Screen shot of the web site MIEyeonBishop.blogspot.com
Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) issued an angry denunciation Friday of a new blog, which takes issue with his environmental record.
The Michigan League of Conservation Voters, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group focused on educating voters, lobbying and issue advocacy, unveiled the blog called MI Eye on Bishop this week. It purports to show Bishop’s statements and votes cast on various environmental issues, from Asian carp to more general issues related to natural resource protection.
Bishop said he hadn’t seen the blog and, therefore, didn’t address specific issues. But he characterized the effort as “an attack ad.”
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“I have never heard of them. They have never participated in any policy discussions” which he attended, Bishop said.
“Just because the word environment or conservation is in their title does not mean they are,” he said. “There are people out there who are desperate, and I am so sick and tired of it.”
Bishop also criticized The Rochester Citizen for publishing a story about the blog. “I get blasted a lot from legitimate sources; I don’t view this as a legitimate source,” he said.
Bishop said he understands Michigan’s environment is one of the most important issues facing the state. He said he’s supported the most responsible environmental agenda he can. But, he added, “I have the weight on my shoulders of trying to turn this state around.”
The Michigan League of Conservation Voters lists as its honorary chairs former Gov. William Milliken and his wife, Helen. Bishop is a candidate for attorney general.
When contacted for a response, Lisa Wozniak, Executive Director of the Michigan League of Conservation voters gave the following statement.
“I am surprised that Senate Majority Leader Bishop was taken aback by our website. Not only did we call his office on Friday, March 5 to inform him and his staff that the site was going up on March 8, but we emailed him, too. In addition, everything on the website is factual information based on Senate Majority Leader Bishop's statements--written and/or verbal--and his actions over the course of the last many months. As the Senate Majority Leader and the head of the Republican caucus, Bishop has the power to shape the Republican Party agenda in Lansing. The citizens of Michigan have the right to know that this leader is often saying one thing and doing another, notably in relation to projecting our majestic state and setting us on track to rebuild our economy.
We are surprised that the Senator didn't seem know about our organization. Not only do we work in Lansing and across the state on natural resources protection (with offices in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids), but the Immediate Past President of our Board of Directors, William Farr, and two of our staff members met with key members of Bishop's staff in June 2008 to discuss a number of key Great Lakes issues.
At a time when our state sorely needs strong leaders who will move Michigan toward a 21st century clean energy economy, instead of clinging to the coal-powered, chemical-coated, rust-belt 20th century past, Senator Bishop should be angry....angry at himself and the track record he has created that does nothing to move our state forward. “
“I’ll let our readers judge whether we’re a legitimate news source or not,” said Bruce Fealk, managing editor of The Rochester Citizen, in response to Bishop’s comment about this on line newspaper.
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