Smokin Moose
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex Moderator
A Look at the Michigan Ballot for 2008: Proposals: Marijuana, Stem Cells, the Senate, Health Care, Taxes, and More
Originally, I was just going to do this in one blog post, but I realized that my views on one proposal alone are going to be incredibly long, so today, I am just going to introduce the proposals that might be on the ballot this November. The following document was put out by the Secretary of State on April 14, 2008:
STATE OF MICHIGAN
STATEWIDE BALLOT PROPOSAL STATUS
NOVEMBER 4, 2008 GENERAL ELECTION
I. STATEWIDE PROPOSALS QUALIFIED TO APPEAR ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT
A. COALITION FOR COMPASSIONATE CARE: Initiative petition approved as to form June 6, 2007; signatures filed November 20, 2007; petition determined sufficient March 3, 2008; proposal language certified to State Legislature March 3, 2008; 40-day consideration period reserved for State Legislature elapsed April 12, 2008.
Purpose: Legislative initiative to allow under state law the medical use of marihuana.
Contact: Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, P.O. Box 20489, Ferndale, MI 48220. Dianne Byrum (517) 333-1606.
II. LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS CURRENTLY PENDING BEFORE STATE LEGISLATURE
None at this date.
III. STATEWIDE PROPOSAL PETITIONS CURRENTLY BEING REVIEWED FOR SUFFICIENCY
None at this date.
IV. STATEWIDE PROPOSAL PETITIONS "APPROVED AS TO FORM" IN PREPARATION FOR CIRCULATION
A. MEDICAL AND RECREATIONAL PEACE: Initiative petition approved as to form November 27, 2006.
Purpose: Legislative initiative to permit anyone 18 and over to use cannabis on private property; provide penalties for the use of cannabis in public areas; and permit cultivation of cannabis on residential properties.
Contact: Medical and Recreational Peace, P.O. Box 102, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827-0102.
B. HEALTH CARE FOR MICHIGAN: Initiative petition approved as to form December 20, 2007.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to require the State Legislature to pass laws to ensure that "every Michigan resident has affordable and comprehensive health care coverage through a fair and cost-effective financing system."
Contact: Health Care for Michigan, 28342 Dartmouth Street, Madison Heights, Michigan 48071. Gary Benjamin (313) 964-4130 Ext. 229.
C. PART-TIME LEGISLATURE: Initiative petition approved as to form December 20, 2007.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to provide for a part-time legislature, reduce legislative salaries and limit legislative benefits.
Contact: Part-time Legislature Ballot Question Committee, 1840 North Michigan #200, Saginaw, Michigan 48602. Gregory C. Schmid (989) 799-4641. Website: <www.PartTimeLegislature.com>.
D. PEOPLE'S CHOICE TAX REPEAL: Initiative petition approved as to form February 4, 2008.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to require a statewide vote on any state statute that creates a new tax, continues a tax, reduces a tax deduction or tax credit or increases the effective rate or base of a tax. The proposed amendment would also extend initiative and referendum petition sponsors certain new petition design and circulation allowances.
Contact: People's Choice Tax Repeal Committee, 1840 North Michigan #200, Saginaw, Michigan 48602. Gregory C. Schmid (989) 799-4641. Website: <www.TaxRepeal.com>.
E. STEM CELL RESEARCH: Initiative petition approved as to form February 4, 2008.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to permit with certain limitations stem cell research in Michigan.
Contact: Stem Cell Research BQC, P.O. Box 20216, Lansing, Michigan 48901. Mark Burton (517) 974-4004.
F. MICHIGAN FAIR TAX: Initiative petition approved as to form February 4, 2008.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the Michigan Income Tax and the Michigan Business Tax and replace those taxes with a sales tax.
Contact: Michigan Fair Tax Proposal Committee, 352 12th Street, Plainwell, Michigan 49080. Micah Kissling (800) 314-6483.
G. TURN MICHIGAN AROUND: Initiative petition approved as to form February 4, 2008.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to provide for a part-time legislature.
Contact: Committee to Turn Michigan Around, 346 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007-3737. Steward Sandstrom (269) 381-4000.
H. PROPORTIONAL SENATE: Initiative petition approved as to form February 4, 2008.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to stipulate that the State Senate "shall consist of 50 members to be elected off of candidate lists at large from a statewide election."
Contact: Proportional Senate Committee, 13423 Agnes Street, Southgate, Michigan 48195. Timothy Kachinski (734) 775-1810. Website: <www.myspace.com/proportionalsenate> Email: <proportional senate@hotmail.com>
I. PERSONAL EDUCATION ACCOUNT: Initiative petition approved as to form February 4, 2008.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to require the State Legislature to "provide from 4 years of age until the age of 18 years every resident child in Michigan with funding to support education on a per pupil basis which shall be controlled by the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of each child respectively...."
Contact: Personal Education Account Committee, 13423 Agnes Street, Southgate, Michigan 48195 Timothy Kachinski (734) 775-1810. > Email: <peainitiative@hotmail.com>
V. STATEWIDE PROPOSAL PETITIONS SUBMITTED FOR "APPROVAL AS TO FORM"
None at this date.
Source: A Look at the Michigan Ballot for 2008: Proposals: Marijuana, Stem Cells, the Senate, Health Care, Taxes, and More Republican Ranting
Originally, I was just going to do this in one blog post, but I realized that my views on one proposal alone are going to be incredibly long, so today, I am just going to introduce the proposals that might be on the ballot this November. The following document was put out by the Secretary of State on April 14, 2008:
STATE OF MICHIGAN
STATEWIDE BALLOT PROPOSAL STATUS
NOVEMBER 4, 2008 GENERAL ELECTION
I. STATEWIDE PROPOSALS QUALIFIED TO APPEAR ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT
A. COALITION FOR COMPASSIONATE CARE: Initiative petition approved as to form June 6, 2007; signatures filed November 20, 2007; petition determined sufficient March 3, 2008; proposal language certified to State Legislature March 3, 2008; 40-day consideration period reserved for State Legislature elapsed April 12, 2008.
Purpose: Legislative initiative to allow under state law the medical use of marihuana.
Contact: Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, P.O. Box 20489, Ferndale, MI 48220. Dianne Byrum (517) 333-1606.
II. LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS CURRENTLY PENDING BEFORE STATE LEGISLATURE
None at this date.
III. STATEWIDE PROPOSAL PETITIONS CURRENTLY BEING REVIEWED FOR SUFFICIENCY
None at this date.
IV. STATEWIDE PROPOSAL PETITIONS "APPROVED AS TO FORM" IN PREPARATION FOR CIRCULATION
A. MEDICAL AND RECREATIONAL PEACE: Initiative petition approved as to form November 27, 2006.
Purpose: Legislative initiative to permit anyone 18 and over to use cannabis on private property; provide penalties for the use of cannabis in public areas; and permit cultivation of cannabis on residential properties.
Contact: Medical and Recreational Peace, P.O. Box 102, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827-0102.
B. HEALTH CARE FOR MICHIGAN: Initiative petition approved as to form December 20, 2007.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to require the State Legislature to pass laws to ensure that "every Michigan resident has affordable and comprehensive health care coverage through a fair and cost-effective financing system."
Contact: Health Care for Michigan, 28342 Dartmouth Street, Madison Heights, Michigan 48071. Gary Benjamin (313) 964-4130 Ext. 229.
C. PART-TIME LEGISLATURE: Initiative petition approved as to form December 20, 2007.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to provide for a part-time legislature, reduce legislative salaries and limit legislative benefits.
Contact: Part-time Legislature Ballot Question Committee, 1840 North Michigan #200, Saginaw, Michigan 48602. Gregory C. Schmid (989) 799-4641. Website: <www.PartTimeLegislature.com>.
D. PEOPLE'S CHOICE TAX REPEAL: Initiative petition approved as to form February 4, 2008.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to require a statewide vote on any state statute that creates a new tax, continues a tax, reduces a tax deduction or tax credit or increases the effective rate or base of a tax. The proposed amendment would also extend initiative and referendum petition sponsors certain new petition design and circulation allowances.
Contact: People's Choice Tax Repeal Committee, 1840 North Michigan #200, Saginaw, Michigan 48602. Gregory C. Schmid (989) 799-4641. Website: <www.TaxRepeal.com>.
E. STEM CELL RESEARCH: Initiative petition approved as to form February 4, 2008.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to permit with certain limitations stem cell research in Michigan.
Contact: Stem Cell Research BQC, P.O. Box 20216, Lansing, Michigan 48901. Mark Burton (517) 974-4004.
F. MICHIGAN FAIR TAX: Initiative petition approved as to form February 4, 2008.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the Michigan Income Tax and the Michigan Business Tax and replace those taxes with a sales tax.
Contact: Michigan Fair Tax Proposal Committee, 352 12th Street, Plainwell, Michigan 49080. Micah Kissling (800) 314-6483.
G. TURN MICHIGAN AROUND: Initiative petition approved as to form February 4, 2008.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to provide for a part-time legislature.
Contact: Committee to Turn Michigan Around, 346 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007-3737. Steward Sandstrom (269) 381-4000.
H. PROPORTIONAL SENATE: Initiative petition approved as to form February 4, 2008.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to stipulate that the State Senate "shall consist of 50 members to be elected off of candidate lists at large from a statewide election."
Contact: Proportional Senate Committee, 13423 Agnes Street, Southgate, Michigan 48195. Timothy Kachinski (734) 775-1810. Website: <www.myspace.com/proportionalsenate> Email: <proportional senate@hotmail.com>
I. PERSONAL EDUCATION ACCOUNT: Initiative petition approved as to form February 4, 2008.
Purpose: Proposed constitutional amendment to require the State Legislature to "provide from 4 years of age until the age of 18 years every resident child in Michigan with funding to support education on a per pupil basis which shall be controlled by the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of each child respectively...."
Contact: Personal Education Account Committee, 13423 Agnes Street, Southgate, Michigan 48195 Timothy Kachinski (734) 775-1810. > Email: <peainitiative@hotmail.com>
V. STATEWIDE PROPOSAL PETITIONS SUBMITTED FOR "APPROVAL AS TO FORM"
None at this date.
Source: A Look at the Michigan Ballot for 2008: Proposals: Marijuana, Stem Cells, the Senate, Health Care, Taxes, and More Republican Ranting