Snyder: Many constitutional proposals 'bad public policy'

By Robin Schwartz
FOX 2 News Reporter

TRENTON, Mich. -- Governor Rick Snyder made a stop at a firehouse in Trenton to sign a new law he hopes will prevent fake 911 calls.

The governor also stopped to talk about the six ballot proposals up for a vote in November, which address emergency managers, collective bargaining, renewable energy, taxes and building bridges and tunnels.

"Many of these constitutional proposals are largely bad public policy in my perspective, and beyond that I don't think they belong in the constitution anywhere.  That's the point of having a legislature," said Snyder.

The governor said he plans to vote no on all of them except the emergency manager law.  He also said he is disappointed in the UAW's neutral position on Prop 6, which could interfere with a plan to build a new bridge between Detroit and Canada.

"Essentially we have a contract with Canada, and there's long-standing law long before a constitutional amendment to say that could be an impairment of contract," Snyder said.

The governor said if Prop 6 passes, there will be a lawsuit that could drag on for years.  The initiative is backed by Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun, who wants to build his own bridge and has been locked in a battle with the state.

The governor will also be keeping a close eye on Tuesday's town hall-style presidential debate.  The stakes are high with polls showing a tight race between President Obama and Mitt Romney.

"The first debate, I thought Governor Romney did very well in.  And so the question is... how's the president going to respond?  I would expect Governor Romney to continue on that path," Snyder remarked.

Snyder said he hopes the candidates won't waste time arguing about the past and instead will put proposals on the table to reinvent our country.  The big election is now just about three weeks away.