WASHINGTON – U.S. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Charles Michel formally assumed the role of vice commandant of the Coast Guard during a ceremony at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Monday.

As vice commandant, Michel will oversee the Coast Guard's operations, strategic development, organizational governance and management of the service's more than 58,000 employees and 30,000 volunteers.

"I am humbled and honored to be given this important opportunity to further serve the American people and the men and women of the United States Coast Guard," said Michel.  "I look forward to assisting the commandant in meeting the many challenges facing our nation and our service."

Michel became the 30th vice commandant of the Coast Guard after serving as the service's deputy commandant for operations, responsible for establishing and providing operational strategy, policy, guidance and resources as needed to meet national priorities for Coast Guard missions, programs and services.

His previous flag officer assignments include deputy commander of U. S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area; director of Joint Interagency Task Force South; military advisor to the secretary of homeland security; and the director for the Coast Guard's governmental and public affairs directorate.

Tours of duty afloat included serving as commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutters Resolute and Cape Current, executive officer of Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless, and as deck watch officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter Decisive. Michel also served as chief of the office of maritime and international law in Washington, D.C.; staff attorney at the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans; head of the operations division for the office of maritime and international law in Washington, D.C.; and as legislative counsel for the office of congressional and governmental affairs in Washington, D.C.

A native of Brandon, Florida, he graduated from the U. S. Coast Guard Academy in 1985. In 1992, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law.

Michel has received numerous military awards during his career, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, the Coast Guard Letter of Commendation Ribbon and the Distinguished Service Medal of the Colombian Navy. Michel was the American Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year for the Coast Guard in 1995, the Judge Advocate's Association Career Armed Services Attorney of the Year for the Coast Guard in 2000 and is currently a member of the Florida Bar.

On Monday, August 17, 2015 at approximately 6:36 P.M. the Scott County Sheriff's Office was called via 911, in reference to a Black Dodge Durango with a male white driver, asking a young girl if she wanted a ride. The young girl said no, ran to her residence and the vehicle drove away, according to a witness. This occurred in the area of 99 Park View Drive, Park View Iowa.

During the investigation of this incident, it was learned this incident was a complete misunderstanding. The driver of the Durango is a new neighbor in the area he had his two children with him, the storm was hitting Park View, he saw the girl outside and asked if she needed a ride, she said no so he continued on his way.

Again this incident WAS NOT an Attempted Child Abduction, but we do encourage you to call 911 if you observe what is believed to be an attempted abduction so we can investigate it.

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner took action today on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 3149

An Act Concerning State Government

Action: Signed

Effective Date: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: HB 3203

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: HB 3341

An Act Concerning Safety

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: HB 3475

An Act Concerning Criminal Law

Action: Signed

Effective Date: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: HB 3592

An Act Concerning Public Employee Benefits

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: HB 3616

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: HB 3746

An Act Concerning Motor Vehicles

Action: Vetoed

Note: Veto Message Below

Bill No.: SB 209

An Act Concerning Criminal Law

Action: Signed

Effective Date: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: SB 844

An Act Concerning Criminal Law

Action: Signed

Effective Date: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: SB 1470

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: SB 1782

An Act Concerning Insurance

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: SB 1806

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective Date: January 1, 2016

Veto Message HB3746

To the Honorable Members of The Illinois House of Representatives, 99th General Assembly:

Today I veto House Bill 3746 from the 99th General Assembly, which would impose new and unnecessary burdens on used car dealers, single out only some dealers in the market, and drive up the cost of used cars in Illinois.

Since at least 1968, the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act has established certain standards to protect car buyers from "lemon" purchases. The Act, which applies to both new car dealers and used car dealers, assigns liability to the dealer for repairs to defective engine and other power train components within the first 30 days after the sale. The Act also permits a dealer to sell a car as-is, without warranty, as long as the dealer conspicuously informs the seller prior to and at the time of sale.

House Bill 3746 would require every used car dealer - but not new car dealers that sell used cars or private sellers - to provide a warranty of merchantability for 15 days or 500 miles. The required warranty is not limited to power train components, but applies to any defect that could limit its use "for the ordinary purpose of transportation on any public highway." This requirement is both overly-broad and ambiguous.

A significant proportion of used car sales in Illinois are as-is. Many used car dealers do not provide warranties for all or a portion of their sales, while others may offer service contracts instead of dealer warranties. Requiring warranties, therefore, would necessarily increase the cost of used cars, hurting low-income Illinoisans the most.

Even if the requirements of House Bill 3746 were good policy, the bill singles out only used car dealers, exempting new car dealers that sell used cars. As noted above, the current Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act applies to both used car dealers and new car dealers. But this bill would apply only to used car dealers, even though new car dealers sell a large portion of used cars.

Protecting consumers from fraudulent practices and defective goods is important. But this bill would discriminately impose a significant mandate on an important industry without having first established a compelling need. We must end the cycle of regulation and taxation that hurts our economy, suppresses job creation, and costs the State valuable revenues.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 3746, entitled "AN ACT concerning motor vehicles", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner