“While most department officials mean well, when they’re operating in their own echo chambers it’s sometimes hard to see the real-world consequences of new rules,” said Johnsen, R-Portland. “Bureaucrats don’t always realize that their ideas could spell death by a thousand fines for small businesses. Protecting our environment and communities is important, but it means little if excessive regulations make it impossible for people to live, work, or do business in Michigan. Reinstating this common-sense framework will ensure state employees fully vet their regulations and all potential consequences before forcing them onto the public.”

“My primary focus is ensuring that Michigan schools are not punished for failure to comply with an order just because state officials may disagree with it,” Johnsen said. “Political appointees in state government can disagree with what President Trump is doing, but they must ensure local schools do not become collateral damage in a proxy war they’re trying to wage with the federal government.”