LANSING – Surrounded by family and friends, State Rep. Richard LeBlanc (D-Westland) today was sworn in to his first term in the Michigan House of Representatives during a ceremony at the State Capitol. Today marks the first day of the 94th Legislature, in which Democrats control the House of Representatives for the first time since 1998.
"I am deeply honored to have a chance to serve the people of Westland," LeBlanc said. "I am eager to roll up my sleeves and get to work in Lansing. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and creating a positive change for Westland and the entire state."
After the swearing-in ceremony, LeBlanc and his fellow House Democrats wasted no time getting to work, introducing one plan that will end drug industry immunity and another plan that will reduce the influx of Canadian and out-of-state trash flowing into Michigan.
House Democrats introduced a proposal to repeal a 1996 law that gives big drug companies immunity when their products harm or kill our residents; the repeal would be retroactive to 1996. The plan also adds drug companies to the Consumer Protection Act, from which they currently are exempt.
House Democrats today also introduced a plan to ban landfills from expanding until 2011. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality said Michigan took in 6.2 million tons of Canadian and out-of-state trash in 2005, 100,000 tons more than in 2004.
"The people elected me to represent them and to create laws that would protect them," LeBlanc said. "We must protect our citizens from dangerous prescription drugs that harm or kill people. We must protect our communities from the Canadian and out-of-state trash that continues to fill our landfills. The people of Westland and Michigan deserve it."