Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Welcome to the latest edition of my e-newsletter.

Below you’ll find a legislative update along with some additional resources I hope you find helpful.

Thank you for allowing me to represent you in the Michigan Senate. I am grateful each and every day to work for the people of the 17th Senate District.

In Liberty,

Jonathan Lindsey
State Senator
17th District

I recently initiated a legal challenge with other Michigan legislators to consider whether two state constitutional amendments violated the processes laid out in the Michigan and U.S. constitutions.

The legal effort argues that Proposal 3 of 2018 and Proposal 2 of 2022 bypassed the state Legislature and, in doing so, usurped the body’s federally mandated constitutional authority.

According to both the U.S. Constitution and the Michigan Constitution, only the state Legislature has the authority to regulate the times, places, and manner of federal elections, and the passage of an election-related ballot referendum without first gaining legislative approval violates both. The Michigan Constitution provides that the legislative power to regulate elections is vested in the Senate and House of Representatives.

The amendments in question included provisions that allow voters to sign affidavits instead of presenting valid identification when voting in person or applying for an absentee ballot; nine days of early voting; private funding of election administration; no-excuse absentee voting procedures; same-day voter registrations; and state-funded absentee ballot drop boxes.

The U.S. Constitution, the supreme law of the land, contains limited, but critical, election regulations. We also have procedures in place at the state level to amend election law. However, these processes were violated in 2018 and 2022 when an alternative amendment process was used without regard for federal constitutional requirements.

This lawsuit challenges these attempts to subvert our constitutional process and will protect against such actions in the future. The first, and most important step was taken, and the issue is now up to the courts to decide.

I sponsored a legislative effort titled the Unratified Treaties Implementation Prohibition Act (UTIPA) to solidify Michigan’s rights as a sovereign state and protect the state from federal and international overreach.

My legislation would reinforce an existing federal constitutional requirement, found in Article II, Section 2, Clause 2, stating that “[the President] shall have the power, by and with advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the senators present concur…”

This is an important step to prevent unconstitutional federal and international overreach into state affairs. Organizations like the World Health Organization have made clear their intent, through an international treaty framework likely to be adopted in the coming year, to use the pandemic response as a pretext for an international takeover of national and state-level policymaking. Their effort, supported by the World Economic Forum, would create a ‘legally binding agreement’ that, if not properly adopted, would usurp federal, state, and local policymaking authority.

If passed and signed into law, UTIPA would ensure that no international agreement would be legally enforced in Michigan unless a supermajority of the U.S. Senate voted for it. This would prohibit the implementation of illegal treaties in Michigan and create a meaningful penalty against anyone who violates the law by attempting such implementation.

Democrats in Lansing, led by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, have unveiled their plan for the fall legislative session. Unfortunately, their plan is at odds with the reality millions of Michigan residents are facing every day.

On the heels of the highest inflation Michigan has seen in four decades, Gov. Whitmer is still fighting to increase income taxes and costs for hardworking families. Rather than supporting proven policies that focus on lowering taxes, reducing oppressive regulations, investing in infrastructure, and providing access to reliable and affordable energy, the governor is once again doubling down on radical policies that would do the opposite. Her plans would cripple economic growth and supercharge the inflation we are already experiencing.

I will continue to support responsible spending and lower taxes that would lead to increased economic growth that benefits all the individuals and businesses in Michigan. My colleagues and I will continue to put forward proposals that provide relief for families and seniors and will return taxpayer dollars to individuals who worked hard for their income. Michigan residents are far more qualified to spend their money than the government.

The Senate Committee on Energy and Technology recently continued testimony on a package of bills aimed at overhauling Michigan’s energy policy with overreaching “Green New Deal” mandates.

The plan being pushed by Lansing Democrats, modeled after the failed California-style Green New Deal, would leave Michigan residents with less reliable energy at a much higher cost. Their proposals are nothing more than government mandates that will raise the cost of doing business in Michigan — ultimately passing the increases on to the paying customers — who already pay the highest energy rates in the Midwest.

We should instead develop an energy strategy that focuses on reliable, secure energy and storage. A strong and secure energy grid that is consistent in providing power for residents must be maintained over the long term and should be made up of various sources, including natural gas and propane.

I’d like to thank everyone who attended my recent office hours. During these meetings, I had the opportunity to meet with community members, listen to their stories, and hear their perspectives. It was incredibly gratifying to see so many people show up to ask questions about what is going on in Lansing and discuss legislation that is currently pending before the Legislature.

I was able to host five office hours across the month of September in Niles, White Pigeon, Springport, Union City, and Litchfield. I will be posting additional office hours for late October and early November to my website in the upcoming weeks. Please check my website SenatorJonathanLindsey.com for all updates.

The 17th state Senate District includes Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties, along with parts of Berrien, Calhoun, Jackson and Hillsdale counties.