Tag: constitutional convention

With today being the 173rd anniversary of Michigan's statehood, it is fitting to affirm the need for the calling of a constitutional convention to address the broken system of government.

Just as George Romney and other statesmen assembled in the early 1960s, under the auspices of Citizens for Michigan, after years of chronic failures in Lansing, it is time for a new generation of leaders -- Republicans, Democrats and independents -- to follow their example and come together in the name of our great state.

What resulted from Romney's work was a constitution that was the first total revision and restructuring since 1850, when Jacksonians greatly changed our system of government from the original constitution. This document served Michigan well for many years, but it is clear that Lansing is no longer working.

Michigan is vastly different today than it was in 1963.

Reversing the Lost Decade and the mass diaspora of one family every 12 minutes in recent years will require a new constitution that overhauls and restructures government to reflect the realities of the 21st century.

Quite simply, radical reform is needed because Lansing's tired, old partisan ideas are not working -- and have not worked for some years.

Whether it is a simple and fair tax structure that rewards innovation and job creation, amalgamating departments, consolidating administrative functions of school districts at the county level, granting the governor the full power over state departments -- making the bureaucracy truly accountable, expanding home-rule powers for counties, establishing a minimum population threshold for cities, villages and townships, or increasing regional collaboration and service pooling in rural counties, there are plenty of ideas that must be considered to reduce the burden and cost of government.

With schools broke, roads crumbling and violent felons being released from behind bars, it is clear that Michigan needs a new framework for government from Lansing down to local levels.

That is why I support a constitutional convention and will be voting "yes" on Proposal 1.

Michigan Can Lead the Way:  Michigan Constitutional Convention from Seeking Michigan on Vimeo.

RightMichigan: On the decision of other GOP candidates to oppose a no-new-taxes pledge:

Cox: "I'm very disappointed that I'm the only Republican... you know, I expect some Democrats might be against a no-tax pledge, but I don't think that the problem is we're sending too little money to Lansing..."

RightMichigan: On a new constitutional convention?

Cox: "I'm afraid of mischief... I like the amendment process much better... I don't like these stealth projects like we saw last year with RMGN."

RightMichigan: Cherry's decision to duck the candidate debate on Mackinac Island?

Cox: He ducked us.  Absolutely.  Isn't that telling?  Part of that is, if I were him, I don't know what I could say.  We are last place in employment, third from worst in business taxes, we increased income taxes and he was the final vote a year and a half ago.  He's been wrong on all of the issues so I can understand why he doesn't want to talk about them."

And much more...