Business advocates, real estate groups warn of harm to economy, urge NO vote on Con-Con
LANSING, Mich. – Some of Michigan’s most prominent business policy and advocacy groups gathered on Wednesday to urge a NO vote on Proposal 1 in November. The ballot question, which happens every 16 years, will ask voters whether to call a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con).
Representatives of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Business Leaders For Michigan (BLM), the Grand Rapids Chamber and the Michigan Realtors® participated in a virtual press conference with Protect MI Constitution from Special Interests (PMCFSI) to warn Michiganders about the risks of approving the ballot proposal that would open the Michigan Constitution to a complete rewrite, which would hurt Michigan’s business climate, discourage investments and harm property values.
“A Constitutional Convention creates more questions than answers for Michigan’s future, opening the door to far-reaching consequences – especially gridlock and prolonged uncertainty for our employers, families, communities and economy alike,” said Wendy Block, senior vice president for business advocacy at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. “We already have a proven, deliberate process in place to update the constitution – one that allows voters to address specific issues without risking a chaotic rewrite.”
Groups that participated in Wednesday’s virtual press conference are among some of the state’s most prominent advocacy organizations working with PMCFSI to encourage a NO vote on Proposal 1 in November. The broad-based coalition is working to ensure the state constitution cannot be hijacked and rewritten in a way that allows narrow interests to reshape the state’s governing document or sideline Michigan voters and businesses.
Business Leaders For Michigan, which is made up of executive leaders of the state's largest companies and universities, cautioned that a Con-Con would prevent industries from investing in the state.
“A Con-Con would create substantial uncertainty for our state’s economy, risking companies pausing or reconsidering investments here,” said Becky Burtka, vice president of strategic communications and public affairs for BLM. “Voting NO helps protect existing investments and opportunity, ensuring Michigan can reach its full economic potential and be a state where businesses can confidently build, grow and create jobs.”
A Con-Con would cost nearly $80 million, according to a preliminary analysis by the Senate Fiscal Agency. That hefty price tag would prevent needed funding from being used to help solve real problems in Michigan.
“Homeowners and businesses, buyers and sellers, builders and developers across Michigan already face a great deal of uncertainty in this economy, and a long, drawn-out and chaotic Constitutional Convention will only add anxiety and confusion to the challenging real estate sector,” said Brad Ward, vice president of public policy and legal affairs at Michigan Realtors®. “Michigan’s economy does best when businesses and consumers have certainty and confidence, and a Constitutional Convention would create chaos and confusion.”
The closed-door nature of a Con-Con would also allow the Michigan Constitution to be secretly rewritten without any transparency or accountability to Michigan voters.
“A Constitutional Convention would threaten pro-growth principles we’re working hard to foster in West Michigan,” said Andy Johnston, senior vice president of strategic initiatives for the Grand Rapids Chamber, which has more than 3,000 business members that range from small businesses to global corporations. “Businesses succeed in West Michigan and across the state when they have certainty and predictability. The lengthy process of a Con-Con and the risk of opening our constitution to a rewrite would hamper business growth and limit job creation in our state. A Con-Con is just too risky for Michigan’s future.”
Protect MI Constitution from Special Interests is continuing to grow its supporter network. To join the list of supporters and find ways to help, visit protectmiconstitution.com.
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