Talk Like a Pirate, Save the Frogs, Pumpkin Spice Month — What’s in a Resolution?
WDET’s Jake Neher and Michigan Public Radio’s Cheyna Roth talk about why state lawmakers spend time on these things.
Each week, WDET’s Jake Neher and Michigan Public Radio’s Cheyna Roth talk about issues that are flying under the radar which affect Michiganders nonetheless.
This week, Neher and Roth talk about why Michigan lawmakers spend time drafting, debating, and approving resolutions — especially when they don’t carry the weight of law.
Did you know October 31, 2013 to November 28, 2013 was officially declared Pumpkin and Pumpkin Spice Season in Michigan? Did you know we’ve had multiple “Save the Frogs” days in Michigan?
These are some of the sillier-sounding things that lawmakers have approved via resolution.
But Roth and Neher note that these resolutions can also be the only way for state lawmakers to try to influence more substantive national policy, even when they can’t change federal law.
“These are ways for them to say, hey, this is what our constituents want,” says Roth. “This is us speaking on behalf of the people of Michigan. This is something that you need to be aware of and pay attention to, you federal government.”
Click on the audio player above to hear the full conversation.
Here are some of the resolutions over the years that have caught our eye:
HR 0042 of 2017 – A resolution to declare March 20, 2017, as Snowplow Driver Appreciation Day in the state of Michigan.
HR 0370 of 2014 – A resolution to declare May 2014 as Bike Month in the state of Michigan.
SR 162 of 2014 – A resolution to express support for the state of Michigan officially recognizing September 19, 2014, as International Talk Like a Pirate Day (ITLPD).
HR 0358 of 2014 – A resolution to declare May 10, 2014, as Train Day in the state of Michigan.
HR 0034 of 2015 – A resolution to declare March 12, 2015, as Girl Scout Day in the state of Michigan.
HR 0338 of 2014 – A resolution to declare April 26, 2014, as Save The Frogs! Day in the state of Michigan.
HR 0105 of 2013 – A resolution to declare April 27, 2013, as Save The Frogs Day in the state of Michigan.
HR 0272 of 2013 – A resolution to declare October 31, 2013, to November 28, 2013, as Pumpkin and Pumpkin Spice Season in the state of Michigan.
Of course, there are also more serious resolutions, including:
SR 0043 of 2017 – A resolution to recognize April 2017 as Campus Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
SR 0034 of 2015 – A resolution to urge Michigan institutions of higher learning to improve policies, training, and victims services regarding cases of sexual assault and stalking.
HR 0134 of 2015 – A resolution to declare September 9, 2015, as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.
