ICYMI: Crain’s Slams Failed Democrat Ballot Proposals

Lansing, MI – In March, the Crain’s Detroit Business editorial board slammed the far-left, out-of-state activist groups who push ridiculous ballot initiatives, noting that they are “most often backed by a single big donor who is effectively purchasing a slot on Michigan’s ballot.” The piece refers to the “Invest in MI Kids” ballot proposal and the petition drive from One Fair Wage, both of which closed up shop after failing to get the required signatures.

The editorial also notes how these initiatives were funded from sources outside Michigan, and were not the grassroots effort their proponents suggested: 

“Both campaigns were driven substantially by money and organizational muscle from beyond Michigan’s borders. The graduated income tax drive drew the majority of its funding from the San Francisco-based Tides Foundation. One Fair Wage is headquartered in New York.

These are not Michigan organizations responding to Michigan concerns. They are national advocacy groups with their own agendas looking to leverage Michigan’s petition process.”

Sadly, those failed proposals are not the end of Democrats’ activist allies trying to buy their way into the ballot initiative game. “Michiganders for Money Out of Politics” (MMOP) is a far-left group funded by the same California-based foundation claiming that their proposal cleans up Michigan politics and stops political spending, but all it really does is makes sure that only Democrat allies are allowed to donate to candidates. Unions and companies granted Democrat taxpayers handouts would both get an exemption to the new spending rules.“Michiganders have successfully defeated two bad Democrat ballot proposals already,” said Gabe Butzke, a spokesperson for Michigan Forward Network. “But, there is one more they need to decline to sign. MMOP is a deceptive effort from far-left activists to make Michigan’s elections unfair.”