Ballot Proposal Update

Five statewide ballot proposals have been approved to appear on the November ballot.  Here is a quick summary of the proposals based on information from the Michigan Department of State website:

MICHIGAN CIVIL RIGHTS INITIATIVE PETITION: Proposed amendment to the State Constitution to “prohibit the University of Michigan and other state universities, the state, and all other state entities from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.”

EDUCATIONAL FUNDING GUARANTEE: Legislative initiative to amend the State School Aid Act to ensure that the legislature establish and appropriate minimum funding levels for Michigan’s public elementary and secondary schools, intermediate school districts, community colleges, public universities and independent nonprofit colleges or universities. The proposal would provide for minimum funding increases for education by an amount not less than the General Price level.

DOVE HUNTING REFERENDUM: Referendum on PA 160 of 2004. (PA 160 of 2004 authorized an open season for hunting mourning doves.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION E: Would amend the State Constitution to restrict the power of state or local government to take private property by eminent domain for certain private purposes.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION Z: Would establish the Conservation and Recreation Legacy Fund, the Game and Fish Protection Trust Fund and the Nongame Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund within the State Constitution.

Voting on ballot proposals is not easy.  The ballot language is often confusing and it does not feel like you have enough information on the issue to make an informed votes. 

The Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce is reviewing the ballot proposals as a service to our members.  We will provide you with information on the proposals, and if we think the issue is important enough, we will take a position in favor or against the proposal. One such proposal is the educational funding guarantee.  The Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce opposes this proposal because it legally mandates inflationary increases in education funding in Michigan no matter what.  It doesn’t matter if state revenue is down and funding goes up automatically without any accountability.  The proposal is also very difficult to change once enacted.  If Michigan voters approve the proposal, it would take a ¾ vote of the Michigan Senate and House to overturn it. 

The Chamber is very aware of the importance of education to the future economic success of Michigan and the Ann Arbor area.  But, in our opinion, the educational funding guarantee is bad policy.  And you won’t know all of this just by reading the ballot language.  So stay tuned for more information from the Chamber on ballot proposals.  And if you haven’t done so already, check out annarborareabusinessvotes.com.