LANSING, Mich. (March 10, 2022) — Today, Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) introduced a constitutional amendment to ensure the Michigan Legislature can no longer undermine public input on a ballot proposal.
Senate Joint Resolution N would increase the threshold by which the Michigan Legislature can adopt an initiative — and keep it off the ballot — to three-quarters vote (by 29 senators and 83 representatives) from the current simple majority vote required for adoption.
“Most people who sign a petition for an initiative proposal believe they will eventually be able to vote for it on their ballot, without realizing the legislature has its say first and can utilize shameful tactics to prevent a public vote. We’ve seen this manipulation too many times, from dishonest petitioners who lie to bring a ballot proposal before the legislature to lawmakers who use the ‘adopt and amend’ strategy to gut its contents,” Sen. Moss said.
Under the Michigan Constitution, citizens can put an initiative on the ballot if they gather enough valid signatures. But before an initiative reaches the ballot, the state Legislature can pass the proposed law with a simple majority vote in each chamber, which allows for a future simple majority to amend the citizen-proposed law.
“My resolution ensures the legislature would need a more reasonable consensus to adopt an initiative, or else it must go on the ballot for a vote by the people,” added Sen. Moss. “The initiative process in Michigan’s Constitution was meant for the people to enact their own laws, and it ought to be preserved accordingly.”
The constitutional amendment comes on the heels of legislation introduced by Sen. Moss and other Senate Democrats to increase transparency, protect voters from bad actors, and promote democracy — by prohibiting petition circulators from lying or misleading the public about the intent of the initiative for which they are seeking signatures.
Such shady tactics were most recently used by “Unlock Michigan,” which sought to end the governor’s use of emergency powers. The Republican-led legislature adopted this petition in July 2021.
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