2015 Michigan Proposal 1

none February 2026 April 2015 Proposal 1 Increase sales and use taxes to 7% and increase gas tax and vehicle registration fees; dedicate revenue to transportation purposes 349,862 1,406,019 1,755,881 2015 Michigan Proposal 1 results map by county.svg County resultsNo #32320C 90–100% 1px #AAAAAA solid #5D5D2D 80–90% 1px #AAAAAA solid #8B8B54 70–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid #BCBC83 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid Source: Michigan Secretary of StateINITIATIVES AND REFERENDUMS UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONOF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN OF 1963 https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Initia_Ref_Under_Consti_12-08_339399_7.pdf State of Michigan Bureau of Elections 20 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201017031300/https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Initia_Ref_Under_Consti_12-08_339399_7.pdf 17 October 2020 Lansing January 2019 live 2015 Michigan Proposal 1, also known as the Michigan Sales Tax Increase for Transportation Amendment, was a referendum held on May 5, 2015, concerning a legislatively-referred ballot measure. The measure's approval would have caused one constitutional amendment and 10 statutes to go into effect. It is estimated that Proposal 1 would raise state revenues from sales and use taxes by $1.427 billion, fuel taxes by $463 million, truck registration fees by $50 million, and vehicle registration fees by $10.1 million in the first year.Michigan's May Tax Proposal https://www.mackinac.org/20974 Mackinac Center for Public Policy April 22, 2015 1 If approved, the proposal was estimated by the Associated Press to result in an average tax increase of $545 per household in 2016.http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/michigan/2015/04/11/michigan-roads-tax-plan/25640207/ Prop 1 would cost households hundreds more in taxes The Detroit News Associated Press David Eggert April 11, 2015 May 6, 2015 The proposal was defeated in an historic landslide, receiving support from only 20% of voters."With all counties reporting, 1.4 million Michiganders voted no on Proposal 1 while less than 351,000 voted yes, according to the Michigan Secretary of State's office. The 80-20 rejection was the most one-sided loss ever for a proposed amendment to the state constitution of 1963, records show."Michigan voters soundly reject Proposal 1 road tax plan Paul Egan Kathleen Gray Detroit Free Press May 6, 2015 http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2015/05/05/angry-voters-reject-proposal-michigan-roads-await-viable-fix/26950451/ May 6, 2015http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/05/michigan_voters_made_road_kill.html Michigan voters made 'road kill' of Proposal 1, which failed in historic fashion Mlive Jonathan Oosting Lansing, Michigan Booth Newspapers May 6, 2015 May 6, 2015 Background Proposal 1, consisting of House Joint Resolution UU of 2014 and associated bills, was passed on the last day of the 97th Legislature of Michigan, December 19, 2014. The legislation was created as a solution to a legislative impasse on road funding, with the state House and Senate unable to agree on legislation to create new funding for Michigan roads. Both the House- and Senate-approved plans would have allocated an additional approximately $1.2 billion annually for road and bridge maintenance. The House-approved plan would have allocated this money by cutting spending increases in other areas, including schools. The Senate-approved plan would have raised the money through higher fuel taxes. The two chambers unable to compromise, and both plans were discarded in favor of Proposal 1. House Joint Resolution UU was passed with the requisite supermajority vote in either chamber, and ten additional bills were passed and signed into law containing enacting clauses that stipulate they only take effect if HJR UU is adopted by voters.April 2015 Contents Proposal 1 consists of an amendment to the Constitution of Michigan, House Joint Resolution UU of 2014.Haveman Joseph Joint House Resolution UU http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(lvsiabuduic15cajc1u5kczl))/documents/2013-2014/jointresolutionintroduced/House/pdf/2014-HIJR-UU.pdf Michigan Legislature November 20, 2020 Separately from the constitutional amendment, Public Acts 467 through 476 of 2014, signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder in January 2015, contain enacting sections that specify they do not take effect "unless House Joint Resolution UU of the 97th Legislature becomes a part of the state constitution of 1963 as provided in section 1 of article XII of the state constitution of 1963." Public Act 467 of 2014 English Michigan Legislature https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0467.pdf 12 January 2015 19 November 2020 Public Act 468 of 2014 English Michigan Legislature https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0468.pdf 12 January 2015 19 November 2020 Public Act 469 of 2014 English Michigan Legislature https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0469.pdf 12 January 2015 19 November 2020 Public Act 470 of 2014 English Michigan Legislature https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0470.pdf 12 January 2015 19 November 2020 Public Act 471 of 2014 English Michigan Legislature https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0471.pdf 12 January 2015 19 November 2020 Public Act 472 of 2014 English Michigan Legislature https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0472.pdf 12 January 2015 19 November 2020 Public Act 473 of 2014 English Michigan Legislature https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0473.pdf 12 January 2015 19 November 2020 Public Act 474 of 2014 English Michigan Legislature https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0474.pdf 12 January 2015 19 November 2020 Public Act 475 of 2014 English Michigan Legislature https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0475.pdf 12 January 2015 19 November 2020 Public Act 476 of 2014 English Michigan Legislature https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0476.pdf 12 January 2015 19 November 2020 The language of the proposal that appears on the ballot describes some aspects of these ten additional laws, acknowledging that giving effect to these ten laws is a major part of the proposal.Prop 1 ballot language for road funds approved http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/02/26/ballot-language-approved-roads-proposal/24077523/ Detroit Free Press April 22, 2015 February 27, 2015 Ballot title Per Michigan law, Michigan Bureau of Elections Director Chris Thomas wrote the ballot title for Proposal 1. The language was approved 3–1 by the Board of State Canvassers; the dissenting voter was Norman Shinkle, a Republican-appointed member of the Board, who noted, "This is a very complex proposal based on interplay of changing the constitution and the laws of Michigan". The proposal appeared on ballots as follows:https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Official15_1_482602_7.pdf May 5, 2015 Proposal 15-1 Official Ballot Wording Board of State Canvassers April 23, 2015 A proposal to amend the State Constitution to increase the sales/use tax from 6% to 7% to replace and supplement reduced revenue to the School Aid Fund and local units of government caused by the elimination of the sales/use tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for vehicles operating on public roads, and to give effect to laws that provide additional money for roads and other transportation purposes by increasing the gas tax and vehicle registration fees. The proposed constitutional amendment would: Eliminate sales / use taxes on gasoline / diesel fuel for vehicles on public roads. Increase portion of use tax dedicated to School Aid Fund (SAF). Expand use of SAF to community colleges and career / technical education, and prohibit use for 4-year colleges / universities. Give effect to laws, including those that: Increase sales / use tax to 7%, as authorized by constitutional amendment. Increase gasoline / diesel fuel tax and adjust annually for inflation, increase vehicle registration fees, and dedicate revenue for roads and other transportation purposes. Expand competitive bidding and warranties for road projects. Increase earned income tax credit. Policies that would be enacted Sales tax increase The largest tax increase in the proposal is the raising of Michigan's state sales tax from 6% to 7%. An additional law, Public Act 553, passed in December 2014 and taking effect in October 2015, will require certain Internet retailers, such as Amazon.com, to collect Michigan's sales tax at the point of purchase. Public Act 553 of 2014 English Michigan Legislature https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0553.pdf 15 January 2015 19 November 2020 Public Act 554 of 2014 English Michigan Legislature https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/publicact/pdf/2014-PA-0554.pdf 15 January 2015 19 November 2020 The constitutional amendment would allow for the sales tax increase, and Public Act 474, put into effect by the proposal, would immediately raise the sales tax to the newly authorized rate. Fuel tax modification and increase The proposal would exempt gasoline and diesel fuel used to operate a motor vehicle from the state sales tax and instead increase in the wholesale fuel tax. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy reports, "The state currently imposes both sales tax and a per-gallon excise tax on motor fuel. This excise tax along with vehicle license and registration fees are the primary source of revenue for the state's road maintenance budget. Under the measure, sales tax would no longer be imposed on fuel and the motor fuel tax would be replaced with a new wholesale tax levied at higher rates than currently. At a listed price of $2 per gallon, the state is currently collecting 29 cents per gallon in sales and excise taxes on gasoline. This proposal would increase those collections to 41.7 cents per gallon." Additionally, the retail sales tax on gasoline is expressly eliminated only for vehicles "driving on Michigan roads." It is not eliminated for off-road vehicles, including boats, agricultural machines, ATVs, snowmobiles, and other gasoline-powered vehicles and tools.Spencer Jack Double Tax on Some Fuels is Problematic for $2 Billion May 5 Proposal http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/20990 Michigan Capitol Confidential April 23, 2015 February 13, 2015 Vehicle registration fee increase Vehicle registration fees would no longer depreciate with the value of the vehicle, raising fees overall. Additionally, because vehicle registration fees are no longer ad valorem (based on value) they would no longer qualify as a federal tax line-item deduction. The Anderson Economic Group estimated Michigan residents would pay an additional $102 million in federal taxes caused by this change.Anderson Patrick Anderson Economic Group Tax Note: Likely Effect of Michigan Prop 2015-1 ("Road Tax" Proposal on May 2015 Ballot) on Federal Income Taxes https://www.andersoneconomicgroup.com/Portals/0/upload/AEG_prelim_2015-1_FedTax%20Secure%20file.pdf Anderson Economic Group 20 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20160915215307/https://www.andersoneconomicgroup.com/Portals/0/upload/AEG_prelim_2015-1_FedTax%20Secure%20file.pdf 15 September 2016 28 January 2015 live State Rep. Mike McCready, who sponsored the vehicle registration fee bill, said that legislative leaders knew that change would eliminate the federal deductions. McCready said that the legislature chose to eliminate the depreciation discounts for new vehicles, rather than increase the tax rate for all vehicles, because the legislature "felt this would be the least painful [option]".Chad Livengood Road plan costs taxpayers $410M in lost deductions http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/01/28/road-plan-costs-taxpayers-lost-deductions/22480667/ The Detroit News April 23, 2015 Funding for roads Michigan's proposed fiscal year 2015–16 budget contains cuts in discretionary funding for roads from $285 million the previous year and $451 million in 2014. The proposed amount for fiscal year 2015–16 is $113 million, according to the House Fiscal Agency.Oosting Jonathan Calley makes case for road funding, but ballot proposal money not in budget proposal http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/02/calley_makes_case_for_road_fun.html MLive Booth Newspapers February 12, 2015 Governor Snyder described the continuing cuts as intentional, saying "that's why this needs to get approved." Proposal 1 would increase spending on roads by approximately $400 million in the first year, $800 million in the second, and $1.2 billion in subsequent years. Under Public Act 468 (part of the proposal) for the 2015–16 fiscal year, $400 million of $1.2 billion raised from increasing fuel taxes would go to the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF); the remaining money would be used to pay down a portion of the state's debt from previous road construction projects. For the 2016–17 fiscal year, $800 million of the $1.2 billion would go to the MTF, and starting in the 2017–18 fiscal year, nearly all of the projected $1.35 billion in fuel tax revenue would go to the MTF. "However, the language in the bill does not earmark a portion of the additional revenue resulting from the bill, but a portion of the total revenue generated by the Act. As a result, the language would result in a 56.6%, or $522.2 million, decline in MTF revenue available for roads."Glenn Steffens David Zin http://legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/billanalysis/Senate/pdf/2013-SFA-HJRUU-N.pdf Bill Analysis: Transportation Funding H.J.R. UU & H.B. 4251, 4539, 4630, 5167, 5460, 5477, 5492 & 5493: Revised Summary as Enacted Senate Fiscal Agency April 15, 2015 April 23, 2015 Funding for schools and local governments Proposal 1 would have modified funding for schools and local governments. Changes in School Aid Fund usage rules Proposal 1 would have made changes to School Aid Fund usage rules. Earned Income Tax Credit expansion The Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit (MEITC) was amended in 2011, reducing the credit to eligible taxpayers from 20% of the federal Earned Income Credit to 6%. Proposal 1 would give effect to a law that increases that credit back to 20% of the federal amount.http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/01/earned_income_tax_credit_expan.html Earned Income Tax Credit expansion tied to Michigan road funding ballot proposal Jonathan Oosting MLive Booth Newspapers January 8, 2015 April 23, 2015 This is estimated to provide $260 million in tax relief to qualified individuals in the first year. April 2015 The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimated that if Proposal 1 passes, the average recipient of the MEITC who earns less than $20,000 will see a net tax break of $24. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy estimated that, if passed, Proposal 1 would result in typical Michigan families seeing an increase of $500 in taxes per year. Taxpayers who qualify for the MEITC would have, on average, a net tax break of $69; however, some MEITC recipients might see a tax increase.http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/04/some_working_poor_could_see_ta.html Working poor may see modest tax break under Michigan roads Proposal 1 Jonathan Oosting April 13, 2015 April 23, 2015 MLive Booth Newspapers New competitive bidding rules Public Act 472, an act modifying and consolidating public bidding rules for road projects, was dependent on this proposal for implementation. Warranty expansion and affirmative action rules Public Act 473, which takes effect if and only if Proposal 1 is adopted by voters, modifies rules for road contraction, including new affirmative action rules and warranty requirements.PA 473 of 2014 http://michigantaxpayers.com/prop1.php#pa473 MichiganTaxpayers.com April 23, 2015 MichiganVotes.org summarized the bill as "to expand to local road agencies a requirement to warranties from contractors for road construction and preservation projects valued at more than $1 million. Under current law the warranty requirement only applies to the state Department of Transportation. Also, to require the Department of Transportation to give extra assistance (possibly including grants and loans) to "disadvantaged" businesses that bid on state funded road projects; and to take other steps to steer more state-funded road work to such firms, including annual consultations with certain ethnic- and race-based organizations."2014 House Bill 5460: Require local road agencies get warranties on road projects http://michiganvotes.org/2014-HB-5460 Mackinac Center for Public Policy 19 November 2020 Policies subject to change Proposal 1 consists of a constitutional amendment that could not be modified without a subsequent vote of the people of Michigan, but the ten laws that take effect if Proposal 1 passes, Public Acts 467 through 476 of 2014, containing most of the significant policy changes, are ordinary laws that are written as to only take effect if the Proposal 1 is adopted. These laws could be modified by the legislature at any time, before or after May 5, 2015, and before or after they are scheduled to take effect. Public polling A late-March statewide poll by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA found that 70 percent of voters were opposed to Proposal 1, with only 21 percent in favor. The remaining 9 percent of voters were undecided.EPIC-MRA Statewide Poll March 2015 http://www.epicmra.com/press/Stwd_Survey_March2015_Media_Freq.pdf EPIC MRA Statewide Poll March 2015 April 22, 2015 Arguments Support There are three principal arguments advanced by "Safe Roads Yes!", the ballot committee supporting the proposal: Proposal 1 (1) guarantees that all taxes on gasoline are allocated to transportation; (2) guarantees that all money in the School Aid Fund goes toward K-12 education; and (3) extends pavement warranties so that road builders pay for repairs to poorly constructed roads.http://www.saferoadsyes.com/prop-1/ About Prop 1 Safe Roads Yes! April 23, 2015 dead https://archive.today/20150423202751/http://www.saferoadsyes.com/prop-1/ April 23, 2015 mdy-all The proposal was to remove the sales tax from Michigan fuel sales. This was claimed to remedy the anomalous perverse situation where "Michigan charges some of the highest taxes on fuel in the nation, but still has among the lowest per-lane-mile spending on roads.""Taking the sales tax off fuel allows a sharp hike in the fuel tax — which is spent on roads — without significantly increasing the pump price. And bumping up the sales tax more than replaces the money schools and local governments would lose as a result of a sales tax no longer being charged on fuel."http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/14/michigan-proposal-roads/70307238/ Proposal 1: The right road fix or a total mess? Paul Egan Detroit Free Press March 15, 2015 May 6, 2015 Nolan Finley, editor of The Detroit News (which also endorsed Proposal 1), wrote in support, "There is no Plan B". Finley argued that the option of cutting spending from other areas of the budget will not work, as "Republicans aren't going to make substantial cuts to prison spending, Democrats aren't going to hack welfare spending, and neither party is going to touch school spending." Finley noted that, in his opinion, the best course of action would be to raise the money through an increased fuel tax; however, the legislature had been unable to pass such a bill last session and would likely be unable to do so now. Finley concluded by saying that if the proposal fails, revenue increases will be off the table, making Proposal 1 the only option. "So the real message to voters should be this: Hold your noses and vote for Prop 1, or keep driving on what may be the deadliest roads in America. Guaranteed."Finley Nolan No Prop 1, no good roads. Guaranteed. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/nolan-finley/2015/02/22/finley-prop-fix-mich-roads/23749467/ The Detroit News April 23, 2015 February 22, 2015 MLive Media Group, in its editorial endorsement of Proposal 1, argued that has been under investing in infrastructure, schools, and municipalities for too long, and that the only way to rectify this is through a tax increase. The editorial argued that "[t]here is no viable alternative." The editorial also contested claims by opposition groups, saying, "Schools and municipalities are not 'special interests,' as Proposal 1 opponents cynically call them."Vote yes on Proposal 1 for better Michigan roads, schools and cities http://www.mlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/04/vote_yes_on_proposal_1_for_roa.html MLive Booth Newspapers April 23, 2015 April 2, 2015 Opposition Opponents of Proposal 1 argue that tax increases are unnecessary to fix the roads. They use as an example an alternative proposal passed by the Michigan House that would not raise taxes in December 2014, supported by then-speaker Jase Bolger.Oosting Jonathan Michigan road funding: House votes for Bolger plan to remove sales tax, replace with fuel tax http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/12/michigan_road_funding_house_vo.html April 22, 2015 MLive Booth Newspapers In an op-ed published by MLive, Rep. Tom McMillin made three arguments to show that tax increases were not necessary: (1) Noting that the state's budget increased close to $5 billion from 2012 to 2015 and that the tax increase only raises $2 billion annually, the new taxes would only offset new spending, which has not gone to roads; (2) in 2014, the state House passed a bill "to fully fix and fund roads without any tax increases, by simply prioritizing new spending", but the governor blocked the legislation; and (3) "[r]oads are an ordinary budget item in forty-nine states", and road funding should just be "budget discussions, not some political hostage brought before voters to demand higher taxes".Pro vs. Con on Proposal 1: Is it the best option or a political money grab? http://www.mlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/03/pro_and_con_proposal_1.html EPIC MRA Statewide Poll March 2015 March 31, 2015 April 22, 2015 An editorial in the Battle Creek Enquirer contested the assertion that there is no alternative to fixing roads but Proposal 1: "Proposal 1 proponents are calling the initiative our best—even only—hope for addressing the state's crumbling infrastructure. The governor and others remind us that 'there's no Plan B.' That's a lot of bunk, and it's insulting to voters who shouldn't be in this position. We pay legislators to legislate, and we expect the governor to lead. No elected leaders should be hiding behind voters on this.""We're no fans of the shell games that typify monetary policy in Lansing, so it's an understatement to say we're dismayed by the circuitous route the Legislature has taken to raise revenue for Michigan's crumbling roads. It amounts to extortion, and as much as we support new taxes to maintain—or, more accurately, rebuild—our state's infrastructure, we won't be endorsing Proposal 1 on the May 5 ballot"Editorial: Prop 1 a referendum on trust, not our roads http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/story/opinion/editorials/2015/04/04/editorial-prop-referendum-trust-roads/25251205/ Battle Creek Enquirer April 23, 2015 April 4, 2015 Concerned Taxpayers of Michigan, a group opposed to Proposal 1, argued that the political ramifications of Proposal 1 were an additional reason to vote no: "If Proposal 1 is passed, the public will have shown to the politicians that they accept their worst. That We the People will settle for anything: the worst they can do, we'll accept as the best."de Angeli Adam We Should All Be Disgusted and Deeply Offended By Proposal 1 http://us10.campaign-archive2.com/?u=49fa44986fa8e6e4b36b00d19&id=dcb62cbdb4 Concerned Taxpayers of Michigan Critics of Proposal 1 have also pointed out that just over half of the tax revenue raised by Proposal 1 would go toward road funding, with 40% going toward schools, revenue sharing with local governments, and other projects unrelated to roads.http://saynotohighertaxes.org/about/ About Us Coalition Against Higher Taxes and Special Interest Deals April 23, 2015 Endorsements Support The campaign supporting Proposal 1 is being led by the Safe Roads Yes committee. The largest contributor to Safe Roads Yes as of the February 2015 disclosure was the Michigan Infrastructure Transportation Association.Chad Livengood Gary Heinlein Backers of sales tax hike for roads raise $3.2M February 18, 2015 The Detroit News https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/michigan/2015/02/17/prop-sales-tax-backers-raise-money/23571277 19 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20160409112907/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/michigan/2015/02/17/prop-sales-tax-backers-raise-money/23571277/ 9 April 2016 live Groups in favor of Proposal 1 include AFL–CIO of Michigan,Michigan AFL-CIO Endorses Safe Roads Yes Campaign https://miaflcio.org/2015/03/michigan-afl-cio-endorses-safe-roads-yes-campaign/ Michigan AFL–CIO April 23, 2015 the Michigan Association of School Administrators,MASA Works with Safe Roads Yes Coalition http://www.gomasa.org/news/masa-working-safe-roads-yes-coalition Michigan Association of School Administrators April 23, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150304055600/http://www.gomasa.org/news/masa-working-safe-roads-yes-coalition March 4, 2015 dead the Michigan Education Association,Safe Roads YES! Michigan Education Association http://www.mea.org/safe-roads-yes Michigan Education Association April 23, 2015 the Michigan Environmental Council,Proposal 1 – What it is and why the MEC supports it http://www.environmentalcouncil.org/newsroom/news.php?x=35 Michigan Environmental Council April 23, 2015 the Michigan Farm Bureau,Michigan Farm Bureau Joins Safe Roads Coalition https://www.michfb.com/MI/News/Press_Releases/Farm_Bureau_joins_Safe_Roads_coalition/ Michigan Farm Bureau April 23, 2015 the Michigan Municipal League,League Board Unanimously Supports Proposal 1 January 26, 2015 http://blogs.mml.org/wp/inside208/2015/01/26/league-board-unanimously-supports-michigan-road-funding-ballot-proposal/ Michigan Municipal League April 23, 2015 the Michigan Public Transit Association,Who Supports and Opposes Proposal 1? http://bridgemi.com/2015/04/who-supports-and-opposes-proposal-1/ BridgeMI.com April 23, 2015 and Michigan School Business Officials.MSBO Joins Safe Roads Yes Coalition http://www.msbo.org/newsletter/msbo-joins-safe-roads-yes-coalition Michigan School Business Officials Opposition Four ballot committees are filed in Michigan opposing Proposal 1: Concerned Taxpayers of Michigan, led by former State Rep. Tom McMillin; Coalition Against Higher Taxes and Special Interest Deals, led by former congressional candidate and businessman Paul Mitchell; Protect Michigan Taxpayers, led by Keith Allard; and Citizens Against Middle Class Tax Increases, led by political consultant John Yob.http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/02/05/gop-strategist-joins-foes-sales-tax-hike/22908865/ Fourth group forms to lobby against sales tax hike The Detroit News Chad Livengood February 5, 2015 April 23, 2015 At least 33 county and congressional district Republican committees passed resolutions expressing official opposition to Proposal 1.http://www.wsjm.com/Opponents-Of-Proposal-One-Urge-Voters-To-Say-No/21450381 Opponents Of Proposal One Urge Voters To Say No WSJRM FM 94.9 May 1, 2015 May 4, 2015 In a news release issued by district chairman Tom McMillin as his committee passed such a resolution, McMillin commented "In my 25 years of activism within the Republican party, I've never seen anything like this—so many District and County Republican party committees coming out against a significant proposal by a sitting Republican Governor."McMillin Tom News Release http://us10.campaign-archive1.com/?u=49fa44986fa8e6e4b36b00d19&id=6ea10433ca Concerned Taxpayers of Michigan Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette criticized the proposal, saying, "From a policy perspective, this proposal has a lot of potholes and pitfalls. It's a massive $1.9 billion sales tax increase that goes well beyond road funding. There's just too much under the tree."Roads proposal 'has a lot of potholes,' says Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/03/roads_proposal_has_a_lot_of_po.html MLive Booth Newspapers April 23, 2015 March 4, 2015 Numerous other organizations have made official statements opposing Proposal 1, including several Tea Party groups,Young Stephen Letter to the Editor: Why Isn't the GOP Fighting Proposed Tax Increase? http://www.mlive.com/wayland/index.ssf/2015/04/letter_to_the_editor_why_isnt.html MLive April 6, 2015 Booth Newspapers April 22, 2015 Vote No on Proposal 1 http://www.bluewaterteaparty.com/webapp/p/494/mi-proposal-1---may-2015-tax-vote Blue Water Tea Party April 22, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150429214652/http://www.bluewaterteaparty.com/webapp/p/494/mi-proposal-1---may-2015-tax-vote April 29, 2015 dead Prop 1 http://www.lakesareateaparty.com/category/proposal-1/ Lakes Area Tea Party Lapeer County Tea Party http://www.lapeerteaparty.org/ Lapeer County Tea Party April 22, 2015 Rattle With Us http://rattlewithus.ning.com/events/may-5-tax-proposal-special-event?xg_source=activity Rattle With Us Tea Party dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150309235014/http://rattlewithus.ning.com/events/may-5-tax-proposal-special-event?xg_source=activity March 9, 2015 mdy-all River City Patriots Oppose Prop 1 Tax Day Protest http://rivercitypatriots.ning.com/events/tax-day-road-tax-protest-and-legislative-day?xg_source=activity the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance,Michigan Taxpayers Alliance http://www.mitaxpayers.org/ Michigan Taxpayers Alliance April 22, 2015 the National Federation of Independent Business,Owens Charles Fight for Small Business in Road Funding Debate http://www.nfib.com/article/fight-for-small-business-in-the-road-funding-debate-30862/ NFIB Michigan April 22, 2015 the Wayne County Taxpayers Association, Inc.,NO NO NO! To the Sales Tax Increase March 29, 2015 http://wctaxpayers.blogspot.com/2015/03/no-no-no-to-sales-tax-increase.html Wayne County Taxpayers Association Our America Initiative,Scott Boman https://www.ouramericainitiative.com/michigan.html Our America Initiative: Michigan Our America Initiative February 1, 2015 the Libertarian Party of Michigan,Libertarians Issue Statement In Opposition To Proposal 1 http://michiganlp.org/?page_id=886 Libertarian Party of Michigan April 22, 2015 the Green Party of Michigan,http://www.gp.org/current-news/1251-michigan-greens-urge-no-vote-may-5-on-sales-tax-hike-transportation-funding-shift Green Party Michigan Greens Urge "NO" Vote May 5 on Sales-Tax Hike, Transportation-Funding Shift David Doonan dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150505055344/http://www.gp.org/current-news/1251-michigan-greens-urge-no-vote-may-5-on-sales-tax-hike-transportation-funding-shift May 5, 2015 mdy-all and the Socialist Party of Michigan.http://spmichigan.org/vote-no-on-michigans-may-5-2015-special-election-ballot-proposal-15-1/ Socialist Party of Michigan Vote No on Michigan's May 5, 2015 Special Election Ballot Proposal (15–1) Alternatives A package of three bills supported by then-Speaker Jase Bolger were passed in December 2014 to fund roads by redirecting new spending to roads. Bolger published an op-ed in the Detroit Free Press defending the plan.Bolger Jase Fixing Roads Without Raising Taxes Makes Sense http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2014/12/12/michigan-roads-jase-bolger-taxes/20273659/ Detroit Free Press April 23, 2015 December 12, 2014 The plan has been re-introduced by Rep. Gary Glenn and Todd Courser. Thirteen additional House representatives are co-sponsors of the legislation in 2015.House Bill 4335 of 2015 http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2015-HB-4335 April 23, 2015House Bill 4317 of 2015 http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2015-HB-4317 April 23, 2015 Senator Patrick Colbeck has also proposed multiple solutions.http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/03/option_b_bolger_plan_returns_i.html Option B for roads? 'Bolger plan' returns in Michigan House, but former speaker backing Proposal 1 Jonathan Oosting MLive Booth Newspapers March 11, 2015 April 23, 2015 Results The proposal was defeated by a grass-roots campaign, with opposition out-funded by a factor of 20 to 1 by the proposition."This year's thumping occurred even though the measure was backed by Gov. Rick Snyder as well as the Republican and Democratic legislative leaders from last year's Michigan House and Senate. The Safe Roads Yes campaign ended up amassing about $9.5 million, nearly 20 times as much money as the $350,000 the three opposition campaigns had combined." It was an unprecedented defeat of a constitutional proposal in Michigan."The prior low mark was set in 1980, when 78.8 percent of the electorate beat back a measure called Proposal A that would have shifted taxes to ensure equal school funding among all school districts in the state, according to state records. It was up against two property tax relief measures that attracted more votes even though they also were struck down."http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/05/06/prop-suffers-worst-ballot-measure-defeat-years/70877352/ Prop 1 suffers worst ballot measure defeat in 50 years Chad Livengood Detroit News Lansing Bureau May 6, 2015 May 6, 2015 Proposal 1 349862 1406019 Aftermath Governor Rick Snyder said he would immediately try to find a fix.http://www.wxyz.com/news/political/michigan-gov-rick-snyder-releases-statement-after-proposal-1-defeat Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder releases statement after Proposal 1 defeat WXYZ-TV Video May 6, 2015 May 6, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150508191453/http://www.wxyz.com/news/political/michigan-gov-rick-snyder-releases-statement-after-proposal-1-defeat May 8, 2015 dead He has promised to work with the legislature an effort to find a new solution to the state's road funding conundrum. But he had no estimated time of arrival for a result, noting that the legislature has other pressing issues, including the budget, on its agenda.""The people have spoken," Snyder said in a conference call with reporters. "What do you do then? You learn from your experience. We roll up our sleeves and get to work. ... This is a critical issue." Snyder said that he did not view the rejection of Proposal 1 as proof that Michigan voters don't want a tax increase to pay for road repairs. "A larger concern appeared to be sending the issue to voters, rather than coming up with a road funding fix in the Legislature, he said. "People want better roads," Snyder said. "The question is, where do you get the resources to do that?""Lansing, Michigan Snyder: Time to 'roll up our sleeves' on road fix http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/05/06/snyder-proposal-aftermath-road-funding/70879110/ Paul Egan Detroit Free Press May 6, 2015 May 6, 2015 Moving governmental expenditures is said to be "Plan B," especially given that this legislature is even more anti-tax and conservative than the one that passed the defeated proposal.https://news.yahoo.com/michigan-voters-defeat-tax-hike-debate-over-road-065241469.html Plan B eyed after Michigan voters crush tax hike for roads David Eggert Yahoo! Associated Press Alisha Green May 6, 2015 May 6, 2015 See also List of Michigan ballot proposals Notes References 30em Category:Legislatively referred ballot measures Michigan Proposal 1 Category:Michigan ballot proposals Category:Transportation ballot measures in the United States Proposal 1 Category:Amendments to the Constitution of Michigan