LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – What began as a bipartisan effort to rewrite how Michigan selects candidates for some of its most powerful statewide and university governing positions ended in a spectacular defeat after grassroots activists pushed back, making lawmakers reconsider their support.
House Joint Resolution U was introduced on May 21 and was quickly pushed to a House vote by June 3, an unusually fast timeline for a proposed constitutional amendment. Critics argued the speed was no accident.
An unusual alliance forms in Lansing.
The proposal was backed by an unusual bipartisan coalition that included House Speaker Matt Hall, Sen. Ed McBroom, former House Speaker Joe Tate, former Gov. Jim Blanchard, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who recently told The Detroit News that Michigan’s current process for selecting university board members “does not work.”
An earlier version of the bill reportedly would have stripped precinct delegates of their authority to nominate candidates for attorney general and secretary of state, along with university governing boards. Grassroots activists erupted, arguing Lansing insiders were trying to transfer power from delegates to political insiders, wealthy donors, and party establishments.
As backlash mounted, supporters retreated. A substitute version dropped the statewide office changes and focused solely on altering how members of the governing boards at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University are selected, giving governors greater influence over appointments.
Still, the changes weren’t enough to keep the effort alive.
The votes weren’t there.
Because HJR-U proposed amending the Michigan Constitution, it needed a two-thirds House vote. It failed 52-54, with 52 voting in favor and 54 opposed – nowhere near the 74 votes required. Only one Democrat – Tate – voted for it. Only six Republicans voted against it: Karl Bohnak (Deerton), Steve Carra (Three Rivers), Jim DeSana (Ash Township), Joseph Fox (Fremont), Mike Mueller (Linden), and David Prestin (Cedar River).
Afterward, House Republicans accused Democrats of bowing to their party’s radical extremist wing despite support from figures such as Tate and Whitmer.
Try, try again.
The effort isn’t stopping in the House, however. Senate Majority Floor Leader Sam Singh introduced Senate Joint Resolution J on June 4, reviving many of the same constitutional changes, including altering how attorney general and secretary of state candidates are nominated and shifting control of university governing board seats from voters to gubernatorial appointments subject to Senate confirmation.
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The ongoing efforts have exposed a growing tension inside both political parties between establishment leaders who want more control and delegates who aren’t interested in surrendering what little influence they still possess. For now, the delegates won and Lansing got a reminder that changing the rules is a lot easier when the people affected aren’t paying attention.
