Proposal 1 - Constitutional Convention - Nov. 2 ballot decision to be made by citizens

from Oct. 10 online article (M LIVE dot-com)

LANSING — The Michigan Constitution, 1963 version, was the product of seven months of deliberation at a convention called by voters persuaded that a half-century of seismic economic, social and political change had rendered obsolete the old one crafted in a long-gone agrarian era.

If voters had doubts about the new one — it was ratified by a 7,424-vote margin of 1.6 million cast — they apparently forgot what they were. In 1978 and 1994, voters rejected the idea of another constitutional convention by a combined 2.7 million votes.
Voters will be asked again on Nov. 2. Proposal 1 is the result of a constitutional requirement that automatically asks voters every 16 years whether to set in motion the process for overhauling Michigan’s organizing framework for state and local government.
If voters again reject the idea, nothing happens and they will be asked to consider the question again in 2026.
If they say “yes,” however, the process for assembling 148 delegates, one from each legislative district, for a “con-con” in Lansing would begin.
Those delegates would be elected in partisan primaries on Feb. 8. The final two candidates would square off on May 3. The convention would begin no later than Oct. 4, although implementing legislation recommended by Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land would have the delegates assemble three months earlier.
There is no deadline, and the con-con could adjourn without making any changes at all. If a new constitution were written, voters would be asked to ratify it no earlier than 90 days after delegates approved it.
Critics from across the partisan spectrum say a convention would paralyze the state for months, if not years, as a new governor and Legislature continue the struggle to keep the state’s finances in balance and respond to Michigan’s ongoing economic trouble. Michigan’s 2010 candidates for governor, Republican Rick Snyder and Democrat Virg Bernero, are both opposed.
Proponents say the Michigan Constitution has been rewritten every half-century or so dating back to 1850 and that the conditions that warranted the last convention — a dysfunctional state government no longer able to effectively deliver services with the resources available — are holding Michigan back again.
Voters shouldn’t expect to hear those arguments played out in statewide 30-second TV ads.
Opponents have a website, but, as of their last campaign finance filing, had just $45,000 in the bank.
Proponents, including the group behind the website yesonproposal1.com, don’t appear to have any money at all. But their argument was elevated by Sen. Tom George, who made the necessity of a convention a key plank in his unsuccessful Republican campaign for governor. Gov. Jennifer Granholm supports a convention as well, although she is not leading a campaign for voter approval.
Tim Kelly, chairman of the Saginaw County Republican Party, has joined with George in pushing for a convention. He argued that status quo forces in both parties are resistant to the scale of change that only a convention could deliver