Michigan Proposal 08-2, Use of Stem Cells in Research Initiative (2008)

Michigan Proposal 08-2
Election date November 4, 2008
Topic Healthcare governance
Status Approved
Type Initiated constitutional amendment	Origin Citizens

Michigan Proposal 08-2 was on the ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment in Michigan on November 4, 2008. It was approved.

A “yes” vote supported expanding the use of stem cells in research.

A “no” vote opposed expanding the use of stem cells in research.

Election results

Michigan Proposal 08-2
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		2,521,026	52.61%
No		2,271,083	47.39%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposal 08-2 was as follows:

“

PROPOSAL 08-2 A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO ADDRESS HUMAN EMBRYO AND HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH IN MICHIGAN The proposed constitutional amendment would: • Expand use of human embryos for any research permitted under federal law subject to the following limits: the embryos -- -- are created for fertility treatment purposes; -- are not suitable for implantation or are in excess of clinical needs; -- would be discarded unless used for research; -- were donated by the person seeking fertility treatment. • Provide that stem cells cannot be taken from human embryos more than 14 days after cell division begins. • Prohibit any person from selling or purchasing human embryos for stem cell research. • Prohibit state and local laws that prevent, restrict or discourage stem cell research, future therapies and cures. Should this proposal be adopted? Yes No

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

The initiative was sponsored by the Stem Cell Research Ballot Question Committee (BCQ). The same committee tried to get a similar stem cell initiative on the 2006 ballot but failed to collect sufficient signatures. Former Speaker Rich Johnson and former Congressman Joe Schwarz were supporters of the initiative as well.

The group believed that stem-cell research could lead to a cure for Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, and juvenile diabetes.

Former President Bill Clinton endorsed Proposal 2 and helped raise money for the campaign to pass the measure.

Clinton called the measure "pro-life, pro-health, pro-science and definitely pro-Michigan." He added, "It's not a fight between Republicans and Democrats, not a fight between the Left and the Right, and it's certainly not a fight between pro-life and pro-choice."

Medical News Today endorsed the measure in an Ocober editorial, noting that the embryonic stem cell research ban damages the ability of the University of Michigan, one of the "leading stem cell research centers," to conduct cutting-edge embryonic stem cell research and to recruit leading researchers.

Kristina Wilfore of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, a national organization that advocates for liberal ballot measures, wrote that "progressives should feel good" about the initiative.

Opposition

Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science & Experimentation (MiCAUSE) led the opposition campaign. The group was co-chaired by State Sen. Tom George (R-Kalamazoo) and Patricia McDonald.

"This proposal is deceptive and is hazardous because it will allow unregulated and unrestricted experimentation on human embryos," said George, a practicing physician.

McDonald added, "As a cancer patient and former head of a nonprofit health care organization, I'm concerned about the false promises made by promoters of this proposal."

Right to Life Michigan and the Michigan Catholic Conference also organized to oppose the issue. While the groups support stem cells taken from adults or umbilical cords, they oppose the methods that include the destruction of embryos.

Right to Life planned a statewide ad blitz campaign, spending $200,000, hoping to dissuade petition signers. The Michigan Catholic Conference started an informational campaign and mailed it to 500,000 households.

Polls

See also Polls, 2008 ballot measures.

A Detroit Free Press/Local 4 poll taken from Oct. 28 to Oct. 31, 2008, showed 51% of respondents approving the measure, with 40% opposed. That indicates a drop in support from a late September poll conducted for the same media outlets.

The poll, conducted by Selzer & Co. Inc. of Des Moines, Iowa, had a sample of 616 people and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4%.

An Oct. 26-28 poll of 600 likely voters by EPIC-MRA for the Detroit News and TV stations WXYZ, WILX, WOOD and WJRT found 46% favoring the stem cell proposal and 44% opposed. That poll also had a margin of error of plus or minus 4%.

A Detroit Free Press/Local 4 Michigan Poll conducted Sept. 22-24, 2008, showed 58% of respondents in favor of Proposal 2, with 31% opposed and 11% undecided. The poll was based on telephone interviews with 602 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Path to the ballot

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in Michigan

An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Michigan, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

See also

2008 Measures

• 2008 Measures
• Healthcare governance on the ballot
• 2008 legislative sessions

Michigan

• Michigan ballot measures
• Michigan ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Michigan Department of State, "Initiatives and Referendums Under the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963," December 5, 2008