are legally allowed to grow. But Pluta says lawmakers can’t seem to reach agreement on how to address them

A separate debate concerns a ballot proposal to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. The group MI-Legalize was denied a spot on the ballot because their signatures were not gathered in 180 days as the state requires. Pluta says the group plans to argues in court that the 180 day limit is in violation of the Michigan Constitution, which says you have the four years between elections for governor to gather signatures.

If MI-Leagalize were to win in court, Pluta says there would be enormous implications for ballot proposals. Right now he says you need a professional operation to get a citizen proposed law on ballot.

Lawmakers have a limited amount of time to tackle any big issues before the November election. Pluta says only two session days are scheduled in July and August, but not much action is expected. He says lawmakers will come back in the fall, but will anxious to end their session. The entire House is up for election this year, members running for re-election will want to campaign. Pluta says many big issues may not be addressed until the “lame duck” session after the election. Pluta says “we’ve had a lot of interesting things happen in ‘lame duck’ in recent years.”

Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.
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