More lies about the MCRI

Your editorial titled “Bad move with MCRI” is misleading on two fronts.

First, you give too much weight to the fraud claims directed against petition circulators while ignoring the accusers. The accusers are an organization that publicly vows to use “any means necessary” to stop voters from exercising their right to petition the government. Claims of fraud are just the latest attempt.

At the start, opposition groups tried to stop the petition by filing lawsuits. Although they succeeded in delaying the ballot proposal by 2 years, they were rebuked by the courts. Others tried to intimidate petition supporters. In fact, the leaders of the MCRI received personal threats for their involvement. All these strategies failed.

Recently, protestors resorted to mob violence in an attempt to prevent the proposal from reaching the ballot. Once again they failed. Now they’ve moved to accusations of fraud. One can only imagine what other means will be tried before the election.

Second, your editorial misleads when you incorrectly claim the initiative was reworded because “it was so hard to understand.” The MCRI was reworded because Michigan law requires that ALL ballot proposals must be summarized by the State Director of Elections before being placed on the ballot. In addition, your assertion that the petition is confusing ignores a Court of Appeals ruling that stated the MCRI language was clear and constitutional. This ruling was affirmed by the Michigan Supreme Court.

While the MCRI may be controversial, it is neither fraudulent nor confusing.

[Letter to the Editor - The State News. Published 02/21/2006]