State Rep. Gregory Markkanen
Recent News About State Rep. Gregory Markkanen
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Michigan representatives propose year-round coyote hunting legislation
State Rep. Greg Markkanen, along with Rep. Dave Prestin, announced on Thursday his bill to restore hunters' rights, permitting them to hunt coyotes throughout the year. The proposal, House Bill 5721, allows an individual holding a fur harvester's license to hunt coyotes all year round. This legislation is a response to the Natural Resources Commission's decision to shorten Michigan's public coyote hunting season by three months and declare a period from mid-April to mid-July off-limits.
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Rep. Markkanen, EGLE announce $10 million in community grants
State Rep. Greg Markkanen on Tuesday joined the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy in announcing nearly $10 million in grants awarded to the City of Ironwood, Oceola Township, the Village of Calumet, the City of Houghton, and Crystal Falls Township. The grants will fund lead service line and water main replacements.
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Rep. Markkanen: Celebrate teacher appreciation week by letting them keep their pensions
State Rep. Greg Markkanen on Tuesday called for Lansing Democrats to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week in Michigan by ditching their plan to raid the teacher retirement system.
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House approves resolution to urge state park status for Houghton-Douglass Falls
The Michigan House approved a resolution on April 24, 2024, to urge the state park status for Houghton-Douglass Falls. State Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, led the effort, with the resolution aiming to designate Houghton-Douglass Falls as the Houghton-Douglass Falls Veterans Scenic Site, a unit of the McLain State Park.Speaking on the floor, Markkanen expressed his support for the resolution, stating, "It’s time we honor that agreement and include this iconic and beautiful area in Michigan’s system of State Parks and Scenic Areas." He emphasized the importance of...
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Rep. Markkanen: Gov. Whitmer can’t spend teacher retirements like a personal allowance
State Rep. Greg Markkanen has spoken out against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's plans to divert funds from the teacher pension system, emphasizing the importance of protecting educators' retirement accounts. Markkanen highlighted the impact of past decisions on the current state of the Michigan Public Schools Employees' Retirement System (MPSERS), which is significantly underfunded by over $24 billion.Markkanen criticized the cycle of decision-making that has led to the underfunding of the teacher pension system, pointing out that benefits for state employees are boosted when...
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Rep. Markkanen applauds investment in U.P. copper mines
State Rep. Greg Markkanen, a representative from Hancock, expressed his appreciation after the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) approved a $50 million grant to aid in the construction of a copper mine near Lake Superior. Markkanen emphasized the significance of utilizing the natural resources available in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.), stating, "God put copper in the U.P. for a reason. It’s nice to see the MSF recognize the importance of us taking full advantage of our unique natural resources."Highlighting the historical connection between mining and the U.P., Markkanen...
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Rep. Markkanen Criticizes Mismanagement at Michigan Liquor Control Commission
State Rep. Greg Markkanen is calling attention to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) after the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) uncovered widespread mismanagement within the commission. The OAG investigation revealed that more than 62,000 state-owned bottles of liquor were missing and uncovered extensive accounting failures. The value of the missing bottles totaled nearly $1 million, over 20 percent of its total inventory. The MLCC could not provide any information about the missing supply and was forced to process a refund to all vendors for the missing...
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Rep. Markkanen: Governor can’t hide her failures with budget cuts
State Rep. Greg Markkanen, from Hancock, has criticized Governor Gretchen Whitmer's proposal to significantly reduce funding for the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). Markkanen expressed his concerns, stating, “In a year where the state is seemingly able to throw money at everything that moves, the governor needs to explain why she’s proposing cutting the only executive agency that safeguards taxpayers’ dollars.”Markkanen emphasized the importance of the OAG in uncovering issues within state agencies, saying, “Yoopers already don’t trust the governor. She is not doing...
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Reps. Markkanen, Prestin Encourage Public Input on New Wind, Solar Siting Laws
State Reps. Greg Markkanen and Dave Prestin are urging the public to participate in upcoming opportunities to provide input on new state laws related to wind and solar project siting. The legislation in question removes local control over large-scale projects, a move that has sparked controversy and opposition.Prestin, who voted against the law, expressed his concerns about the implications of the legislation, stating, “The energy policies eliminating our reliable energy supply, passed by the Democrat majority last year, are the most destructive initiative the Upper...
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House Approves Resolution to Celebrate Michigan Sauna Week
The Michigan House of Representatives has passed a resolution to honor Feb. 18-24 as sauna week in the state. The resolution, proposed by State Rep. Greg Markkanen, received overwhelming bipartisan support.Markkanen, who represents Hancock, a city in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, emphasized the importance of celebrating Finnish history and culture in the region. With a significant population of Finnish immigrants, Michigan is home to the largest ethnic group of Finns in the United States.In his statement, Markkanen highlighted the significance of saunas in Finnish...
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Rep. Markkanen: Good Jobs 2.0 another unwanted remake
State Representative Greg Markkanen criticized Governor Gretchen Whitmer's Good Jobs 2.0 program, stating that it is a repetition of the governor's unsuccessful strategy of focusing on attracting large corporations instead of supporting Michigan-based small businesses. Markkanen compared the program to Hollywood's trend of remaking classic movies, emphasizing that the original Good Jobs program was also ineffective."The governor’s new Good Jobs 2.0 proposal has a lot in common with Hollywood’s recent obsession with remaking classic movies; the only difference being,...
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U.P. Lawmakers Oppose USPS Plan to Shift Mail Processing
LANSING, Mich. - Lawmakers from the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan are expressing their opposition to the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) plan to modify mail service in the region. The plan includes discontinuing the processing of outgoing mail at the facility in Kingsford and potentially shifting mail processing to Green Bay, Wisconsin.Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, stated, "We are speaking with one voice to oppose this terrible plan to reduce postal services to the people of the U.P." He criticized the USPS for manipulating information and not providing a clear...
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Rep. Markkanen: Population council proposals force families to pack their bags
Rep. Greg Markkanen, a Republican from Hancock, criticized the governor's population council for proposing tax hikes to address population declines in the state. In a statement released today, Markkanen expressed concern about the council's recommendations, which include $2.5 billion in new spending without clear methods to increase state funding without raising taxes.Markkanen warned that these tax hikes could drive young families away from the state. He stated, "When our kids start asking us to pay for U-Hauls to manage moves to Texas, we can all look back and thank the...
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Northern Michigan Reps praise Public Service Commission for Line 5 Decision
A group of state Representatives from Northern Michigan, including Reps. Cam Cavitt, Neil Friske, Greg Markkanen, Dave Prestin, and Curt VanderWall, have expressed their support for the Michigan Public Service Commission's recent decision to grant Enbridge a key permit for the replacement and improvement of Line 5.In a 2-0 decision, with one abstention, the commission approved the permit, marking the first step towards the construction of a safer pipeline tunnel. This news has been welcomed by the Northern Michigan Representatives who believe that Line 5 is vital for the...