TRU has taken an official position opposing Proposal 5 on November’s ballot. Proposal 5 amends the Michigan Constitution to prohibit new or additional taxes by the State of Michigan unless approved by a 2/3 majority of members in each chamber of the legislature or by a statewide vote of the people.
Even with the current rules, state funding for transit has not been increased in 25 years. This proposal would make it far harder to fund transit and other important services.
We urge all Michigan voters to oppose Prop 5 – a radical and harmful change to our state constitution.
There is a reason we elect representatives and a governor and send them all to Lansing: To represent our interests using their experience and judgment. Legislators need the flexibility to be able to make sensible deals. Passage of Proposal 5 would ensure minority rule in the Legislature.
Proposal 5 would create minority rule on tax policy in the state Legislature. If it passes, just 13 state senators would gain the power to block tax votes supported by the other 135 members of the Legislature.
Don’t just take our word for it. Here are other organizations opposing Prop 5 as well:
- Detroit Free Press
- "There is no more dangerous change to state government on the ballot than Proposal 12-5, to require a two-thirds vote of each chamber of the state Legislature in order to raise taxes in Michigan. That is a prescription for disaster. Some call it Californication — after the state that is so bound up in tax restrictions that it often can’t even produce budgets — but you can also simply call it a nightmare."
- Detroit News
- Michigan Nonprofit Association
- Gov. Rick Snyder
- Senior advocates: AARP Michigan, Area Agencies on Aging, and Disability Advocates of Kent County
- Unions: AFL-CIO, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, United Auto Workers
- Education: American Federation of Teachers, Michigan Head Start Association, Michigan Association of School Boards, Michigan Education Association, Michigan Community College Association, Presidents Council of the State Universities of Michigan
- The Business Community: Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Manufacturers Association, Traverse City Chamber of Commerce
- Health care: Michigan Health & Hospital Association, Health Care Association of Michigan
- Michigan Municipal League
- Michigan Sheriffs’ Association
- Michigan League for Human Services
- League of Women Voters of Michigan
- Michigan Catholic Conference
- Michigan Farm Bureau
- And many others
Given the crowded ballot, few people are really aware of this enormous threat. Please help spread the word to your friends, family, and other contacts! Here are some great resources for spreading the word:
- Defend Michigan Democracy coalition: http://defendmidemocracy.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DefendMIDemocracy
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/defendmi
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/defendmidemocracy
Note – taking this position is fully legal and legit given TRU’s nonprofit 501(c)(3) status. While we cannot and will not support or oppose any candidate for public office, nonprofits are permitted to advocate for and against ballot measures.