Lunch + Legislation #19: What’s Up With … Rep. Tommy Brann’s Animal Welfare Bills (and there are many to talk about!)  

Thanks to Rep. Tommy Brann, Michigan House of Representatives, for joining us to talk about his animal welfare bills now pending in the Michigan Legislature. He encouraged advocates to contact their elected officials with bill ideas and gave specific actions … Continued

Lunch + Legislation #17: Join Rep. Sowerby in What’s Up With … Testifying at a Committee Hearing

This month we were joined by special guest, Michigan State Representative Bill Sowerby. He provides invaluable insight into giving effective testimony at these hearings and how to handle questions from legislators who don’t share your point of view. Rep. Sowerby … Continued

“Deer and Wolves and Bobcats, Oh My!”: UPDATE

Timing is everything, and within hours of posting this article, important news broke. The US Fish & Wildlife Service order removing gray wolves from Endangered Species Act listing was “vacated” by US District Judge Jeffrey S. White, meaning that gray … Continued

Who Can Speak About Wolves?

Very few people indeed, if you listen to some in the Michigan Legislature and other pro-hunt proponents. Some members of the Michigan Legislature who represent the Upper Peninsula, joined by a number of their colleagues “Under the Bridge”, have long … Continued

Lunch + Legislation #15: What’s Up With … Redistricting (and how animal advocates can use it)

We’re starting the year with a discussion of a very important and topical issue from a different perspective. In Michigan and around the country, maps for Congressional and state district boundaries are being re-drawn, and will impact who gets elected … Continued

So … What’s the Rush?

We’ve scratched our heads and asked this question several times over years of following the Michigan Legislature; but lately we’ve seen more and more of this tactic. Those of you who work on legislative matters know that things can happen … Continued

Our 2021 New Year’s Resolutions

We started the year with a week’s worth of suggestions: #1 for January 1, 2021: newly elected Michigan House members are sworn in today. Find your Michigan state representative and resolve to get to know her/him. #2 for January 2, … Continued

The (Relative) Calm Before the Storm: Legislative Tracker™ to August 28, 2020

As we head into the fall, the Michigan Legislature returns to work. We expect to see a flurry of activity in September and October, as the 2019-20 legislative session nears its end. We don’t expect many new bills to be … Continued