While voters defeated proposals to lock collective bargaining rights in the constitution and restore bargaining rights to home health workers on Tuesday, the battle over labor rules is far from over in Michigan. The defeat of Proposal 2, the collective bargaining ballot issue, clears the way for a possible Right to Work bill to be […]
Michigan Government
Citizens cannot do their job of running their government if they don’t know what their public servants are doing.
Posted inMichigan Government
Political winds bolster bridge, fuel-tax review, but not renewable energy
On energy, bridges and taxes, voters spoke volumes on Tuesday. Defeat of Proposal 3 means, for the foreseeable future, that Michigan will pursue a more limited investment in wind power and renewable energy than neighboring states. Defeat of Proposal 5 means a simple legislative majority remains the threshold for statewide tax increases, perhaps opening the […]
Posted inMichigan Government
For the Legislature, an active and speedy 'duck,' followed by a cautious 2013
The smoke is still clearing from the statewide legislative elections, but Michigan residents should not be surprised if Lansing provides a two-pronged response to the voter’s will: First: A flurry of activity on legislation in the “lame-duck” sessions of the Legislature scheduled through the end of 2012. Hot topics for action include changes to the […]
Posted inMichigan Government
In Marquette, Detroit, voters opine on process
Michigan’s a big place, with nearly 10 million citizens who have varying views on what is good politics and what isn’t. Bridge sent contributors Taylor Trammell and Christie Bleck to the northern (Marquette) and southern (Detroit) margins of the state to collect voters’ views on Election Day: Marquette – voter information “I seemed to get […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Truth Squad: Foul on pro-Prop 6 ad; no foul on anti-Prop 6 ad
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: “Katie Explains” and “This Land” Who: The People Should Decide, Taxpayers Against Monopolies What: TV/Internet ads Truth Squad call: Foul on PSD ad; No foul on TAM ad Proposal 6 would require all new international bridges and tunnels built in the state to be pre-approved by voters statewide and in the […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Bolger's re-election effort gets fouls from Truth Squad
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: House 63 Who: Bill Farmer campaign, Jase Bolger campaign, Michigan Democratic Party What: TV, radio ads Truth Squad call: Fouls on Bolger TV and radio ads; No Fouls on other materials Farmer ad ‘Power’ The 30-second television advertisement from Democratic candidate Bill Farmer slams House Speaker Jase Bolger for his role […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Proposal 1: Michigan's emergency manager law
Of the many laws Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has championed during his first 21 months in office, few have proved as divisive as the one that gave emergency managers sweeping new “superpowers” allowing them to dismiss elected leaders and rip up union contracts to help balance budgets in financially distressed cities and school districts. If […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Proposal 2: A clash of labor and business
Michigan has been the scene of historic, sometimes bloody, battles between organized labor and management. Proposal 2 – the ballot effort to include collective bargaining rights in the Michigan Constitution — has lacked physical confrontation. But there’s plenty of bad blood between labor unions, which put the measure on the November ballot, and business groups […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Proposal 3: Renewable energy mandate
Consumers Energy President and CEO John Russell caused a stir last month when he marked the dedication of the utility’s first wind farm near Ludington by declaring that renewable energy is “clean, reliable and affordable for Michigan.” Russell’s comments added fuel to the debate over Proposal 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require Michigan’s […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Proposal 4: Home health registry and unionization
Ask supporters of Proposal 4 what it’s about, and they will answer as one: The registry. Ask its detractors the same thing, and they say: The union. And therein lies the debate. Proposal 4, which would amend the state constitution to create the Michigan Quality Home Care Council and allow home-care workers collective bargaining rights, […]
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