Michigan Social Justice Legislation

I would like to highlight good and bad legislation that is up to vote here, but I am not an expert on what is up to vote and when I do get news it tends to be  mostly the "bad news" (enough that I am starting to believe the Michigan government has gone insane).   

So if you know of any bill that is coming up:  email: hlch_solstice@yahoo.com  - good or bad news will be posted.

UP FOR VOTE:

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IN COMMITTEE:

July 2, 2003 -  Creationism in Education Bill (Michigan House Bill #4946 & Senate Bill 5005) - STATUS: referred to the Education committee) -  Proposes to require creation "science" to be taught alongside evolution in science classes:  

"The revised school code" (1976 PA 451), by adding section 10:

• a) In the science standards, all references to "evolution" and "how species change through time" shall be modified to indicate that this is an unproven theory by adding the phrase "All students will explain the competing theories of evolution and natural selection based on random mutation and the theory that life is the result of the purposeful, intelligent design of a Creator."
• (b) In the science standards for middle and high school, all references to "evolution" and "natural selection" shall be modified to indicate that these are unproven theories by adding the phrase "Describe how life may be the result of the purposeful, intelligent design of a Creator."
• (c) In the science standards for middle and high school, all references to "evolution" and "natural selection" shall be modified to indicate that these are unproven theories by adding the phrase "Explain the competing theories of evolution and natural selection based on random mutation and the theory that life is the result of the purposeful, intelligent design of a Creator."

Note that the sponsors of these bills have capitalized the word "Creator" in the text. This implies that the intelligent design was performed by a deity -- an obvious violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

VOTES IN:

March 18, 2004 Revival of Death Penalty - STATUS: VOTED DOWN in House: Michigan was the first English-speaking government in the world to ban the death penalty - a record we can be proud of, according to many.  Yet, many have tried to reverse this ban over the last several decades.  The latest was 2004.  Article.

March 9, 2003 Same-sex Marriage Amendment - STATUS: VOTED DOWN in House: Part of a movement to block same-sex marriages by constitutional amendments at state and federal levels.  More about Marriage Amendments.

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