opinion: Support for proposals 5 and 6 not in Michigan's best interest

Proposal 5 would hamstring our government by preventing the state from raising taxes without a two-third's majority vote of the legislature. The paralysis created by this amendment would be tragic for our state. It may also affect our bond rating, making it more expensive for state, and local, government to borrow money for needed capital improvements and also is opposed by mainstream politicians from both parties.

Moroun is supporting Proposal 5 in a back-scratching arrangement with Americans for Prosperity, a tea party group that helped Moroun oppose the Gateway Bridge Proposal because it would be a government project.

Proposal 6 is Moroun's effort to preserve his monopoly on the Detroit-Windsor border crossing. The bridge carries about a quarter of the U.S-Canada truck traffic (the tunnel is too small for many semi-trucks). Despite the calims of Moroun's ad campaign, the bridge will be funded by the Canadian Government which will use tolls to repay the loans. The U.S. federal government will be responsible for putting in and staffing a new customs plaza. There will be no direct cost to the Michigan state government.

Both of these proposals are one man trying to push our state around. Don't let him.

Joe Dohm

Ann Arbor