FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DETROIT, Mich. - The ACLU of Michigan applauds the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling this week that it is unconstitutional for the state legislature to circumvent the ability of the people to vote on ballot initiatives. The ruling means that lawmakers cannot take a people-led ballot measure that has qualified for the ballot, pass it into law, and then immediately rewrite the core meaning of the measure.
That is what happened in 2018 when the legislature took two popular people-led ballot measures – one that would increase minimum wage, and the other that would expand earned sick time for workers – passed them into law, and then significantly amended the statutory language to diminish the benefits to workers.
The ACLU filed an amicus curiae (friend-of-the-court) brief in Mothering Justice v. Attorney General, arguing that the policy is unconstitutional.
Statement attributable to Dan Korobkin, ACLU of Michigan legal director:
“Protecting the constitutional right of the people to lead and vote on ballot measures is core to our democracy. We are thrilled that the Michigan Supreme Court agrees.”
Read our amicus brief Mothering Justice v. Attorney General here
Read the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision below.