In this article, I will go over the text of the Resolution as presented, a little information on who presented it, as well as my personal take on this Resolution. First, we’ll start with the text of the Resolution itself.
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution of 1963, by amending sections 15 and 29 of article VII and adding section 31 to article V, to create a state public utility.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state constitution of 1963, to create a state public utility, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the people of the state:
Sec. 31. (1) The state public utility is created.
(2) The state public utility board is created. The public service commission shall appoint the first members of the board within 30 days after the effective date of this section. The term of a member of the board is six years or until a successor is appointed by the public service commission, whichever is later. If a vacancy occurs on the board, the chairperson of the board shall appoint an individual to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term. A majority of the members of the board constitutes a quorum for transacting business. A vote in favor by a majority of the members of the board serving is required for any action of the board. The board shall conduct its business in compliance with state law regarding open meetings. A writing that is prepared, owned, used, possessed, or retained by the board in performing an official function is subject to retention and disclosure as provided under state law. The board shall do all of the following:
(a) Purchase or acquire by eminent domain all of the electric and natural gas generation, distribution, or transmission facilities owned by any investor-owned utility in this state.
(b) Authorize the issuance of bonds to finance or refinance the purchase, acquisition, or development of electric or natural gas generation, distribution, or transmission facilities.
(c) Set all rates, fares, fees, charges, services, rules, conditions of service, and all other matters pertaining to the formation, operation, or direction of the state public utility.
(d) No later than 18 months after the effective date of this section, implement a plan that does all of the following:
(i) Establishes lower rates for low-income residential customers.
(ii) Builds across this state accessible, rapid-charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
(iii) Makes rapid investments in the distribution network in this state to increase reliability and improve capacity for interconnections of new renewable generation.
(3) No later than 18 months after the effective date of this section, each investor-owned utility in this state shall divest its generation, distribution, and transmission systems to the state public utility.
(4) The legislature shall implement this section by law.
ARTICLE VII
Sec. 15. Any county, when authorized by its board of supervisors commissioners shall have the authority to enter or to intervene in any action or certificate proceeding involving the services, charges, or rates of any privately owned public utility furnishing or utility established under section 31 of article V, that furnishes services or commodities to rate payers within the county.
Sec. 29. (1) No Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person, partnership, association, or corporation, public or private, operating a public utility shall does not have the right to the any of the following:
(a) The use of the highways, streets, alleys, or other public places of any county, township, city, or village for wires, poles, pipes, tracks, conduits, or other utility facilities, without the consent of the duly constituted authority of the county, township, city, or village. ; or to transact
(b) Transact local business therein in a county, township, city, or village without first obtaining a franchise from the county, township, city, or village.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this constitution the right of all counties, townships, cities, and villages to the reasonable control of their highways, streets, alleys, and public places is hereby reserved to such those local units of government.
(3) The state public utility established in section 31 of article V has the right to use the highways, streets, alleys, or other public places of any county, township, city, or village for wires, poles, pipes, tracks, conduits, or other utility facilities, without the consent of the duly constituted authority of the county, township, city, or village. The state public utility established in section 31 of article V does not need to obtain a franchise to transact business in a county, township, city, or village.
Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be submitted to the people of the state at the next general election in the manner provided by law.
You can find the link to the text of this Resolution here.
Who Introduced This Resolution?
House Joint Resolution Y (2022) was introduced by Representative Yousef Robhi. He is the House Democrat Floor Leader from the 53rd House District.
If you would like to know a little bit more about Mr. Robhi, look no further than his personal website. In his own words, he tells you exactly who he is working for, and it’s not We the People as he claims. (They don’t like the term, but I’ll tell you the big secret. It’s Globalists.)
Here’s a bit about Yousef Rabhi, in his own words:
Yousef Rabhi is the Democratic Floor Leader in the Michigan House of Representatives. Now serving in his second term representing the 53rd State House district, he has been a consistent progressive voice at the Capitol with a track record of putting the interests of the people before lobbyists and corporations. He has emerged as a leader in the struggle for single-payer universal healthcare, enacting Green New Deal policies at the state level, fighting for justice for all and reversing cuts to funding for public schools and universities.
I should also probably mention, that he recently introduced another HJR. And you can read House Joint Resolution Z – 2022 here. In this Resolution, he is attempting to repeal in our Michigan Constitution, the protections Michigan Citizens have in regards to being discriminated against by any State entity (including Universities such as UofM.) Fun times. So glad Mr. Yousef Robhi is “fighting for justice for all”.
My Take On This Resolution
First, before we go any further… I want to you think really hard about how wonderful our government is at handling… well literally anything. Take our roads for instance… They’re pretty nice here in Alcona County, and we have a wonderful Road Commission to handle it. But, have you been down state lately? Just yesterday, I went down a road, while heading towards Frakenmuth for some holiday shopping, and the road had a sign before you got on it that read: “Deteriorating Road”.
That my friends, is how Government will handle a single State Utility company. I mean, you know how hard it is already, when dealing with the likes of Consumer’s Energy or DTE in lowering your rates, or getting things fixed, etc.
But now imagine, if you will, that the State of Michigan is in complete and total control over your electricity and natural gas needs. (Never mind the fact that most Democrats want to shut down the Natural Gas lines going to the U.P.) They’ll control the infrastructure, the delivery, and the generation of these utilities. They’ll also control the price of these utilities.
Not only that, but they’ll also “purchase or acquire by eminent domain”… That’s never fun for the people who live and own these companies, buildings, land, etc., to deal with. They’ll also be building “across this state accessible, rapid-charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.” So, we get the EV’s shoved further down our throats.
This is a major push by the Democrats (and some of their Republican RINO friends) to bring Michigan up to speed with the “Green New Deal” and the “Great Reset” that they so wish upon the people. It will drive away all competition (we all know how Monopolies work… And if you don’t, please go and play the game Monopoly and you’ll quickly understand.) They do not work for the benefit of the people, and only to the benefit of the monopoly holder.
This Resolution is a terrible idea, and will only serve to further enslave the Citizens of Michigan under the boot of the ever increasing Centralized Government system. We need to stand up against this takeover. Start calling your House Representatives (either party) and tell them to not support this Resolution.
If I hear anything further on this House Joint Resolution, I will post an update to this article.
Until next time, God be with you Patriots,
Jess Dobbs
UPDATE:
Sometimes, I hate being right…
Here is the full article: https://www.michfb.com/about/news-media/whitmer-pushing-plan-put-wind-solar-projects-under-state-control
