FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Emily Gerkin Palsrok
c-517-862-5462 o-517-862-5462
Citizens for More Michigan Jobs Submits More Than 500,000 Signatures to
State for November Ballot Consideration
Lansing, MICH – Two weeks
shy of the July 9 deadline, Citizens for More Michigan Jobs (CMMJ) today
delivered 509,777 signatures to the Secretary of State office – demonstrating
overwhelming support from the Michigan electorate for the initiative.
"Despite a massive effort in the past month to deter
voters from signing our petitions, more
than half a million Michigan residents endorsed our plan to raise the
casino tax rate and create thousands of new jobs through the construction and
operation of eight new casinos," said Emily Gerkin Palsrok, spokesperson
for the coalition.
"We feel confident that our plan offers a positive
alternative to the status quo," continued Palsrok. "Not only
does our plan create thousands of new jobs and raise the tax rate on casinos,
but it also dedicates the revenue that casinos generate to important items like
K-12 spending, police and fire, road improvements and to local counties and
municipalities. The people of Michigan, instead of Lansing politicians,
will get to direct how the new revenue is spent, and every dollar will be
accounted for on a new public website that will track revenue and expenditures."
Palsrok said the opposition's attempt to dissuade voters
from signing the petitions had little or no effect on the effort.
"Voters saw through the hypocrisy of the existing
casinos fighting against more competition and an increase in the gaming
tax," said Palsrok. "It is clear that they are not concerned
with job creation, or with generating new revenue for important programs like
education and public safety. Rather, they are intent on maintaining the
status quo, which allows them to enjoy a very low gaming tax and limited
competition. They made clear from the outset that they are willing to say
anything to maintain their monopoly."
CCMJ is proposing eight new privately
owned casino locations, which would – if approved by voters in November – creates
thousands of good paying jobs and increase state taxes on all private gaming
facilities. The new revenue would
directly benefit Michigan schools, roads and bridges, law enforcement, and
local units of government.
The proposed sites would be
located in Detroit, Birch Run, Grand Rapids, Romulus, Clinton Township, Clam
Lake (Cadillac), Pontiac and DeWitt Township (Lansing). CCMJ estimates the new casinos will generate
$275 million annually in new revenue for the state and create more than 16,000
new jobs.
Currently, Michigan has 25
casinos, but only three are privately owned and pay taxes – one of the lowest
tax rates on gaming in the country.
CCMJ’s proposal would increase that tax to 23 percent, with a specified
distribution system to benefit core statewide programs, such as education,
police and fire programs, road, local government and gaming addiction
programs.
With signatures now submitted
to the state, CMMJ plans to officially kickoff proactive campaign efforts in
July.
CMMJ was formed by Jobs First
LLC, a group of Michigan business leaders focused on increasing jobs and
economic development across the state by targeting convention and tourism
areas. All proposed private casino
locations are on land already owned by Michigan Developers.
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