With Proposal 1 headed to an historic defeat, state leaders are weighing in on Tuesday's results.
Gov. Rick Snyder: "It's essential that making Michigan's infrastructure safer remains a top priority. While voters didn't support this particular proposal, we know they want action taken to maintain and improve our roads and bridges. The ‘relentless' part of relentless positive action means that we start anew to find a comprehensive, long-term solution to this problem. Doing nothing isn't an option as the costs are too great. Michiganders need to be able to get behind the wheel and not worry about dodging potholes or seeing plywood to catch crumbling concrete under overpasses. We appreciate that this bipartisan plan was supported by so many groups – business leaders and unions, public safety officials and local governments, teachers, and the list goes on. I plan to work with my partners in the Legislature on a solution that gives Michigan residents the safe roads they need and deserve and bolsters our growing economy."
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Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint): "We know Michiganders want the roads fixed. What we heard tonight was that they're tired of bearing the brunt of funding everything while wealthy corporations and insurance companies get billions in giveaways.
Working families have sacrificed enough, paying more than $1.6 billion in new taxes since 2011. It's time for everyone to chip in; no more one-sided sacrifice by working families.
We need a sustainable solution for Michigan's roads that doesn't overburden working families and doesn't rob funding from schools, police and fire protection."
Michigan Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison Township): "The taxpayers sent a very clear message today with their rejection of proposal 1 — no new taxes. Everyone, and I mean everyone, in the administration and the state Legislature should hear this message loud and clear.
As far as I am concerned, five months were just wasted. We in the state Legislature now need to move in the most aggressive fashion to free up funds badly needed for road repair. First and foremost, we need to prioritize spending and make the necessary cuts so we can free up the money we need to fix our roads. Everything is fair game to go on the table; there will be no sacred cows.
We need to re-write our state's chief funding mechanism for road repair — Public Act 51 — because it greatly favors the rural areas of our state at the expense of our urban areas, namely Macomb County. However, this will not happen unless the legislators in the rural areas are given something significant in return. This is only fair and it's the prudent thing to do. This will require skilled negotiations, but I am confident it can happen."
Michigan Democratic Party chair Lon Johnson: "This ballot proposal failed because working Michigan families said enough. Raising taxes on working families while corporations see their taxes cut is no way to build a Michigan where we can stay and succeed. Moving forward, this legislature and governor should recognize and reflect the voters' rejection tonight of one-sided sacrifices from our working families. It's time for corporations to pay their fair share."
Jim Santilli; Traffic Improvement Association of Michigan: "Today is a sad day for Michigan, which is currently known as having some of the worst road and bridge conditions in the nation. With our road system deteriorating rapidly, we will likely see an increase in road and bridge closures, vehicle repairs, and incidents causing injury and death to motorists. Proposal 1 put safety and accessibility first, without taking away funds needed to educate our children and support essential local government services. While I believe the majority of the voters agree that Michigan's roads and bridges urgently need attention, many citizens seemed to be confused about the tax changes. Governor Snyder, MDOT Director Steudle, and many other officials did a phenomenal job explaining Proposal 1 to the public. However, numerous members of the Michigan Legislature failed to explain the full details of Proposal 1 to their constituents."
Nathan Triplett, Priorities Michigan project director: "Voters' decision to reject Proposal 1 is a clear expression of their deep dissatisfaction with our state legislature. Michiganders want everyone to pay their fair share to support needed investments in infrastructure and essential services/ Our leaders in Lansing must find a solution to fix our crumbling transportation infrastructure that ensures that everyone pays their fair share, while protecting our schools and communities from further cuts."