MARINE CORPS/SITDOWN STRIKE HWY. H.B. 4718 (S-2): FIRST ANALYSIS
House Bill 4718 (Substitute S-2 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative John Gleason
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Transportation
Date Completed: 10-31-05
RATIONALE
In recognition of the sacrifices made by the Genesee County residents who served in the Marine Corps during America's wars and by those residents who participated in the 1937 sitdown strike at General Motors in Flint, some people believe that some portions of M-54 running through the county should be named in their honor.
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to name M-54 between I-75 and I-69 in Genesee County the "1937 Sitdown Strike Memorial Highway", and the portion of M-54 between I-69 and M-57 in Genesee County the "Marine Corps League Memorial Highway".
Proposed MCL 250.1078
ARGUMENTS
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
Supporting Argument
The M-54 highway runs through the heart of Genesee County and is the site of the new home of the Flint detachment of the Marine Corps League. The Marine Corps League is a veterans organization of the United States Marines that was founded in 1923 and has more than 50,000 members. Under the bill, the portion of the highway where the Flint Marine Corp League will be located would be named the "Marine Corps League Memorial Highway" in honor of the sacrifices the marines made in service to their country.
Supporting Argument
The southern portion of M-54 in Genesee County would be named in honor of the local residents who participated in the 1937 Flint sitdown strike. The strike is considered by some historians to be the most important strike in American labor history. The strike began on the evening of December 30, 1936 and ran for 44 days. The strikers sought to gain recognition of the UAW as the bargaining agent for General Motors workers and to make the company stop shipping work to plants with nonunion workers.
Response: The sitdown strike was conducted by members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the strike was instrumental in turning the organization into a leader in the battle for workers' rights. The bill that passed the House referred to the highway as the "UAW Sitdown Strike Memorial Highway". If the sitdown strike is going to be recognized as a major event in the nation's labor movement, the UAW's role should be recognized as well.
Legislative Analyst: J.P. Finet
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Craig ThielAnalysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb4718/0506