While the fall 2018 elections in the United States changed the make-up of both legislative and administrative bodies in Great Lakes states, those changes in representation don’t begin until part way through 2019. In the meantime, some of the sitting “lame ducks” are acting to limit the powers of incoming officials and removing protections for water.
In Michigan for example, HB 6553 creates a new power in the legislature to intervene directly in legal proceedings, which we think is likely unconstitutional; while SB1211 removes protections for wetlands through a host of exceptions. Let Governor Synder know how you feel about these bills.
Wisconsin on the other hand, has passed legislation to remove power from the incoming governor and attorney general, giving those powers instead to the legislature. Tying the hands of incoming elected officials simply stymies the will of the people of our states and threatens our system of democracy.
In Ohio SB 250 would limit the ability to protest at a list of “critical infrastructure facilities” such as pipelines and dams.