I am personally grappling with the issue of how SB517 makes any sense? School funding in Michigan has been reduced by 7.5% since 2008 and the only way schools can fund infrastructure, upgrades and other needs is through local initiatives such as millages, millage renewals or bonds. If districts cannot communicate the needs to the public for 60 days prior to an election, but private companies and/or non-profits who are against the initiatives can, how does this make sense?
What is your opinion? Should we contact Govenor Snyder and ask for a frank discussion before his signature? There seems to be a lack of transparency in this law which will leave voters in the dark.
CLICK HERE for many ways to contact the Governor with your opinion!
Here is one opinion last night by Senator Young of Detroit:
¨This is a hell of a way to start out the Christmas holiday. First you wipe all our staff off the floor, then you cut off debate, and now we are voting on this corporate takeover. I thought we were a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. Now, after this bill, we are going to be a government of the corporation, for the corporation, and by the corporation. This is ridiculous. This bill might as well be sponsored by Drake because if you read this, it’s already too late. No one read this bill, and no one knows what is in it. It might as well be Peggy Bundy’s mystery meat, because nobody knows what this bill does or what it is. I just think it is ridiculous. I offer an amendment to answer transparency. If we are going to let corporations and faceless super PACs further insert themselves into Michigan politics, we need to give voters the tools they need to understand how Big Money is influencing their elections. It is time to shine a light into the darkness...¨