Veterans’ graves flag bill should clear Michigan Senate tonight

A bill making its way through the Michigan legislature would bar local governments from buying American flags made outside the U.S. for veterans’ graves. The state Senate is expected to give final approval tonight to Senate Bill 428.

It would require counties, cities, townships and villages to buy American-made U.S. flags if they’re competitively priced and of similar quality to U.S. flags made in foreign countries. Michigan requires local governments to provide a flag and a holder for veterans’ graves on the request of either a veterans’ organization or five voters.

The new bill requires local governments to post on their websites that they bought foreign-made products because competitively priced and comparable-quality domestic products weren’t available. A violation would be worth up to $500 in fines.