FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
December 1, 2016
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Snyder Must Veto Law Restricting Local Democracy
Republicans hell-bent on stifling local control despite rhetoric
LANSING — Progress Michigan is calling on Gov. Rick Snyder to veto Senate Bill 853, which continues the Republican trend of attacking local democracy.
According to MLive, the bill “would prevent local communities from instituting bans or putting fees on containers like bags, cups, bottles or packaging.” The Republican-controlled state government has continued to attack local control over the years, including the “Death Star” bill that was passed in 2015 that prevents communities from passing higher minimum wage or earned paid sick day laws.
“Locals should be able to have a say in how businesses operate in their communities and we urge Gov. Snyder to veto these bills,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “The Republican-controlled legislature continues to do the bidding of their corporate donors at the expense of our democratic principles and this latest bill is a continuation of those efforts. Gov. Snyder needs to show the people of Michigan that they have a voice in how their community is operated and that corporate donations don’t hold more power over elected officials than the people they claim to represent.”
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