A federal judge has approved a settlement to end litigation over a state law that stopped local officials from talking about ballot questions.
The law was adopted during last year’s “lame duck” legislative session. It said local officials can’t use public resources to communicate on ballot questions. But Chris Hackbarth of the Michigan Municipal League says the practical effect was to intimidate local officials from speaking out at all on ballot issues.
“They have a right and a duty to communicate with their constituents very basic, objective information on what’s going on in their communities.”
Republicans in the Legislature pushed the measure because they said local officials were abusing their communication privileges. A federal judge said the law is so vague it’s impossible to enforce. Another state law already prohibits public resources being used to advocate for or against ballot questions.