Michigan canvassers deadlock on Invest in My Kids summary, approve petition form

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers on July 31 failed to approve the director of elections’ proposed 100‑word summary for the Invest in My Kids constitutional amendment to impose an additional surcharge on high earners, but the board voted to approve the petition form and updated guidance manuals for petition sponsors.

The board deadlocked 2–2 on a motion to adopt language that would have described the proposal as “an additional 5% tax on annual taxable income over $1,000,000 for joint filers and over $500,000 for single filers,” with votes recorded as Vice Chair Gurewitz — yes; Member Cummings — yes; Member Cortes — no; Chair Hauskamp — no. The motion failed, prompting further debate and a later vote to approve the petition form itself as to layout and required elements.

Why it matters: public speakers, business groups and legislators asked the board to make clearer in any summary that the surcharge would apply to income reported on individual returns — a filing method commonly used by many small and family businesses — and to state how the new revenue would be treated and allocated. Supporters of the petition say the wording proposed by the director fairly describes the amendment and complies with the election‑law standard for a “true and impartial” summary.

What commenters told the board: More than two…