Tagged: Pledge of Allegiance

Clearing up voter confusion

"The ACLU of Michigan is trying to clear up confusion about who can vote in the upcoming November election. ACLU attorney Michael Steinberg says the Secretary of State's office created some of that confusion. Voters in Michigan are given applications that ask them to check a box stating they are U.S. citizens. Steinberg says people do not have to check that box in order to vote, although they do have to be citizens. He says people can also vote if they don't have a driver's license or other state-issued photo identification. The ACLU has a voters' rights card on its website that people can print off and take with them to the polls. The website also helps students figure out how to register and where they should vote," Tracy Samilton reports.

Donation of prescription drugs

"The Michigan Senate plans a hearing on House-backed legislation that would allow collection and redistribution of prescription medication. The Senate Health Policy Committee has scheduled a hearing for Thursday to discuss the measures that would allow medical facilities to donate unused drugs for distribution to needy patients. The bills also would require that drugs donated to pharmacies participating in the redistribution program have never left medical facilities or oversight to ensure safety. The legislation also would require participating pharmacies to become disposal sites for excess drugs. Most other states have enacted similar laws," the AP reports.

Legislation moves forward to require American flags and the pledge in all public school classrooms

The Michigan House has passes legislation to require all public school classrooms to have an American flag displayed and allow students an opportunity to recite the pledge of allegiance. The House Fiscal Agency says 43 other states already require recitation of the pledge.

The Michigan House has passed legislation requiring every state public school classroom to have a U.S. flag and provide an opportunity for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

The House approved two measures Wednesday. The flag legislation already passed the Senate and goes to Gov. Rick Snyder for signature.

The Senate will consider the pledge legislation.

Many students already recite the pledge but there's no required opportunity to do so. The bill specifies no student would be compelled to say it.

Michigan school children would be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance under a bill passed by the state Senate today.

Students can opt out if they, their parent or legal guardians object.

State Senator Hoon-Yung Hopgood voted against the bill. He believes patriotism doesn’t come from a mandate.

"One of the things I said is that I love my country, not because I say the pledge, but I say the pledge because I love my country," Hopgood says.

Hopgood  unsuccessfully introduced an amendment to protect students who decline to recite the pledge from retaliation by school employees.

The bill  also requires a flag to be displayed in each K-12 classroom in Michigan’s public schools. It does not provide funding to buy the flags.

The measure is supported by the state department of education; it now moves on to the House.