By John Flesher
Associated Press
TRAVERSE CITY (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that voters should decide whether to strengthen collective bargaining rights, allow construction of bridges and tunnels to Canada, and require a supermajority in the Legislature to raise taxes.
The state’s highest court recently approved the three proposals for the Nov. 6 election ballot but rejected a fourth measure that would have authorized construction of eight more casinos. Justices disqualified the casino proposal because it failed to disclose that it would weaken the state Liquor Control Commission’s authority.
Opponents challenged the proposed initiatives in court after the State Board of Canvassers repeatedly deadlocked on partisan lines over whether to place the measures on the ballot.
Each of them would amend the Michigan Constitution. The issue before the court was whether the measures would repeal or change existing constitutional provisions and, if so, whether their wording made those changes clear.
In an opinion written by Justice Brian K. Zahra, the seven-member court unanimously found that the collective bargaining, bridge construction and tax increase measures would not “add to, delete from or change” wording in the constitution, nor would they prevent existing provisions from being carried out. The ruling against the casino proposal was decided by a 4-3 majority.
The decision means the state’s voters will decide the contentious issue of whether to build a new bridge across the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and many business interests favor the project, but it has failed to gain approval in the GOP-controlled Legislature.
Owners of the Ambassador Bridge, who say they would suffer a competitive disadvantage if the new bridge were built, have sponsored a statewide television ad blitz against it.
Mickey Blashfield, spokesman for a group called The People Should Decide that sponsored the initiative, said the court’s decision was “a victory for the more than 600,000 voters who signed our petition and for all Michiganders who want a say in how public money is spent on international crossings.”
A group called Protect Our Jobs has championed the measure that would guarantee collective bargaining rights.
“Corporate special interests have spent millions and will spend millions more to mislead voters and silence our voice to negotiate for fair wages, benefits and working conditions that benefit us all,” Cheryl Weston, a nurse at McLaren Lapeer Region Medical Center, said in a statement issued by the group.
Snyder and state Attorney General Bill Schuette fought the measure, joining a pro-business coalition called Hands Off Our Constitution in contending its wording was too broad.
“Michigan’s citizens have a clear choice this November between protecting our state’s constitution and economic future or returning to the failed policies of the past by handing control of the state and perhaps billions of state and local tax dollars to a handful of union bosses,” said Stu Sandler, a spokesman for the group.
The initiatives approved Wednesday will join several other proposals on the packed general election ballot.
They would order utilities to generate 25 percent of Michigan’s electric power from renewable sources by 2025; repeal a law allowing appointment of emergency managers in financially struggling cities; and create a regulatory structure for home health care workers.
The governor believes many of the ballot measures “have potentially far-reaching implications and ramifications that would turn back progress and appear to go well beyond what paid petition gatherers portrayed,” said his spokeswoman, Sara Wurfel. “It’s going to be imperative for voters to get the facts on the measures to make sure they get the full story and can make informed decisions.”
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