FAST FEEDBACK: 'Reform Michigan Government Now' proposal gathers controversy

MICHIGAN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Democrats in Michigan are casting an eye toward controlling state government after this year's election.

It all surrounds the 'Reform Michigan Government Now' movement.

The group wants to shrink and streamline state government.

Last week, backers turned in more than 470,000 signatures in hopes of getting their proposal on the ballots in November.
The highlights of that proposal include; shrinking the state senate from 38 to 28 members, shrinking the state house from 110 to 82 members, and reduce the state Supreme Court by two and appeals court by seven.

But Republicans are calling it a scheme to squeeze them out of the political process.

Newschannel 3 learned Friday afternoon that a lawsuit has been filed to stop this proposal from going forward, that lawsuit has been filed by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

The issue is very controversial, one Republican leader called it a sneak attack.

It is possible that the proposal could make it to the ballot this November, but it faces significant hurdles.

Some Republicans are outraged at a power-point presentation discovered on a UAW web site, that presentation is titled 'Government Reform Proposal; changing the rules of politics in Michigan to benefit Democrats.'

The first page of the presentation states that Democrats have controlled the Governor, Senate and House for just one year over the last six decades and that needs to change. The presentation hints that if this ballot proposal is approve, it could do the trick to manipulate the system.

Democrats won't comment directly on that presentation, Republicans say they don't believe this proposal will make it on the ballot.

The power-point presentation was given to Union leaders in June, so far nobody has taken credit for writing it.