Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

I firmly believe in the importance and value of our right to vote. I try to be informed as much as possible knowing we have so many people and things to vote for. This year, the governor's race is probably the most important race, but the proposals have some impact on sportspersons too. I thought it might help to post a summary of each proposal and links to the actual ballot language (a good idea to read the exact language before you go to the poll) along with a fairly impartial resource for evaluation at the end for those who want more information.

There are 5 proposals to vote on in Michigan on November 7. Three are constitutional amendments (06-1, 06-2, 06-4), 06-5 is an initiative and 06-3 is a referendum. In numerical order:

Proposal 1 (06-1) would give Michigan constitutional protection to conservation and natural resource trust funds to keep them from being raided for other purposes as happened when almost $8 Million was taken from the Waterways fund by the legislature to balance the budget about 4 years ago. More recently, $5 Million was withheld by the legislature from deer management because of another unrelated issue.

Proposal 2 (06-2) amends our Michigan State Constitution to preclude government bodies including colleges from using preferential treatment in admissions and other decisions because for race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin. Also prohibits public institutions from discriminating against groups or individuals due to their gender, ethnicity race, color or national origin. Protection from discrimination already exists based on race, color or national origin.

Proposal 3 (06-3) is a referendum on the state?s law permitting hunting of mourning doves. If you support dove hunting, vote yes to keep the law ? Public Act 160 passed in 2004 ? permitting it.

Proposal 4 (06-4) adds language to the Michigan State Constitution to restrict the ability of state and local government to take private property for the purpose of converting it to nonpublic use (eminent domain power).

Proposal 5 (06-5) is an initiative to require minimum funding of education with and to increase annual funding after fiscal year 2007 at the rate of general inflation each year with the differences made up from the state?s general fund, require the state general fund to pick up the excess cost of education employees? retirement benefits above a new cap, allow districts with falling enrollment to determine their current-year enrollment with a three-year average and reduce the gap of per pupil basic foundation allowance and the maximum state-guaranteed per pupil foundation allowance from $1,300 to $1,000 by fy2012. There will be an adjustment cost in fy2007 from the state?s general fund of between $565 Million and $707 Million to begin if this initiative is enacted.

Link to secretary of state?s document online: http://michigan.gov/documents/Statewide_Bal_Prop_Status_145801_7.pdf

Nonprofit and nonpartisan analyses and information on the proposals available here: Citizens Research Council: http://crcmich.org/election/index.html