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. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham) issued the following statement:
“The people of Michigan made it clear that protecting our environment and safeguarding the public health are among their top priorities, which is why I stand with Gov. Whitmer on this issue. For too long families across the state have been left wondering about the safety of the water in their taps or the air in their homes, yet also felt they had no one to turn to in our government about these issues. Families across Michigan have lost faith in their government's ability to keep them safe. This Executive Order is the first step in reestablishing this trust with the people of Michigan. We cannot continue down the same path and expect different results. Gov. Whitmer’s directive provides the change we need — and that our families deserve — by bringing transparency and accountability to the environmental decision-making process. As legislators we should be supporting that work, not standing in the way.”
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