News

Dove Bill Sent to Governor

Published June 10, 2004. A Gogo News Report.

Governor Jennifer Granholm is now faced with the most politically divisive decisions of her governorship as she contemplates the unpopular bill that would authorize the shooting of mourning doves in Michigan. After weeks of cooperated delay with dove shooting proponents, the Republican controlled House finally sent the controversial bill to her desk on Tuesday.

It is unclear at this time if the Governor will sign or veto HB 5029. She has been on record with several veto promises, stating she opposed ending the century-old protection of the songbird. Lately however, she appears to be weakening her resolve due to pressure by factions to ignore the majority of Michigan citizens and sign it as a "compromise" to other legislative deals she may want.

The "official" word out of Granholm's office was the governor had not yet decided whether to sign the bill. However, Rep. Stewart reportedly switched his "no" vote in the Tuesday roll call because an assertive aide to the governor had told him the governor had made a "deal" or "trade" and now planned to sign the legislation when it reached her desk.

Opponents of the bill charge Jennifer Granholm with solid promises to veto the legislation if it reached her desk. The stakes are high for the first-term Governor, who's core supporters were suburban women and not the hunting community in the 2002 gubernatorial campaign. A poll conducted in March by EPIC-MRA reported that just 18 percent of women favored removing the ban on dove hunting. The same poll revealed that 54 percent of Michigan hunters also oppose the hunting doves in Michigan.

One spin put on the legislation is a so-called "compromise" proposal by the Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) that would limit dove hunting to the counties that border Indiana and Ohio for three years before opening up the rest of the state - part of an underlying scheme as a two step plan to a statewide hunt. The limitation language is predictably not "in" the legislation.

Granholm who previously had stated in several interviews with the press, that she would only sign the bill if it allowed for an automatic voter referendum now says she is "intrigued" by the self-serving MUCC proposal. There is a whirl of genuine concern the democracy of representing the majority might not carry as much weight as she had previously stated. Several attempts have been made by environmentalists to participate in the proposed compromise with a ban of toxic lead shot to make it more ecologically responsible, but outside of the MUCC and Natural Resource Commission, no other participation in the moniker "compromise" has been allowed by the Governor's office.

The House passed the bill on a 65-40 vote and purposely did not allow for any discussion of our elected Representatives prior to vote - to avoid any environmental amendments and also to avoid the voters' right to a decide on this November's ballot.

Rep. Susan Tabor (R-71), at the cost of more important issues facing Michigan families, spent most of her 6 years in the House trying to remove the protection status of the mourning dove. The National Rifle Association also strongly lobbied the Governor to sign the bill, reportedly spending over $100,000 on this issue since November.

Julie Baker, spokesperson for the Songbird Protection Coalition, said if Granholm decides to sign the bill, "she will have betrayed the voting voice of Michigan citizens." Baker cited several polls showing overwhelming opposition to dove hunting and the Granholm campaign survey in 2002 indicating her promise to veto any dove bill. "The governor knows that the majority of people oppose this in Michigan," she said.  "She just needs to represent the majority and keep her promise to veto."

Welcome | News
| Action Alert | Your Representation
| Roll Call Vote
| Facts | What Can I Do? | Contact | Your Comments

Copyright ©2004 - Songbird Protection Coalition
Questions or Comments about this site?  Email Us
Page Updated: 07/06/04