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1) Rep. Drolet's "no vote explanation" [by Admin003 on February 11, 2006]
Rep. Drolet, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:

"Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

This bill is yet another example of a disturbing and persistent rush to regulate by state government.

Yesterday, the supposed market failure was unlicensed interior decorators. Of the many problems punishing Michigan's economy right now, how is it that we decided to dedicate our hours here to saving the citizens from clashing color schemes? How did Michigan get by without licensing this profession in the many decades that brought us to this one? Is there a trail of examples of people wounded and injured by failed fashion who need these protections?

I'm betting not, and more likely going to assume that the only people helped by this licensing are the interior decorators themselves who wish to be insulated from competition ­ hardly the message to send when making the case that Michigan is open for business.

Likewise, today with this bill we create another unprecedented license for athletic trainers. The presumption behind this bill is that injuries will be sustained when schools and other athletic institutions employ unqualified people to perform these tasks. But where is the trail of wounded examples to make this case? We have gone for decades without these regulations and fees, yet somehow those who oversee athletic events in Michigan have managed the wisdom and responsibility to hire athletic trainers that are qualified and up to the task of the job that they are being paid to do.

No regulation passed by this chamber is going to get Michigan's unemployment rate out of the toilet. We're going to have to trust the people of Michigan to make the right decisions regarding the hiring of qualified people. Requiring them to follow new rules, regulations and fees is not likely to improve their judgment regarding these hiring decisions, but it will surely make those decisions more expensive."

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2) 2005 House Bill 4893 (Impose licensure on athletic trainers ) [by admin on January 1, 2001]
Introduced in the House on June 7, 2005, to impose state regulation, licensure and fees on athletic trainers, and create a Michigan Athletic Trainer Board to establish licensure and competence assessment requirements for licensees. License applicants would be required to meet standards established by one of the national associations of athletic trainers

The vote was 71 in favor, 31 opposed and 6 not voting

(House Roll Call 71 at House Journal 13)

Click here to view bill details.
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