Beware:  Late Term Legislative Session Looming

Hidden Agendas, Secret Deals, and Last Minute Revisions

Typical of Late Term Legislative Sessions

 

On the last day of the Michigan legislative session in December of 2004, and at the point when passage was imminent, new requirements for auto dealers were inserted into Bill 4231 which dealt with abandoned cars. This resulted in the loss of an estimated 1,000 businesses throughout the state, including our own.  Under Color of Law highlights the last minute antics, secret deals, and hidden agendas typical of late term legislative action, and tells the personal story of those affected by them. With another late term, end of the year legislative session looming, Under Color of Law becomes even more relevant.

Under Color of Law, the Story of P.A. 495 was written to increase awareness of how the legislature conducts business, and to tell the story of what happened here in our state. It raises key questions about procedural safeguards and constitutional guidelines that were bypassed by the legislators, the late night passage of P.A. 495 after 'last minute' revisions, and details the devastating effects on those caught in its crosshairs. It’s an enlightening story of what can happen to anyone when government operates without parameters or accountability, and at the behest of those with money and power.