The ballot campaign to adopt a part-time Legislature amendment in Michigan decided to skip getting its petition approved by a state elections board. The leader of the campaign says he’s comfortable fighting any challenges in court.
Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley is leading the drive to limit legislative sessions to 90 consecutive days. That would have to be approved by voters. Getting a petition form pre-approved is a voluntary step that’s supposed to avoid legal hassles later on. But Calley says he doesn’t think a court battle can be avoided.
“Ultimately, this entire system will go to any lengths to protect itself and how it works today.”
“Every major internal force, this system clearly does not like this reform. Everybody inside the Lansing bubble is opposed to it, and it’s because it shifts power back to our communities, power back to the people.”
He says the campaign will continue collecting signatures to get on the 2018 ballot.
“There’s a process, and I know that at the end of the process that no matter what the petition says that these same forces that resist any kind of change to a part-time Legislature, any change whatsoever, no matter what the petition says, will challenge it in court.”
Approval of the petition form can help avoid court battles after a petition drive has collected signatures. Calley is widely expected to run for governor next year.