Michigan Chamber Of Commerce Opposes Three Petition Drives That Are Bad Public Policy And Would Take Our State In The Wrong Direction

LANSING, Mich., Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After careful consideration, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted today to oppose three petition drives that are bad public policy and would take our state in the wrong direction.

The three petition drives the Michigan Chamber will actively oppose are: a statutory initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana; a statutory initiative to shut down critical energy infrastructure; and a proposed constitutional amendment that would undermine state government's system of checks and balances.

"The Michigan Chamber is on the job every day to promote conditions favorable to job creation and business success across our great state," said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley. "While petition drives can sometimes be a good idea, the ballot proposal process was never intended to be an express lane for half-baked ideas to become law or part of the State Constitution."

Earlier today, the Michigan Chamber Board of Directors voted unanimously to:

• Oppose the statutory initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana because it threatens the ability of employers to maintain a safe and drug-free workplace.
• Oppose the statutory initiative to suddenly and arbitrarily shut down Line 5, a critical oil and gas pipeline that crosses the Straits of Mackinac that has been safely operated for over 60 years.
• Oppose the proposed constitutional amendment to establish a part-time legislature because it would dramatically weaken the Legislative Branch of state government in favor of the Executive Branch and further empower full-time, non-elected state bureaucrats.

"All three of these seriously flawed petition drives have one thing in common; they are bad public policy and would take our state in the wrong direction," noted Studley. "The next step for the Michigan Chamber is to educate and inform voters across the state about the real and negative impact these dangerous proposals would have on job creation and business success."

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business organization representing approximately 6,500 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Michigan Chamber represents businesses of every size and type in all 83 counties of the state. The Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process. It is one of only six state chambers accredited by the U.S. Chamber and one of only four state chambers accredited with distinction.

SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce