Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on February 17, 2004, to revise the composition of the board of the Michigan forest finance authority to include representatives of forest products industries, and the representative of a statewide, broad-based, sportsman and conservation organization (probably the Michigan United Conservation Clubs). The board governs a state forest development fund, which receives receipts from timber sales. The bill also revises the uses of that fund to include payments in lieu of taxes to local governments on state forestland, and the maintenance of certification of sustainable forestry standards in the state forests. The bill is part of a legislative package comprised of House Bills 5552 to 5554, which would require state forest management to be based on sustainable forestry principles, and requires the state to seek forest certification from an independent third party organization

The vote was 57 in favor, 36 opposed and 16 not voting

(House Roll Call 102 at House Journal 20)

Click here to view bill details.

Rep. Law, having reserved the right to explain her protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:

"Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I voted no on House Bill 5552 because there is no reason to change the composition of the Forest Finance Authority Board to one that is dominated by loggers, sawmills and the forest products industry. The obvious intent is to have the industry dictate what public policy ought to be on publicly owned land. At a minimum other interests should be represented on the board. Environmental and conservation groups, camping, hunting and recreational organizations also have a stake in the state's forests, parks and recreational areas and should be represented as well.

The Forest Development Fund currently has a structural deficit. This would only bankrupt the fund sooner. Furthermore the Forest Development Fund is supposed to be used to pay for improvements to the state forests; for forest protection, reforestation and in general to protect this vast public asset. This bill would divert money from the fund to forest management on private land."