Needing 322,609 valid signatures to appear on
the November ballot, the Department of State staff review found that the
Michigan Alliance for Prosperity had nearly 522,000 valid signatures from the
629,000-plus they submitted. The group is supporting the ballot proposal that
would require a two-thirds majority approval in both the State Senate and House
of Representatives, or a statewide public vote, for any tax increase.
The proposal has faced two challenges to date.
The first, by Defend Michigan Democracy, alleged that signature gatherers were
not registered voters among other potential violations. Department of State
staff determined enough valid signature existed regardless. The second
challenge, by Taxpayers United Michigan Foundation, alleges that the portion of
the Constitution sought to be amended by the proposal was not stated on the
petition. Department of State staff offered no opinion on the matter, which is
likely to be resolved in the court system.
Additionally approved by State Department
staff review were the signatures submitted by The People Should Decide. The
group’s reported 477,000 valid signatures (of roughly 596,000 submitted) were
enough for the petition in opposition to the New International Trade Crossing
between Michigan and Canada.
Similar to the tax proposal, the anti-bridge
proposal was challenged based on the omission of specific constitutional language
on the petition. The challenge, by Taxpayers Against Monopolies, will also be
decided by the courts.