LANSING — Today, House Republicans approved a resolution to reject Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s recent executive order which, among other things, eliminates three review boards the Legislature passed last year. These review boards allow corporate representatives to oversee the DEQ, now called EGLE under the Governor’s reorganization plan, and its permitting process. In response, state Rep. Cynthia A. Johnson (D-Detroit) issued the following statement:
“Regardless of political party, we all need clean water to drink, bathe and cook with. We all need clean air to breathe. As someone who lives near the Marathon Refining plant, I have personally suffered at the hands of corporate polluters. For too long the opinions and desires of corporate interests were put ahead of Michigan’s working families. As a result, we are suffering some of the worst environmental crises in our state’s history. Gov. Whitmer took decisive action to remove bureaucratic red tape and deliver long-awaited relief and results to the people of Michigan and I fully support her efforts.”