LANSING – Surrounded by family, friends and supporters, State Rep. Coleman Young II (D-Detroit) today was sworn in to his first term in the Michigan House of Representatives during a ceremony at the State Capitol. Today marks the first day of the 94th Legislature, in which Democrats control the House of Representatives for the first time since 1998.
"The people of Michigan are ready for a change, and that's what I'm here to fight for," Young said. "We have a lot of work to do in the House, and I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and dive in. I'm honored and humbled by the faith the people of my district have put in me."
After the swearing-in ceremony, Young and his fellow House Democrats wasted no time getting to work, introducing one plan that will end drug industry immunity and another plan that will reduce the influx of Canadian and out-of-state trash flowing into Michigan.
House Democrats introduced a proposal to repeal a 1996 law that gives big drug companies immunity when their products harm or kill our residents; the repeal would be retroactive to 1996. The plan also adds drug companies to the Consumer Protection Act, from which they currently are exempt.
House Democrats today also introduced a plan to ban landfills from expanding until 2011. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality said Michigan took in 6.2 million tons of Canadian and out-of-state trash in 2005, 100,000 tons more than in 2004.