Pompo

Michigan Senate wants to restrict it's citizens initiative process
4/18/08|Gather.com| by Richard Owl Mirror

Michigan Senate may vote on restricting initiative process as soon as Tuesday; act now

On Wednesday, April 16, the Senate Committee on Campaign and Election Oversight passed a bill that would restrict the initiative signature-gathering process. The full Senate could take up the bill as soon as Tuesday, so there's no time to lose: Please ask your legislators to oppose this unconstitutional bill.

The bill, SJR K, proposes a state constitutional amendment to require signature gatherers to collect at least 100 valid signatures from 42 of Michigan's counties. It would also let the legislature make that threshold even higher. SJR K would also require an initiative to include the signature of at least one registered voter from each of Michigan's 83 counties. It would violate equal protection and dramatically increase the cost and energy needed to qualify a statewide ballot. It would also give the voters of any single county - including one with only about 2,000 voters - veto power over the rest of the entire state.

A federal appellate court found that a similar requirement in Nevada violated equal protection by giving voters in sparsely populated counties more of a voice than voters in densely populated counties. In addition to being unconstitutional, SJR K could cost Michigan voters tens of thousands of dollars, since Nevada had to pay the attorneys' fees who litigated against that state's unconstitutional signature distribution requirement.

Why should you care?

You might wonder what this has to do with marijuana policy reform. If it wasn't for the initiative process, Michigan voters wouldn't be able to decide whether to allow the medical use of marijuana this November.

In a span of less than six months, more than half a million Michiganders signed a petition to put the medical marijuana initiative on the ballot in November. Dozens of people volunteered, and even quit their jobs, to give voters a chance to protect patients.

A signature from someone in a sparsely populated county shouldn't count any more a signature from Wayne County. Under SJR K, even if half the state's voters signed a petition, it would not qualify if petitioners couldn't find a person from a remote 2,200-person county who was willing to sign it. It's wrong to give a tiny portion of the state's population veto power and impose enormous costs on petitioners.

So, what are you waiting for?

News Admin. note : Heads up Michigan residents, the Senate Committee on Campaign and Election Oversight is trying to pull an end-around on you guys. Just wanted to give you a heads up

Dark

Please everyone, at least follow that link to write your legislators expressing how much you oppose this. As most know I am a Michigander and this DOES effect me. They are only doing this because of how much support the medical marijuana initiative is receiving but they will not be allowed to pull this on us, with this or anytime in the future.



Thank you for bringing this to light for me. I'm writing a polite little e-mail right now...

__________________
Dear Ndugu,

Dark

So I finally got a response today.
I just got a bunch of bullshit, followed by


"I am currently researching the numerous issues that have been raised over this potential constitutional amendment and will carefully weigh the arguments on both sides of this issue. Please be assured that I appreciate your concerns and will keep them in mind should Senate Joint Resolution K come up for a vote in the Michigan Senate. Thanks again for writing and if you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Michael Switalski
State Senator
10th District"

It still irks me. Every citizen is equal and placement has nothing to do with how loud their voice is...
We'll see what happens..

Doc Mitch

i sent my message.