FEW ISSUES TO MAKE IT ON BALLOT

Medical Marijuana Is In, With Stem Cell Research and Government
Reform Questions Likely.

Michigan voters, who once faced a daunting list of potential ballot
questions this November, may decide only a handful of issues after all.

The deadline for turning in 380,000-plus petition signatures is only
a couple of weeks away and, of the 10 ballot committees that launched
campaigns, only a few remain active. Ballot watchers say just two or
three are likely to make it to the finish line.

A massive government reform proposal -- which would slash pay for
elected officials, reorganize the Legislature and the judiciary and
enact election law changes -- stands a chance of going before voters.

Mysterious backers of this wholesale constitutional revamping have
been operating below the radar for months, only recently surfacing as
the July 7 deadline for submitting petition signatures draws near.

By all accounts, a proposal to lift the state ban on embryonic stem
cell research will draw the necessary petition signatures for a spot
on the general election ballot, and there will be a lively public
debate over the constitutional change this summer and fall.

And an initiative that would change the law to permit the use of
marijuana for certain medical reasons is already headed for the ballot.

Other petition drives -- including a universal health care plan, a
couple of part-time Legislature proposals and a so-called fair tax
plan -- are considered long shots.

"We're looking at two, possibly three ballot questions," said Robert
LaBrant, general counsel of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and a
state elections expert.

"Medical marijuana is on, stem cell probably will qualify and the
rewrite of the Michigan Constitution I would give some possibility of
success. The others are dead."

LaBrant said money talks on ballot petition drives because paying
firms to gather signatures is pricey. Only those with big-time
financial backing make the ballot, with few exceptions.

"When was the last time you saw a real volunteer effort get on the
ballot, other than proposals backed by Right to Life and the Michigan
Catholic Conference?" he asked.

Here's a look at the main ballot proposals still out there:

. Reform Michigan Government Now! This effort stayed low-profile
because backers did not submit petitions to the Board of State
Canvassers for approval as is the standard practice. The board's
official stamp is not legally required, but most petitioners go that
route to minimize the risk that courts may later find petition forms lacking.

This proposal would involve myriad reforms, including cutting pay for
the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney
general and reducing the number of members in the House and Senate.

The plan is supported by the state Democratic Party, which says it
makes needed reforms at a time when citizens say government is
broken. It is opposed by Republicans, who say many of the changes are
window dressing on an attempt by Democrats to boot conservative
judges off the high courts.

It's not yet apparent who is financing the campaign, which is paying
a California firm to collect petition signatures. Republicans suspect
trial lawyers and Kalamazoo Democratic sugar daddy Jon Stryker. Both
deny involvement, although the lawyers' group is looking at endorsing
the proposal. The ballot committee does not file financial
information until August.

Former Democratic legislator Dianne Byrum is the spokeswoman for the
campaign, and she declines to reveal where the group is getting its
money. Campaign documents say Harland Nye of Hastings, a government
reform advocate, is the founder of the ballot effort. But he now says
he's not involved.

"If you ask me, it's a sneaky, stealth attempt to steal our courts
and our Constitution by some liberal Democrats," says Republican
Party Chairman Saul Anuzis on a YouTube video slamming the proposal.

Byrum says the group intends to collect the required signatures by
the deadline.

"This proposal represents real change. These are concepts that have
been out there for decades," she said.

. Stem cell research. This constitutional amendment would strike the
ban on embryonic stem cell research, which is now restricted to
existing stem cell lines imported from other states. Backers say
Michigan's strict laws put this state at a disadvantage for important
biomedical research and jobs associated with it. Detractors say it's
immoral to kill embryos to use the cells for research.

The ballot committee has been paying a Brighton firm to gather
signatures and is confident of qualifying for the ballot.

"We fully anticipate turning in the required number of signatures and
a sizable cushion by the deadline," said Mark Burton, campaign director.

Voter approval is not a slam dunk. The ballot proposal is opposed by
the influential Michigan Right to Life and the Michigan Catholic
Conference, which boast thousands of committed foot soldiers to fight
against the issue over the next several months.

. Medical marijuana. Backers have gathered the necessary signatures,
and the proposal has been placed on the ballot by the Board of State
Canvassers.

The plan would make Michigan the 13th state to legalize medical
marijuana for the treatment of a host of health problems such as
HIV/AIDS, cancer, hepatitis C and Alzheimer's disease upon the
recommendation of a doctor.

A March statewide poll showed two-thirds of voters support it.

Meanwhile, backers of a petition drive calling for mandatory
universal health care in the state say they're uncertain whether
they're on target to collect enough signatures and will decide the
fate of the campaign within a week.

Advocates of a part-time Legislature have said they're not likely to
meet the signature requirements.

Supporters of the fair tax, which would replace an array of state
taxes with a higher sales tax, say they have enough petitions out to
reach their goal, but they're uncertain how many will be returned.