Students take action in Lansing as part of Lobby Day

Contact: Molly Goaley

Western Michigan University students met with lawmakers April 11 to lobby on behalf of state environmental policy during WMU’s fourth Lobby Day. Created by professor Dr. Denise Keele in partnership with the Michigan Environmental Council, the program teaches students firsthand how their efforts can make an immediate impact on Michigan environmental legislation.

The MEC is a coalition of more than 70 organizations created to lead the state’s environmental movement. In preparation for Lobby Day, MEC representatives visited Western’s campus to present the most important state-level environmental issues and offer potential political solutions. An initial presentation was given to Keele’s environmental policy class March 12, with a public event that followed at the Lee Honors College.

Of the four issues presented by the MEC, environmental policy students chose to lobby in opposition of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality oversight panel. Outlined in a bill package passed by the Michigan Senate, the proposed legislation would create a governor-appointed panel within the DEQ to hear permit appeals and an oversight committee with authority to review, amend and approve or deny proposed environmental regulations.

The students argued that the majority of committee members would represent various industry, agriculture and business interests with little regard to environmental concern. They spent the last month of the semester preparing for Lobby Day by researching their representatives and senators, studying the bills, developing a bipartisan fact sheet on the issue, and scheduling appointments to meet with legislators. The project then culminated with a full day of lobbying at the state capital.

“Lobby Day gives students the opportunity to see that while they can’t change everything at once, they have the power to move small initiatives forward,” says Keele, associate professor of political science and environmental studies. “By the end of the semester, the students understand that their job is to get legislators to talk about the issue and its implications, and take the appropriate course of action."

Students voice the issue

Students embraced Lobby Day with emotions ranging from anxiety, to excitement, to a sense of accomplishment. “I was really nervous at first,” says senior Jackson Fitzgerald. “But after the first few meetings it got easier. The legislators asked tough questions because we’re learning how to lobby for the first time. It was nice to be challenged and get our minds working on the Republican side, the Democrat side and the Independent side of these bills.”

“From a personal perspective, I’m a big hunter and fisher and I think the DEQ does a good job,” says senior Casey Ludwig. “Our goal is for our senators and representatives to understand that the DEQ is doing a great job of protecting our environment without hindering the economy.”

Lessons in lobbying

Preparing for Lobby Day was filled with just as many lessons, if not more, than the actual day in Lansing. Students were assigned to be a part of the logistics, legislator research or issue research group. The logistics group determined which lawmakers would receive a visit, calling legislative offices to schedule student appointments and preparing the schedule for the day at the capital. Legislator researchers identified relevant lawmakers to the DEQ oversight panel and prepared background profiles on each, including positions on legislative issues, committees they serve and campaign financing. Issue researchers investigated the bill package and established talking points for each student and legislator meeting.

Junior Kaitlyn Zimmerman was part of a group of students that met with Rep. James Lower’s staff. She says the group had a positive conversation about what the bills entail and why the students are opposed to them. “One of the points we made is that the majority of Michiganders prioritize the environment over the economy,” she says. “We explained how these bills could potentially lead to industry harming Michigan’s natural resources.”

Zimmerman added that the best part of Lobby Day was feeling empowered to create change. “We think it’s important to make it known that people really care about what lawmakers are saying,” she says. “It boosts our morale knowing that if there’s an issue in the future we care about, we can actually come and talk to them about it. I think it’s important to be able to make that kind of impact.”

Lobby Day is offered every spring semester through registration in Keele’s cross-listed course, ENVS 3400–Environmental Policy/PSCI 3060–Environmental Politics. Professors interested in collaborating with Keele are encouraged to do so, as the format works well for all disciplines concerned with government, people and the environment.