LANSING (WKZO-AM) — Democrats are calling the Republican leadership in the Michigan Legislature “hypocritical,” after approving a new law that bans school districts and cities from talking about ballot issues 60 days before an election.
They say lawmakers are not only prohibited from talking about ballot issues, but also say the proposed legislation disallows people from advocating for their passage or defeat in newsletters paid for by taxpayers.
Several local officials are urging Gov. Rick Snyder to veto the measure, including Kalamazoo Public Schools Board President Patti Sholler-Barber. She says the measure is anti-education, anti-democratic, anti-government and anti-American.
“It seems like an actual, huge heavy-handed legislative move,” Barber said.
Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, doesn’t like how the legislation was approved. He says a bloated, 53-page bill was presented at the last possible minute, not giving anybody proper time to review what was inside before casting a vote.
“This is just a sham,” Hoadley said. “Then, they ran roughshod over all the rules that were supposed to govern civil debate.”
Snyder has not said whether he’ll sign the bill. House Democratic Leader Tim Griemel says it will likely be challenged in court on First Amendment grounds if Snyder does sign the legislation.
– John McNeill
