The Michigan Supreme Court and State Board of Canvassers have finalized the arduous process of reviewing and approving proposals that will appear on the November 6 general election ballot. Six proposals received final approval, the most that voters will consider since 1980. A seventh proposal, which would have authorized eight new casinos in the state, failed to gain approval and will not be on the ballot. The following is a brief overview of each of the proposals as well as the actual approved language that will appear on the ballot.
Brief Overviews:
Proposal 1 – Stand Up For Democracy
A petition for a referendum to repeal Public Act 4 of 2011, which allows the governor to declare a local government or school district in receivership and appoint an emergency manager to take control with the following powers, among others: to assume the powers of local elected officials; to take control of revenue and spending; to terminate, modify, and renegotiate contracts; to refuse to bargain with employee representatives; to take control of employee pension funds under certain circumstances; and with the governor’s approval, to sell public assets to dissolve a city, township or county.
Proposal 2 – Protect Our Jobs
This proposed amendment would establish a new constitutional right of employees to organize and bargain collectively with employers, by adding Section 28 to Article I of the State Constitution and by amending Article XI, Section 5 of the State Constitution.
Proposal 3 – Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs
This proposed constitutional amendment would: require utilities to obtain at least 25 percent of electricity from clean renewable energy sources (wind, solar, biomass and hydro-power) by 2025; limit how much utilities can charge consumers for the cost of complying with this requirement; and promote the creation of Michigan clean energy jobs.
Proposal 4 – Michigan Quality Homecare
This proposed constitutional amendment would ensure that State in-home care programs give participating seniors and persons with disabilities the option of hiring their own individual home care providers, and would help ensure the availability of quality providers by establishing a Michigan Quality Home Care Council. A majority of the Council would be participating or their advocates; it would create a registry to link participants with providers; require background checks of providers listed on the registry; provide training opportunities; and take other steps to increase provider availability and quality. Providers, if they so choose could engage in limited collective bargaining with the Council, but they would not be civil service employees and would not have the ability to strike or interfere with participants’ rights to hire, direct or terminate providers.
Proposal 5 – Michigan Alliance for Prosperity
A proposal to amend the Michigan Constitution by adding a Section 26a to Article IX: No new or additional taxes shall be imposed by the state government, nor shall it expand the base of taxation, nor shall it increase the rate of taxation unless: (a) by the vote of two-thirds of all the elected members of each branch of the Legislature; or (b) by a statewide vote of Michigan electors at a November election. This section shall in no way be construed to limit of modify tax limitations otherwise created in this constitution.
Proposal 6 – The People Should Decide
The people should decide whether state government may construct or finance new international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles. Consistent with this policy, and to shield the people from unnecessary burdens, the State shall not undertake ownership and development or use State funds or resources for new international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles unless first determined to be necessary by majority vote of the people.
Source: Press Release – Michigan Legislative Consultants
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