LANSING – After reconsidering the vote by which a bill that would essentially increase hunting and fishing licenses by about 40 percent did not pass, the Michigan Senate finally found success on Wednesday.
After defeating the bill on Tuesday, the Senate took another stab at voting on the bill (HB 4668 ) on Wednesday. It was again defeated, though, on 19-18 vote (20 votes are needed). Eight Republicans joined 10 Democrats in opposition. Democratic Sen. Jim Ananich of Flint voting yes and Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer of East Lansing did not vote.
Then, Senate Majority Floor Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was defeated, a deja vu of the day before. With an objection to that motion, the chamber first had to vote on the motion, which was approved, but then Meekhof moved to pass the item temporarily.
When the Senate came back from a recess lasting more than three hours, it took up the bill and passed it with an amendment that mandated the Department of Natural Resources complete and post on its website a fisheries division strategic and tactical plan no later than November 1, 2013, the intention being to provide greater transparency on the new monies it receives from the increased fees, according to Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor), sponsor of the amendment.
The bill passed 24-14, with Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison Township), Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell), Sen. Joe Hune (R-Hamburg), Sen. Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair), Sen. John Proos (R-St. Joseph), Sen. Dave Robertson (R-Grand Blanc), Sen. Tory Rocca (R-Sterling Heights), Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton), Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor), Senate Minority Floor Leader Tupac Hunter (D-Detroit), Sen. Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park), Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing), Sen. Coleman Young II (D-Detroit), and Sen. Glenn Anderson (D-Westland) voting no.
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