Casino, tax, bridge issues fail to make Michigan ballot

8/28/2012

LANSING -- Proposals to let Michigan residents vote on eight new casinos, require a two-thirds vote in the Legislature to raise taxes, and block construction of a bridge to Canada have failed to win November ballot spots.

The Board of State Canvassers held separate 2-1 votes Monday to approve placing the three items before voters Nov. 6.

But to get the issues on the ballot, at least one of the "yes" votes on each proposal needed to be Democrat and Republican. Both "yes" votes were by Democrats on the four-member board. The one "no" vote was from a Republican. Another Republican was absent during the vote.

The tax proposal would allow voters to raise taxes if the Legislature fails to muster a two-thirds majority.