Supreme Court Rules Casino Question a No-Go for November Ballot

Clinton Township residents can shed a tear or breathe a sign of relief this week knowing they won't be voting to allow a casino into their town this November.

The Michigan Supreme Court ordered Wednesday to remove the proposal that would allow eight more casinos in the state from appearing on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Although that rejected the casino proposal on the grounds that the language of the proposal did not inform voters that it would re-write Michigan gaming law, on Aug. 27 that would place the issue on the ballot.

Had this proposal made it to the ballot and passed, one of those casions was slated to be built in Clinton Township, specifically the area between Gratiot and I-94 just south of Hall Road.

Clinton Township Supervisor Robert Cannon previously told Patch that: “(A casino would be) a huge economic engine for Clinton Township and Macomb County as well as huge job provider. (It is) a clear benefit for all of Michigan police and fire departments as well as schools and road construction.”

But benefit or not, the Supreme Court's ruling is final – at least for this election cycle.

Citizens for More Michigan Jobs spokeswoman Emily Gerkin Palsrok recently issued this statement in response to the ruling:

"We plan to study the court’s decision and will continue pushing forth our plan to bring thousands of jobs and millions in new revenue to Michigan at a future statewide election.”

CMMJ started the initiative to get this proposal on the state ballot.

Although the court excluded the casino question, it did rule in favor of the three other ballot proposals brought before it, namely the new public bridge to Canada, collective bargaining rights in the state constitution and requiring a two-thirds legislative supermajority for state tax increases.