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NEW POLL OVERVIEW:<br />
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Senate Bill 636 has already passed in the Senate by a 31 to 4 vote and has moved on to the House for consideration. The controversial legislation would makes it easier for phone companies to discontinue traditional landline service&nbsp; starting in 2017.<br />
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The measure is opposed by the AARP of Michigan and others who are concerned they'll lose access to vital phone, medical alert and alarm services.<br />
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The bill, which now heads to the House, removes the requirement that at least two other providers offer comparable service in an area before a phone company can discontinue service there.<br />
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The new process would allow consumers to request an investigation of whether there would still be reliable voice and 911 services in an area if a provider pulled out. If there are no providers available or willing to enter the market, the Michigan Public Service Commission could require the existing phone company to maintain service. It wouldn't necessarily have to be traditional landline service, but the commission would have to determine that it</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span>s comparable and offers reliable access to 911 services.<br />
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Traditional landline customers in Michigan have dropped by 60 percent in the last decade, from 6.5 million in 2002 to 2.6 million in 2012, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Meanwhile, mobile phone users have more than doubled from 4.5 million to 9.3 million.<br />
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NEW POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should the legislature pass a bill to allow phone companies to discontinue traditional land line phone services to customers?<br />
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Yes<br />
No<br />
Undecided<br />
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TO VOTE IN THIS POLL CLICK ON THIS LINK<br />
http://clinton-countygop.org/content/should-legislature-pass-bill-allow-phone-companies-discontinue-traditional-land-line-phone-s<br />
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(To enter your comments click on </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>Add new comment</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span> after you vote.)<br />
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PREVIOUS POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should the legislature pass a law allowing restaurants to permit customers to smoke in outdoor areas?<br />
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Yes - 56%<br />
No - 44% <br />
Undecided - 0% <br />
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THREE COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THIS POLL:<br />
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COMMENT #1<br />
Anonymous wrote 3 days 16 hours ago<br />
I'm a non-smoker and I think<br />
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I'm a non-smoker and I think a restaurant is private property and the owner should be able to decide if they want to allow smoking outside and/or inside. I will decide if I want to patronize a restaurant.<br />
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COMMENT #2<br />
Anonymous wrote 3 days 21 hours ago<br />
Smoking is outdoor areas<br />
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I do not smoke either, but believe a business owner should be able to decide how they want to run their own establishment! The public can then decide whether they want to go there.<br />
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COMMENT #3<br />
Anonymous wrote 4 days 3 hours ago<br />
Smoking Outside Restaurants &amp; Bars<br />
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I do not smoke and in fact detest the odor it creates.<br />
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However, it is NOT government's role to mandate to private business what the owner can or cannot allow in his establishment. As long as smoking is not illegal, gov't should not interfere with management. Too many rules and regulations Consumers will decide whether or not they wish to frequent an establishment where smoking is allowed by management. If one does not like the smoking, he will vote with his feet.<br />
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