Mich. could see new constitution after Nov. vote

Michigan voters will be offered the opportunity to overturn the Michigan constitution in November’s election.

The current state constitution allows voters to decide every 16 years whether they want to rewrite the 52-page foundation of Michigan’s government with a constitutional convention.

Michigan currently operates under its fourth constitution, which was ratified in 1963 and needs to be updated for the 21st century, Gov. Jennifer Granholm spokeswoman Tiffany Brown said.

“Our current state constitution was built in the 1960s, and much like the Cash for Clunkers program it is time for the people of the state of Michigan to turn in their constitution for a better, more efficient model,” she said.

If voters approve a constitutional convention, they then would elect one convention delegate from each of the 38 Senate and 110 House districts. The constitution states the 148 delegates selected could change the entire constitution, modify segments or not change anything.

There are few details available on how the convention would run because the current constitution states the elected convention members would create and adopt the rules.

State Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo, said this would give unheard citizens a voice and set the state on a new path.

“If you look about Michigan and how poorly we are doing economically, you can make a good case that a new constitution — which could streamline government — it could do many other things,” George said. “If you (write) a new constitution, everything is open, from the way you elect Supreme Court judges to whether we need drain commissioners to the budgeting process.”

The convention would have to be held within six months of voter approval, which would make it difficult for delegates to get involved, said Bob LaBrant, senior vice president and general counsel at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

“With that kind of short time, the most likely people that will run for delegate are going to be former legislators that have already been termed out of office, and if not them I think we get the spouse or relatives of current legislators representing those same districts,” he said.

“We are left with conceivably a convention that will be ideologically polarized on the right and the left.”

Holding a Constitutional Convention in 2011 would cost at least $45 million, according to the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency.

It might be costly, but if done correctly it would identify government inefficiencies and save the state money, said state Rep. Lee Gonzales, D-Flint.

“There are things that could be looked at from the standpoint of how can we measure what the services and programs are being delivered and how can they be reorganized,” he said. “Our citizens are demanding a more efficient and effective means to deliver services to them.”