Now You Know How the Rest of Us Feel

31 07 2008

You can smoke in restaurants in Michigan, but apparently, you can only smoke approved cancer sticks at some joints.

“On Saturday my brother and I were enjoying breakfast at Fleetwood Diner (on South Cedar Street). This is our normal destination for meetings, and has been since the diner opened.

“As usual, when we finished our meal we sat and had cigarettes and talked about different issues.”

Suddenly the two men were asked to take it outside. It seems that the smoke from their peach-flavored cigarettes offended the nostrils of somebody who worked at the diner.

That’s how I feel every freaking time I walk into a restaurant that allows smoking, but I deal with it.  The Fleetwood just made a case for banning smoking in restaurants and they don’t even know it.  My nostrils are offended by all cigarettes…not just the flavored ones.  If you can you kick patrons out because you don’t like their certain cigs, you should ban smoking outright!





Buy Michigan First Town Hall

17 07 2008

From a press release….

 
LANSING — Whether you sell milk or electrical supplies, commodities or computers, chemicals or construction or janitorial services, you have potential as a Michigan vendor.  Property owners with office or warehouse space to rent may also find opportunities with the State. That’s why State Representative Mike Simpson is hosting this informational seminar for small business interested in doing business with the state.

WHAT: Buy Michigan First town hall meeting.
WHO: Rep. Simpson; Patty Kaufman, the president of Baker College of Jackson ; Lisa Webb Sharpe, director of the Michigan Office of Management and Budget; and Seleana Samuel, Buy First coordinator
WHERE: Baker College, 2800 Springport Road, Jackson, MI
WHEN:Tuesday, July 22, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m





Press Release – Secondhand Smoke Study

15 07 2008

The following press release was sent out by the Campaign for Smoke Free Air.  I haven’t posted anything about the smoking ban for a while because the state legislator is on summer break.  They will be coming back next week to take up a few issues.  Could the smoking ban be one of them?  I have no idea.

LANSING– Recent declines in the exposure of U.S. residents to deadly secondhand smoke is attributable to smokefree workplace policies like the one currently being held hostage in the Michigan House of Representatives. A new study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals the exposure levels of secondhand smoke have declined significantly among the U.S. population between 1988-1994 and 1999-2004.

This study is another testament to the need for a smokefree worksite law, including restaurants, bars and casinos,” said Judy Stewart, spokesperson for the Campaign for Smokefree Air. “It’s becoming clearer every day that exposure to secondhand smoke is dangerous and the only way to combat those dangers is to have a smokefree law in place.” Read the rest of this entry »





Buy Local First Week

3 07 2008

I got a mailer today from Rep. Barb Byrum (D-Lansing) proclaiming July 13th thru 19th Buy Local Week.   Since I can’t find it on-line, I’m just going to copy the bulk of the mailer which is 10 Reasons to Buy Local.

  1. Invest in the Community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in our community.  They are invested in the future of our town.
  2. Help Support Local Orfanizations: Nonprofit organizations recieve two and a half times more support from small, local business owners than they do from large, chain businesses.
  3. Encourage a Prosperous Community: Research has shown that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in comunities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character. Read the rest of this entry »




MUCC Online Petition for Bottle Bill Expansion

23 06 2008

On-line petitions are worthless.  They are succeptable to fraud.  If you want to be taken seriously, paper petitions are still the only way to get any kind of respect.  The Michigan United Conservation Club has posted an on-line petition encouraging the expansion of Michgan’s Bottle Bill to include bottled water and juice.  While I agree with the position, I hate on-line petitions.  I have five e-mail address that I still have access to, so I can sign this petition five times…all under different names and some of them not even real names.  The goal of their campaign is 1000 signatures.  So far, they have 89, but the petition was just posted today, so with little media expsosure they’ve got a good start. Read the rest of this entry »





Brewpubs Could Be Allowed to Participate in Beer Festivals

23 06 2008

I just noticed that HB 6187 and 6188 passed the House on June 11.  In reading the analysis for the bills, it looks to me like there has been a problem with brewpubs participating in beer festivals.  The way the law is currently written, brewpubs can only sell their product to be consumed at their licensed facility.

These two bills would do two things.  Allow brewpubs to sell their beer and special liscense holders to buy the beer.  The bill was crafted for the Michigan Brewers Guild which holds two beer festivals a year.  Over 200 beers from 30 breweries will be featured, but none from a brewpub. Read the rest of this entry »





Bottled Water Return?

17 06 2008

The LSJ ran a story I first told you about a month ago.

The Michigan United Conservation Clubs said Tuesday that within a few years, sales of non-carbonated drinks will exceed soft drink sales.

Michigan’s bottle deposit law, passed by voters in 1976, imposes a dime deposit on soft drink, beer, malt beverage and wine cooler containers.

People return 97 percent of containers for which they pay a deposit. But they recycle only 20 percent of bottled water containers because no deposit is required. Read the rest of this entry »





Bill To Clamp Down on Illegal Bottle Returns

12 06 2008

From a press release.

LANSING – Legislation to better regulate and control bottle returns was introduced today in the Senate, announced Sens. Ron Jelinek and Cameron S. Brown, both border district lawmakers and lead sponsors of the measures.

 

The five-bill package is designed to prevent bottles and cans not purchased in Michigan from being returned in state. The containers are returned, sometimes by the truckload, by individuals and organized smuggling rings that make large profits off Michigan businesses. These illegal operations cost the state $13 million a year.

  Read the rest of this entry »





Smoking Bill Probably Delayed Until Winter

11 06 2008

MIRS is reporting today that the smoking ban bill is probably on hold until winter.

That’s because the Senate Majority Leader said today that the next move on the legislation is up to the House.

Senate Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester)said he has other fish to fry before he gets to the ban, adding, “I don’t know if we’re going to do much before the end of the year on this.” Read the rest of this entry »





Safer Milk for Michigan

6 06 2008

Governor Jennifer Granholm signed SB 1007 in to law today.  The bill amends Michigan’s dairy laws and get’sGovernor Granholm & Senator Birkholz them in line with the federal 2007 Pastuerized Milk Ordinance.  Following is a press release from the bill’s sponsor Senator Patty Birkholz (R-Saugatuck Township)

LANSING-The governor signed legislation Thursday sponsored by Sen. Patty Birkholz that updates Michigan’s dairy laws to improve food safety regulations.

“It’s important that we take every precaution to ensure that our food is safe,” said Birkholz, R-Saugatuck Township.  “Updating the milk law will help protect consumers who drink milk and use dairy
products and the dairy farmers who produce it.”  Read the rest of this entry »