Dana's Dispatch: Consumer Protection, Government Transparency, Summer Celebrations & More!

--------------------------------------------------------------- Michigan Moves to Protect Reproductive Rights Michigan voters won’t stand for women in our state to be relegated to second-class citizens. We’ve got this! #BansOffOurBodies Michiganders have until tomorrow to get the signatures to put enshrining reproductive rights into its constitution on the ballot. Attorney General Dana Nessel warns that the GOP-led legislature won't protect abortion so "it's now up to the citizens of the state of MI to protect ourselves." [READ MORE]( Ali Velshi, Ali Velshi on Twitter (July 10, 2022) Michigan Moves to Protect Reproductive Rights Retrieved from: [Michigan Moves to Protect Reproductive Rights]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Michigan Supreme Court considering LGBTQ civil rights protections It's a tough pill to swallow: I'm the top law enforcement official in the state, yet I can walk into a coffee shop and they can legally refuse to serve me. Adding LGBTQ protections to our state's civil rights law is especially crucial in light of the recent upswing in divisive rhetoric, which is why I personally argued the Rouch World case before the MI Supreme Court. A decision is expected by the end of the month. Photo courtesy of Bryce Airgood, Lansing State Journal Residents and lawmakers have introduced bills and ballot initiatives to ensure LGBTQ Michiganders full protection from discrimination. Yet all have fallen short. The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976 considers race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, height, weight, familial or marital status as protected classes from discrimination. Concurrently, those are protected classes in the state's ethnic intimidation laws. The act does not ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. But a state Supreme Court case could change that. Justices held oral arguments on March 2 in the case that could decide whether the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act bans discrimination based on sexual orientation. Attorney General Dana Nessel joined the Rouch World v. Michigan Department of Civil Rights state Supreme Court lawsuit, defending MDCR. She declined to speak directly about the case, but said continual inactions to codify LGBTQ rights and protections in the state civil rights act drives people away from Michigan. She's awaiting the Rouch World decision as she said it could be the best option to getting the civil rights act amended. "Otherwise,... we'll continue to hear the Republicans talk about LGBTQ people as groomers, as people who are dangerous, as people who are pedophiles and all that other nonsense that is so harmful to the community," Nessel said. "I feel like we've regressed 40 years in just the last six months." [READ MORE]( Krystal Nurse, Lansing State Journal (July 3, 2022) Michigan Supreme Court considering LGBTQ civil rights protections Retrieved from: [Michigan Supreme Court considering LGBTQ civil rights protections]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Michigan attorney general issues consumer alert on health applications after abortion ruling There are lots of unknowns to the post-Roe era, but consumers can still protect themselves and their private information. Always read the fine print for smartphone applications to be sure your private health information and location data can't be sold to the highest bidder. With an abortion ban potentially looming, Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a consumer alert Tuesday, advising Michiganians to "very carefully review" policies for cell phone applications that hold personal health data. The alert from Nessel, a Democrat and the state's top law enforcement official, came 11 days after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which had protected access to abortions nationally. The attorney general's message specifically mentioned programs that track pregnancy, fertility and menstrual cycles and said there is legal concern the information could become evidence if abortion is criminalized. "There are a lot of unknowns as we face a post-Roe era, but one thing that remains certain is that consumers can protect themselves and their private information," Nessel said in a statement. "I implore Michigan residents to read the fine print in the user agreements for phone applications and programs because their registration often gives companies the right to sell personal information to other companies. Millions of women use applications to help track their menstrual cycles, the alert said, recommending people using an application or program to track personal information should know who has access to the data and how they are allowed to use it. [READ MORE]( Craig Mauger, The Detroit News (July 5, 2022) Michigan attorney general issues consumer alert on health applications after abortion ruling Retrieved from: [Michigan attorney general issues consumer alert on health applications after abortion ruling]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Michigan AG urges feds to protect young children from toxic metals in baby foods Some of the most vulnerable of our population are facing unacceptable harm because manufacturers have been allowed to self-regulate the amount of toxic metals in their products. I stand with my colleagues in calling upon the FDA and USDA to act. There is no time to waste. Photo courtesy of Getty Images, WWJ In an effort to protect children from toxic metals found in baby foods, Attorney General Dana Nessel is calling on the feds to take swift action. Nessel, joining a multistate coalition of 22 attorneys general, is calling on the heads of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) to eliminate the toxins from the baby food. This is the latest action in response to the health hazards posed by lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury found in baby foods -- other than formula --including cereals, purees and other products for babies and young children. "The elevated levels of these toxic chemicals in baby food needs urgent action," Nessel said. "Right now, some of the most vulnerable of our population are facing unacceptable harm because manufacturers have been allowed to self-regulate the amount of lead and other toxic metals in their products… There is no time to waste." In April 2021, FDA announced the “Closer to Zero” plan, in which the agency committed to proposing “action levels” for lead in various baby foods by April 2022, inorganic arsenic in various baby foods by April 2024 and cadmium and mercury sometime after April 2024. However, the coalition noted that the plan was already behind schedule, since the FDA failed to propose lead action levels by the April deadline. The Attorneys General Office said this delay is both a public health concern and a matter of environmental justice, as low-income children and children of color are disproportionately impacted by lead through exposure to lead-based paint, lead in drinking water pipes and other sources. [READ MORE]( WWJ Newsroom, WWJ (July 6, 2022) Michigan AG urges feds to protect young children from toxic metals in baby foods Retrieved from: [Michigan AG urges feds to protect young children from toxic metals in baby foods]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Letter from the Editor: AG Nessel’s workshop underscores power of open government and your role in it FOIA and the Open Meetings Act are vital tools for gathering information on the work of government bodies and public officials. Learn more about how these tools work at my FOIA presentation on July 18 at the offices of The Grand Rapids Press. FOIA and its cousin, the Open Meetings Act, are vital tools for journalists seeking to examine and explain the work of government bodies and officials. It’s critical that both public officials and citizens understand the requirements and the power of these transparency laws. “I think my most popular events by far have been my FOIA and OMA workshops,” Nessel said. “It allows the general public to get some information and to learn how they can become more interactive with their government. People seem to really enjoy and appreciate those events.” Nessel’s visit is one of several she has conducted around Michigan since she took office in 2019. And it continues a tradition started decades ago by Frank Kelley, the “Eternal General” who held Nessel’s office for 37 years. “We do a comprehensive review of what the Freedom of Information Act is, how it’s utilized, how any member of the public can get certain types of information, what you have to do in order to get a request granted,” Nessel said of her presentation. “But we also talk about what exceptions there are so that people can have reasonable expectations of what they can receive.” This education as much for public officials as it is for the public. Many officeholders, old and new, are not fully versed on the ins and outs of FOIA and OMA. But change – just like great reporting – starts with getting the right information, factual information, which leads to informed insights and action. [READ MORE]( John Hiner, MLive (July 7, 2022) Letter from the Editor: AG Nessel’s workshop underscores power of open government and your role in it Retrieved from: Letter from the Editor: [AG Nessel’s workshop underscores power of open government and your role in it]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Michigan abortion-rights ballot measure has 800k signatures, organizer says My profound thanks to the small army of volunteers who spent many hours gathering signatures, and to the thousands of Michigan residents who signed the Reproductive Freedom for All petition. We CAN fight back and ensure that our state protects reproductive rights. Supporters of Michigan’s abortion rights ballot initiative have collected nearly 800,000 signatures — almost double the required number of eligible signatures — ahead of a Monday deadline to qualify for the November ballot, campaign co-chair and Ann Arbor Councilwoman Linh Song announced. The group’s efforts took on urgency following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade was first leaked in May. If true, that would mean that 1-in-10 Michigan voters has signed onto the effort, voter registration data shows. The signatures still must be reviewed by the state Bureau of Elections and certified by the Board of State Canvassers before the measure appears on the November ballot. “Many thanks to community members who went to great lengths to collect signatures at every public event, on their own block having these discussions with neighbors and understanding that this is truly an issue about the safety and health of women,” Song said during a City Council meeting Tuesday. The downfall of Roe leaves it to individual states to decide the legality of abortion. Michigan is one of several states with a pre-Roe law criminalizing abortions. That 1931 statute would have returned into effect, but a state Court of Claims judge issued an injunction temporarily blocking its reimplementation. Nessel and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer contend the order applies to all prosecutors statewide. Supporters of the statewide ballot petition say the measure will remove uncertainty on abortion rights in Michigan. If approved by voters in November, it would create a constitutional amendment guaranteeing an array of reproductive rights in the state, including abortion. [READ MORE]( Yue Stella Yu, Bridge Magazine (July 6, 2022) Michigan abortion-rights ballot measure has 800k signatures, organizer says Retrieved from: [Michigan abortion-rights ballot measure has 800k signatures, organizer says]( --------------------------------------------------------------- AG Nessel Joins Coalition Supporting Better Protection Of Workers, Promoting Workplace Safety Requiring employers to more extensively report work-related injuries and illnesses will help make us all safer. In the past two years, this country's workers have been through a lot; I wholeheartedly support OSHA's proposed rule as well as making that information more accessible to workers and the public. Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of 16 other attorney generals in supporting a federal rule that would create better protection for workers and spread awareness about on-the-job dangers. The proposed ruling calls for more detailed reports of workplace injuries by employers to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA would then make the information they receive available to the public. In a letter, the attorney generals expressed their support for this ruling, explaining the improvements it would make to the current workplace reporting guidelines.“It is in the best interests of everyone to elevate workplace safety,” Nessel said. “Requiring employers to more extensively report work-related injuries and illnesses will do just that. In the last 2 years, this country’s workers have been through a great deal, so I wholeheartedly support OSHA’s proposed rule regarding workplace safety reporting and making that information accessible to a company’s workers, as well as members of the public.” ​​The proposed ruling also encourages more transparency, which would help state regulators enforce safety laws, improve working conditions, and address hazards. [READ MORE]( Sara Powers, CBS Detroit (July 8, 2022) AG Nessel Joins Coalition Supporting Better Protection Of Workers, Promoting Workplace Safety Retrieved from: [AG Nessel Joins Coalition Supporting Better Protection Of Workers, Promoting Workplace Safety]( --------------------------------------------------------------- People Gather to Celebrate The Cherry Royale Parade, Wrap Up National Cherry Festival I love Traverse City and am always glad when I can stop by for a visit! It's events like the National Cherry Festival that make me feel so lucky to live in Michigan and work on state residents' behalf as the People's Lawyer. Photo courtesy of Dana Nessel on Facebook Cherry lovers young and old filled the streets today to wrap up the National Cherry Festival with the Cherry Royale Parade. The parade featured floats from local schools, non-profits, businesses, first responders and Cherry Festival royalty. Even Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General made an appearance in this year’s parade. “I love coming to Traverse City for really any reason at all. So, this is a really good excuse to come back here,” Nessel laughs. Nessel says it was great to see the fun and enthusiasm of Cherry Festival and people celebrating together once again. “I just feel incredibly lucky to live in this state, and to represent the people of this state, and go to great events like this. Honestly, it’s the highlight of my job,” Nessel admits. [READ MORE]( Zachariah Wheaton, 9 and 10 News (July 9, 2022) People Gather to Celebrate The Cherry Royale Parade, Wrap Up National Cherry Festival Retrieved from: [People Gather to Celebrate The Cherry Royale Parade, Wrap Up National Cherry Festival]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for being a part of Dana's re-election campaign! 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