It has been an interesting last couple weeks for ballot initiatives.
First, the disheartening news: last month, the State Board of Canvassers declined to certify the signatures for a ballot proposal that would cap payday lending interest rates at 36%. Too many signatures were deemed either invalid in themselves or appeared on petition sheets that were not filled out correctly.
The payday lending ballot initiative enjoyed popular support, including that of the Michigan League for Public Policy.
And, if other states’ experiences are an indicator, the proposal would have likely passed. Payday lenders in Michigan charge between a 175% and 402% annual percentage rate and often trap borrowers in a debt cycle. While the ballot initiative’s disqualification is a disappointment, the League will continue to support legislative and other efforts to protect payday lending consumers, including establishment of an interest cap.
The same week that the payday lending initiative was rejected, a Court of Claims judge ruled that, when Michigan’s Legislature used a tactic informally called “adopt and amend” to prevent the 2018 minimum wage and paid sick leave proposals from reaching the ballot in their original form, it violated the state constitution.
The Legislature had passed bills with wording identical to the two ballot initiatives, which under Michigan’s constitution puts a ballot proposal into law without requiring the governor’s signature.
But they did so with the intent of weakening...
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