2012 Michigan Ballot Propositions

This post was last updated September 9, 2012.

There will be six propositions on the ballot in Michigan in November.

See MIballot2012.org for details on most of the propositions.

Special interests spend millions on Michigan ballot initiatives

1. First is a referendum on the expanded emergency manager law passed by the legislature last year. The law allows emergency managers in distressed municipalities to rewrite union contracts; opposition comes mainly from public sector unions. A yes vote is needed to retain the law. The referendum will be on the ballot following a court battle.

2. Unions are behind an effort to amend the state constitution to enshrine mandatory collective bargaining, precluding a Right to Work law. It would also repeal a number of other laws that the unions don't like, including the emergency manager law, pension reform, and more. It would cost the state billions. The proposition survived a constitutional challenge.

3. Various out-of-state alternative energy companies are behind an initiative to mandate that Michigan get at least 25% of its energy from alternative sources by 2025. Since alternative energy costs more than traditional energy (that's why it's the alternative), this would raise energy prices.

4. The SEIU is behind this proposition to enshrine the Michigan Quality Care Council, the dummy employer used to force the unionization of home health care workers, in the state constitution. This scam originated in the Granholm administration, which agreed to treat people who receive government payments to care for family members at home as government employees. They were unionized in a very dubious election. Even after the state legislature defunded the dummy employer and passed a law prohibiting the dues collection, it has continued. The SEIU is now running the dummy employer it supposedly negotiates with.

5. A proposal to require a 2/3 majority in the legislature or statewide vote to raise taxes is also being funded by Matty Moroun (see below). This proposal has support from Tea Party groups.

6. The Detroit International Bridge Company, owned by Matty Moroun, is funding a proposition to require voter approval for any new bridge to Canada. This would create a roadblock to the Canadian-government funded bridge agreement recently signed by Governor Snyder. Parties disagree whether the proposal would actually stop the bridge.

A proposal to add eight new casinos in locations that benefit specific developers obtained sufficient signatures but was disqualified by the Supreme Court for failing to follow constitutional requirements for constitutional amendments. A business group close to the Chamber of Commerce is organizing to oppose proposals 2, 3, and 4.