In the Feb. 3 edition of The Oxford Leader, local officials voiced their displeasure at the new ‘gag order? legislation passed in the final hours of the 2015 legislative session.
Similar officials from across the state are upset at the law as well.
In short, the law prevents local officials from using public resources on things like mass mailings, robo-calls or advertisements to inform citizens about ballot proposals for 60 days before an election. It is unclear if an official can even use public facilities to inform citizens of proposals, in addition to other possible scenarios that can hinder informing the public in a responsible manner. In a move of political genius, Governor Snyder still signed the bill but then urged the Legislature to clarify the bill with further legislation at a later date. Is that really how things are supposed to work? Sadly in Michigan, that is how things work far too often.
How did this happen in the first place? It’s very simple; the bill was hastily thrown together during the last hours of the 2015 legislative session as a bill that was just a dozen pages long and then ballooned into a nearly 50-page monstrosity in a matter of hours. Many legislators admit it all happened so fast they really didn’t know what they were signing. It appears as though legislators voted for a bill they could not possibly have known well, nor did they have chance to find out how it would impact their constituents. It’s no wonder that in a 2015 State Integrity study from the Center for Public Policy (not to be confused with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy which sent legislators talking points to justify the sneaky legislation, as they have done so many times before) Michigan ranked dead last in a report that asses such things as public access to information, legislative and executive accountability, and political financing.
Our legislators are supposed to be beholden and accountable to voters, but in Michigan powerful corporate-backed groups hold all the cards. In Michigan we have seen an abuse of legislative power taken to new extremes.
Want to make sure voters can’t overturn legislation via a ballot initiative? No problem, just attach an appropriation to it so it can’t be taken to voters.
Need more money to increase your stranglehold on elections? No problem, increase the amount of money anonymous groups can contribute to candidates. The corporate tax breaks you gave away ought to help them contribute more to your cause.
Want to prevent more people from voting? No problem, don’t allow easy access to absentee voting and then tie the restrictions to an appropriation so voters don’t have a say on it. Fight efforts to standardize voting districts while you gerrymander them to your advantage. And don’t forget to avoid public hearings on important legislation so you can continue to disrespect voters to the point they may not bother to show up to the polls next time around.
Need revenue to make up for $2 billion in corporate tax breaks? No problem, tax pensions, eliminate the child-tax credit, cut the Earned Income Tax Credit, and halt the scheduled reduction of the state income tax that was supposed to have happened by now. And then turn around and tell folks how great Michigan’s comeback has been, despite stagnant wages and having nearly one-fourth of children in Michigan living in poverty. Ride the rising tide of the national economy, but pretend the increasing amount of money you’ve given to the wealthiest is the reason for any sort of turn around here at home. Of course, don’t bother to cut your own pay or move to a part-time legislature like 46 other states.
And finally, want to keep all of your behind the scenes politicking a secret? No problem, just continue to be one of only two states where both the governor and the Legislature are exempted from state open records laws.
It’s time to find candidates who see the common good and not party lines. My hope is that someone will stand out as a candidate who can bring people together instead of participating in a cycle of political gamesmanship that takes precedence over common sense legislating. Personally, I don’t care what party they are from. I just want to be proud of the people who represent my community.
Neil Peruski
Oxford