Goodrich-A recent court injunction has helped paved the way for some vital voter information.
District voters can now find detailed ballot information the school website before the crucial March 8 vote regarding the Non-Homestead tax levy renewal of 18 mills used for the schools? general fund budget. That information provided by the district could have been deemed illegal about a month ago under controversial Public Act 269, approved by lawmakers late last year. District voters can visit www.goodrichschools.org.
On Feb. 5, U.S. District Court Judge John Corbett O’Meara issued a preliminary injunction to stop the enforcement of a ‘gag order? provision Subsection 57(3) of PA 269 was unconstitutional keeping school districts like Goodrich from communicating with voters before a key election. The case Robert Taylor v. Ruth Johnson was filed on Jan. 26 in the Federal Court for the Eastern District of Michigan charging that is unconstitutional.
Scott Eldridge, senior principal attorney at Miller, Canfield who filed the case, responded to The Citizen last week.
‘This is a victory for the Constitution, the First Amendment, and for the citizens of Michigan as well,? said Eldridge. ‘It was a really a bad statute from the beginning and the governor realized it, too. Even after it was signed, they all understood it was going to be fixed by a judge at some point. We filed a motion asking the court to prohibit the enforcement (of Subsection 57(3)) due to the upcoming March 8 ballot. Keep in mind this is not a final order.?
The Michigan Municipal League recognized that more than 100 school districts and local government bodies have issues on the upcoming March 8 ballot. The law was challenged due to the adverse impact on the election.
The concerns with Public Act 269 began in December when Senate Bill 571 was passed by the Senate 25-12 and the House 58-48. On Jan. 6, Gov. Rick Snyder signed the Senate Bill 571 into law creating Public Act 269. Subsection 57(3) which amended Michigan’s Campaign Finance Act, prohibits elected and appointed public and school officials from providing factual information to voters about local ballot measures within 60 days of an election. State law already prohibits governmental officials from using tax dollars to advocate for or against a proposal.
Michelle Imbrunone, superintendent of Goodrich School District, was one of the 18 plaintiffs named in the lawsuit.
‘I joined as a plaintiff in the case because voters in the Goodrich School District have a right to know and a right to information regarding the upcoming millage renewal,? she said. ‘In Goodrich we have an important vote on March 8, if the 60 day gag order was in place that would mean information about the millage would need to come out in early January. Honestly, no one takes a look at election information 70 days before the vote.?
Imbrunone said pamphlets regarding the March 8 millage renewal were sent home with students, distributed at athletic events and available at the district office.
The defendant in the case is Groveland Township resident and Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, who offered no comment.