×

Region should remain on Central time

Thanks, but no thanks.

A bill introduced in the Michigan Legislature would put the entire state on Eastern Standard Time, including the four counties in the Upper Peninsula that border Wisconsin — Gogebic, Dickinson, Iron and Menominee.

The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Peter Lucido, is a Republican from downstate Macomb County. So he has little experience with how things operate in the U.P. or why this arrangement might be best for the region.

Granted, there can be some confusion about having a different time for just a slice of the state. And it does make for such disparities as polls closing an hour later for those four counties than the rest of Michigan.

But we doubt many people locally would be happy about the switch.

There are any number of reasons why — synchronization with Wisconsin being the main one — but basically most people identify with Central time.

Lucido’s bill would actually complicate matters further by exempting the entire state from Daylight Saving Time. As we understand it, for half the year we’d be on the same clock as Wisconsin, and the other half of the year an hour ahead.

Not good.

Recently, some media outlets incorrectly identified state Rep. Scott Dianda, D-Calumet, as a co-sponsor of HB 4011. Dianda was quick to set the record straight.

“I am concerned about this bill because of the impact it would have on certain communities in House District 110 that are in the Central time zone,” Dianda said. “Rest assured that I will share information on this bill with the residents of H.D. 110 should it receive a committee hearing.”

A similar bill was introduced last session but did not pass. Here’s hoping this version proves no more popular.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today