It looks like the group collecting signatures to force a ballot vote on this new law do have enough signatures-according to the group.
They will file well over the 164,000 signatures needed. State will have 60 days to certify signatures and if certified then the question will be on the November 2012 ballot.
Once the signatures are certified the EFM law becomes null and void until the people vote on it in 2012.
This means that the cities and school districts that have EFMs will not have them-they will be out of office. Local elected officials will run the local unit until the vote. This includes Deteoit Schools and maybe the City of Detroit.
If the signatures are certified this will be a big, big loss for the Governor and a huge win for the Democrats in the Legislature and for public employee unions.
Showing posts with label Ballot Questions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ballot Questions. Show all posts
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Ballot Initiatives: bypassing the legislature
The Michigan Democratic Party is proposing a series of ballot initiatives and is looking to put some or all of them on the ballot in 2010. The highlight of this proposal is a $10 minimum wage (currently $7.40)--which would make the Michigan minimum wage the highest in the nation. This would be a 35 percent increase. The ballot proposals would bypass the legislature and go directly to the people in 2010.
Which ballot proposals to pursue for the ballot would be picked via an online survey and/or a statewide poll.
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce, called the proposals "anti-jobs, anti-growth" and said they may be used by economic development directors in other Midwestern states to discourage businesses from locating or expanding in Michigan.
The Democratic Party ballot proposals include:
• Require all employers to provide health coverage or pay a fine.
• Increase unemployment benefits by $100 a week, extend benefits by six months and make all workers eligible for unemployment. The maximum unemployment benefit is now $387 a week.
• Cut utility rates by 20 percent.
• Impose a one-year moratorium on home foreclosures.
Many believe that the Democratic Party will only circulate petitions to put one or two proposals on the ballot--after polling. Circulating of the petitions for signatures would start in early 2010.
Many Republicans feel that the Democratic Party is just trying to get the base Democratic vote excited and interested enough to increase their party vote in the 2010 elections.
This proposal also reflects the increasing disappointment in the legislature's ability to get "the job done" or to make difficult or controversial decisions--especially in an upcoming election year when the entire House, Senate, the Governor position, the Attorney General and Secretary of State positions are all up for election in 2010 (with no incumbents on the ballot, except in the House, and eight in the Senate). Due to term limits only 8 of 38 State Senators would be returning after the November 2010 election, so 30 senate seats are open and control of the Senate could change with this many vacancies.
Michigan could see a ballot that looks like the California ballot--long, complicated and multiple ballot proposals. Other groups are also considering ballot questions and are planning to circulate petitions: tax reform (service tax, repeal of Michigan Business tax, graduated income tax, etc), same sex marriage, right to counsel funding, etc., etc..
Looks like 2010 might be a good year for pollsters, campaign managers and staff, public relations companies and lobbyists. So what is new?
Which ballot proposals to pursue for the ballot would be picked via an online survey and/or a statewide poll.
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce, called the proposals "anti-jobs, anti-growth" and said they may be used by economic development directors in other Midwestern states to discourage businesses from locating or expanding in Michigan.
The Democratic Party ballot proposals include:
• Require all employers to provide health coverage or pay a fine.
• Increase unemployment benefits by $100 a week, extend benefits by six months and make all workers eligible for unemployment. The maximum unemployment benefit is now $387 a week.
• Cut utility rates by 20 percent.
• Impose a one-year moratorium on home foreclosures.
Many believe that the Democratic Party will only circulate petitions to put one or two proposals on the ballot--after polling. Circulating of the petitions for signatures would start in early 2010.
Many Republicans feel that the Democratic Party is just trying to get the base Democratic vote excited and interested enough to increase their party vote in the 2010 elections.
This proposal also reflects the increasing disappointment in the legislature's ability to get "the job done" or to make difficult or controversial decisions--especially in an upcoming election year when the entire House, Senate, the Governor position, the Attorney General and Secretary of State positions are all up for election in 2010 (with no incumbents on the ballot, except in the House, and eight in the Senate). Due to term limits only 8 of 38 State Senators would be returning after the November 2010 election, so 30 senate seats are open and control of the Senate could change with this many vacancies.
Michigan could see a ballot that looks like the California ballot--long, complicated and multiple ballot proposals. Other groups are also considering ballot questions and are planning to circulate petitions: tax reform (service tax, repeal of Michigan Business tax, graduated income tax, etc), same sex marriage, right to counsel funding, etc., etc..
Looks like 2010 might be a good year for pollsters, campaign managers and staff, public relations companies and lobbyists. So what is new?
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tax Ballot Initiatives: The Legislature and The Governor
Michigan's legislature is considering to do tax reform by ballot initiative. They will attempt to do this before they adjourn in July. They will need a super majority to get this issue on the ballot. They want to attempt to complete this by the end of July because they want to reserve time if they fail to circulate petitions to Michigan voters to place on the ballot what the legislature could not get done with legislative votes. They will need 500,000 plus signatures to get it on the ballot--more signatures than required but they will need a safety net of signatures to buffer against disqualified signatures. They will need to get the signatures done by the end of August or so.
Tax issues to be considered for ballot presentation might include going from a flat tax to a graduated income tax. Eliminating the Michigan Business Tax Surcharge and the entire MBT. Replacing this with a service tax and changing the sales tax rate.
Will this be too much for Michigan citizens to consider and they will just vote no on matters that are too complicated or matters that they do not understand? Does the legislature and the Governor have the leadership and committment to spend the Fall explaining to the people why these tax reforms are good for Michigan citizens and how it will lead us to a more financially secure future? How is the legislature going to get bi-partisan votes to put this on the ballot
Other key questions are whether citizens or legislative ballot initiatives are good public policy? Do we want citizens voting on matters as complicated as tax reform or is this the job of the legislature and the Governor--should they buckly down, work together to fix the tax system and prepare for a new future economy? Isn't this what they are paid to do?
Tax issues to be considered for ballot presentation might include going from a flat tax to a graduated income tax. Eliminating the Michigan Business Tax Surcharge and the entire MBT. Replacing this with a service tax and changing the sales tax rate.
Will this be too much for Michigan citizens to consider and they will just vote no on matters that are too complicated or matters that they do not understand? Does the legislature and the Governor have the leadership and committment to spend the Fall explaining to the people why these tax reforms are good for Michigan citizens and how it will lead us to a more financially secure future? How is the legislature going to get bi-partisan votes to put this on the ballot
Other key questions are whether citizens or legislative ballot initiatives are good public policy? Do we want citizens voting on matters as complicated as tax reform or is this the job of the legislature and the Governor--should they buckly down, work together to fix the tax system and prepare for a new future economy? Isn't this what they are paid to do?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)