There are six major statewide ballot proposals you will have the opportunity to vote on during the Nov. 6 general election that will impact everything from determining the legitimacy of Michigan’s controversial emergency financial law and the future of collective bargaining in Michigan to whether an additional bridge connecting the state to Canada will be built.

In addition to announcing its endorsements of candidates for the upcoming historical election, The Arab American News has also taken positions on all six statewide ballot proposals, and created this voting slate for readers to take to the polls with them. All proposals could have a serious impact on the futures of Michigan families. 

Here are The Arab American News’ stances on each proposal, denoted by a check mark in each box.  

  

Proposal 1 

Emergency Manager Law  

A referendum on Public Act 4 of 2011 would: 

•  Establish criteria to assess the financial condition of local government units, including school districts 

• Authorize the governor to appoint an emergency manager (EM) upon state finding of financial emergency, and allow the EM to act in the place of local government officials

• Require the EM to develop financial and operating plans, which may include modification or termination of contracts, reorganization of government, and determination of expenditures, services and use of assets until the emergency is resolved

• Alternatively, authorize state appointed review team to enter into a local government approved consent decree 

Proposal 2 

A proposal to amend the state constitution regarding collective bargaining

Proposal would: 

• Grant public and private employees the constitutional right to organize and bargain collectively through labor unions

• Invalidate existing or future state local laws that limit the ability to join and bargain collectively, and to negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements, including employees’ financial support of their labor unions.  Laws may be enacted to prohibit public employees from striking

• Override state laws that regulate hours and conditions of employment to the extent that those laws conflict with collective bargaining agreements 

• Define “employer” as a person or entity employing one or more employees

Proposal 3 

A proposal to amend the state constitution to establish a standard for renewable energy 

Proposal would: 

• Require electric utilities to provide at least 25% of their annual retail sales of electricity from renewable energy sources, which are wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower, by 2025 

• Limit to not more than 1 percent per year electric utility rate increases charged to consumers only to achieve compliance with the renewable energy standard

• Allow annual extensions of the deadline to meet the 25 percent standard in order to prevent rate increases over the 1 percent limit

• Require the legislature to enact additional laws to encourage the use of Michigan made equipment and employment of Michigan residents 

Proposal 4 

A proposal to amend the state constitution to establish the Michigan quality home care council, and provide collective bargaining for in-Home Care Workers 

This proposal would: 

• Allow in home care workers to bargain collectivity with the Michigan Quality Home Care Council (MQHCC). Continue the current exclusive representative of in-home care workers until modified in accordance with labor laws

• Require MQHCC to provide training for in home care workers, create a registry of workers who pass background checks, and provide financial services to patients to manage the cost of in home care

• Preserve patients’ rights to hire in home care workers who are not referred from the MQHCC registry who are bargaining unit members

• Authorize the MQHCC to set minimum compensation standards and terms and conditions of employment

Proposal 5

A proposal to amend the state constitution to limit the enactment of new taxes by state government 

This proposal would:

 • Require a 2/3 majority vote to the State House and the State Senate, or a statewide vote of the people at a November election, in order for the State of Michigan to impose new additional taxes on tax payers or expand the base of taxation or increasing the rate of taxation 

• This section shall in no way be construed to limit or modify tax limitations otherwise created in this Constitution

 

Proposal 6 

A proposal to amend the state constitution regarding construction of international bridges and tunnels

Proposal would:

 • Require the approval of a majority of voters at a statewide election and in each municipality where “new international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles” are located before the State of Michigan may expend state funds or resources for requiring land, designing, soliciting bids for, constructing, financing, or promoting new international bridges or tunnels  

• Create a definition of new “international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles”  that means “any bridge or tunnel which is not open to the public and serving traffic as of Jan. 1, 2012