SEMCOG Legislative Platform Development Underway

Bipartisanship and regional consensus are terms we hear less often during a midterm election season, which is why I always look forward to the kickoff of SEMCOG’s Legislative Policy Platform Task Force.

Led by Task Force Chairperson Theresa Rich, Vice President of Oakland Schools, and Vice Chair Frank Viviano, Macomb Township Supervisor, SEMCOG began development of its 2023-2024 federal and state legislative policy platform last month.

The task force is comprised of members from cities, villages, townships, and education institutions from the seven-county Southeast Michigan region. Prior to our kickoff, here’s what Supervisor Frank Viviano shared about the importance of this process.

Well said.

As Government Affairs Administrator and the staff lead at SEMCOG for implementing the policies in our regional platform, this platform is the most important thing I bring to every meeting with legislators or state and federal agency staff. It is adopted prior to each new legislative session, and its policies are the result of bipartisan consensus reached by local leaders who collectively represent half of the state’s population. That carries a lot of weight and, frankly, makes my job a lot easier.

While the task force is already seated, all SEMCOG members will have an opportunity to share their thoughts on the platform’s issue areas at the October 13 General Assembly. At this event, we will review legislative developments impacting the region from hearing from a panel of experts. SEMCOG members are invited ask questions and provide input. I hope you’ll join us. Please watch for registration details in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, if you’re experiencing fatigue from politics or even your own election or re-election campaign, take solace knowing that SEMCOG is a place where politics are set aside to forge regional consensus on policies that help to realize our shared vision for a connected, thriving region of small towns, dynamic urban centers, active waterfronts, diverse neighborhoods, premiere educational institutions and abundant agricultural, recreational, and natural areas.