Michigan International Bridge Initiative, Proposal 6 (2012)
| International Bridge Initiative | |
 | |
| Quick stats | |
| Type: | Constitutional amendment |
| Constitution: | Michigan Constitution |
| Referred by: | Citizens |
| Topic: | Transportation on the ballot |
| Status: | On the ballot |
Contents |
The Michigan International Bridge Initiative is on the November 6, 2012 statewide ballot in Michigan as an initiated constitutional amendment. If enacted this measure would require voters to approve any new bridge or tunnel from Michigan to Canada. The measure was proposed by the Detroit International Bridge Co. and is being sponsored by a committee called The People Should Decide.[1][2]
Election results
- See also: 2012 ballot measure election results
LIVE election results will be posted when polls close on November 6, 2012 and when numbers start to roll in.
| Michigan Proposal 6 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Result not yet known | ||||
Text of measure
The official ballot text reads as follows:[3]
PROPOSAL 12-1
A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES AND TUNNELS
This 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 to be located before the State of Michigan may expend state funds or resources for acquiring land, designing, soliciting bids for, constructing, financing, or promoting new international bridges or tunnels.
Should this proposal be approved?
- 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 January 1, 2012."
YES __
NO ____
Background
The Detroit International Bridge Co. filed the measure in response to a proposed project aimed at constructing a new international bridge increasing the number of lanes connecting Detroit to Windsor in Canada. The project, called the New International Trade Crossing (NITC), would compete for traffic with the Detroit International Bridge Co.'s current bridge, the Ambassador Bridge.[4]
Support
The Detroit International Bridge Co. has released a number of ads either supporting the amendment or targeting the New International Trade Crossing. However, the group Michigan Truth Squad, part of the bipartisan Center for Michigan, has rated all the ads "Flagrant Foul," questioning the truthfulness of their contents.[4]
Arguments
- Founder of Washington, D.C.-based Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist, has voiced his support for the measure arguing that the government should not get "into the business of building bridges." Norquist says federal funds will be used to construct a U.S. customs plaza for the bridge, something he says, "is not free."[5]
Campaign contributions
In Michigan campaign finance information related to ballot measures is organized by ballot question committees. The following data was obtained from the state Campaign Finance Committee:
Committee info:
| Committee | Amount raised | Amount spent |
|---|---|---|
| The People Should Decide | $4,657,500.00 | $4,588,552.97[6] |
| Total | $4,657,500.00 | $4,588,552.97 |
Opposition
As a supporter of the new bridge which would compete with Detroit International Bridge Co., Governor Rick Snyder opposes this amendment which would seriously hamper plans on the new bridge if passed.[4]
Opponents
- Gov. Rick Snyder
- State Rep. Rashida Tlaib[4]
- Michigan Chamber of Commerce[7]
- Taxpayers Against Monopolies
Arguments
- In a press release published in September 2012, Gov. Snyder said, "While the proposal is intended to protect one company's monopoly on truck crossings between Detroit and Canada, it was sloppily written and jeopardizes ANY bridge under construction today that won't be completed by January 1, 2012, or any bridge built thereafter."[8]
Polls
- See also: Polls, 2012 ballot measures
- An EPIC-MRA poll conducted on September 8-11, 2012, found that 47 percent were in support of the measure, while 44 percent were opposed, and another 9% were undecided. The poll was based on a poll of 600 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.[9]
|
| Date of Poll | Pollster | In favor | Opposed | Undecided | Number polled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 8-11, 2012 | EPIC-MRA | 47% | 44% | 9% | 600 |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Michigan signature requirements
In order to place the measure on the November 2012 ballot supporters were required to collect a minimum of 322,609 valid signatures by July 9, 2012.
Following a stalemate vote in the Board of State Canvassers, the measure was taken to the Michigan Supreme Court where it was certified for the ballot.[10]
See also
External links
Additional reading
- Detroit Free Press "Editorial: Ballot question is Moroun's newest ploy to stall public bridge," April 24, 2012
- The Detroit News "Public bridge vote called risky," April 25, 2012
References
- ↑ Detroit Free Press "Ambassador owners plan to take bridge battle to November ballot," April 21, 2012
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, statewide ballot proposal status, retrieved May 4, 2012
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State,"Proposal 6," retrieved September 10, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Detroit News "Moroun continues campaign of lies in bridge ballot initiative," May 22, 2012
- ↑ MLive.com "Anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist endorses bridge ballot measure," October 4, 2012
- ↑ Pre-general campaign statement, accessed July 26, 2012
- ↑ Detroit Free Press,"Poll: Michigan voters skeptical about collective bargaining, bridge ballot proposals," September 16, 2012
- ↑ Press release from Gov. Rick Snyder, September 2012
- ↑ Detroit Free Press,"Poll: Michigan voters skeptical about collective bargaining, bridge ballot proposals," September 16, 2012
- ↑ Detroit Free Press,"Bridge, union rights, tax measure make Nov. ballot but casino effort blocked," September 6, 2012
 |
State of Michigan Lansing (capital) |
|---|---|
| Ballot measures |
List of Michigan ballot measures | Local measures | School bond issues | Ballot measure laws | Initiative laws | History of I&R | Campaign Finance Requirements | Recall process | |
| Government |
Michigan State Constitution | House of Representatives | Senate | Legislative Service Bureau | |
| State executive officers |
Governor | Lieutenant Governor | Attorney General | Secretary of State | Treasurer | Auditor General | Superintendent of Public Instruction | Commissioner of Insurance | Director of Agriculture and Rural Development | Director of Natural Resources | Director of Labor and Economic Growth | Chairman of Public Service Commission | |
| Judiciary |
Michigan Supreme Court | Supreme Court Elections | Court of Appeals | First Circuit Court of Appeals | Second Circuit Court of Appeals | Third Circuit Court of Appeals | Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals | List of Michigan Circuit Courts | Judicial Nominating Commission | Judicial news | Judicial activist organizations | |
| Transparency Topics |
Freedom of Information Act | Transparency Checklist | Government corruption reports | Transparency Legislation | Open Records procedures | Transparency Advocates | Transparency blogs | State budget | Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations | |
| Divisions |
State |
List of Counties |
List of Cities |
List of School Districts | |
