Published: July 24, 2008 08:00 pm      

Granholm likes part of ballot proposal

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LANSING -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Thursday she's not ready to oppose a constitutional rewrite backed by some unions and the Michigan Democratic Party, even though it now faces a legal challenge to get on the November ballot.

The Democratic governor told reporters there are a lot of good ideas included in the Reform Michigan Government Now proposal. She didn't go into specifics but earlier this month said she liked a part that would let people vote absentee without having to give a reason.

Her comments came the same day a group led by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce asked the state Court of Appeals to block the measure from getting on the ballot.

Among other changes, the proposal would remove Republicans from the state's top courts before the next round of legislative redistricting. Appellate courts often decide lawsuits by political parties in redistricting battles.