Congress in Recess

Congress is now on its summer recess for the next few weeks and as always, this presents itself with an excellent opportunity for local officials to meet and discuss issues of importance with their congressional representatives.  I'm sure many of you find time to do so on a regular basis, no doubt to discuss what's taking place in your community and how they can be helpful with a particular project.  As you do so during this time, I want to also urge you to discuss a couple of issues that impact all local communities.  First would be the need for transportation funding and the desire to see more of that funding come to locals.  With the current federal transportation act set to expire and as the Recovery Act taught us, we need deep changes in the federal transportation act that will drive more money directly to the local level, without the state getting in the way.  The second topic is to tell them that, if there is to be a climate change bill, a portion of the funds derived from the program must go to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program (EECBG).  Once the funds from the Recovery Program are gone, that's it and the climate change bill presents an excellent opportunity for a permanent source of funds to further local energy programs.  And last, but certainly not least, tell them to vote no on legislation (HR 413/S1611) that would institute a national "PA 312" law, forcing municipalities across the country to enter into collective bargaining arrangements with their public safety employees.  Don't let them tell you that states like Michigan would be exempt.  The language is very vague and compliance discretion would be brought under the Federal Labor Relations Act.  Tell them to at the least, sponsor an amendment to specifically exempt Michigan.  The bottom line with these bills are an intrusion by the federal government into what has always been a state and local responsibility and may be unconstitutional.