Senator Bishop Denies, Defends, Offends

It seems the old adage “actions speak louder than words” wasn’t applied liberally enough during Senator Mike Bishop’s childhood. And if it was, it was a lesson quickly forgone in the pursuit of higher political ground. In an interview with Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus, Sen. Bishop goes so far as to say “one of my priorities is, and has always been, environment."

This is a righteous claim, and one a savvy politician would be wise to make in a state defined by its lakes, populated by sportsmen, and still generating revenue on the back of its tourism industry. But after 12 years in the political arena, Bishop’s claim to be an environmental advocate falls resoundingly flat. His empty words only serve to highlight the discrepancy between his fumbling claims and bleak environmental voting record.

He begins the interview talking once again about the recently denied permit to build a new coal-fired power plant in Rogers City, Michigan, calling it “a political effort to block clean coal” (listen HERE). We would like to remind Senator Bishop that the decision to deny the permit was based on policy, not politics, and that clean coal is in fact an oxymoron.

He insists that promoting “clean coal” was part of the bipartisan legislation passed in 2008. That legislation, PA 295, defines advanced coal-fired electric generating facilities as “advanced cleaner energy systems." Cleaner, but not clean. Apparently Senator Bishop “would love to see wind energy, and solar energy," but clearly not enough to vote for increased mandated use of those renewable sources of energy as part of PA 295. And it’s painful to hear a legislator expound on Michigan’s outdoor beauty in the same breath with which they advocate for new polluting coal plants.

Bishop goes on to defend his environmental actions (listen HERE): Passing the Great Lakes Compact, preventing invasive species from entering the lakes, protecting the Great Lakes from water withdrawals, working with the Farm Bureau, and protecting inland trout streams. To date Senator Bishop has not taken a leadership role in defending the lakes from the invasive Asian carp, he has voted against water-withdrawal protection measures six times in the last two years. In 2007 he voted for the deregulation of factory farm pollution, and he put inland trout streams in jeopardy when he voted against SB 860 in 2008, which would have protected thriving fish populations from proposed water withdrawals.

In his political career, Sen. Bishop has voted against the environment 80% of the time, and his very real voting record stands in stark contrast to the defensive arguments he makes to McCarus.

Senator Bishop, perhaps the passion you convey in this interview for conservation and environmental protection indicates that you’re turning over a new leaf? Or perhaps it's just another carefully constructed, politically correct stump speech from a career politician.

Senator Bishop Questions the "Science" Behind Denial of Clean Air Permit

Sen. Bishop spoke out on the Senate floor today with regard to Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s “shocking” denial of a clean air permit for Wolverine Power Company’s proposed plant in Rogers City, Michigan. He’s apparently shocked that the administration actually complied with both the federal Clean Air Act and Granholm’s Executive Directive 2009-2 by conducting a thorough assessment of energy alternatives before issuing permits for new coal plants. Bishop is shocked that the governor would deny the citizens of Northern Michigan the construction jobs the new power plant would provide, even if the new plant would also result in the average customer paying almost $70 more per month for energy.

Bishop’s frustration is palpable, but also unfounded. He said the governor’s justification for denying the permit, on the grounds that the plant was unnecessary and would cause utility rates to rise, was a “bogus claim, not based on any clear science or real information."

Bishop is apparently overlooking the very real scientific analysis, conducted by the state Public Service Commission, which determined the new facility was unnecessary to meet Wolverine Power’s energy capacity needs, especially considering the pattern of decreased energy demand and economic uncertainty Michigan is experiencing. The Public Service Commission’s report also reveals that based on Wolverine’s own cost estimates, construction costs of the new facility would lead to a significant rate increase. The MPSC’s report is available to the public, as is the permit denial letter that was sent to Wolverine Power.

The report is lengthy; perhaps Senator Bishop has not yet had a chance to read it. But he should have taken a look before he accused the administration of making “bogus claims."

Senator Bishop Recieves DIS-honorable Mention

Allowing toxics in children’s toys, defending the myth of clean coal, picking politics over policy; Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop was guilty of all of the above in the last legislative session, and his 2009-2010 Michigan Environmental Scorecard score reflects it. Bishop scored a perfect(ly awful) 0% on this year’s scorecard, bringing his lifetime average score to a whopping 20%.

His score of 0% indicates that he voted against environmental and conservation interests 100% of the time last year. This alone should be cause for concern, but the fact that Sen. Bishop holds a powerful leadership position makes his weak environmental record even more deplorable. As the Senate Majority Leader, Bishop controls the Senate’s legislative agenda. Bishop has the power to keep environmental protection and regulatory proposals from ever reaching the floor of the Senate (for example, House Bill 4402, banning toxic lindane, which has been held hostage in Bishop’s Government Operations Committee for more than a year).

Sen. Bishop’s unfortunate environmental voting record earned him a dis-honorable mention in this year’s Environmental Scorecard.

Bishop rejects funding for "Pure Michigan"

Never mind that tourism is one of the three largest income-producing industries in Michigan, or that the return on the Pure Michigan ad campaign is $3-$5 in tourism revenue on every dollar spent. Senator Mike Bishop doesn’t have time to be concerned about tourism. The legislature just last week approved $9.5 million to fund the Pure Michigan ads this summer, but Senate Republicans, lead by Bishop, rejected legislation that would have raised an additional $13 million for the ad campaign through a $2.50 per day tax on airport rental cars. Bishop said that with the state facing a huge deficit, $9.5 million was all that could be afforded. Unfortunately, that appears to be a decision Senator Bishop made on his own, since he never even allowed the rental-car tax legislation to be voted on by his fellow lawmakers.

Senator Bishop, how can we begin to erase the deficit if you suppress revenue-generating measures? The total amount dedicated to the Pure Michigan ad campaign this year is $15 million, less than half the amount raised last year, and not enough to launch another nationwide ad campaign. Michigan’s incredible natural resources are what draw people back to our state year after year, and we NEED lawmakers who will promote and protect these amazing assets!

A Little Accountability Never Hurt Anyone...

The intent of www.eyeonbishop.com is to hold Senator Bishop accountable for his actions for and against the environment. Michigan LCV hopes that over time, Senator Bishop’s reaction to this site will be an improved record on environmental and conservation issues. In the short term, however, his first reaction to the site is disappointing. We had hoped that he would use the opportunity to address some of the issues reported and his contradictory statements and actions. Instead, he lashed out at both our organization and a news source from his own district. As the Rochester Citizen reported,

"Bishop said he hadn’t seen the blog and, therefore, didn’t address specific issues. But he characterized the effort as “an attack ad.”"

It is unclear to Michigan LCV how Senator Bishop could characterize something he hasn’t seen or read as an attack ad. His next statement is equally puzzling:

"“I have never heard of them. They have never participated in any policy discussions” which he attended, Bishop said" in regards to Michigan LCV.

“Just because the word environment or conservation is in their title does not mean they are,” he said. “There are people out there who are desperate, and I am so sick and tired of it.”

To this, our Executive Director responded:
“I am surprised that Senate Majority Leader Bishop was taken aback by our website. Not only did we call his office on Friday, March 5 to inform him and his staff that the site was going up on March 8, but we emailed him, too. In addition, everything on the website is factual information based on Senate Majority Leader Bishop's statements--written and/or verbal--and his actions over the course of the last many months. (You can read full coverage of Bishop’s reaction to the website, and our response, here.)

Bishop did not stop at just criticizing Michigan LCV. He also attacked the Rochester Citizen for reporting about our website, calling them an illegitimate source.

“I get blasted a lot from legitimate sources; I don’t view this as a legitimate source,” he said.

Not a legitimate source? Senator Mike Bishop, these are your own constituents you are talking about.

Nevertheless, Bishop DID say that “he understands Michigan’s environment is one of the most important issues facing the state. He said he’s supported the most responsible environmental agenda he can. But, he added, “I have the weight on my shoulders of trying to turn this state around.”

It is hard to believe that someone who received an 11% on his environmental scorecard by voting against a series of environmental and conservation measures truly believes that Michigan’s environment is an important issue. His weak voting record speaks for itself. Unfortunately, Senator Bishop fails to understand the connection between Michigan’s economic recovery and the protection and preservation of Michigan’s natural resources.

Click here for updated links to news coverage of this blog.

Let's Not Forget the Carp

Despite efforts to block the invasive Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes, carp eDNA has been recently discovered in Lake Michigan. Their arrival would be devastating not only for native fish populations, but also for thousands of jobs dependent upon the Lakes’ resources and the region’s $7 billion fishing industry. Bishop’s fellow Republican, Attorney General Mike Cox, has been active in trying to combat the potential disasters that may arise from the carps’ entrance. Cox has called upon the Obama administration to respond to this pending crisis and take action, stating:

“It is our hope the bi-partisan team of Attorneys General leading the battle to protect jobs and the Lakes will have a seat at the table with the White House to help find a solution to this crisis”

Click here to read more.

To date, Senator Bishop has yet to make any statements or take any action in regards to this potentially disastrous issue. When will Senator Bishop speak out on this major issue threatening Michigan’s natural resources, the protection of which is one of his so-called priorities?

What About Clean Energy? Granholm 8, Bishop 0

In tonight’s “State of the State” address, Governor Granholm mentioned energy on nearly eight different occasions. The Governor outlined how investment and progress in advanced battery manufacturing, solar technology, and other clean energy projects have begun to create jobs and reinvent our manufacturing economy.

Meanwhile, Senator Bishop, who delivered the GOP response, mentioned the importance of clean energy to Michigan’s economic recovery zero times. He said nothing about utilizing our manufacturing base to help Michigan’s economy recover and diversify our industries.

Granholm discussed the Recovery Act’s ability to invest in resources for the “clean-energy sector of our economy” and how Michigan was turning to focus on its “green belt”. Bishop, instead, talked about budget cuts. Granholm even extensively congratulated Dow’s contributions to advancements in solar energy and encouraged more investments in solar companies and growing this sector. She emphasized that job growth in the “new” Michigan will continue as long as we continue to embrace new battery technology, solar power, wind power, and capitalize on the fact that Michigan’s outstanding manufacturing base is just the place to build for the future. In addressing the 2008 Energy Bill, she mentioned how focusing on alternative energy resulted in the founding of the company CLEAResult, which provided more jobs. Again, Bishop missed the opportunity to comment on clean energy as part of a new Michigan economy.

Read Granholm’s transcript here.

The closest Bishop came to addressing environmental issues was the following statement:

“General Motors, for example, has already taken advantage of a new law passed by the Legislature in December that gives Michigan a competitive leg-up to build batteries for hybrid and electric cars. This is public policy that helps us grow this innovative industry, right here in Michigan!”

You can watch Bishop deliver his response here.

Apparently, Senator Bishop doesn’t believe that clean energy or protection of Michigan’s natural resources are critical factors in rebuilding Michigan’s economy.