KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — The Kalamazoo School Board has approved a resolution asking the Michigan Legislature to repeal a recently-signed state law that bans local school districts, municipalities and other taxing units from using any taxpayer resources to publicize information about an upcoming bond issue or millage election 60 days prior to the vote.
Opponents call it an unconstitutional gag order, and trustees had even harsher words to describe it on Thursday, including “anti-democratic,” “abominable” and “disgraceful.”
Board President Patti Sholler-Barber said, if she were still a civics teacher, she would use this law as an example of what bad legislation looks like. She said it was approved just as lawmakers were just about to adjourn for Christmas, without time given to read it.
Supt. Michael Rice said it’s worse than that. It was never announced that the measure was even under consideration. No public hearings were held, no public comments were given or reviewed, and no lawmakers debated the legislation in committee, in the State House or on the Senate floor before it was put up for a vote.
Several local Republican lawmakers said they regretted voting in favor of the measure once local officials all across the state began complaining and protesting.
Gov. Rick Snyder signed it anyway, saying he would like lawmakers to revisit the issue and clarify the measure. That process is underway.
– John McNeill
