Rep. Schriver Legislative Update – 9/19/23
RELEASE|September 19, 2023
Contact: Josh Schriver
| Dear Neighbor, Our return from Summer Recess has come with some extremely frustrating issues. Many of the bills I have seen taken up in committee are similar to policies in Illinois, California, Washington, or New York State – not what you would expect in Michigan. I see the same pattern: higher taxes, more abortions, a higher cost of living, higher crime rates, less parental rights, and less freedoms. Even though we don’t have the majority, I have been working hard to inform others about bad legislation and how to take specific action to get involved. Recently, I have spoken with many reporters about the many repercussions of the “Reproductive Health Act.” Although we have a full plate of bills currently under consideration in committee, here are some of the bills I’m most concerned about: Bills to Make Michigan a National Leader in the Death of the Preborn Unfortunately, a rushed public hearing was given on the entire Reproductive Health Act bill package last week on September 14th. We worked hard to get the word out about this in every avenue. Thank you to all who engaged. My most immediate updates and call-to-action items can be found at @repjoshschriver on X (formerly Twitter). Although no vote was taken last week, many expect a committee very quickly. This policy proposal goes far beyond even what some pro-choice voters expected when Proposal 3 was on the ballot last fall. Ramifications of this bill if it’s signed by the Governor: Taxpayer money will be used to fund abortion procedures. Many lawmakers are proposing to include funding for abortion as part of Medicaid health care plans. All taxpayers will be forced to pay for it, even if it goes against their conscience. Informed consent laws will be gone. Currently, Michigan residents are required to see footage of the baby inside the mother’s womb. Also, patients are required to receive material about the medical risks of an abortion. Partial-birth abortion bans will be repealed. It appears many doctors will be allowed to perform these procedures with zero criminal penalties. Insurance companies can now cover abortion procedures. One of my colleagues, who sits on the committee, thinks it could be mandatory – with no exceptions for religious or moral objections. It also repeals the Born Alive Infant Protection Law The bill redefines abortion as a medical treatment and removes the term “elective.” Also, although the repeal of parental consent requirements are not on the table right now, many expect lawmakers to take it up before the 2023-2024 session period is over. Ronald Reagan once said, “Make no mistake, abortion on demand is not a right granted by the Constitution. No serious scholar, including one disposed to agree with the Court’s result, has argued that the framers of the Constitution intended to create such a right.” As your State Representative, I believe abortion is murder. We must do everything we can to protect innocent human life – including the lives of unborn children. |
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| 100 Percent Renewable Energy Mandates Recently, the Senate held a public hearing on legislation that would require utility companies to switch to 100% renewable energy power generation by 20235. Although they agreed to extend the deadline to 2040 (from 20235), there are many issues with this proposed government mandate: No feasibility study has been done to determine whether this is even workable. The following should be evaluated: grid reliability, upfront and ongoing costs, the cost of installation, the cost of battery backup systems to store the electricity, and maintenance costs. Where will these solar farms be located? What about the wind turbines? How many acres of farmland will be required? Where is the money going to come from to pay for all this? Do DTE & Consumer’s Energy plan to raise electricity prices to pay for it? Will taxpayers be on the hook? The architects of this bill package need to be upfront about all costs involved. No country in the world runs on 100% renewable energy. Even California had to extend the lifespan of several natural gas and nuclear plants because of the rolling blackouts. Some rural communities have very strong objections to renewable energy installations. Some Michigan residents told lawmakers they experienced lower property values, less population growth, difficulty selling homes, excessive noise from wind turbines on days with high winds, and other issues in their communities. Residential utility rates could nearly double, according to a study conducted by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy that was shared with some lawmakers. Commercial and industrial electricity rates are expected to rise significantly, which will increase the cost of doing business in Michigan. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy told some lawmakers a carbon-free grid will cause blackouts of up to 61 hours in the winter. The storage capacity required to bridge the gap simply does not exist right now. Only 2/110 State Reps reported their vote record/reasons last session. This is something I do to be transparent in service to you as your State Representative. Here is a list of the bills we voted on this week: SB31 & HB4200 – requires minors to be tested for lead poisoning at certain intervals NO – This bill would require minors to be tested for lead poisoning by certain medical professionals starting on January 1, 2024. Parents can already have their kids screened for lead poisoning if they have concerns. Although parents will be allowed to opt out of this, you don’t need a government mandate. PASSED 67-42 HB446-4449; 4544; 4545 – additional state holidays NO – These bills designate the following as state holidays: Diwali, Eid-al-Adha, Eid-al-Fitr, the Lunar New Year, Vaisakhi, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. We already have more than enough state holidays. HB 4448 PASSED 70-38, HB 4446 PASSED 89-19, HB 4447 PASSED 87-21, HB4449 PASSED 88-20, HB4544 PASSED: 90-18, HB4545 PASSED: 92-16 To see all my votes/reasons, please visit www.RepSchriver.com. God Bless You, Representative Josh Schriver |
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