Yearly Archives: 2016

Consumers Energy has named Shaun Johnson as vice president and deputy general counsel, reporting to Catherine Reynolds, senior vice president and general counsel, effective April 18, 2016. Johnson's primary responsibilities will be overseeing the litigation, general practice and federal energy regulatory practice groups and providing legal oversight for business development activities.

An independent task force appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to examine the Flint water crisis released its comprehensive report today. “When this task force came together I asked them to be completely unbiased in determining how the Flint water crisis occurred,” Snyder said. “I also requested they focus on how we prevent any situation like this from occurring in the future and I appreciate their thorough recommendations.

Statement of Arthur Horwitz, Co-chair of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, in response to the final report of the Flint Water Advisory Task Force that was released on Wednesday, March 23

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) today issued the following statement after a task force appointed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder released its final report on the Flint water crisis, finding that the state of Michigan bears the responsibility for the man-made crisis

Congressman Dan Kildee today spoke at the White House Water Summit on the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Mich., and the need to invest in America’s aging infrastructure to ensure that all Americans have access to safe drinking water. Below is a transcript of Congressman Kildee’s conversation with Christy Goldfuss, Managing Director at the White House Council on Environmental Quality

The Michigan Gaming Control Board today granted necessary approvals for MGM Resorts International (MGM), the parent of MGM Grand Detroit, LLC, to move forward with its proposal to reorganize and move certain real property into a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is proposing to strengthen the drinking water clean-up standard for 1,4-Dioxane by a factor of 10 in a new rules package under consideration by the agency. The more protective standard is based on new calculations completed by the DEQ using a science-based process, including current EPA toxicity data and Michigan-specific exposure factors. The new rule would change the 1,4-Dioxane drinking water standard in Michigan from 85 parts per billion (ppb) to 7.2 ppb.

Country music singer/songwriter Jimmy Wayne, whose songs, story and walk halfway across America continue to raise awareness of the plight of foster children and the homeless, will deliver the luncheon keynote speech April 25 at the 2016 Building Michigan Communities Conference at the Lansing Center.

Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, yesterday joined his colleagues on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power in unanimously approving a Discussion Draft of the Pipeline Safety Act of 2016. The Discussion Draft contains spending authorizations for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and targeted mandates to increase transparency and accountability, complete overdue regulations, and improve safety.

After today’s U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on the Flint water crisis, Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) held a media availability. Below is a transcript of Congressman Kildee’s question and answer session

Wednesday, March 16, 2016, demolition of the former Lake Terrace Shopping Center at 1532 Robert E. Lee Blvd. in the Gentilly neighborhood will begin. Last month, the City of New Orleans announced that after years of aggressively pursuing action against the property’s former owner, DMK Acquisitions and Properties LLC (DMK), the property would be redeveloped by local developer Kenneth Lobell.

Gov. Rick Snyder today thanked Flint-area members of the Michigan Credit Union League for donating $50,000 worth of gift cards to residents who have been working with the state and federal government to monitor lead levels in the water in their homes.

Results from round two of Sentinel Site water testing in Flint shows fewer sites are over the federal action level for lead than were found in round one, but concerns remain, Gov. Rick Snyder said today.

Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) voted in support of legislation to recognize the persecution of Christians at the hands of ISIS as genocide and called on the Obama Administration to hold ISIS and the Assad Regime accountable for their crimes against humanity.

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) issued the following statement today after the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a second congressional hearing on the Flint water crisis