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YOU CAN NOW COMMENT ON STORIES AND POLLS<br />
LET US KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ISSUES.<br />
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NEW POLL OVERVIEW:<br />
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Representative Rashida Tlaib (D) has introduced House Bill 4901 that would require to establish a process whereby a relative handful of individuals could force the state to create and impose an &quot;action plan&quot; for addressing claims that various human activities affecting the environment have a &quot;disparate impact&quot; on an identified minority or low-income population. This plan potentially could include imposing more rigid environmental regulations and standards in a particular community than apply in the rest of the state. The bill would create a number of new state government &quot;environmental justice&quot; boards and positions.<br />
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Environmental Justice involves the interaction of health problems caused by exposure to pollution complicated by a host of social factors including: poverty, poor education, crime/violence, lack of resources and political disenfranchisement.<br />
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In 2007, Governor Granholm issued an Executive Directive (ED) 2007-23 which required the Department of Environmental Quality to produce an annual report to the Governor &quot;on state activities to promote environmental justice&quot;. The policy develops both a plan for the Department of Environmental Quality and the government of the state of Michigan as a whole. In this policy &quot;environmental justice&quot; means the fair, non-discriminatory treatment and meaningful involvement of Michigan residents regarding the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies by this state. However, as of February 1, 2011 no report(s) have been produced, and various parts of the policy are still seeking implementation.<br />
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What Governor Granholm couldn&rsquo;t get implemented by executuve order Rep. Rashida Tlaib now wants to accomplish by statute.<br />
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HOUSE BILL 4901(LINK)<br />
<a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%2815ykftyn1saa3kzfaw0bjerv%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&amp;objectname=2011-HB-4901">http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%2815ykftyn1saa3kzfaw0bjerv%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&amp;objectname=2011-HB-4901</a><br />
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NEW POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should the legislature create an &quot;environmental justice&quot; regulatory regime by passing House Bill 4901?<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 />
<a href="http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-legislature-create-%E2%80%9Cenvironmental-justice%E2%80%9D-regulatory-regime-passing-house-bill-4901">http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-legislature-create-%E2%80%9Cenvironmental-justice%E2%80%9D-regulatory-regime-passing-house-bill-4901</a><br />
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(To enter your comments click on &quot;Add new comment&quot; after you vote.)<br />
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PREVIOUS POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should the state require voters to affirm they are a U.S. citizen when voting or applying for an absentee ballot?<br />
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Yes . . . . . . . . . . . 91%<br />
No . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9% <br />
Undecided . . . . . . . .0%&nbsp; <br />
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ONE COMMENT WAS MADE ON THIS POLL QUESTION:<br />
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COMMENT #1<br />
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Why does the description of this bill keep using &quot;was&quot; a citizen rather than &quot;is&quot; a citizen? It makes a big difference. What does the bill say?<br />
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