LANSING – Nearly 800 Scouts from across the state of Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula, participated Scout Day at the Capitol on June 15.
During the annual event, members of both chambers of the state legislature had the opportunity to have lunch with Scouts. Members of the House and Senate were presented with the annual Scout Report to the State. The Scouts were addressed by members of the state’s legislature.
The keynote was presented by Cooley Law Professor and retired General Michael C.H. McDaniel, who is an Eagle Scout.
McDaniel joined the event’s emcee Jamie Callahan in thanking the legislators, representatives Stephanie Young and Curt VanderWal, and senators Paul Wojno and Mark Huizenga for attending Scout Day, while noting that they were currently deep in legislative session.
During his remarks, McDaniel said that the Scouts were at the Capitol to learn more about the legislative process. After briefly describing the three branches of government, McDaniel expounded on the Rule of Law, noting that it is not enough to say that no one is above the law.
"It is more accurate to say that our laws apply equally to everyone,” said McDaniel. “When we say the law applies equally, we mean that our laws are enforced equally and fairly; we mean that our judges adjudicate the law equally and fairly; because 'fair and equal under the law' means that our government can show no favoritism or disregard based on rank, politics, how much money you have, skin color, ethnicity, or religion."
