“I know Lansing is far away – my newfound commute has really underscored that reality – but the consequences of legislative failure on these issues will have a very real impact in our U.P. communities. Getting this plan voted out of the House today was a huge win, but one win doesn’t mean the job is done. It’s now up to all of us to urge our friends in the Senate to expedite their processes so our legislative solutions can become law. We’ve handed them a bipartisan, common-sense plan; now it’s up to them to finish the job.”

House Republicans in the Northern Michigan Caucus on Tuesday released the following statement outlining their support for recently introduced legislation which will help bring solutions to a Michigan Supreme Court decision from last summer. The ruling puts unrealistic mandates on small businesses regarding wages and sick leave while phasing out the tip credit, which provides […]

“The whole reason I’m in Lansing and not enjoying an early retirement back home in Deerton is because I saw what state bureaucrats were doing to our way of life in the U.P. and I wasn’t going to stand for it.”

“The DNR is tasked with responsibly managing our state land. There is nothing responsible about clear-cutting hundreds of acres timber to put up solar panels,” said Bohnak, R-Deerton. “It’s unfortunate to see the governor and the DNR continue to operate in an echo chamber of their own creation. Township and state officials who live miles away from these proposed projects are only finding out about them on Facebook. If the DNR had no intention of informing the public downstate, we can only imagine what they might try to sneak past us in the U.P. This lack of transparency by a state department is unacceptable and must be corrected.”

“I spent 40 years forecasting the weather for my friends and neighbors throughout the U.P., and now I’m thrilled to be working as our communities’ voice in Lansing,” Bohnak said. “This job won’t be easy – but people are counting on us to get our state back on track. I encourage everyone back home to pick up the phone or shoot my office an email; your questions, concerns, and ideas are essential toward our collective success in state government.”

“Eagle Mine has shown how successful Michigan’s mining laws are at protecting the environment while bringing prosperity to a region,” said Rep. Karl Bohnak, R-Marquette. “Michigan Tech has continued its support and is highly regarded as one of the best schools in the country. Their history and expertise in this field should help us all to support the Copperwood project.”