LANSING, MI (AP)-- Governor Rick Snyder has signed into law restrictions on when municipalities and school districts can inform voters about local ballot issues.
The bill approved Wednesday says public money or resources cannot be used to disseminate information about ballot measures through TV and radio ads, mass mailings or robocalls in the 60 days before an election.
Snyder is encouraging lawmakers to quickly pass legislation clarifying that the law does not affect the expression of public officials' personal views or the use of public buildings for debates or town halls.
Local officials say the law will keep voters in the dark about tax millages and other issues. Conservatives say some informational campaigns are biased toward approving new taxes, and local governments have learned how to promote their cause without explicitly doing so.
