Recalls filed, Floor Leader Resigns
Friends,
Legal documents were submitted to the Wayne County Clerk to initiate the recall of State Representative Ed Gaffney (R-Grosse Pointe Farms) this morning. Documents to initiate the recalls of Senator Gerald Van Woerkom (R-Norton Shores) and Representative Mary Valentine (D-Muskegon) were also filed this morning in Muskegon County.
So far, citizens have filed recall documents against six state lawmakers, to my knowledge. The next step in these six cases is a required 'clarity hearing' must be scheduled by the respective county boards of electors within 20 days of the filings. The county boards of electors (consisting of the county clerk, prosecutor and chief judge) must determine whether the reasons for the recall listed on the filed documents are "clear".
This should be easy, the reasons listed for the recalls very simply state that the lawmaker in question voted to increase the state income tax, or create a new tax on certain services, or both, if applicable. However, these boards of electors are obviously political. Back in 1983, some boards refused to meet. Others rejected the language regardless of its' clarity simply to protect the political class from having to be accountable to the citizens.
We'll keep you up to date.
More Tax, Recall Fallout
In other news, fallout from the tax hike votes and the threat of recall has led to the resignation of State Representative Chris Ward from his position of Republican Floor Leader, considered the second most powerful GOP position in the state House. While Representative Ward will attempt to serve out the rest of his term as a legislator, it will be without his leadership position.
According to MIRS News, a subscription-only newsletter widely read by Lansing observers,
"MIRS has learned that, in the message announcing his resignation, Ward cited a letter signed by 16 members of his caucus calling for a new leadership election for his post. Apparently, Ward was taken aback because by some of those who signed to the letter were members he had previously believed supported keeping him as floor leader...
...Sources tell MIRS the primary issue with those who wanted to vote Ward out was one of trust.
He voted yes on the income tax hike after supposedly telling his caucus that he was going to vote no. In fact, he voted yes after the voting board was closed and the 56 yes votes required for passage had been secured.
Ward's 57th yes vote will prevent those seeking recalls and future GOP candidates from being able to claim any of the Democrats cast the "deciding" vote on the tax hike. The vote also spawned a recall effort against Ward, which could cost the House Republican caucus time and money to defend."
Rep. Ward's vote to increase taxes on Michigan's citizens may have cost him his leadership position, but not his job (yet). Meanwhile, his vote will very probably help cost some Michigan citizens THEIR jobs, as employers continue to leave Michigan.
Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org
Legal documents were submitted to the Wayne County Clerk to initiate the recall of State Representative Ed Gaffney (R-Grosse Pointe Farms) this morning. Documents to initiate the recalls of Senator Gerald Van Woerkom (R-Norton Shores) and Representative Mary Valentine (D-Muskegon) were also filed this morning in Muskegon County.
So far, citizens have filed recall documents against six state lawmakers, to my knowledge. The next step in these six cases is a required 'clarity hearing' must be scheduled by the respective county boards of electors within 20 days of the filings. The county boards of electors (consisting of the county clerk, prosecutor and chief judge) must determine whether the reasons for the recall listed on the filed documents are "clear".
This should be easy, the reasons listed for the recalls very simply state that the lawmaker in question voted to increase the state income tax, or create a new tax on certain services, or both, if applicable. However, these boards of electors are obviously political. Back in 1983, some boards refused to meet. Others rejected the language regardless of its' clarity simply to protect the political class from having to be accountable to the citizens.
We'll keep you up to date.
More Tax, Recall Fallout
In other news, fallout from the tax hike votes and the threat of recall has led to the resignation of State Representative Chris Ward from his position of Republican Floor Leader, considered the second most powerful GOP position in the state House. While Representative Ward will attempt to serve out the rest of his term as a legislator, it will be without his leadership position.
According to MIRS News, a subscription-only newsletter widely read by Lansing observers,
"MIRS has learned that, in the message announcing his resignation, Ward cited a letter signed by 16 members of his caucus calling for a new leadership election for his post. Apparently, Ward was taken aback because by some of those who signed to the letter were members he had previously believed supported keeping him as floor leader...
...Sources tell MIRS the primary issue with those who wanted to vote Ward out was one of trust.
He voted yes on the income tax hike after supposedly telling his caucus that he was going to vote no. In fact, he voted yes after the voting board was closed and the 56 yes votes required for passage had been secured.
Ward's 57th yes vote will prevent those seeking recalls and future GOP candidates from being able to claim any of the Democrats cast the "deciding" vote on the tax hike. The vote also spawned a recall effort against Ward, which could cost the House Republican caucus time and money to defend."
Rep. Ward's vote to increase taxes on Michigan's citizens may have cost him his leadership position, but not his job (yet). Meanwhile, his vote will very probably help cost some Michigan citizens THEIR jobs, as employers continue to leave Michigan.
Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org
posted by Leon Drolet at
1:26 PM
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