Keeping in mind that every law passed is a little more liberty lost — 240 is a lot. This is 240 public acts that either create new laws, add to existing laws, or replace old laws with new laws. As I see it, they’ve been busy taking away liberty, a little at a time.

Yet the coverage is being framed as 240 laws in one state in one year alone, is a small number. From the AP article posted at WOOD TV:

A flurry of legislation passed just before adjourning for 2009 saved the Michigan Legislature from its lowest total of new laws enacted in any year this decade. Michigan likely will wind up with roughly 240 new public acts from 2009, higher only than the 221 recorded in 2007 for this decade. The 2009 total includes more than 50 measures passed in mid-December. Some of those bills aren’t yet officially enrolled and won’t be eligible for signing by Gov. Jennifer Granholm until January. While vetoes are possible, Granholm is likely to sign most of the measures.

Of course, if they aren’t passing lots of laws, maybe we don’t need them. They need to remain relevant. So they’ll have to pass lots of new laws next year, eh? If not, the AP article has a warning: “Nevertheless, the relatively low volume of new laws this year could provide ammunition for those who say Michigan doesn’t need a full-time Legislature.”

Someday, maybe, my dream will come true. I’ll see a year-end article proclaiming that 240 laws were completely removed in the past year. Or better yet, government packed up and left.