The Michigan Court of Appeals last week blocked a proposal to overhaul state government from appearing on the November ballot, saying it was too far-reaching and would lead to a general revision of the state constitution.
The group pushing for the measure, Reform Michigan Government Now, said it would appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.
If the proposal passed, it would shift the ability to redraw legislative districts from the Legislature to an independent nine-member panel and bypass the court’s ability to review the new districts. It also would cut the governor’s and legislators’ salaries by 25%, reduce the number of House members to 82 from 110 members, and the number of state senators to 28 from 38. The Michigan Supreme Court would be cut to five judges from seven, and the number of appeals courts judgeships would also be cut as well.
Critics of the proposal said it was intended to favor the Democratic Party through a series of subtle power shifts.
In its ruling blocking the proposal from going to voters, the appeals court said the measure “proposes fundamentally to redesign the very framework of the Michigan Constitution of 1963” and would require a constitutional convention.
