Vote No on Proposal 1

Proposal 1 on the November 2, 2010 general election ballot will ask voters whether or not a Constitutional Convention should be convened to redraft the state’s Constitution. It is a provision of the current Constitution that the question be automatically placed before the voters every 16 years. If approved, primary and general elections would be held in February and May of 2011 to select 148 convention delegates on a partisan basis. The last time a convention was held, the entire process from beginning to end took over two years.

Michigan cannot afford to effectively be put on “pause” for two years or more while a Con-Con does its work. It will cost the state at least $45million to hold the special elections and conduct the actual Constitutional Convention. Most importantly, a Con-Con will create even more uncertainty and anxiety for Michigan’s job providers and schools, community colleges and universities as critical investments, initiatives, and reforms will be delayed.

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Michigan Turnaround Question of the Week - Will you support a pay as you go policy?

As we approach the general election, we are asking voters, “Do your candidates have a plan to turn Michigan around?”  To help voters decide, we are releasing a weekly series of questions to candidates seeking state office.

The questions are taken from Business Leaders for Michigan’s one-page tool for voters, “10 Questions Every Voter Should Ask Candidates Running for State Office,” and they address the most urgent issues facing all Michiganders – the economy and jobs. 

Click here to read our first week's installment.

This week's question is: "Will you support a pay as you go policy that would prevent the state from adopting new programs without being able to pay for them?" This is an important question because when Michigan was a wealthy state, it could afford to fund all programs well and not set priorities. But with per capita income at 37th in the nation, we are now a relatively poor state, and need to set spending priorities that will re-grow the state's economy. Since 2000, state tax revenue has declined or been flat. However, the state has continued to add new programs, which has exacerbated budget shortfalls while state revenues have declined. 

Click here to read answers to this question that voters should be looking for from candidates for state office.

A Time to Engage

We need everyone to ask the candidates for state office tough questions and vote in the upcoming elections in order to rebuild our state.

At www.MichiganTurnaroundPlan.com, we have posted “The 10 Questions Every Voter Should Ask Candidates Running for State Office.” The questions address the most urgent issues facing all Michiganders – the economy and jobs. They are intended to provide voters background on these issues and to serve as a tool that will help them make informed decisions about this year’s elections. Voters are being made aware of the questions through a statewide radio campaign.

Not only will you find help on what questions to ask candidates running for state office and what positions they have taken on the Michigan Turnaround Plan website, but you will also find more ways to get engaged in turning Michigan around.

Legislative Candidate Questionnaires On Website

Just as we did with gubernatorial candidates, we sent questionnaires to each legislative candidate to gauge their level of support for the Michigan Turnaround Plan. We identified each legislative candidate’s support for the Michigan Turnaround Plan as “strong,” “moderate,” or “weak” based on his or her questionnaire responses.  Those answers are now posted on our website for you to view at: http://www.michiganturnaroundplan.com/candidate-evaluations.php.

Candidate Debates

The Center for Michigan will be hosting a series of debates between candidates running for Governor and legislative offices. Business Leaders for Michigan is one of 20 major organizations sponsoring the debates. View the Republican primary debate which took place on Monday, May 24 at WGVU in Grand Rapids online at: http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/great-debates-2010-announces-first-two-debates/.  The Democratic debate is scheduled for mid-July.