SE Oakland News

Senator Aric Nesbitt, a Republican member of the Michigan Senate, used his social media account on August 26, 2025, to criticize Democratic lawmakers' approach to toxic waste management in Michigan.

In one post published at 15:01 UTC, Nesbitt stated: "Today, Senate Dems are claiming we need new legislation to stop the approval of permits for toxic waste dumps. Instead of making speeches why don’t they just tell Gretchen Whitmer and her environmental department to stop dumping on our state?"

Shortly after, at 15:03 UTC, he continued his criticism by writing: "Instead of just telling Gretchen Whitmer’s environmental department to stop dumping out of state toxic waste in Michigan, Democrats solution is to just tax your trash."

Later that evening at 23:26 UTC, Nesbitt posted a brief message declaring: "VICTORY! Let’s stop trying to “fix” things that aren’t broke."

Michigan has faced ongoing debates over the importation and disposal of out-of-state toxic waste. The state's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), overseen by Governor Gretchen Whitmer's administration since she took office in 2019, regulates these activities. Legislative proposals have been introduced periodically aiming to tighten restrictions or change fee structures related to waste disposal. These policy discussions often reflect broader disagreements between Republican legislators like Senator Nesbitt and Democratic leaders over regulatory approaches and taxation.