Advocacy News – May 11, 2022
Over two-thirds of the members of the Michigan House and Senate voted Tuesday to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot to alter the state’s term limits and to require financial disclosures from officeholders.
The vote on House Joint Resolution R came a day after the Voters for Transparency and Term Limits coalition, which the Michigan Chamber is a part of, asked House and Senate leadership to put the constitutional amendment on the ballot. The bipartisan coalition includes the League of Women Voters of Michigan, Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, Michigan Association for Justice, Michigan REALTORS, UNITE HERE Local 24, the Michigan Manufacturers’ Association, the Insurance Alliance of Michigan, NFIB Michigan, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Bankers Association and others.
Under the constitutional amendment, voters will have the opportunity to decide whether to allow lawmakers to serve 12 years overall in Lansing, spending potentially their entire time in the House or Senate or dividing the years between the two chambers. The existing term limits members of the state House to three two-year terms and members of the state Senate to two four-year terms, for a max of 14 years between the two chambers.
The constitutional amendment would also require statewide officials to file financial disclosure, putting Michigan in line with what 48 other states and Congress require.
The Michigan Chamber has studied term limits over the years since the passage by voters in 1992 and has a been a long-time proponent of sensible reform. The Michigan Chamber Board of Directors voted to support the elements of the Voters for Transparency and Term Limits constitutional amendment on April 26, saying it represents the best chance to enhance public policy making and improve governmental efficiency, effectiveness and transparency. The Chamber is guided by an 84-member board of directors representing member businesses and organizations of all sizes, types and industries from across the state.
Please contact Wendy Block, Vice President of Business Advocacy and Member Engagement at the Michigan Chamber, with any questions at wblock@michamber.com.