BALLOT PROPOSAL RESTORED

Plan To Shift Tobacco Money OK'd; Drug Item Cut

LANSING -- A proposal that would force the state to change the way it spends
$300 million annually from a tobacco lawsuit settlement is on the Nov. 5
statewide ballot -- for now.

But another proposal to relax sentencing for drug crimes and require more
treatment for drug offenders is still off.

The rulings by a panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals on Friday followed
decisions this week by a state panel to deny the proposals spots on the
ballot.

Both rulings will be appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court.

Petitions circulated and signed by registered voters for the so-called
Healthy Michigan amendment were not improperly worded, the court found in
voting 2-1 to overturn a ruling by the Board of State Canvassers.

The proposed amendment would force the state to spend the $300 million a
year from tobacco companies on hospitals, nursing homes and other
health-related causes, rather than on college scholarships, the current use.

Opponents of the proposal, who claim it would force the Legislature to gut
other critical programs, said they would appeal.

The three-judge panel unanimously agreed that the drug proposal's failure to
indicate that it would affect an existing constitutional provision made it
invalid. The group sponsoring the petition drive said the error was
technical and should not invalidate the initiative.

Elections officials have said they need final decisions on both issues
within days to prepare ballots in time for the election.