Latest news with #S.B.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate panel takes testimony on renewed policies seeking accountability from Michigan polluters
Sen Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) testifies on a slate of bills aimed at improving polluter accountability during a June 11, 2025 meeting of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee. | Kyle Davidson Lawmakers from the state House and Senate called for an update to Michigan's laws on environmental contamination on Wednesday, arguing the current system does not offer enough protections for individuals impacted by pollution. Testifying before the Senate Energy and Environment Committee, Sens. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), Sue Shink (D-Northfield Township), and Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), as well as Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), underscored how the state's current regulations have impacted Michigan residents, arguing that they focus too heavily on limiting exposure rather than cleaning up pollution, leaving Michiganders to bear the costs. Last week, members of the House and Senate announced they would be reintroducing 'polluter pay' legislation in each chamber, with House Democrats introducing H.B. 4636–4640 and Senate Democrats introducing S.B. 385–387 and S.B. 391–393. 'Some people are calling for a restoration of a model that requires strict liability and full residential cleanups on every site. In fact, I proposed legislation like that in the past. But that's not what is being proposed today,' Irwin said. 'What is being proposed today is a modest change that preserves the current risk-based system, but that makes modest changes to improve protections for our water, improve protections for our land and improve protections for our health.' As a whole, the package aims to implement stricter pollution reporting and cleanup requirements, extend the statute of limitations for citizens bringing claims against polluters and allow residents impacted by pollution to sue companies for the cost of medical monitoring, Irwin explained. With more than 25,000 polluted sites across the state and 4,603 sites with land or resource controls, Irwin questioned how many aquifers the state is willing to give up to pollution. He also warned the panel that industry lobbyists would testify against these additional measures, arguing they would harm investment in Michigan business. 'Not only do I think that's not true, but we developed these bills in consultation with industry stakeholders,' Irwin said, noting that the sponsors had held workgroup meetings on the policies introduced during the previous Legislative session. The end result was more modest, but would still provide real benefits to the public, Irwin said. Andrea Pierce, policy director for the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition and founder of the Anishinaabek Caucus said these laws are the beginning step in addressing environmental contamination in Michigan, not the end. Should these bills become law, Michigan would return to the pollution accountability standard it had before the state's polluter pay law was restructured in 1995, Pierce said. 'We need to go back to stronger laws that protect the people and communities of Michigan. Michigan needs a comprehensive legal framework for strengthening accountability and real recourse from those who pollute in our communities,' Pierce said, emphasizing that Michigan's most marginalized communities were also the ones most affected by pollution. Mike Witkowksi, director of environmental and regulatory policy for the Michigan Manufacturers Association argued shifting the system to require more from businesses would hinder the state's brownfield redevelopment efforts. 'These are not technical fixes or minor clarifications. These are fundamental changes that would undermine one of Michigan's most effective tools for addressing environmental contamination and supporting economic growth,' Witkowksi said, criticizing the additional requirements and arguing the package would increase clean up costs and liabilities for businesses. During his testimony earlier in the hearing, Irwin predicted industry stakeholders would argue that the legislation would hamper redevelopment by requiring polluted sites to be restored to pristine condition. 'That's not what this bill does,' Irwin said, arguing that pollution already hampers redevelopment efforts. With the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy lacking both the funding and the personnel to address the thousands of contaminated sites throughout the state, Witkowski said private-sector investors and developers are essential to cleaning up contamination throughout the state. Should these bills take effect, those sites would sit idle and remain polluted, he argued. Shink countered, noting that she'd served on Washtenaw County's brownfield redevelopment board during her time as a county commissioner. 'I can assure you that it isn't just private funds that's cleaning up these brownfield sites. There's a lot of public funds. That means the taxpayers, after the company has made its profit and maybe taken that profit out of state, the community is paying to clean that up,' Shink said, noting that the state is paying to clean up the former Federal Screw Works site in Washtenaw County. Alongside testimony from several environmental advocacy groups, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy also offered its support for the package with Aaron Keatley, the department's chief deputy director, noting that the bills aligned with their priorities for environmental legislation. Those priorities include transparency, ensuring predictable processes, securing assurances that companies will manage any releases of contaminants until the contamination is cleaned up, ensuring sites are redeveloped and streamlining the department's cleanup criteria so that the standards match the science, Keatley said. 'It is unfortunate that I look at you and I say I cannot tell you how many sites right now are managed by responsible parties, because they're not obligated to inform me of their day to day activities to keep that property safe,' Keatley said. The committee did not take votes on the legislation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Motormouth: Fix it or risk it?
Q: I have a 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet with 72,000 miles. It's a beauty, in perfect condition and fun to drive. I hear the IMS bearing can go out and ruin the engine. It can cost as much as $5,000 to replace the bearing. Should I bite the bullet and fix it now, wait till the clutch needs replacing and save money doing them both at the same time, or gamble and buy $5,000 of Tesla stock? When it doubles, I can fix it on Elon's dime! R.N., Los Altos, California A: Not replacing the intermediate shaft bearing is a big gamble. If your risk tolerance is high, your car may go well over 100,000 miles. Bearing replacement is expensive, so many owners wait for some other repair to take advantage of overlapping labor costs. Like any auto technician, I make mistakes occasionally. Do-overs are, unfortunately, part of the repair business. My knowledge of the securities industry is next to zero. You don't get do-overs in the stock market. Bottom line? It's a crap shoot and the dice are in your hand. Q: I have a 2025 CX-50 that I enjoy, however every once in a while, after going over potholes or train tracks, I get a brief wind chime tone in the car. My wife and I have heard this many times, however we couldn't get the dealer to reproduce. Any ideas? R.K., Chicago A: Mazda issued a technical service bulletin to fix rattles in the sunroof, but I am not aware of any others. The carmaker recommends removing the trim pieces and checking if all the bolts and plastic clips are properly installed. Dealers may also add sound-deadening material in some other places to eliminate rattles. Q: I read your reply to S.B. regarding his Kia Optima, and I was shocked that 1,000 mile loss of a quart of oil is accepted. Is this what is considered acceptable industry standard for Kias, for most automobiles, or what? I have a 2015 Honda Accord with 126,000 miles. I typically change the oil when the reminder hits 30% oil life left. I check my oil every time I fill up, which is usually around 400 miles. Rarely do I need to add any oil between changes. Is what I experience exceptional? H.R., Hanover Park, Illinois A: Although being down a quart of oil at 1,000 is an acceptable industry standard, it doesn't happen commonly. What you, and most motorists enjoy, is the norm. Q: I recently purchased a 2022 Ford Escape SEL with a 1.5-liter engine with 10,000 miles on it (leased vehicle). At lower speeds, mostly under 25 mph, it jerks quite a bit. Took it to the dealership and they said everything checked out. Any answer to why it does this? C.W., Red Wing, Minnesota A: Nope, but it sounds like they may have given your car the "sunshine treatment." Q: have a 1995 Chevy Cruze and have power steering warning lights showing up on the dashboard. The steering angle sensor is defective. GM has stopped making and stocking this part. Any suggestions on what to do? Thanks for your help. B.W., Chicago A: I am not in the business of locating obsolete parts, but in your case, I made an exception because I was curious and had time on my hands. I usually turn to auto parts recycling centers (formerly called junk yards when I was a kid). I may not have dug deeply enough in recycling places, but did discover one new part at Genuine Chevrolet Parts, Stingray Chevrolet. Google it. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voting rights groups sue over proof of citizenship law in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Several voting rights groups in Louisiana are suing over a new law that requires people to show proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. The lawsuit claims the law breaks the National Voter Registration Act. Senate Bill 436 went into effect on Jan. 1. It says that every voter registration application must include 'proof of United States citizenship.' Some organizations say the law doesn't clearly define what counts as proof of citizenship or how individuals should submit it. The plaintiffs, which include the League of Women Voters of Louisiana, NAACP Louisiana State Conference, Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), and the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, argue that the law is unclear, unnecessary, and unfair. 'S.B. 436 was rushed through the Louisiana Legislature despite no evidence of alleged voting by ineligible noncitizens and Defendant Landry's own admission that the State has successfully relied on the attestation of the voter to confirm citizenship. Although it solves no problems, S.B. 436 creates many. S.B. 436's vague terms pose a threat to eligible voter registrants and those who assist them,' the lawsuit said. The plaintiffs say it makes it harder for many eligible voters to register. This includes young people, low-income voters, and those affected by the criminal justice system. They also said Louisiana has no real problem with non-citizen voting. Secretary of State Nancy Landry admitted during a hearing that the state doesn't have evidence of non-citizens voting. Baton Rouge anti-violence programs at risk of federal funding cuts The groups fear the law will disrupt voter registration efforts, especially at events or in jails where people often don't have documents with them. They say this might create big hurdles for voter registration, making groups spend resources on getting people the right documents instead of focusing on registration. 'The League needs to plan for voter registration activities well in advance—including allocating funds or other necessary resources, organizing and training volunteers, and purchasing or otherwise procuring voter registration equipment—and it is unable to make these key decisions when it does not know when or how Louisiana will implement or enforce S.B. 436,' the lawsuit said. They're asking a federal judge to block the law and declare it unconstitutional. So far, Louisiana officials have not responded to the lawsuit. The Secretary of State and other officials are named as defendants in the case. 01Download Social Security COLA increase in 2026 projected to be lowest in years, advocacy group says Louisiana OMV investigates Baton Rouge driving school Bad blood: Trump takes new swipe at Taylor Swift Voting rights groups sue over proof of citizenship law in Louisiana Louisiana law enforcement agencies searching for 10 Orleans Parish jail escapees Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Restrictions on wind, solar unpopular among Texas Republicans: Poll
Most Texans — including a new majority of Republicans — support the state's booming renewables industry and oppose the idea of state moves to quash it, a new poll has found. The polling by Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation comes out amid a multifront push by suburban Texas Republican legislators to hamstring the growth of wind and solar in the state. Texans 'understand what is at stake,' CTEI state director Matt Welch said in a statement, supporting a wide range of common sense, market-driven solutions,' said Matt Welch, state director of CTEI. 'By getting this right, Texas will remain a national leader in energy production and job creation.' The survey of 1,000 likely voters with about a 4 percent margin of error was completed March 22-30. It found that 91 percent of Texans 'strongly supported' landowners' ability to use wind and solar on their own land, or lease it to utilities. And 51 percent of Texans 'strongly supported' that right, per the survey. The findings come as the Texas renewable industry comes under legislative assault. The Texas Senate has passed two bills — S.B. 819 and S.B. 388 — that would restrict landowners' ability to put wind and solar energy on their land, and require every new watt of renewable power to be accompanied by a watt of power from coal or natural gas. Backers of these bills argue that the state's renewables boom is ultimately bad for the state. Texas is 'number one in wind, number one in solar,' Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R), who represents the suburbs of Houston and sponsored both S.B. 819 and S.B. 388, told KXAN. 'I'm not sure that's something to brag about,' Kolkhorst added. The CTEI survey suggests that opposition to renewables — and in particular restrictions on landowners' ability to install them — are not popular positions, even among Republicans. The CTEI poll found that 80 percent of Texans supported more government action to increase development of renewable energy — with more than 40 percent strongly supporting such state intervention. The poll found that 75 percent of Republicans — and 90 percent of independents — also favored 'government action to accelerate clean energy.' Nearly identical numbers of Texans also supported the use of energy efficiency measures to cut total use of power — a proposal that the pollsters found was especially attractive to Republicans. While self-described 'very conservative' Texans were the most opposed to renewables of any group, 56 percent of such respondents still supported it — a jump from the 49 percent who responded that way in 2023. And a more than three-quarters of men without college degrees also support renewables — up from less than two-thirds in 2023. These findings don't imply blanket support for green policies or renewable energy. A plurality of Texans — 45 percent — want to see the state develop more gas resources. In statements to the press, Kolkhorst has insisted that her measures wouldn't meaningfully harm renewables, but would 'places guardrails to ensure every inch of Texas is not covered' by windmills and turbines. 'I have no doubt that with SB 819, Texas will be able to build the generation it needs to keep up with growth while also protecting Texas land,' she said. The renewable energy industry disagrees. The bill 'will kill renewable energy in Texas,' Jeff Clark, CEO of Texas Power Alliance, said during public testimony on the bill earlier this month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Restrictions on wind, solar unpopular among Texas Republicans: Poll
Most Texans — including a new majority of Republicans — support the state's booming renewables industry and oppose the idea of state moves to quash it, a new poll has found. The polling by Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation comes out amid a multifront push by suburban Texas Republican legislators to hamstring the growth of wind and solar in the state. Texans 'understand what is at stake,' CTEI state director Matt Welch said in a statement, supporting a wide range of common sense, market-driven solutions,' said Matt Welch, state director of CTEI. 'By getting this right, Texas will remain a national leader in energy production and job creation.' The survey of 1,000 likely voters with about a 4 percent margin of error was completed March 22-30. It found that 91 percent of Texans 'strongly supported' landowners' ability to use wind and solar on their own land, or lease it to utilities. And 51 percent of Texans 'strongly supported' that right, per the survey. The findings come as the Texas renewable industry comes under legislative assault. The Texas Senate has passed two bills — S.B. 819 and S.B. 388 — that would restrict landowners' ability to put wind and solar energy on their land, and require every new watt of renewable power to be accompanied by a watt of power from coal or natural gas. Backers of these bills argue that the state's renewables boom is ultimately bad for the state. Texas is 'number one in wind, number one in solar,' Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R), who represents the suburbs of Houston and sponsored both S.B. 819 and S.B. 388, told KXAN. 'I'm not sure that's something to brag about,' Kolkhorst added. The CTEI survey suggests that opposition to renewables — and in particular restrictions on landowners' ability to install them — are not popular positions, even among Republicans. The CTEI poll found that 80 percent of Texans supported more government action to increase development of renewable energy — with more than 40 percent strongly supporting such state intervention. The poll found that 75 percent of Republicans — and 90 percent of independents — also favored 'government action to accelerate clean energy.' Nearly identical numbers of Texans also supported the use of energy efficiency measures to cut total use of power — a proposal that the pollsters found was especially attractive to Republicans. While self-described 'very conservative' Texans were the most opposed to renewables of any group, 56 percent of such respondents still supported it — a jump from the 49 percent who responded that way in 2023. And a more than three-quarters of men without college degrees also support renewables — up from less than two-thirds in 2023. These findings don't imply blanket support for green policies or renewable energy. A plurality of Texans — 45 percent — want to see the state develop more gas resources. In statements to the press, Kolkhorst has insisted that her measures wouldn't meaningfully harm renewables, but would 'places guardrails to ensure every inch of Texas is not covered' by windmills and turbines. 'I have no doubt that with SB 819, Texas will be able to build the generation it needs to keep up with growth while also protecting Texas land,' she said. The renewable energy industry disagrees. The bill 'will kill renewable energy in Texas,' Jeff Clark, CEO of Texas Power Alliance, said during public testimony on the bill earlier this month.
