U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer votes for controversial energy bill

He says bill will create jobs, President Obama, environmental groups, detractors weigh in

Schauer received praise from Clean Water Action, Michigan's largest environmental group.

"Today, Congressman Schauer stood up for Michigan families and Michigan's
future, for securing homegrown energy sources and for Michigan jobs,"
Cyndi Roper, Michigan Director for Clean Water Action said in a
statement. "This bill will slow the export of our hard-earned wages to
other countries by investing in U.S. energy sources and spurring
smarter use of our energy supplies. It's a win-win for our economy and
for consumers who will begin removing the shackles binding them to the
whims of foreign energy providers."

originally published in the Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette, November 16, 2008

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - When President Bush in October signed a water compact negotiated by the Great Lakes states, supporters rejoiced that seven years of haggling over how to keep thirsty outsiders from grabbing their precious resource were over.

But die-hard activists unsatisfied with the deal are battling on. They fear the pact and state laws enacted to comply with it have flaws that could give multinational corporations a legal basis for tapping into the lakes as the worldwide freshwater shortage worsens.

[...]

originally published in The Macomb Daily, November 19, 2008

Amid all the hoopla over our recent federal, state and local elections one consumer advocacy group feels somewhat forgotten.

"Many in the media have neglected to address the mounting number of toy and children's products that still contain toxic chemicals," says a recent press advisory from Healthy Michigan, Healthy Kids.

"With the holidays fast approaching, this issue will surely rise again. Fortunately, this issue has not escaped the attention of the candidates who ran for the Michigan House of Representative or Michigan voters."

originally published in The Detroit News, January 12, 2009

In Jan. 8 editorial, The Detroit News argues that outdated, 1950s-style coal-burning plants should be not only included, but placed at the forefront of Michigan's energy future ("Don't bar coal from state's energy future"). This assertion is not only recklessly irresponsible, but it's also misleading.