Great Lakes Wire

The Board of State Canvassers has withdrawn the 100-word summary for a proposed state constitutional amendment to increase taxes on wealthy individuals to fund schools. This decision was made due to a procedural error. Invest in MI Kids had submitted two petitions, one on June 10 and another on June 16. The public comment period for the first petition ended on June 17, but the second petition did not remain open long enough for comments.

Molly Sweeney, Co-Director of 482Forward, expressed disappointment but remained optimistic about the amendment appearing on the ballot. "We’re going to get through what was a procedural error from the board," she said.

Sweeney mentioned that Invest in MI Kids has 2,500 volunteers ready and plans to recruit more during this delay. She hopes there will be no issues when the summary is reconsidered by the Board of State Canvassers.

Brian Calley, CEO of Small Business Association of Michigan, opposed the summary, arguing it would harm job creators in Michigan. "Today is a victory for small business owners, but it is only temporary," he stated.

Calley noted his group's intent to modify the initial petition's wording due to its potential impact on small businesses. He emphasized that if approved, this proposal could adversely affect those contributing positively to Michigan's economy.