Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
The Michigan legislature continues to be busy during this lame duck session and outgoing State Senator Tom Casperson is keeping busy as well. Some of the bills being passed have come under criticism, including two supported by Casperson.
One bill would protect the names and information of donors when it comes to donating to certain campaigns. While some people have argued that the bill would create more of a “dark money” issue within the state, Casperson believes it is needed to protect those donors from others who would, and have used that information negatively.
“It’s not about trying to hide something. But people are starting to get pretty mean, about what is going on here. When people are putting money into these things, which they have every right to do, people aren’t looking that up to start a conversation with them. They’re going after them. And if that’s the case, then I certainly support not letting them do that,” said Casperson.
Casperson also introduced a bill himself concerning wetlands within the state. Some argue that the bill would put nearly 70,000 wetlands at risk across the state, but Casperson says that the bill is intended to protect private property from government overreach.
“The whole purpose behind all of it, and we’ve packaged it all together, is to protect the private citizen, and certainly private landowners, from being aggrieved by the government and the government has gotten away with this for far too long,” he said.
Casperson is term-limited in the State Senate and will be replaced by fellow Republican Ed McBroom in the next legislature.
Hear the full interview with ABC-10’s Trent Bailey at https://abc10up.com/2018/12/05/senator-casperson-discusses-the-lame-duck-session/
