The state’s two leading pro-business organizations now officially oppose Michigan ballot Proposal 5 and Detroit News columnist called out the proposal in today’s paper.
Michigan Chamber votes to oppose Proposal 5
This week the Michigan Chamber Board voted to oppose the measure because of the many unintended consequences that would result from this radical, extreme attempt to create super-minority rule in the state Legislature on tax issues. They know what has happened in the handful of other states (just seven) with “super-minority” requirements in their constitutions: Mississippi is the poorest state in the nation. Nevada has the nation’s highest unemployment. California is the poster child of dysfunctional state government.
Under Proposal 5, just 13 state senators in Lansing would assume super powers in the Michigan Legislature: they would be able to block a vote to close a tax loophole, end a tax break, raise a tax, or create a tax supported by the other 135 members of the state House and Senate. Proposal 5 would drive local taxes higher, drive the state’s credit rating lower, and protect tax breaks and loopholes for the single Detroit billionaire (Matty Moroun) who has funded the entire campaign to put this dangerous amendment on the ballot.
The Chamber’s opposition follows recent action by Business Leaders for Michigan to oppose Proposal 5.
All of us at Defend Michigan Democracy — and all Michigan voters — are grateful to the leadership of the Michigan Chamber and Business Leaders for Michigan for recognizing the radical and extreme nature of Proposal 5.
Gov. Rick Snyder, other leading Michigan Republicans, Democrats, business, labor, police, firefighters, hospitals, mayors, teachers, school managers, human service providers, senior citizen organizations, universities and colleges … all agree “VOTE NO ON PROPOSAL 5.”
Detroit News columnists Dan Howe calls out Proposal 5 in today’s paper
Here’s what he writes about Proposal 5, noting that California is one of just seven states in the nation to have a supermajority requirement like this in their constitutions.
The official governmental word for that is “futility.” The unofficial word for it is “California,” the economic and political basketcase vying for the honor to be the first state in the union to slide into a bankruptcy of its own making. (In Michigan) The people pushing their proposed amendments didn’t tell you that, did they? They didn’t tell you because it doesn’t help their pet cause. They don’t much care that end-running the legislative process — managed by duly elected lawmakers of both parties — and slipping narrow interests into the constitution threatens to put the document at war with itself.
Click here for the full story.
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