Michigan Taxpayers Alliance Updates

Democrats behaving...responsibly?

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:44:00 +0000

Political parties are coalitions of groups of voters and, for Michigan's Democratic Party, no part of their coalition is more sacred than unionized government employees. Democrats faithfully support any government pay or benefit increase - no matter what the cost to taxpayers - to prop up the golden goose that rewards them with rich campaign contributions.

So it's worth noting when an elected Democrat suddenly stands up to these government unions, looks them in the eye, and says, "Enough is enough!" Credit must be given to two such Democrats.

State Senator Mickey Switalski (D-Roseville) introduced legislation recently approved by the Senate requiring school districts to hold school board elections in August or November at the same time as other elections - saving taxpayers millions of dollars. Public school unions insist on May elections because so few voters participate that the unions can swamp the ballot and ensure that winning school board candidates put unions ahead of school kids.

Congrats to Democrat Senator Mickey Switalski for putting kids and taxpayers first. Disappointingly, Senator Switalksi did not get all of his reforms approved by the Senate. The full Republican controlled Senate stripped out portions of Switalski's bill that would have required tax and bond elections to also be on normal election days. In addition, Switalski offered amendments to cap the pay of school superintendents at levels below the governor's pay, and to cap school districts' administrative costs at 28% of their budget. Those amendments were defeated.

Why didn't the Republican Senate support all of Switalski's reform proposals? Hard to say. Keep in mind that the MI Education Association is one tough, smart union and they always make sure to financially support just enough Republicans to keep most reforms from becoming law.

Switalski's main bill now goes to the Democratic House where it faces an uncertain future.

Another Democrat brave enough to challenge government unions is State Rep. Tim Bledsoe (D-Grosse Pointe). Rep. Bledsoe courageously challenged his own Democrat Party in an April 16th Detroit Free Press editorial:

"...where is the center of gravity of the Michigan Democratic Party? Are we, as some allege, nothing more than the political arm of powerful public employee unions? Are we incapable of undertaking any meaningful reforms to make government less costly that are opposed by those unions?

Recently, a lobbyist for a major public employee union sent an e-mail to a colleague who had inquired about his organization's support for cost-saving reforms. "Forget reform," the lobbyist responded. "Just raise taxes."

Here is the conundrum: We are at the point in Michigan where public employees, and particularly teachers, earn more than the average private-sector worker, work a shorter year (10 months in the case of teachers), and enjoy superior health care benefits. Most retain a cherished defined-benefit retirement system.

Should we raise taxes on those who, on average, have less (and have suffered a greater financial demise) to sustain the privileges of those who have more? Is this what it means to be a Democrat?...”

Rep. Bledsoe is asking his Democratic colleagues questions that must be answered.

With new studies showing that the unfunded liability for public school teacher pensions is now approaching $930 billion nationally, more and more independent voters and even traditional liberals are asking when enough is enough.

Stephen Henderson is a columnist and editorial page editor for the liberal Detroit Free Press. Yet he wrote in his April 18 Sunday column about the incredibly generous health care benefits that public school teachers receive at the expense of taxpayers and children:

"...it's hard to find justification for the fact that so many teachers are paying no health premiums -- especially if their great deal comes at the expense of our children...

...But if teachers there were required to pay 5% or 10% of their health premiums, it wouldn't affect a single kid.

No doubt, this is a time for sacrifice in Michigan. But our challenge is to make those sacrifices while preserving investments in our future. That means kids and education. They're the key to making this state thrive again in 10 or 20 years....

...But the MEA has a chance to be a little magnanimous here, to show some leadership in the vein of sacrifice. Instead of standing by watching school districts gut critical services to kids, why not offer at least to soften the blow by accepting more realistic health plans? In most districts, even a 5% or 10% contribution from teachers (still well below what private-sector folks are used to) could make a big difference..."

When some elected Democrats and liberal editorial boards are starting to support taxpayers and students instead of kneeling before government employee union overlords, we know that real reform is possible. Standing in the way are most of the Democratic Party and just enough Republicans that are on the take with government unions.

Pay attention, friends - election day isn't far away. Reward those lawmakers of either party who are standing up for you, your family, and for school children. And punish those politicians of ANY party that are standing in the way.

I'll keep you posted,

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Your congressman's "RePork card" is here...

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:06:00 +0000

Dear Taxpayer,

The federal government took your family's money and spent $150,000 for the restoration of Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, New York. Did your congressperson vote for this waste of your money?

The Club For Growth has issued a "RePork Card" that ranks every congressman on how they voted on 68 key amendments that would have eliminated millions of dollars of wasteful spending from the 2009 federal budget.

Some of the targeted pork barrel legislation this year includes:

• $325,000 for the Institute for Seafood Studies in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
• $250,000 for the Monroe County Farmer's Market in Tompkinsville, Kentucky.
• $100,000 for the Myrtle Beach Conference Center in South Carolina.
• $90,000 for the Commercial Kitchen Business Incubator project in Watsonville, California.
• $1 million for potato research in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

What was your congressman's grade?

Congratulations to Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-Holland) for earning the only 'A' grade of all 15 Michigan congress members.

Thaddeous McCotter (R-Livonia) earned a 'B+' and Vern Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids) received a 'B-'. The only other sorta passing-ish grade went to Mike Rogers (R-Howell) who received a D+.

Every other Michigan congressperson received an 'F' grade for not supporting amendments to cut the majority of the pork. Check out the entire report card here.

Another pay cut for you (unless you are a government employee)

Governor Granholm has spent the past week working the media circuit trying to sell her $550 million tax increase to the public. Granholm's proposed extension of the state sales tax to services such as hair cuts, oil changes, and carpet cleaning is equal to yet another pay cut for most every Michigan family.

But Granholm's proposed budget does include a bright spot - if you work for the state government. Unionized state employees are scheduled to receive a 3% pay increase again this year.

How does your income look this year?

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Michael Moore, Governor Granholm, ice tea and you

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:40:00 +0000

Michael Moore, the left-wing filmmaker whose credits include "Roger and Me" and "Capitalism: A Love Story" owes you money. You see, his film "Capitalism" was recently approved for a generous taxpayer subsidy from the State of Michigan's treasury. If you haven't seen the film, Moore attacks the taxpayer bailout of banks, portraying these subsidies as fleecing the American taxpayers for the benefit of the wealthy. You know, rich guys like Michael Moore.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy uncovered the information about Michael Moore's hypocritical personal taxpayer bailout:

"Moore isn't just any filmmaker. He is a current member of the Michigan Film Office Advisory Council, a state organ created to advise the Michigan Film Office, which is responsible for approving applications for Michigan's film incentive program. I do not believe it strains credulity to suggest that Moore's very presence on the council may have led to the film office approving special tax treatment for his work...

...Moore's acceptance of the Michigan film incentive subsidy is troubling because he has grown wealthy railing against corporations and capitalist institutions - such as Wall Street - for enriching themselves at the expense of the little guy and taxpayers.

In the trailer for "Capitalism: A Love Story," Moore shows up on Wall Street and says, "...we're here to get the money back for the American people..." This is in reference to the high-profile bailout of big banks (and other institutions) by the federal government. By accepting a state subsidy, Moore, who shows disdain for private, for-profit businesses raiding the pocketbooks of Americans, engages in this very practice himself.

Even more galling is that Moore is set to feed on Michigan's beleaguered taxpayers.”

Michael D. LaFaive, Mackinac Center for Public Policy

Protest in Lansing this Wednesday evening!

Governor Granholm presents her eighth 'State of the State' address this Wednesday, February 3rd. The MI Taxpayers Alliance will be outside participating in an taxpayer protest of Granholm and the legislature's failed economic policies. The event will also feature a 'State of the Citizen' address that will compete directly with Granholm's speech - except we will be outside the Capitol Building.

Join us by heading to the Capitol Building in Lansing this Wednesday evening. The protest and event starts at 6:30. Please dress VERY warm (there will be hot chocolate) and arrive in time to find parking near the Capitol Building. Bring a protest sign (glow sticks will be provided). Details are on the MTA website at www.mitaxpayers.org.

See you Wednesday at the "State of the Citizen Iced Tea Party Protest"!

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

House Reneging on Tax Hikes?

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:59:00 +0000

Friends,

This week is D-Day for the coming state budget: a balanced state budget is constitutionally required by the end of this week.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) and House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford) stunned the Lansing establishment and angered Governor Granholm when they announced that they had agreed to balance the 2010 budget with federal stimulus money and absolutely NO TAX INCREASES. Of any sort. No "revenue enhancements", no "loophole closings", and no fee hikes. In fact, state spending would actually be cut - for real.

But this afternoon, The Detroit News is reporting online that the "no tax hikes" agreement is in jeopardy.

Friends, I don't do this very often, but I am going to do it now: I am asking you to please call your state senator and state representative. I know that you get these kinds of requests from grassroots groups all the time. Most people just hope that other people will call.

Please take just ten minutes to look up the contact number for your two state lawmakers and call them. Please tell them to balance the state budget by cutting spending with NO tax increases or "revenue enhancements" of any kind.

This will take ten minutes. Here are the links to the contact info for your state representative and your state senator.

Again, I won't ask you to do this more than two or three times in a year. These two calls are the most important calls you can make to your state lawmakers this year. Please.

Here is a clip from this afternoon's Detroit News update:

"Dillon: House may have to propose tax increases for state

MARK HORNBECK
Detroit News Lansing Bureau m

House Speaker Andy Dillon said today the House may look at tax increases before the end of the week if there are spending targets that are too difficult to meet before the Sept. 30 budget deadline.

Dillon said after a joint appearance at the Detroit Economic Club breakfast with Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, that he's especially worried about Community Health, Human Services and revenue sharing.

The Redford Township Democrat said it should be evident by 5 p.m. Tuesday -- the deadline for conference committees to pass department budgets -- whether there will be a problem garnering enough House votes to approve certain budgets.

"We may look at targeted revenues before the end of this week," he said.

Asked which tax or fee increases he was considering, Dillon said: "I have a list of what my tax group has put together that we could get the most votes for," but he declined to elaborate.

The speaker said passing a continuation budget for those departments in which spending targets can't be reached "is a possibility," but one he wasn't interested in exercising before taking a shot at getting the entire budget passed. He said voting on budgets could begin as early as Wednesday, but would more likely happen Thursday and Friday."

Ten minutes. Two calls. You may be surprised how much it may help.

Thank you. I'll keep you posted.

Leon Drolet
Director, MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Final battle brewing...

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:12:00 +0000

Friends,

It's happening right now: as tax revenues plummet, the government class is digging in for the battle of their lives to protect their privileged status in Michigan's economy. And politicians are now being forced to take sides with either taxpayers or with public employee unions.

Detroit in the eye of the storm...

Few government reformers have taken on a more impossible task than Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb, who is trying to restore fiscal and functional sanity to the national disgrace that is the Detroit Public Schools. Now, Bobb is being sued by a defiant Detroit School Board determined to protect the status quo that they created and have benefited from.

Kudos to Attorney General Mike Cox, who will defend Bobb against the School Board's retaliatory suit.

Detroit Mayor Bing, meanwhile, is facing a fierce, daily battle with Detroit's unionized city employees, who believe they should be immune from the City's 22% unemployment rate, plummeting population, and evaporating tax base. These unions are more highly compensated than employees in similar cities (according to a Detroit Free Press study), but they won't concede a penny in adjusted benefits or pay.

Meanwhile, in the suburbs...

Has your pay been increasing these last few years? The union representing the professors at Oakland University think that a 10% pay hike over the past three years wasn't good enough. These professors (all public employees paid with your tax dollars) are preparing to strike today. They received raises of between 3% and 3.25% each year since the last contract approval in 2006, but their union isn't satisfied and wants even more.

Most students and their financially struggling families have experienced big income decreases these last few years, while tuition has gone up and up. These students, who already paid their tuition this semester, will likely be without professors in their classrooms this week.

Lansing's big battle...

Less than a month is left before the state is required to have a budget in place, Stunningly, Governor Granholm has yet to even propose a budget. Senate Republicans have actually proposed and passed a balanced budget with NO tax hikes. Granholm's proposal? Bring in "mediators" to coax Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop into allowing another round of tax hikes.

And public employee unions are weighing in. A new organization of public employee unions and social service organizations is urging Granholm to raise taxes on citizens again - by $3 billion - with increased business taxes, re-instating the death tax, and promoting a graduated income tax.

But the tax eaters don't really expect to win their $3 billion is tax hikes this year. They know that this year's state budget is merely a preliminary skirmish before next year's really big battle. This year's budget is important, but federal stimulus money will help conceal much of the state's structural deficit for one more year. Next year's "budget crisis" will be more than double or triple the problem of this year's state overspending - and the public employees know it. Their strategy is to use this year's budget to dig in and prepare for next year's major battle.

Citizens are catching on...

There is more and more mainstream media coverage of the extraordinary pay and benefits that the government class - public employees and politicians - receive compared to citizens. Check out this recent Free Press article.

Democrat House Speaker Andy Dillon's modest proposal to address the cost of public employee health benefits was an unexpected shot across the bow of the public employee unions. The enormous attention that Dillon's proposal attracted from both the media and the government class is testament to the growing understanding that something must give: either taxes must be hiked (again), services to citizens slashed, or the cost of providing services must be reduced by right-sizing the extraordinary benefits provided to the government-class.

Dig in, friends...

Next year will be unbelievable compared to this year. The impact of plummeting property values will finally start kicking in for local governments and public schools. The state budget will implode under unsustainable spending without increased federal subsidies.

And the government class knows all this. They are preparing to defend every pay hike, paid holiday, benefit, perk, and privilege they get at your expense. And they will fight with everything they have.

The future of Michigan will be at stake like never before. Watch your local and state lawmakers. Accept no excuses. This next year - starting with the current skirmish in Lansing - will absolutely force politicians to take sides as never before.

Whose side are your elected officials on?

Leon Drolet
Director, MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

"I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a tax increase today"

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:30:00 +0000

Governor Jennifer Granholm has a promise for you. She promises to lower taxes in 2011 if you let her raise taxes today. It is a PROMISE, you know, part of a deal. She just needs that tax hike today and then she will lower taxes r-e-e-e-e-al soon - like in 2011. It’s a promise.

From the front page of today's edition of The Detroit News:

Governor backs taxes to help erase deficit

Lansing -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm is proposing an entertainment tax, another 25-cent boost in the cigarette tax and a penny levy on bottled water to help erase next year's budget deficit.

Sources closest to budget negotiations said Thursday the plan -- which would raise about $685 million a year -- also would slightly reduce the state's film tax credit and an income tax break for low-income families. The governor would phase out the widely unpopular 22 percent surcharge on the Michigan Business Tax over three years starting in 2011.

Does Jennifer Granholm have a track record of keeping her promises? Remember this promise by the Governor after raising your income tax and business taxes in 2007:

"The most important thing I learned (this year) is I'm not ever going to raise taxes again. It;s too hard. It's too impossible. Especially in light of our economy and what we've been through. I just don't think there's anybody who's interested in proceeding down that path again."

- Governor Jennifer Granholm to the Associated Press, December 2007

Meanwhile, Granholm is still fighting against any actual reform or cost containment in the state budget.

House Speaker Andy Dillon stunned Lansing observers last month when he announced that he would seek to reduce the cost of government employee health care by creating one pool for all government employees in Michigan. The purpose of the pool was to seek administrative savings and right-size health benefits to match benefit costs in the private sector more closely.

The teachers union declared "war" (their word) on Dillon's proposal and Granholm has been non-supportive as well.

You may recall that the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance hasn't exactly been one of Dillon's biggest fans after his role in the 2007 tax hikes. But Dillon may finally realize that we cannot continue to afford two Michigans: one Michigan consisting of prosperous government employees who enjoy solid job security, high wages, regular pay hikes, and benefits that cost twice as much as the benefits of private-sector citizens; and another Michigan consisting of private-sector taxpayers who pay to support the government class.

Governor Granholm has been consistent in supporting the government-class at the expense of the citizens. Maybe Speaker Dillon is switching to your side.

Friends, this is a great time to call your lawmakers again. Both the House Republicans and the Senate Republicans have passed budgets that contain real cuts and NO tax hikes. But Granholm refuses to sign off on these budget cuts and refuses to support Dillon's proposal for government-employee benefits cost control.

Will the GOP lawmakers stand firm behind their "no tax hikes" budgets, or collapse again like they did during the 2007 tax hikes? Consider this quote from Republican Majority Leader Mike Bishop's spokesperson in today's same Detroit News story:

General tax increases "are a nonstarter for us. But we understand this is a process of negotiations and compromises will have to be made."

So please, just take a few minutes to call your state representative and state senator and tell them to:

1. Oppose any new tax hikes in this year’s budget
2. Support Speaker Dillon's efforts to equalize the cost of benefits for government workers with those of private-sector workers

Not sure how to contact your legislators? Find out who represents you in the state House here and in the state Senate here.

A quick call to your lawmakers will only take minutes. It could end up saving millions of tax dollars.

Leon Drolet
Director, MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Protest Obama TOMORROW

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:10:00 +0000

Dear Taxpayer,

President Barack Obama is coming to Macomb County tomorrow, Tuesday the 14th, to give a speech at Macomb Community College's south campus. The Macomb County Republican Party is organizing a protest to express dissatisfaction with Mr. Obama's crusade to bankrupt the country and leave the bill at our children's feet. We want to let Mr. Obama know that we've had it with his reckless war on the American taxpayer.

The Michigan Taxpayers Alliance will be joining concerned citizens in protesting Obama's destructive economic policies from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Macomb Community College's south campus at 12 Mile and Hayes in Warren. We will meet at 12:30 PM in the parking lot of the Bunert Rd entrance on the west side of the campus.

Please consider sparing a few hours to let our president know that you don't approve of his performance. I encourage you to bring a sign - you're welcome to be creative with your message but please keep it tasteful. We want Mr. Obama to understand that the people who oppose him are real people - informed, united and serious.

Leon Drolet
Director, MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Some Detroit Leaders Providing Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:23:00 +0000

Sadly, the word "Detroit" is synonymous with "dysfunction" thanks to the scandals of Monica Conyers and former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and the ineptitude of the City Council. But let's not let those dark clouds obscure several bright lights emerging from the ranks of Detroit's political leaders.

Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb is the brightest of those lights. Since being appointed in March, Mr. Bobb has tackled the seemingly hopeless disaster that is the Detroit Public School System with inspiring vigor.

In just a few months, Bobb has slashed a $430 million deficit nearly in half by eliminating bloated staffing and uncovering fraud. Bobb has cut 181 positions out of the 231 person curriculum department, terminated half of the district's assistant superintendents, and dumped eleven of the 21 "executive cabinet" members.

Bob hasn't just juggled numbers and laid off unnecessary personnel - he's aggressively tackled fraud and corruption. In the past two weeks, Bobb uncovered over 250 non-existent "ghost workers" on the payroll and suspended seven more employees accused of theft and embezzlement after investigations were initiated under his watch.

And Mr. Bobb isn't finished yet. He plans on privatizing the district's transportation services, is considering additional privatization, and will close 29 schools this fall.

Cold hearted? Only if one believes that a school district's primary job is to employ adults and coddle unions instead of putting resources into educating children. The kids and taxpayers of Detroit should hail Bobb as a hero.

And Mayor Bing should take notice. The Mayor started out on the right foot by rejecting the perk of the Manoogian Mansion, opting to rent out the building for the benefit of taxpayers. Bing then suggested that the City's grossly inefficient public lighting department be outsourced, only to back away when confronted by union intimidation. Let's hope the Mayor regains his nerve.

Bing need only to look to the Wayne County Building downtown for another example of strong, responsible fiscal leadership.

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, facing a sizable deficit, isn't foisting a tax hike on suffering citizens like nearby Macomb County. Instead, he’s proposing a 20 percent budget cut - including the layoffs of about 500 county employees and consolidation of two departments. Ficano is also asking the county's employees to accept cuts in wages and benefits to avert 440 more layoffs. Ficano's crusade to put Wayne County’s financial house in order is good for Detroit.

With Mayor Bing joining Detroit's widely-respected City Clerk Janice Winfrey in City government, there's hope for ethical and stable leadership. Now, Mayor, please take on the City’s sacred cows. And Robert Bobb's professionalism, courage and leadership may finally result in a functional school district for the City.

Michigan's next governor should take notice and bring Mr. Bobb to Lansing.

Leon Drolet
Director, MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

"Vacation, all I ever wanted. Vacation, HAD to get away..."

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:28:00 +0000

Dear Taxpayer,

Look out your window. What a nice day! Are you working today? There’s a far better chance that government workers are taking today off (paid) than the chance that you have the day off.

Next week our state legislators begin the first two weeks of their summer vacations before they reconvene in July - when they traditionally take a few more weeks off.

But state lawmakers aren’t the only ones enjoying generous paid vacations this year. State government employees and legislative staffers will also likely be spending much more time at the beach than you will.

I outta know – for over six years, I worked as a state House legislative staffer. When I was hired back in 1993, I was surprised to find out that I was provided one paid vacation day for every ten days that I worked. This 26 days of paid vacation for a first-year employee was on top of the 12 paid holiday days off (what do you do on your Presidents Day paid holiday?). Two months paid vacation compliments of the taxpayers? SA-WHEEET!

But wait, it got even better for government staffers. In election years, I got election day off, too. Plus, for every five years of service, I was given a bonus of two MORE paid days off. Very relaxing.

State lawmakers and staffers aren’t alone in receiving exceedingly generous taxpayer-paid benefits. Government workers, in general, enjoy far more generous vacation, holiday and personal day benefits than the average private-sector citizen receives. How much more? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that government workers earn $3.24 per hour in paid-leave benefits compared to the average Midwest private-sector employee who earns $1.80 in paid-leave per hour.

Even when the statistics are adjusted to compare full-time positions with full-time positions, the government worker enjoys a 33% advantage in paid-leave benefits.

Well, you’d better stop reading your email and get back to work. Your public “servants” need your taxes to provide for their extra summer fun!

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Politicians to citizens: "Stop lying!"

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:41:00 +0000

"Put not your trust in princes."
The Bible
Psalm 146 .3.

"I was really too honest a man to be a politician and live."
Socrates

Friends,

A group of state lawmakers want to imprison citizens who lie to politicians for up to ten years, according to a recent Associated Press article.

A bi-partisan group of nine state House members have sponsored a bill that would make it a crime for a citizen to mislead a politician during legislative panels. The lead sponsors are Representatives Dudley Spade (D-Tipton) and Lee Gonzales (D-Flint).

The proposed law would impose felony penalties on a citizen who provides information to politicians in a committee meeting that the citizen "knows is materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent."

Rep. Spade explained his reason for introducing the legislation by saying, "The decisions we make are too large, too important, not to have them based on accurate information." Rep. Gonzales is quoted saying, "...no one should be misleading."

Of course, the proposed legislation does NOT criminalize lies told by politicians to citizens. Broken campaign promises would still be legal. The bill also allows any politician serving on the legislative panel to lie at will to citizens during committee hearings.

It's business as usual in Lansing. The government class wants you to do as they say, not as they do.

Leon Drolet
Chairman, MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

"Political language. . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."
George Orwell

Breaking: Conservatives DON'T riot!

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:47:00 +0000

Rarely in recent memory has there been anything like yesterday's tea parties - spontaneous, awesome, grassroots events involving millions of everyday taxpaying citizens. So I went to bed last night looking forward to reading today's newspapers.

I couldn't find the print coverage in today's Detroit Free Press. I finally found the article buried on the last page of the business section, just after a weekly feature on business trivia. They also forgot to mention the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance - not that there's anything wrong with that...

OK, so I look at today's print Detroit News. The very short article is on page 5A (there is a nice, big photo). But right below the tea party article is a MUCH longer column titled, "Anger Boils Among Militia Members" about a barbeque attended by about 100 Michigan Militia members. They stacked the two articles on top of each other. The 100 Militia guys got WAY more ink than the estimated 20,000 taxpayer tea party participants.

Then I grab today's Macomb Daily to read their front-page story about the Saint Clair Shores tea party. The otherwise-fine article concludes with this sentence, "(The) rally had a heavily conservative tone, but protesters never became unruly."

What! How is it possible that 300 "conservatives" could hold a rally and not become violent? Can you imagine an article concluding with, "The global-warming rally had a liberal bent, but, somehow, never became violent."?

Unlike some, I actually DO care about the demise of the print media. I wish they would work harder at being trustworthy and relevant.

Two last stories to share: Some guy with a hand-held video camera approached the MI Taxpayers Alliance table at yesterday's Lansing tea party and started asking me why I was at the protest. I told him, but he started asking me lots of questions about social issues. He was very polite, but wouldn't quit trying to goad me into talking on camera about gays, minorities, abortion, etc. The poor infiltrator finally left, all frustrated that all I would talk about was Granholm's record on taxes, spending and jobs.

Lastly, go check out our little buddies' blog at MichiganLiberal.com. This past Tuesday, they advocated a leftist "takeover" of the taxpayer tea parties. They suggested:

"I think we should capitalize on all the media they are going to get by showing up at these events and showing them what REAL populist anger looks like. We can hijack their event to send our message.

All you have to do is go to their corporate funded website, find a protest in your area and show up tomorrow with signs that reflect the reality of the populist anger in America and especially Michigan right now. Remember to bring a videocamera if you have one!

Some suggestions for signs you should bring:

"I support President Obama!"

"Universal health care NOW" Etc...

How did their "real populist anger" look? They won't say. MILiberal is strangely silent today about their "hijack" effort. Their silence is deafening. Its quite funny.

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayer.org

Lansing Tea Party Protest on April 15!

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:29:00 +0000

In case you haven't heard, citizens angry about Washington and Lansing's destructive taxing and spending orgies are converging on the Capitol Building in Lansing at noon on April 15th to protest. Its part of a national movement of citizens participating in taxpayer T.E.A. (Taxed Enough Already!) parties.

The Michigan Taxpayers Alliance is proud to be one of six Michigan organizations sponsoring the Lansing protest.

You don't need a long, angry, harangue from me to get worked up about the explosion of spending and debt consuming Washington and imperiling our country's economic future. You've lived with six years of the Granholm Doctrine: take more of your money to stimulate government's growth. By now, either you've given up hope, or are pissed-off enough to fight back.

Will this T.E.A. Party signify the resurgence of taxpayer activism? How many citizens are paying attention enough to "do something about" their government's economics of destruction? Will the media and political class take notice? I hope this Lansing T.E.A. Party is the beginning of a sustained, growing movement of citizen resistance to our government's policies of financial suicide.

More info can be found here: michiganteaparty.blogspot.com. Will you be there, at the Capitol in Lansing at noon on tax day? I will be.

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Drinks are on you! You're paying to lobby against yourself!

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:24:00 +0000

When you think of Lansing lobbyists spending money on gifts, trips, meals and drinks for state lawmakers, who comes to mind? Big corporations like IBM, Toyota, Comerica Bank, Meijer, and Anheuser Busch? Big interest groups like the ACLU, Realtors, and the Life Insurance Association of Michigan?

Guess what? Your own government spends more to lobby itself than all the groups listed above. Believe it or not, the Office of the Governor uses your tax dollars to lobby state legislators - and spends more on lobbying than Chrysler Corporation, Compuware, or the Detroit Auto Dealers Association.

According to research by the MI Campaign Finance Network, last year the Governor's Office used $63,672 of your tax dollars to wine and dine other state politicians. Governor Granholm's administration didn't stop there; her Department of Education increased its' lobbying budget by 49% last year. The Department of Environmental Quality upped its' lobbying by 12%, and the Governor's MI Economic Development Corporation - a failure at expanding our state's economy - succeeded at expanding its' own lobbying budget by 106%. Even the MI Department of Treasury (the bureaucrats in charge of taking your income) used your money to lobby politicians - and increased its' lobby budget by 2% last year to $92,532.

What do these government departments use your tax dollars to lobby for? They lobby for even more of your tax dollars. Guess who's paying to lobby legislators for a graduated state income tax, higher fees, and more spending on bigger budgets? You are! The money taken from your paycheck is being used by the Governor and her bureaucrats to lobby for more money from your paycheck.

Your state government isn't the only government in MI using tax dollars to influence politicians. Every state university does it (MSU increased its lobby budget 25% last year), as do many community colleges (Macomb Community College's lobbying went up by 128%) and many local school districts (Oakland County's ISD upped its' lobby spending by 80%). Even the Detroit Public Library spent $44,939 (up 79%) to woo state politicians last year.

Next time Governor Granholm claims budgets in Lansing are cut to the bone, remember that her budgets' for lobbying politicians are going up. In fact, tonight is Tuesday - a day the state legislature is in session. When you sit down for dinner this evening, its quite possible that your taxes will be paying for state bureaucrats to lobby politicians' at fine restaurants in Lansing. You'll be paying for several dinners tonight - your family's and your government's. Guess who's having the finest cut of steak?

Enjoy your meal,

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Macomb Tax Protest Kicks A**!

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:28:00 +0000

Over 120 agitated MTA protesters and an additional 100 angry taxpayers greeted Paul Gieleghem, Chair of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, at a 'town hall' meeting last night in Shelby Township. Commissioner Gieleghem scheduled the meeting to explain why most commissioners are seeking a 9% increase in the county property tax.

Gieleghem orchestrated several such town hall meetings to build support for the tax hike, holding most during the day so working taxpayers can't attend and stocking the meetings with county government employees and employee union officials. Last night was very different - the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance showed up.

And show up we did! The Macomb Daily reports that 80 protesters chanted outside prior to the meeting - but the reporter's estimate is way low. See the article here.

Things got testy, wanna see?

First, check out the coverage on Channel 4 WDIV news last night.

Then check out the Fox 2 News coverage that aired.

The meeting itself was attended by over 220 people, nearly all opposed the tax hike. Gieleghem argued that the only way to avoid hiking taxes was to cut services. He avoided the fact that the COST of services, not the services themselves, are the problem; most county employees are eligible to retire at age 50 and the county is the last employer on Earth to offer employees expensive 'defined benefit' retirement plans. Every other employer that offers retirement provides a 'defined contribution' plan or 401k.

Attached are two photos from the protest.

Great job Macomb County MTA members and friends. Last night, we were heard - the only things going up in Macomb are unemployment and taxes. And politicians are directly responsible for at least one of those problems!

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

One last thing. Not every Macomb Commissioner supports the tax hike. The few remaining Republicans left on the Board oppose the tax hike and Commissioners Don Brown (R-Washington Twp.), Keith Rengert (R-Richmond) and Jim Carabelli (R-Shelby Township) attended the protest and/or meeting.

Granholm's New Gas Tax

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:57:00 +0000

I’m not a fan of sending out daily or weekly emails. But I have an obligation to alert you to Governor Granholm's newest tax hike plan.

Frank Beckmann reported on his radio show on WJR 760 AM last week that Governor Granholm plans to raise taxes on gas. Yesterday, Granholm confirmed Beckmann's report and announced her tax hike proposal, despite her promise not to raise taxes this year. She wants to change the tax on gas from its current 19 cents per gallon (13th highest in the nation) to a percent-per-dollar that would result in more money for the state. Her plan may also include a doubling of your annual registration fees.

It's overwhelming. Michigan's economy is dying, and the government-class is rushing in to feed off the carcass as quickly as it can. We've suffered the state's income tax hike (12%), business tax hike (22%) and now Granholm wants a gas tax hike. Not to mention the endless fee hikes and new energy code resulting in electricity rate hikes. Plus, Macomb County's plan for a 9% county property tax hike and, of course, President Obama's budget that would quadruple the national deficit in one year.

Everyone, apparently, is going to suffer except government employees, politicians, and some organizations which rely primarily on your tax dollars.

Three things that you can do:

1. Call your state legislator and tell him/her to vote 'No' on any tax hike, including the gas tax hike. Find your Senator here and your Representative here.

2. If you're a Macomb County citizen, attend this coming Wednesday's (March 11) protest against the property tax hike in Shelby Township.

3. Start spreading the word to family and friends. Encourage them to join the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance or another activist organization. Pass along emails.

Expect a few more emails from me as things heat up. We are not going away without a fight, and some politicians are going to pay with their careers if the MTA has anything to say about it!

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance

P.S. - If you were unable to attend a workshop on appealing you property tax assessment, it is not too late. A DVD from the tax appeal workshops is available on the MTA website for $10. Click here for information.

How dare they?! Time to fight back!

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:04:00 +0000

Miserable enough yet? Things tough enough for you yet? Not if you live in Macomb County, where your county Board of Commissioners doesn't think you pay enough in property taxes. They're going to raise your property taxes by 9%.

Yeah, I said NINE PERCENT! And I'm not saying that they're "thinking of raising your taxes" or "might raise your taxes". No, they WILL raise your county property tax millage rate from 4.2 mills to 4.5685 mills - about a 9% hike. And they'll be voting on the tax hike later this month.

How insane is it to raise taxes on suffering citizens in the middle of the worst depression in decades? Do Commissioners have any idea how bad things are for citizens right now? Do they care?

Folks, it is time to protest. A protest is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at 6:30pm in front to the Palazzo Grande Banquet and Event Center at 54660 Van Dyke (South of 25 Mile Rd.), in Shelby Twp.

Why March 11 at the Palazzo Grande? Because that's the Commissioners' final 'Town Hall Meeting' at which they explain why they want to raise your property taxes. Several such 'Town Hall Meetings' occurred yesterday, March 3 at locations in Macomb. But audiences were carefully stocked with government employees who want this tax hike on you. At the only evening event, in the Sterling Heights Library, about 60 citizens showed up to express disapproval of the tax hike. However, the Commissioners allowed only 15 minutes for audience questions after the official presentation. When the audience protested, the Commissioners allowed another 15 minutes, but repeatedly called on the same woman in the audience - who coincidentally supported the tax hike.

So, the protest will be outside in front of the Palazzo Grande - rain, snow or shine. Dress warm. Bring neighbors, family friends, and protest signs. Signs will also be available for those who won't have time to make one. We will be alerting the media.

The protest will last from 6:30pm until the meeting begins at 7:00pm, at which time we will enter the meeting itself. We will not disrupt the meeting, but we WILL insist on speaking and asking questions at the appropriate time.

Friends, if you live in Macomb, we need you to help with this fight. Somewhere, some place, citizens must take a stand against the fiscal insanity consuming our country, state and local governments. Take that stand with us next week at the protest in Shelby Township. It's what you can do to fight back!

I'll keep you posted. See you on March 11th.

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

One last Macomb County note: the final workshops for citizens to learn how to appeal their property tax assessments are THIS WEEK. These educational workshops are a free service of the MI Taxpayers Alliance and the Wayne County Taxpayers Association.

Tomorrow, March 5th at Harrison Township Hall located at 38151 L'Anse Creuse, Harrison Township, MI 48045 at 7:00pm.

Friday, March 6th at Washington Township Hall located at 57900 Van Dyke, 1/2 mile north of 26 Mile Road. There are TWO workshops scheduled on this same evening, the first from 5:00pm until 6:45pm and the second from 7:00pm until 8:45pm.

Santelli Rant inspires Lansing "Tea Party" Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:00:00 +0000

CNBC reporter Rick Santelli's now-famous on-air rant last week against President Obama’s "stimulus package" from the NYSE trading floor last week has spawned a spontaneous tea party protest this Friday at the Michigan Capitol Building.

Several Michigan bloggers have called for this taxpayer protest of the reckless endangerment of our country's economic future. The event is last-minute, and part of a national uprising of similar protests against the bozonomics of our country’s leaders.

This is not an MTA event, and I have absolutely no idea how many people will show up with just a few days notice. But I will be there to protest. Maybe you can join in.

Again, THIS Friday, February 27th at noon at the State Capitol Building in Lansing. Bring tea bags.

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance

Has Governor Granholm FOUND her mind?

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:24:00 +0000

Has Governor Granholm found her mind? Yesterday, Granholm proposed $670 million in spending cuts for the coming fiscal year. Oh, for sure, her proposed budget also relies on $500 million in one-time federal bailout money and $230 million in higher liquor fees and such. Those are very important flaws, but for a moment, lets be positive: Granholm is actually proposing spending cuts.

Her cuts would almost completely replace her "needed" 22% increase in the Michigan Business Tax she imposed over a year ago. That tax hike cost struggling businesses a hefty $700 million in higher taxes just over a year ago. Remember when Granholm said Lansing absolutely HAD to hike your taxes because there was nothing left to cut is the state budget? Well, she finally found some unnecessary spending.

The cuts include state employee layoffs and further unspecified concessions from state employee unions. Her proposed cuts also include:

• $50 million in earmarks to pilot programs in education that serve only a single school district
• No more subsidies to state fairs
• Elimination of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries
• Eliminating duplicate energy programs
• Turning over wetland permitting to the federal government
• Eliminating the Office of Drug Control Policy (which duplicates identical federal bureaucracy)

Why the sudden willingness to finally cut spending? What's changed since Granholm's big tax hike? Well, it wasn't long after this past November elections that Granholm ruled out more tax hikes:

"You will not see a tax increase from me in this year coming up. We still have to do our job to cut and restructure." Gov. Granholm, – The Detroit News, December 23, 2008

The Governor also told WJR 760AM radio talk host Paul W. Smith that "raising taxes was too hard" when he asked about her new pledge against further tax hikes.

Too hard? What suddenly made raising taxes too hard?

Remember the taxpayer recall campaign against House Speaker Andy Dillon, who pushed Granholm's last tax hikes through the legislature? Granholm, Dillon, and the rest of the legislature sure remember.

Dillon survived the recall attempt at November's ballot box. But the recall battle left significant scars on the face of Lansing's political establishment. Democratic House Floor Leader Steve Tobocman lamented in his December farewell address that his Party was forced to spend over $500,000 to save Speaker Dillon from recall. Dillon's own campaign finance reports detail an additional $167,000 spent to survive. Much more was spent "off the books" by Lansing recall opponents.

Lansing discovered that tax hikes entail a hefty price. The bruising, bitter, quite vicious, recall battle left severe financial wounds on the state's biggest political party and political incumbents shaken. Citizens proved they could "go the distance" against the powerful House Speaker, and force a recall election against overwhelming establishment resources.

Recall proponents - citizen activists - sapped the willingness of Granholm to entertain another fight with organized taxpayers.

Hang in there,

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance

Rep. Gaffney's 30 silver pieces

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:18:00 +0000

Friends,

If you missed Friday afternoon's news that Governor Granholm had appointed former Republican state Representative Ed Gaffney to a cushy $82,000 job on the Liquor Control Commission, it's because you were supposed to miss it.

You see, politicians hide unpopular news by announcing it on Friday afternoons. The major print media is mostly done writing their Sunday editions, talk show hosts don't return until Monday, and the public's attention has turned to weekend activities.

So, Granholm hopes nobody notices her appointment of recently term-limited Rep. Ed Gaffney. Why? Not because Ed Gaffney isn't a nice guy (he's well liked by Lansing's political class) but because Ed Gaffney was one of only two Republicans in the state House to vote for Granholm's unpopular income tax hike just over a year ago. She owes him - and now she appears to have delivered.

Media and political observers remember how furiously Granholm lobbied Republican House members to support the tax hike. The Governor wanted the income tax increase to be "bipartisan" and House Speaker Andy Dillon wanted to allow politically vulnerable Democrat House members to vote against it. Every 'yes' vote from a Republican meant one more Democrat was free to vote 'no'.

I watched from the House balcony during Granholm's lobbying efforts. One by one, Granholm called Republican lawmakers into the privacy of her Capitol office. 'Privacy' in Lansing is a relative thing, because leaks are more prevalent than on the Lion's defensive line. The Capitol media and lobbying community spread every rumor about what Granholm was offering each lawmaker in exchange for their 'yes' vote on her tax hike. Rep. Gaffney, a term-limited Republican who wouldn't face reelection and with a reputation as a moderate deal-maker, was one of Granholm's prime targets.

A judgeship was what Granholm supposedly offered Gaffney, who is also an attorney. No one except Granholm and Gaffney knows exactly what went on in the Governor's office.

After meeting with Granholm, Republican Ed Gaffney voted to raise your state income tax by 12%, a vote that cost citizens at least $750 million last year.

Now, Ed Gaffney will enjoy his new salary for years to come as a member of the state Liquor Control Commission. Very little press covered his appointment (Detroit Free Press story here: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009901170335).

Of course, the Senate must first confirm Gaffney's appointment; but they certainly will. After all, Ed Gaffney is a nice guy, well liked by Lansing's political class...

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance

"Welcome, to Fantasy Island"

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:50:00 +0000

Friends,

Sadly, Ricardo Montalban, the actor who starred in the classic 1970s TV series Fantasy Island, passed away yesterday. Montalban's character greeted new guests to his island resort with the words, "My dear guests, I am Mr. Roarke, your host. Welcome to Fantasy Island".

Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon played the role of Mr. Roarke yesterday at the Capital in Lansing. Dillon welcomed 46 newly sworn-in state lawmakers, who began their first legislative day in traditional fashion - lobbyist receptions, buffets of food, pomp, and ceremony. Dillon welcomed these new lawmakers with a speech promising a House agenda focused on reform; including tax cuts, politician salary cuts, and new state programs - all with no loss in government tax revenues. Basically, Speaker Dillon welcomed the new lawmakers to Fantasy Island.

The alchemy that Dillon hopes the House can use to maintain state spending, add new programs and still cut taxes is called, "restructuring". By "restructuring" the tax burden, Dillon thinks he can find a magic formula that makes everyone happy by reshuffling the tax code without actually cutting taxes or cutting spending. Dillon believes that somewhere, out there, is an absolute perfect way of keeping people happy while making them pay high taxes. Maybe people don't like high sales taxes? OK. Dillon is willing to lower them as long as people pay higher income taxes. Don't like that? OK, how about higher business taxes instead? No? Ok, he'll cut business taxes, but hike fees by an equivalent amount.

Dillon wants people to believe the fantasy of tax alchemy to avoid having them confront reality: Michigan's net tax burden is simply too high and, to reduce that burden, Lansing must cut spending.

Remember Lansing's last tax restructuring? They "restructured" the old Single Business Tax into the new Michigan Business Tax, then slapped on a 22% "surcharge". Then Lansing "restructured" your income tax with a nice 12% increase. Speaker Dillon knows those moves were unpopular so, in yesterday's speech on the House floor, he promised to try again; to legislatively walk through the mines he'd laid and restructure Lansing's last restructuring. All while complying with Governor Granholm's mandate that government revenues must not be reduced.

Friends, if there ever were a "get real" time in Michigan, this is it! House Speaker Dillon, Governor Granholm and Senate Majority Leader Bishop must stop dabbling in fantasies and start enacting real-math government cost reductions to allow a true easing of Michigan's onerous tax burden. They can start by reading the new publication from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy called "101 Recommendations to Revitalize Michigan."

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance

The sucky speech syndrome

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:14:00 +0000

Friends,

This is the first week of the legislature's lame-duck session. As a former state legislator, I experienced three such sessions with mixed public policy results. But one constant in lame-duck is the "farewell" speeches delivered by outgoing lawmakers who are completing their final term in office.

These farewell speeches are all reliably similar. In fact, the content of these politicians' speeches is SO predictable, they're formulaic enough to build a drinking game around. Wanna play the politician "farewell speech" drinking game? Tune in to Michigan Government TV and watch the speeches. Here's how it goes:

1. The outgoing lawmaker opens his/her speech with reverent, almost religious, statements about how great the institution of the legislature is. They always use words like, "honorable", "cherished", "esteemed" and such. Everyone do a shot.

2. Next, each politician absolutely MUST, without fail, go on to disparage the citizen-imposed constitutional term-limit amendment. Nothing is more important and popular among House chamber members than this. Do another shot.

3. The speechmaker laments the demise of the great statesmen from the halcyon, pre-term limit days of Camelot. In those glorious days, politicians confined themselves to selfless public service resulting in brilliant leadership responsible for everything good in Michigan's prosperous past. The longer these noble statesmen of old held and consolidated political power, the more selfless and brilliant their leadership became. Of course, those meddling citizens with their damn term limits law ruined everything! Do shot.

4. Now, the politician must ALWAYS thank some fellow House member from the opposing party whom they worked with to create some new law or regulation. This is a warm, fuzzy way of nobly appearing "above the fray" and creating an overall "team spirit" within the political class. Another shot.

5. Finally, a bonus shot if the outgoing House member breaks down and cries, and is surrounded and hugged by colleagues. Like someone died.

Still standing? You'll need the booze in order to withstand the jaw-dropping detachment from reality on display in the House chamber. In reality, Lansing's political class is not now, and never was, beloved nobility. Politicians, bureaucrats and rent-seeking special interests in Lansing have always been something that Michigan's productive citizens must, at best, endure. No citizen loves government officials more than government officials do, and the politicians' speeches to themselves put that fact on display.

Can outgoing lawmakers name ONE of those 'great statesmen' from the glorious pre-term limit days that they believe existed? They might name some prominent politician that led the bureaucracy and political class in Lansing to expand their size and power, but can they recall a statesmen who actually inspired and led everyday citizens?

Was John Engler such a leader? Engler, I believe, is a perfect example of why term limits are a very good thing. Can anyone name an accomplishment from Engler's final (third) term? I can name several from his first term and even a few from his second.

The "sucky speech" syndrome is symptomatic of a disease that infects the ego, creating a false sense of self-importance that strikes both Democrats and Republicans. Democrats are expected to worship big government, central planning and politicians as saints. Infected Republicans forget that they're elected to restrain government, so that everyday citizens can lead Michigan forward - each in their own individual, productive ways. They forget that government's primary responsibility is to serve by protecting the liberty of citizens - not to "lead" them with new programs and such.

Thankfully, there are exceptions to the "sucky speech" syndrome. A few former lawmakers never lost their sense of perspective. My personal favorite is former State Representative Margaret O'Conner (R-Washtenaw County) who dedicated her years in Lansing (1982 - 1992) to uncovering, exposing and publishing an annual report on wasteful and unnecessary state spending. House leadership despised her because she dared criticize the institution of the legislature. They stripped her of staff, and sentenced her to the worst office in the basement of the Capitol beneath leaky pipes. She never noticed, and kept churning out and distributing her reports on spending.

Another notable exception was former Rep. Stephen Dresch from the Upper Pennisula, whose 1992 farewell speech I listened to from the balcony above the House floor. Both House members and I couldn't understand the things Dresch was saying in his speech because he chose words that exceeded our vocabularies. After he concluded his remarks, his House colleagues rose to applaud the speech that they hadn't understood. Only later, with the help of a dictionary, did I discover that Dresch's speech excoriated the elitist, egotistical mentality of his colleagues and their lack of constitutional restraint.

Two years ago, after serving my three terms in the House, I gave my farewell speech. You can find the content here.

Conservatives, libertarians and other supporters of constitutionally limited government can help future politicians avoid the sucky speech syndrome by doing our part to keep the political process in its' proper context. We should not deify the institutions of government. We should not teach young people that elective office is some noble calling. America's founders, the real statesmen from our past, understood that government is like fire; something to fear and handle with extreme caution.

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance

Dillon recall making news

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:09:00 +0000

Yesterday's federal court ruling rightfully restored the citizen recall effort against MI House Speaker Andy Dillon for his leadership role in raising your taxes.

Channel 4 News, WDIV Detroit, covered the judge's ruling and the restored recall campaign. See video of the story here: http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/17317410/index.html

The Detroit Free Press story is here: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080828/NEWS06/808280355/1008/NEWS

and The Detroit News coverage is here: http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080828/POLITICS/808280377/1409/METRO

There are some important questions about the impact of yesterday's court ruling, however, that deserve answers. Specifically:

1. Can Speaker Dillon be recalled on November 4, yet also win a new term? How would that 'work'? Yes, voters in Redford Twp., and parts of Dearborn Heights and Livonia, CAN vote to recall Dillon and reelect him at the same time. If this were to occur, Dillon would immediately leave office on November 5th, miss about two months of legislative session, and then be reseated for his new term on January first.

This unusual situation was forced by the delay in the recall election that Dillon was able to force by his hiring of petition 'blockers' and other efforts to sabotage the recall petition drive that had targeted Dillon for an August 5th recall election date.

Voters can avoid the above scenario and dump Dillon forever by voting ‘yes’ on the recall and voting for Dillon's election opponent, Sandra Eggers.

2. If Dillon is recalled, will he be eligible for an additional, future term in office under Michigan's term limits law? No. A partial term of office counts as a full term if that partial term is longer than a year. Dillon would NOT be eligible to any 'bonus term' if his current term is cut short by his recall.

3. What does the court ruling mean for future recall efforts? It makes them far easier. The court struck down two state laws that required people circulating recall petitions be registered voters in the district of the targeted politician. These laws only applied to recall petitions, any other kind of petitioning of any sort allowed citizens to hire help or recruit any volunteers from anywhere. Also, existing laws allowed politicians targeted for recall to hire anyone from anywhere to help them fight the recall effort. The judge's ruling levels the playing field for citizens.

Importantly, Dillon's recall on November 4 would continue an important precedent for state politicians: raise taxes and face a possible career-killing recall from office. The precedent was set in 1983 after the last state income tax hike when two state senators were subsequently recalled from office. And yesterday's court ruling sends a chilling message to politicians who thought they could bank on special, restrictive laws they created to stifle citizens from seeking to hold them accountable.

Stay tuned,

Leon Drolet
Executive Director
Michigan Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

VICTORY IN DILLON RECALL EFFORT!

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:26:00 +0000

MAJOR WIN! This morning, Federal U.S. District Court Judge Robert Holmes Bell issued an injunction that will likely result in Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon facing recall in this November's election.

Judge Bell ruled that the MI Secretary of State MUST count the 2,053 recall petition signatures that had previously been rejected because the people who collected them were not registered voters in Speaker Dillon's district. Judge Bell ruled that Michigan's laws restricting circulators were unconstitutional violations of the First Amendment's right to free speech.

From Judge Bell's injunction:

"IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant Terri Lynn Land, as Michigan's Secretary of State, SHALL re-examine the petitions filed seeking a recall election against Representative Dillon of Michigan's 17th House District WITHOUT consideration of the M.C.L. § 168.957 requirements that (1) recall petition circulators be registered to vote, and that (2) recall petition circulators be residents of the legislative district of the official to be recalled.

If upon such re-examination Defendant determines that the required 8,724 valid signatures were gathered, then Defendant SHALL place the recall against Representative Dillon on the November 4, 2008, general election ballot."

Friends, this means that only 776 out of the 2,053 previously rejected signatures are needed to achieve the total 8,724 required to force Dillon's recall election!

Congratulations to Rose Bogaert (the plaintiff)! Congratulations to the Wayne County Taxpayers Association!

While Andy Dillon's and MI Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer's nasty, ugly tactics to stop the citizens and taxpayers successfully kept the recall off the August primary ballot, they still must now face being the first Speaker in U.S. history to be recalled.

This development is huge. The Court has re-affirmed the citizens' right to recall. Politicians do NOT have unbreakable two or four year contracts, they are at-will employees of the citizens they are supposed to represent.

Now, on November 4th, the citizens have the opportunity to fire Dillon for raising their taxes. An opportunity they had a right to have had this past August 5th.

Stay tuned for a further update and THANK YOU to all who supported this recall effort!

Leon Drolet
Executive Director
Michigan Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

How to pass a tax hike

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:05:00 +0000

Every day, while you're busy at work or taking care of your family, some people are watching your wallet with envious eyes. They covet what remains of your after-tax income. They want it. They believe they need it. But how can they, these government officials and government employees, get you to hand it over to them? Don't underestimate the cleverness of such highly focused individuals.

Take, for example, the proposed "Veterans Tax" that the Macomb County Board of Commissioners will be voting to place on the November ballot this coming Thursday. The proposal would levy a new .04 mill tax on Macomb County property owners that would generate over $1.2 million dollars to support county veterans programs. How could anybody vote 'no' on supporting programs that assist needy veterans? That sentiment is exactly what the tax takers are banking on. You see, they have a plan.

Macomb County Commissioner Pete Lund, who opposes the new tax, calls their plan: "Lottery Scam II". Remember how state lottery revenues were supposed to provide more money for K-12 education? After voters approved the lottery, those lottery revenues DID go to education, but Lansing politicians then took away much of the General Fund money that USED to be spent on education and squandered it elsewhere in the budget.

The lottery scam is being replicated with the proposed Macomb Veterans Tax. The money generated by the new millage WILL go toward supporting veterans. But where will the money that currently funds veterans programs go? You guessed it - that money will no longer be spent on veterans, but spent elsewhere in the budget.

It's a perfect scheme. The new millage proposal will be sold as a small amount that will support our deserving military veterans. It will pass. General Fund support for veterans will then end, resulting in more money for county politicians. And anybody that opposes the millage can be portrayed as ungrateful to our deserving veterans.

What can you expect next? A "Senior Services Millage" that will allow current senior services funds to be shifted elsewhere in the budget. Maybe a new millage for the Animal Shelter? You don’t hate puppies, do you?

As a Macomb County Commissioner, I was the only member of the Community Services Committee to vote 'no' on sending the new veterans' millage to the full Board of Commissioners for approval. If the Board approves the new tax this coming Thursday, then voters will decide on approving the tax at this November's election. Voters will see a proposal to support veterans. County politicians will see a proposal to shift more money to the general fund.

Stay tuned.

Leon Drolet
Executive Director
Michigan Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Dillon & Tax-Eaters Win, Taxpayers Lose

noreply@blogger.com (Leon Drolet) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:27:00 +0000

The Michigan Supreme Court put a fork in the campaign to recall House Speaker Andy Dillon on Friday by denying a request for an emergency hearing on the legality of 2,018 petition signatures of voters in Dillon's district that were not counted by the Michigan Secretary of State. The SOS did not count the signatures because Michigan law invalidates signatures collected by circulators who are not residents of a recall target's district.

The U.S. Supreme Court found that similar circulator requirements in Colorado were unconstitutional infringements of political speech rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. Ultimately, Michigan's restrictive law will be struck down, but not in time for a Dillon recall as ballots for the August 5th primary election are being sent to printers later this week.

We lost. Tax hike proponents won.

Why did we lose? Because I was not up to the task of helping overcome the incredible obstacles that the tax hikers put into the campaign to stop the recall. Ultimate responsibility for the failure is mine.

Congratulations are in order to Andy Dillon and Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer on their victory. The vicious blockers, the hired thugs, the paid infiltrators, the taxpayer-paid mailings, the abuse of police power in Redford, the lies ("recall election = expensive 'special' election") all almost worked. I say 'almost' because, despite these obstacles, the Michigan Secretary of State found that 10,408 citizens of Dillon's district signed the recall petition - more than the 8,724 required. Former Michigan lawmakers bailed Dillon out by having written some of the most difficult (and unconstitutional) recall laws in the nation.

Since the death of the recall effort, Dillon and Brewer have been emboldened. They've been piling-on by asking for criminal investigations, writing attack editorials to newspapers, and engaging in a massive media blitz to discredit me personally. Check out Lansing Senior Capitol Correspondent (reporter) Tim Skubick's blog on the topic here. Skubick reports:

"Brewer has been on a mission from God to get Leon Drolet and when word filtered out that Drolet would appear on Off the Record on public TV this past weekend, Brewer was on the horn just to make sure that tough questions about illegal campaign activities were hurled at Drolet."

Skubick continues:

"While they won't say it, you can pretty much surmise that the D(emocrat)s want to make an example of Drolet as a warning to others who would try to boot lawmakers who vote for a tax hike.

If Drolet is shivering in his boots over the prospects of being charged with a crime, he sure didn't reveal it when he did the OTR (Off The Record television show) taping."

You can watch Off The Record with me on the hot seat by clicking here.

My message to Mark Brewer and Speaker Andy Dillon is: bring it on! The failure of the Dillon recall is a significant setback for me, politically, and for the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. But your efforts to bury the MTA will fail, no matter how many shoes you pound on the podium.

The Michigan Taxpayers Alliance is barely over one year old. Taking on the most powerful man in the legislature, along with the political party of the House and governor, and most of the Lansing establishment is a enormous task. We fell 776 signatures short.

Friends, we will continue to fight as long as we love Michigan and the principles of limited government. The Michigan Taxpayers Alliance will get bigger and stronger. We lost our first really big fight, but so did Rocky Balboa.

Again, to Andy Dillon and Mark Brewer: congratulations on your victory and your tax hikes. We will see you soon.

Leon Drolet
Executive Director
Michigan Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org