Lansing is bogged down in symbolic legislation

May has been a busy month in Michigan. If you haven’t noticed, it’s been:

• Drug Court Awareness Month
• Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
• Foster Care Awareness Month
• Bike Month
• Michigan Moves Month
• Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
• Jewish American Heritage Month
• Huntington's Disease Awareness Month
• Mental Health Awareness Month
• National Prisoner Family Month
• Tennis Month

Members of the Michigan House of Representatives, paid by taxpayers, are using their time to pass these resolutions, which most people will never hear about, and which do nothing to help Michigan prosper.

The representatives may know about these resolutions, as do the lobbyists who advocate for them. But hardly anyone else does. And how effective is a resolution to promote X when the House has passed five, six, or ten resolutions already?

The House has proclaimed days or weeks for other causes, too. These include:

• Professional Municipal Clerks Week, April 30-May 6
• Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, May 1-7
• International Workers Day, May 1
• Negro Leagues Baseball Day, May 2
• A Day of Prayer, May 4
• Teacher Appreciation Week, May 8-12
• Police Week, May 14-20
• Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, May 12
• Hmong American Day, May 14
• Brain Tumor Awareness Week, May 14-20
• Older Michiganians Day, May 17
• National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, May 24
• Stop the Bleed Day, May 25, to remind people of the importance of, as you might guess, stopping the bleeding when there’s an injury.

Which bills or resolutions has your representative sponsored? How many pleasant-sounding but meaningless declarations, such as Skateboard Accident Awareness Week, has your representative supported?

Is passing resolutions such as these what you expect from your Michigan House of Representatives?

Who represents you in Lansing? Find out here: The CapCon Guide to Lansing.

Caroline Vanchura is a Michigan Capitol Confidential intern.