Name: Sen. Sean McCann
District/Counties: 19th/Kalamazoo
Committees: Energy and Environment (Chair); Regulatory Affairs; Transportation and Infrastructure; Finance, Insurance and Consumer Protection; Legislative Council; Appropriations and its subcommittees on University and Community Colleges (Chair), Joint Capital Outlay (Chair), LEO/MEDC and Transportation
Previous public service: Kalamazoo city commissioner, 1999-2009; state representative, 60th District, 2011-2015
What is the most pressing issue facing Michigan?
Affordability across the entire spectrum: gas, housing, energy, groceries, advanced education and taxes.
Based on your experience, how important are counties to the effective delivery of public services?
Counties are key members of the government services delivery chain. From elections and road maintenance, to jails, court systems, land records, health delivery and parks, counties are key players in the prosperity of its citizens.
What are you hoping to accomplish throughout the remainder of this term?
It has been a privilege to serve my community in the Michigan Senate for the last seven years. As I wind down my final year, I continue to work to make life more affordable for all of Michigan’s citizens. I also will advocate for investments in my district during the latest budget negotiations.
I also hope to move important legislation across the finish line, including
- Raising the cap of the Michigan Disaster Emergency Contingency Fund to ensure more dollars are available to our communities impacted by these more frequent natural disasters;
- Legislation that keeps our operating room staff from inhaling “surgical smoke” (Senate Bill 443); and
- My “vulnerable roadway users” legislation (SB 216) that would help protect bicyclists and others on the road by prescribing penalties for severely injuring or killing an individual.
With energy costs climbing, how is the Senate Energy Committee approaching the issue, and what policy options are on the table to help ease the impact on consumers?
The Senate Energy and Environment Committee is examining ways to help mitigate the increasing costs of utility bills to families. The committee recently discussed the Trump administration’s unnecessary order keeping the JH Campbell coal plant operating past its planned retirement, costing ratepayers over $135 million to date; discussed “virtual power plants,” as opposed to massive new fixed generation; and will consider revisiting the law allowing for yearly rate cases. Michigan needs to continue making the necessary investments in renewable energy sources and holding utilities accountable, while making sure residents have access to reliable energy.
As you work through issues in the Regulatory Affairs Committee, how do you weigh the need for uniform statewide standards against the importance of local control at the county level?
As a member of the Michigan Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs, I have the privilege of hearing about a wide range of issues, some of which impact local and county control. Throughout the conversations, negotiations, and testimony, I am always considering the impact a policy change can have on local control. There needs to be a balance between creating a system that businesses can thrive in and local prerogatives. The state does need to set at least a minimum framework for things like environmental standards and regional imperatives. The state also needs to continue to provide expertise that would be duplicative for our 83 great counties.