LANSING -- State Representative Judy Nerat is back at work.

The photo is of her on the house floor in Lansing.

In August, the 108th District Representative took time off to battle multiple myeloma, a type of cancer.

The Menominee County Democrat said she's been deeply touched by the kindness and well wishes of the people in her district. 

And she jumped right into things, joining a bipartisan group of lawmakers opposing a possible ballot proposal that would ban some types of mining. 

The lawmakers said the proposal is an attack on the region's economic interests.

The proposal, sponsored by the Michigan Save Our Water Committee, would ban uranium mining and restrict sulfide and other types of mining.

Supporters would need to collect more than 300,000 signatures to make the 2010 ballot.  They say the measure is needed to protect the Great Lakes.

The statement against the proposal was issued by Democratic lawmakers Mike Prusi, Michael Lahti, Steven Lindberg and Nerat along with Republican Jason Allen.