BY RICK PLUTA
Michigan Public Radio Network
The petition drive to put a second referendum challenging a Michigan law that allows wolf hunting can go ahead. A state elections board has approved the form of the petition. Now the campaign can start gathering signatures to put the question on the November 2014 ballot.
If the campaign succeeds, it will be the second hunting referendum on next year's ballot. The first challenges an earlier wolf hunting law.
Jill Fritz is with the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected campaign. She said the second hunting law was passed with a specific purpose.
"And that was to stop our referendum from maintaining protection for Michigan's wolves. We all know that. Everybody understands that, and that's why we're doing the second referendum," Fritz said.
A pro-hunting group that opposes the referendum asked the elections board to strike a reference to wolves from the summary that explains the petition. Elections officials said that would require a court order.