Governor Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed two bills sent to her by the Legislature.
One bill would have reversed the Michigan Natural Resources Commission’s ban on hunters using bait to attract deer and elk.
The governor’s veto message says that would increase the risk of disease spreading to game and domestic livestock, and goes against the advice of wildlife experts.
The commission agrees with wildlife experts who say the use of bait in some areas encourages the spread of bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease.
The conditions affect deer and elk. Bovine TB can also be transmitted to domestic cattle.
The other bill would have allowed small counties to spread payments for road improvements over 30 years, instead of the existing 15-year limit.
Whitmer says if that’s a good idea, then all counties should be allowed to do it.
The Democratic governor is still trying to convince Republicans in the Legislature to support a plan to raise new revenue to pay for road repairs and upgrades.
Veto overrides are not likely since neither the House nor the Senate Republicans have the two-thirds majorities that would be required to reverse her decisions.
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