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Michigan AG weighs in on collective bargaining ballot proposal ruling

Bill Schuette
Bill Schuette
/
Facebook.com

The Michigan Court of Appeals said a proposed ballot question to put collective bargaining rights in the state’s constitution should be put before voters in November.

The court ruled today that the petition campaign collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Opponents are expected to file an appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court.

Attorney General Bill Schuette is among those opposed to the ‘Protect Our Jobs’ amendment.

He said the proposal’s potential effect is too complex for the simple wording of a constitutional amendment.

“You have a 170 statutes.  You have countless constitutional provisions that would be altered, and the voter deserves...an accurate snapshot of what would happen,” said Schuette.

Schuette said the issue is too complex to be addressed by a simple amendment to the state constitution.

“This particular initiative amended tens and tens and tens of statutes and initiatives of the Michigan constitution…in a wholesale fashion that you can’t get down to a hundred words,” said Schuette.

Organized labor supports the “Protect Our Jobs” ballot initiative. Unions have donated millions to Michigan’s collective bargaining ballot question campaign.

Labor unions have donated millions to the Protect Our Jobs ballot question campaigning.

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.