Proposition 1 would have enacted broad reforms in road funding policies and programs in Michigan. Despite Governor Rick Snyder and the State Legislature's efforts, however, voters soundly defeated the measure in a statewide election this week.
"Michigan voters rejected the Proposal 1 road funding and sales tax plan that Snyder had pushed by an 80% to 20% margin — the most lopsided rejection of a proposed constitutional amendment since Michigan's current state constitution went into effect, in 1963," reports Paul Egan.
Much of Egan's coverage after the vote is devoted to dissecting what happens next for Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, who strongly supported the measure. He wasn't the only one—Detroit Free Press also endorsed the measure, calling it a critical need for public safety. Such high profile support was far from enough to muster the necessary support for the measure at the ballot box. Detroit Free Press earlier printed a complete list of organizations and political leadership that supported or opposed the bill.
Chris Christoff also covered the failure of Proposition 1, implying that the results could be a litmus test for the potential presidential campaign of Governor Snyder.
The measure was much more than just a new tax for funding. Proposition 1 would have amended the state's constitution and triggered ten additional pieces of legislation, as detailed by Paul Eggan in an article earlier this week.
FULL STORY: Snyder: Time to 'roll up our sleeves' on road fix
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research