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State Rep. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, wants to stop Michigan's observance of daylight saving time.

(Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News)

LANSING, MI -- Michiganders all lost an hour on Sunday, but if a bill introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin prevails that wouldn't happen in the future.

Irwin, an Ann Arbor Democrat, would like to eliminate daylight saving time.

"As we have all experienced this week, changing schedules for daylight saving time is stressful and unnecessary. In the days after the spring time shift, there are well-documented increases in road and workplace accidents, as well as heart attacks," Irwin said.

Daylight saving time began March 8 and will end on Nov. 1. What Irwin's bill would technically do is direct the state to follow the standard time of the zone in which it is located.

Irwin pointed to Indiana, the most recent state to transition to daylight saving time, as evidence that energy use increased and not decreased.

"Although daylight saving time is supposed to save energy, the evidence from Indiana's 2006 changeover to daylight saving time shows an increase in electricity usage, not a savings."

Nationally, Alaska, Missouri and Texas are considering similar measures. Currently most of Arizona does not observe daylight saving time.

Irwin cited studies about daylight saving time, including a recent one that found people may be at increased risk for heart attacks because of daylight saving time.

"Ultimately, daylight saving time is not worth the disruption it causes," Rep. Irwin said. "I hope my colleagues and Michigan residents will join me in supporting this legislation to eliminate the worst day of the year."

Emily Lawler is a Capitol/Lansing business reporter for MLive. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.