Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on October 27, 2005, to prohibit a person from making a large quantity groundwater withdrawal (more than 100,000 gallons per day) that causes an adverse resource impact to a designated trout stream; or, beginning in two years, one that causes any adverse resource impact as defined by the "assessment tool" that would be developed under Senate Bill 851. Withdrawals to "supply a common distribution system" would require a permit. A user could request a determination from DEQ that a withdrawal would not cause an adverse impact. Local governments would be preempted from regulating in this area

The vote was 36 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 not voting

(Senate Roll Call 679 at Senate Journal 110)

Click here to view bill details.

Rep. Sheen, 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: No Vote Explanation on Water Bills This is not about clean water or protecting the Great Lakes. It is about regulating water withdrawal from residents and businesses. This is not a time to make any more regulations to make it any more difficult or expensive to do business, create jobs, or for families to live in Michigan. This legislation may be carefully crafted to protect current businesses and residents, but it opens the door to future regulation, higher costs of doing business, and further erosion of private property rights. I can not support more job killing regulations, increased costs, and further erosion of private property rights."

Rep. Robertson, 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: While I continue to oppose the diversion of water from the Great Lakes basin and continue to believe that that power should remain in the hands of state governments, I am compelled to vote against SB 850. This legislation creates an entirely new area of government regulation and with it, potentially, vast new power to intervene in the lives of Michigan residents. That this intervention involves something as basic and essential to human life and activity as water usage concerns me greatly. Diversion of water from the Great Lakes is one thing, extending the governments reach into groundwater regulation is another. My no vote on SB 850 and another bill in this package, SB 852, is an expression of my philosophic opposition to the state's involvement in groundwater regulation. I appreciate the attempt to bring objectivity to state action in this area, however, my overriding concern for the private property rights of all Michigan residents-now and in the future-requires that I cast a 'NO' vote on SB 850."

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