(Senator Jim Barcia served in the Michigan House from 1977 - '82, and the Michigan Senate from 1983 until he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 5th congressional district in 1992, where he served until 2002. When the 2000 census eliminated a congressional seat, Barcia was encouraged by his constituents to return to the Michigan Senate, where today he serves the 31st district as the Associate President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as the Democratic Whip. Welcome Senator Barcia! - promoted by wizardkitten)
There's a big argument going on among scientists and environmental experts about how long the world's supply of oil and natural gas is going to last. The one thing they agree on is that it won't last forever. While we're experiencing shortages and price fluctuations, our children and grandchildren could see a day when the oil supply runs out entirely, especially from politically volatile areas like the Middle East. But we can prepare for and even capitalize on that dire prediction. Michigan's future lies in renewable energy and renewable fuels, and it's a theme that Gov. Granholm emphasized in her radio address last week, prior to her departure to Sweden and Germany to recruit high tech businesses to Michigan.
I too believe Michigan's future is in renewable energy and renewable fuels. That is why I'm sponsoring SB 385 to require that 20% of electricity used here in Michigan come from renewable resources, like wind, biomass from agriculture, hydro, or solar power, by the year 2020. More than 20 states and the District of Columbia have implemented Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), ranging from a low of 2.2% by 2011 in Wisconsin up to 25% by 2025 in Minnesota. So, while this legislation I'm offering is ambitious for Michigan, it's firmly in the mainstream of policy decisions being made across the country.
I spend a lot of time writing about the budget, and I beat up on Speaker Dillon quite a bit. I'm not going to apologize because I think he deserves it, as do a few others. But if you put the budget aside, you can see that the House really hasn't turned its back on progressive values.
I haven't been showing enough of the good that they've been doing. So here are a few of the things going on in the House that should bring a little joy to the left:
Passed
Child Safety Restraint: This package of four bills creates The Child Safety Education Fund within the State Treasury, and provides that it be funded by fines levied for violation of the law requiring seat belts or car seats for minors. The fund would be administered by the Department of Community Health. DCH could spend the money only on discretionary grants under the under the Child Car Seat Safety Grant Program. This program, established by Governor Engler, provides training, promotion and education regarding child restraint systems.
The bills also bring Michigan into compliance with Federal regulations, which makes the state eligible to receive over $1 million in federal funds that could be used to provide education and free booster seats to low-income families.
