BALLOT BOX: Government employee union bosses want to turn back clock

By Richard K. Studley It is time to stand up to the government employee union bosses who are trying to hijack Michigan's constitution. Michigan families and job providers have been hard at work across the state, fighting every day to turn our local economy around, put food on the table and put this state back to work. After a decade-long recession and year after year carrying the highest unemployment rate in the country, Michigan is finally showing real signs of improvement. Michigan has led the Midwest in both total job growth and total manufacturing job growth in the last year. Our unemployment rate recently reached its lowest point in four years, employers are adding jobs across the state and there is a sense of optimism that Michigan is finally in position for a real economic comeback. Sadly, government employee union bosses want to turn back the clock by pushing for passage of Proposal 2, a deceptive ballot measure that would unravel all economic progress by hijacking Michigan's constitution, for their own selfish benefit. Let's be clear -- Proposal 2 is not about collective bargaining. Collective bargaining is already provided under state law and protected by federal law. Proposal 2 is really about creating new, constitutionally-protected sweetheart deals and giveaways for government employee unions. And it won't come cheap. According to a recent study by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy that examined the costs Proposal 2 would impose on Michigan's hard-working families and job providers, $1.6 billion in taxpayer savings per year could be lost through a potentially endless parade of lawsuits. For instance, this over-reaching constitutional power grab would reverse $1 billion a year in savings generated by common sense reforms that protect taxpayers from paying huge government employee health insurance premiums that are far out of line with what families competing in the private sector pay. Proposal 2's own supporters admit their scheme would also eliminate government employee pension reforms, adding another $312 million burden to Michigan taxpayers each year. And Prop 2 would overturn $300 million in savings achieved through reforms that allow public school districts to hire local Michigan job providers to provide cost-effective support services. What's more, under Prop 2, the state would be forbidden from ever again enacting reforms like these that could keep state and local government solvent and jobs growing. But far more costly than erasing any of the 170 or more unique reforms and laws Proposal 2 would undo is the cost this constitutional hijacking scheme would have on Michigan's ability to compete in the new 21st century economy. Proposal 2 would send a crystal clear signal to investors, job creators and the rest of the nation that government employee unions will stop at nothing to prevent meaningful economic reform. Our constitution is the last place we should entrench these kinds of special interest power grabs. Michigan families have worked too hard to reinvent Michigan. Let's protect Michigan's future, protect Michigan jobs and protect Michigan's constitution by voting NO on Proposal 2. ---------------- Rich Studley is President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, a statewide business organization representing approximately 6,800 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. Michigan Chamber member businesses provide jobs to 1.5 million residents. One of every 2.6 employees in Michigan works for a Chamber member firm. Rich may be reached at 517-371-2100 or rstudley@michamber.com. Published: Thu, Nov 1, 2012