Michigan Proposal 6, Require Statewide and Local Voter Approval for State Spending on New International Bridges and Tunnels Initiative (2012)

Michigan Proposal 6
Election date November 6, 2012
Topic Ballot measure process and Highways and bridges
Status Defeated
Type Initiated constitutional amendment	Origin Citizens

Michigan Proposal 6 was on the ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment in Michigan on November 6, 2012. It was defeated.

A “yes” vote supported this constitutional amendment to require approval from a majority of voters statewide and in each municipality where a new international bridge or tunnel would be located before the state of Michigan could spend funds or resources on the project.

A “no” vote opposed this constitutional amendment to require approval from a majority of voters statewide and in each municipality where a new international bridge or tunnel would be located before the state of Michigan could spend funds or resources on the project.

Election results

Michigan Proposal 6
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		1,853,127	40.70%
No		2,699,558	59.30%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposal 6 was as follows:

“

PROPOSAL 12-6 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. 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.” Should this proposal be approved? YES NO

”

Support

The Detroit International Bridge Co. 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, rated all the ads "Flagrant Foul," questioning the truthfulness of their contents.

Arguments

• Founder of Washington, D.C.-based Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist, 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."

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
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.

Opponents

• Gov. Rick Snyder
• State Rep. Rashida Tlaib
• Michigan Chamber of Commerce
• 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."

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.

Legend      Position is ahead and at or over 50%     Position is ahead or tied, but under 50%

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: Signature requirements for ballot measures in Michigan

An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Michigan, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

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.

See also

2012 Measures

• 2012 Measures
• Ballot measure process on the ballot
• Highways and bridges on the ballot
• Revenue allocation on the ballot
• 2012 legislative sessions

Michigan

• Michigan ballot measures
• Michigan ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Michigan Bureau of Elections, "Initiatives and Referendums Under the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963," January 2019
• Senate Fiscal Agency, "November 2012 Ballot Proposal 12-6 An Overview"