Genesee News

State Representative David Martin, the Republican vice chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, expressed his satisfaction after Senate Bills 393-394 failed to advance out of committee. In a statement released on Thursday, Rep. Martin criticized the Democrats' attempt to transfer environmental decision-making to unelected bureaucrats.

Rep. Martin stated, "In her rush to relinquish environmental decision-making to unelected bureaucrats, the committee chair either forgot to do the math or doesn't understand basic House rules. Either way, I'm glad this ill-conceived legislation will be held up in committee a bit longer."

He emphasized the importance of involving those most affected by environmental regulations in the decision-making process, saying, "Decisions regarding environmental regulations should be made with full transparency and participation from those who are impacted the most. The bills the Democrats are pushing would take away the voices of people throughout Michigan and hand decisions about their communities and their future over to the unelected bureaucrats at EGLE."

Rep. Martin's statement highlights his concerns about the lack of representation and transparency in the proposed legislation. He believes that decisions about environmental regulations should be made by those who understand the local communities and their needs. The failure of Senate Bills 393-394 to gain support in the Natural Resources Committee delays their consideration, providing an opportunity for further examination and engagement with the affected stakeholders.

The statement from Rep. Martin sheds light on the ongoing debate surrounding environmental decision-making and the role of elected officials versus unelected bureaucrats. This issue will continue to be a topic of discussion as Michigan seeks to balance environmental protection with the interests of its residents.