Who's afraid of the big, bad Dems?

by: JWinston70

Fri Aug 17, 2007 at 00:23:11 AM EDT

Republicans constantly capitalize on this 'voter apathy' of the Democratic Base.  This is how they manage to slip in to office in the first place.  However; presidential elections are quite another thing.  Dems are far more likely to get off of their asses to vote in presidential or even gubernatorial elections.  Ironically, both of these elections are held in even years. 

Well the Rovian Republican strategists in Lansing have figured this out for themselves.  A group of West Michigan local boys (Dave Hildebrand - Lowell, Dave Agema - Grandville, and Tom Pearce - Rockford) and other Conservative hacks have co-sponsored and introduced House Joint Resolution U which seeks to play to the Democrats 'voter apathy' weakness.

Funny how a seemingly harmless bill could be the demise of the sanctity of our Michigan Constitution!  It is time to WAKE UP - GET OFF THE COUCH - and for god sake PAY ATTENTION!

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION U

NOTE: Words printed in BOLD are proposed new wording to the existing Michigan Constitution.

August 8, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Pearce, Agema, Rick Jones, Stahl, Meekhof, LaJoy, Nofs, Hildenbrand and Huizenga and referred to the Committee on Ethics and Elections.

  A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution of 1963, by amending section 9 of article II and sections 1 and 2 of article XII, to require that a ballot question proposing a constitutional amendment, initiation of legislation, or referendum of legislation be held at an odd year general election.

  Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state constitution of 1963, to require that a ballot question proposing a constitutional amendment, initiation of legislation, or referendum of legislation be held at an odd year general election, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the people of the state:

ARTICLE II

  Sec. 9. The people reserve to themselves the power to propose laws and to enact and reject laws, called the initiative, and the power to approve or reject laws enacted by the legislature, called the referendum. The power of initiative extends only to laws which the legislature may enact under this constitution. The power of referendum does not extend to acts making appropriations for state institutions or to meet deficiencies in state funds and must be invoked in the manner prescribed by law within 90 days following
the final adjournment of the legislative session at which the law was enacted. To invoke the initiative or referendum, petitions signed by a number of registered electors, not less than eight percent for initiative and five percent for referendum of the total vote cast for all candidates for governor at the last preceding general election at which a governor was elected shall be required.

  No law as to which the power of referendum properly has been invoked shall be effective thereafter unless approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon at the next odd year general election.

  Any law proposed by initiative petition shall be either enacted or rejected by the legislature without change or amendment within 40 session days from the time such petition is received by the legislature. If any law proposed by such petition shall be enacted by the legislature it shall be subject to referendum, as hereinafter provided.

  If the law so proposed is not enacted by the legislature within the 40 days, the state officer authorized by law shall submit such proposed law to the people for approval or rejection at the next odd year general election. The legislature may reject any measure so proposed by initiative petition and propose a different measure upon the same subject by a yea and nay vote upon separate roll calls, and in such event both measures shall be submitted by
such state officer to the electors for approval or rejection at the next odd year general election.

  Any law submitted to the people by either initiative or referendum petition and approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon at any odd year general election shall take effect 10 days after the date of the official declaration of the vote. No law initiated or adopted by the people shall be subject to the veto power of the governor, and no law adopted by the people at the polls under the initiative provisions of this section shall be amended or repealed, except by a vote of the electors unless otherwise provided in the initiative measure or by three-fourths of the members elected to and serving in each house of the legislature. Laws approved by the people under the referendum provision of this section may be amended by the legislature at any subsequent session thereof. If two or more measures approved by the electors at the same election conflict, that receiving the highest affirmative vote shall prevail.

  The legislature shall implement the provisions of this section.

ARTICLE XII

  Sec. 1. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed in the senate or house of representatives. Proposed amendments agreed to by two-thirds of the members elected to and serving in each house on a vote with the names and vote of those voting entered in the respective journals shall be submitted, not less than 60 days thereafter, to the electors at the next odd year general election or special election as the legislature shall direct. If a majority of electors voting on a proposed amendment approve the same, it shall become part of the constitution and shall abrogate or amend existing provisions of the institution at the end of 45 days after the date of the election at which it was approved.

  Sec. 2. Amendments may be proposed to this constitution by petition of the registered electors of this state. Every petition shall include the full text of the proposed amendment, and be signed by registered electors of the state equal in number to at least 10 percent of the total vote cast for all candidates for governor at the last preceding general election at which a governor was elected. Such petitions shall be filed with the person
authorized by law to receive the same at least 120 days before the odd year general election at which the proposed amendment is to be voted upon. Any such petition shall be in the form, and shall be signed and circulated in such manner, as prescribed by law. The person authorized by law to receive such petition shall upon its receipt determine, as provided by law, the validity and sufficiency of the signatures on the petition, and make an official announcement thereof at least 60 days prior to the odd year general election at which the proposed amendment is to be voted upon.

  Any amendment proposed by such petition shall be submitted, not less than 120 days after it was filed, to the electors at the next odd year general election. Such proposed amendment, existing provisions of the constitution which would be altered or abrogated thereby, and the question as it shall appear on the ballot shall be published in full as provided by law. Copies of such publication shall be posted in each polling place and furnished to news media as provided by law.

  The ballot to be used in such election shall contain a statement of the purpose of the proposed amendment, expressed in not more than 100 words, exclusive of caption. Such statement of purpose and caption shall be prepared by the person authorized by law, and shall consist of a true and impartial statement of the purpose of the amendment in such language as shall create no
prejudice for or against the proposed amendment.

  If the proposed amendment is approved by a majority of the electors voting on the question, it shall become part of the constitution, and shall abrogate or amend existing provisions of the constitution at the end of 45 days after the date of the odd year general election at which it was approved. If two or more amendments approved by the electors at the same election conflict, that amendment receiving the highest affirmative vote shall prevail.

  Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be submitted to the people of the state at the next general election in the manner provided by law.