Commentary

September 5, 2014, MichiganVotes Weekly Report

Wolf hunts, golf carts and more licensure

Initiated Legislation 2, Preempt referendum banning wolf hunt: Passed 65 to 43 in the House

To preempt the effect of a referendum placed on the November ballot by interests opposed to wolf hunting. Specifically, this measure (Initiated Legislation 2) - which was sponsored by groups in favor of a wolf hunt - would make “referendum-proof” a 2013 law giving the legislature and Natural Resources Commission exclusive authority to decide which species may be hunted in Michigan. It would do so by making a small change to that law and adding a modest appropriation, which under a 2001 Supreme Court ruling makes the law not subject to referendum. The Senate passed this measure (Initiated Legislation 2) on Aug. 13, and with this House vote the no-wolf hunt measure on the November 2014 ballot will not go into effect, even if a majority of voters approve it.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5045, Allow local governments to permit golf carts on streets: Passed 103 to 5 in the House

To allow cities, villages and townships with fewer than 30,000 residents to permit the daytime operation of golf carts on streets. A local government could require registration but could not charge a fee for this. However, a county commission could override a municipality's decision and prohibit golf carts on streets.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 92, Impose licensure on pharmacy assistants: Passed 101 to 7 in the House

To impose licensure and regulation on "pharmacy technicians" (assistants), with license fees, continuing education requirements, test-taking mandates and more.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit https://www.michiganvotes.org.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.