State constitutional convention in the offing?

Buckle up. Here we go again.

Michigan voters will decide in November whether to stage the state’s 5th constitutional convention since 1837. Up until now there have been four such gatherings resulting in 148 changes to state laws via that so-called Con-Con.

In 1961, the last time there was such an effort, a civil group was formed to urge a yes vote. The movement was driven in part by so-called “payless paydays” under the Gov. Soapy Williams administration back in 1959. Put simply, state government workers didn’t get their checks on pay day and voters took note. However the Con-Con vote was a real squeaker passing by 7,424 votes.