What to do with all of these 2012 Michigan ballot proposals?

There are six ballot proposals to wade through this year, of which five are constitutional amendments.  There are many places where voters can learn more about the proposals; my favorites are here, here, and especially here.

All but proposal 12-01 are amendments to the state constitution.

My advice?  When in doubt, vote “No!” on all constitutional amendments.

Here are my (slightly more specific) thoughts on the proposals:

Proposal 1: Referendum on the Emergency Manager Law

Public Act 4 (the emergency manager law) is working, as evidenced by the successes happening in Ecorse, Benton Harbor, and elsewhere.  The law is needed to clean up other municipal basket-cases, and the reason the Democrats don’t like it is because nearly all of the basket-case local governments have been run by entrenched one-party Democrat super-majorities for decades.  Vote “Yes!” to keep this successful law on the books!

Proposal 2: The ‘Collective Bargaining’ Amendment

A potential economic disaster for Michigan in the making.  Vote “NO!” and ask your friends to do the same.

Proposal 3: ’25 x 25′ Renewable Energy Standard

The Wild Leftist environmental mob is doubling down on ex-Gov. Granholm’s signature piece of legislation by trying to entrench these even more arbitrary “green energy” benchmarks into the state constitution, where they definitely do not belong.  Vote “No!” to protect the constitution from special interest SPAM!

Proposal 4: The Unionization of Home-Based Caregivers

The Big (public sector) Union thugs are pushing hard to keep their tax money siphoning scheme alive, after the republicans in the state legislature and Attorney General Bill Schuette finally turned off the tap.

This scheme (also a signature “accomplishment” of the worst modern Michigan Governor – Granholm) has already diverted $Millions from home care workers and their patients – vote “No!” to turn off the flow of our tax dollars to Big Union coffers.

Proposal 5: The Two-Thirds Majority Tax Limitation

This one is very tempting, but the potential unintended consequences of this amendment are enormous.  This Designated Conservative is voting no on #5.

Proposal 6: The International Bridge/Tunnel Voting Requirement

MI Gov. Rick Snyder (R) deserves a voter smackdown for his arrogant and foolish manipulations to find a way to take an end run around the elected representatives of the citizens of Michigan to get his “free” international bridge project approved via special agreements with Canada and the federal government.

Proposal #6 is that smackdown, and this Designated Conservative is highly motivated to send a message to the Governor that his actions on the bridge issue are unacceptable.

However, the same law of unintended consequences applies here as it does with #5 above, especially since the wording of the proposal is so lousy that it may actually require a vote of the people for any future bridge project in Michigan!  In the end, this Designated Conservative will likely vote “no” on #6.