LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Jeff Irwin (D–Ann Arbor) today released the following statement after the Michigan Senate Oversight Committee, on which he is the sole Democratic member, voted along party lines to send House Concurrent Resolution 1 to the full Michigan Senate.
The resolution disapproves of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order 2019-02, that would restructure the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) into the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). It would also create public advocates for drinking water and environmental justice, an office of Climate and Energy, strengthen the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team, and eliminate three review boards that allow corporate representatives to oversee the DEQ and its permitting process.
“Today, leadership in Lansing voted against protecting the public’s health despite the numerous environmental crises happening all across our state. The governor promised that she would take real action to fight for access to safe, clean drinking water, and this executive order was the necessary first step of that process. There is no room for partisanship when it comes to holding polluters accountable and prioritizing environmental protections.
“Despite this morning’s committee vote, I remain committed to leading the charge for more transparency and accountability in our state government when it comes to protecting Michigan’s families and our environment — because we all deserve better, and anything less is simply unacceptable.”
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