Introduced
by
To require primary and general election gubernatorial candidates receiving money from the state campaign fund to participate in public debates in Michigan's eight major media markets, which are Marquette, Alpena, Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Flint, Detroit, Lansing and southwest Michigan. If the candidates could not reach agreement on dates, formats, moderators, etc., the Secretary of State would organize the debates. In the debates, each candidate would have to be given an equal opportunity to ask any other candidate a question. The responding candidate would have two minutes to respond and the candidate who asked the question would have one minute to reply to the response. Each candidate would have to be positioned behind a podium.
Referred to the Committee on Local Government and Urban Policy
Reported without amendment
With the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
Substitute offered
by
To replace the previous version of the bill with one which would require the state Board of State Canvassers, plus an election official appointed by the Secretary of State, to arrange the specific format of the required debates if candidates fail to do so. The Board of Canvassers has two Democratic and two Republican members. The substitute would require at least one debate before the primary, and one before the general election, rather than eight debates in the original proposal. It removes the proposal that debate format be set in statute, or be solely determined by the Secretary of State (who may be a candidate for governor).
The substitute passed by voice vote
Amendment offered
by
To require at least one Democratic and one Republican Board of Canvassers member to concur for a debate format to be adopted.
The amendment passed by voice vote
Passed in the House 62 to 41 (details)
To require primary and general election gubernatorial candidates receiving money from the state campaign fund to participate in at least one public debate before the primary, and one before the general election. If the candidates could not reach agreement on dates, formats, moderators, etc., the bipartisan, four-member state Board of State Canvassers, plus an election official appointed by the Secretary of State, would arrange the details. At least one Democratic and one Republican Board of Canvassers member would have to concur for a debate format to be adopted. Candidates not accepting public money would be allowed to participate in the debates.
Referred to the Committee on Local, Urban, and State Affairs
Referred to the Committee on Local, Urban, and State Affairs
