LANSING, Mich., Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today issued the following statement in response to the Michigan Supreme Court decision to allow the unions' so-called collective bargaining proposal to appear on the November 6, 2012 statewide ballot.

"We are very disappointed with this ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court and especially disappointed with Chief Justice Robert P. Young, Jr., and Justices Mary Beth Kelly, Stephen J. Markman and Brian Zahra who failed to uphold clear standards for proposed amendments to the state constitution," said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley.  

"The Supreme Court's decision to allow a deliberately misleading proposal on the ballot is bad enough," said Jim Holcomb, Senior Vice President, Business Advocacy and General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber. "Worse yet, the Court's failure to recognize reasonable standards for petition drives to amend the state constitution may open the door in the future to a flood of vague and deceptive ballot proposals."

"We must not allow special interest groups to turn Michigan into a California-type system where government regulation by petition drive is a regular event," Holcomb added.

"The Michigan Chamber will continue to fight against the union bosses and out-of-state special interest groups who want to hijack the state constitution," Studley noted. "We are optimistic voters will do the right thing on November 6^th by saying 'Hands off our constitution.'"

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business organization representing approximately 6,800 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Michigan Chamber represents businesses of every size and type in all 83 counties of the state. Michigan Chamber member businesses provide jobs to 1.5 million residents. One of every 2.6 employees in Michigan works for a Chamber member firm. The Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process. It is one of only six state chambers accredited by the U.S. Chamber and one of only four state chambers accredited with distinction.

SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce