Michigan Taxpayers Alliance Blog

House Dems and Rep. Ball, "Constitution is too pro-citizens."

2008-05-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

The Michigan House of Representatives concluded this week of session in a most unusual manner. While House Speaker Andy Dillon was vacationing in Mexico, the Secretary of State concluded the first phase of the process that certifies petitions forcing Dillon to face a recall election on August 5th.

House Democrats, along with some Republicans, scrambled to try to help Dillon avoid being the first Speaker in U.S. history to be recalled. When citizens target a tax-hiking politician for recall, what's a group of fellow politicians to do?

Well, an official resolution of the House - that's what they'll do! What's a House Resolution? It's a vote by the House which expresses their 'official' opinion. What is the official opinion of politicians in the House? According to House Resolution 358, introduced by Representative Dick Ball (R-Owosso), it is that the Michigan Constitution is unfair because it gives citizens too much power. These politicians also believe, according to HR 358, that elections are bad for our democracy. Oh, also, citizens having the right to fire politicians who they believe no longer represent them is "chilling" to politicians.

Lets take a look at HR 358. It starts with:

"A resolution to express the sense of the House that recalls should be based on specific misconduct, criminal activity, or abuse of office and should not be based on a single vote and to denounce the effort to recall Speaker Andy Dillon."

The problem with the first sentence of the resolution is that it contradicts the Constitution, which states very clearly that:

"The sufficiency of any statement of reasons or grounds procedurally required (for a recall election) shall be a political rather than a judicial question." Article II, Section 8.

In other words, criminal acts go to courts, recalls are for challenging the policy (political) decisions of politicians. But Representative Ball and House leaders don't like the Constitution giving citizens so much power over politicians.

HR 358 further states:

"The threat of recall for reasons other than some measure of misconduct undermines the foundation of our democratic republic."

What? Recall elections undermine democracy? A recall involves citizens collecting the highest percentage of registered voters' signatures of any petition process allowed under law, and then requires a vote of the people in a scheduled election. How the heck is that damaging to democracy?

One more gem from HR 358:

"Whereas, Michigan's experience with recall seems to be a model of the potential for abuse at all levels of government."

Really? Michigan has only two experiences with lawmakers being recalled - Senators Serotkin and Mastin back in 1983 who were recalled for raising the income tax. Their recalls did not lead to "abuse", but rather to the legislature quickly rescinding most of that tax hike. Well, perhaps having to give money back to citizens makes some politicians feel abused.

What happened to the vote on HR 358? It never happened. I'm told that some legislators were actually concerned about challenging the Constitution. The other rumor is that Democrats freaked out after hearing that a Republican legislator was planning to offer an amendment to the resolution addressing removal of another politician from office - someone named Kwame Kilpatrick. Democrats quickly removed HR 358 from the agenda.

I'll keep you posted.

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

The House of Dillon

2008-05-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

Friends,

The phone call came less than two hours before our scheduled press conference in the State Capitol Building, where Rose Bogaert and I were set to announce the results of the petition drive to force a recall election of House Speaker Andy Dillon. The call was from Capitol Facilities, who awkwardly and contritely informed me that the room in the Capitol Building reserved for our press conference was, ahh, well, umm... "no longer available". In fact, I was informed that no room in the Capitol Building was available for our press conference, despite the fact that the room had been reserved for weeks.

Rose, Chair of the Wayne County Taxpayers Association, and I had to move the press conference outside the Capitol and call reporters during the lunch hour to inform them of the last-minute change. Fortunately, word spreads quickly among the tight-knit Lansing press corps and the conference was well covered.

Later, on the floor of the House of Representatives, a reporter asked Speaker Dillon why the campaign to recall him from office was not allowed to hold a press conference inside a Capitol room. Dillon's response says it all:

"They want to have a press conference in one of my rooms? Yeah, right."

His rooms. His Capitol. His government. His, and not yours.

Never mind that citizens' taxes built and restored the Capitol, and pay for its' utilities, staff and maintenance; it belongs to Andy Dillon. Dillon's arrogant sense of entitlement permeates Lansing, where lawmakers are wined and dined. These lawmakers receive tributes and awards from special interest lobbyists who laugh at their every joke and feign interest in their long-winded stories. They become seduced into believing that Lansing, and the Capitol Building, really is all about them.

Is it any wonder that these politicians, when faced with tough economic choices, choose to protect what they own? And what they own is the status-quo in Lansing. To protect their status quo, they decided to take more of what they think they are entitled to - your money. That is how the legislature and Governor Granholm ended up raising the tax on your income and on businesses by $1.4 billion, while also increasing the legislature's own budget by seven percent.

The announcement at the press conference? Over 15,000 citizens in Andy Dillon's district signed the petition to recall him from office. It seems that they want their House back.

Leon Drolet

The Detroit News needs a fact-checker

2008-04-28T21:46:00.000-07:00

Today's Detroit News editorial opposing the recall of Speaker Andy Dillon contains several embarrassing factual errors.

First, the News claims on three separate occasions that a recall election would be a separate election on a day other than the scheduled August 5th primary election day. A simple fact-check would uncover that the Dillon recall question would be added to the August 5th ballot, and NOT be a new election day.

Further, the News repeatedly equates the Dillon recall - which will be submitting signatures this week - to the failed attempt by Democrat Party Chair Mark Brewer to begin a recall of Republican House Leader Craig DeRoche. The News even claims that the non-starter DeRoche recall is "creating considerable bad blood" in DeRoche's district. Really? A non-existent recall is creating "considerable" bad blood among the masses in Novi?

The News also states that, on one hand, a recall election would be scheduled too close to a regular election and, on the other hand, that a recall election is a major distraction in Lansing. Pretend for a moment that the recall election IS on a separate day than a closely scheduled regular election. How is it that the recall would be a distraction in Lansing while the regular election would not?

I fully expect that most newspaper editorial boards will oppose the effort to recall Speaker Andy Dillon. Editorial writers love being invited to establishment cocktail parties and they hate it when the unclean masses undertake a political effort that is not officially sanctioned by Michigan's institutional elites. But for a major newspaper like The Detroit News to get so many basic facts wrong...embarrassing.

They will fail.

You can read The Detroit News editorial here.

Below is the response that I sent to The Detroit News' editorial department:

Dear Mr. Finley,

The Detroit News editorial opposing efforts by citizens to recall House Speaker Andy Dillon from office contained numerous, substantial and repeated factual errors.

The editorial falsely claimed (three times) that a Dillon recall would add an additional election to the scheduled August and November election. The question of whether Speaker Dillon should be recalled would, under state law, be added to the existing August 5th ballot. Absolutely no additional election would be created and zero additional costs (outside of additional ink) would be bourn by taxpayers.

The editorial further claimed that the Dillon recall campaign is "vicious". Citizens exercising their constitutional right to recall their lawmaker by circulating petitions is hardly "vicious". "Vicious" better describes the response to the recall campaign by Dillon and state Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer, who have hired an squad of blockers to intimidate petitioners and potential petition signers. These blockers have swarmed petitioners who are peaceably gathering signatures, handed out fliers containing falsehoods to potential signers, and even stalked petitioners by following them to their homes.

Dillon and Brewer call these intimidation tactics "educational" and their squadron of thugs "voter education specialists". Yet, as The Detroit News reported last week, Brewer hired a parolee convicted of eight different felonies - including armed robbery - as one of his voter educators. This convict has never even voted, according to Secretary of State records.

Recalls are hardly "pointless". The successful recall of two state senators for raising the income tax in 1983 resulted in the legislature's immediate rescission of most of that tax hike and the enactment of significant spending cuts. After those 1983 recalls, the legislature did not have the audacity to hike the income tax for twenty four years.

Speaker Andy Dillon, Governor Granholm and other Lansing lawmakers ignored the lesson of 1983 when they imposed a twelve percent income tax hike and a twenty two percent business tax hike on economically beleaguered Michigan citizens and businesses.

Citizens choosing to peaceably exercise their constitutional right to recall a lawmaker for supporting the largest tax hike in Michigan history is hardly pointless.

Michigan needs to lose Granholm, Dillon, and their tax hikes if we are to have any hope for economic recovery.

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

Tax Day 2008

2008-04-15T20:53:00.000-07:00

Today is tax day. The day you are required to send your hard-earned money to politicians and bureaucrats in Lansing and Washington D.C. who are experts at spending your money. These experts don't just spend money on roads, national defense, courts, police and fire protection - they spend your money on windmill museums, counting horses, subsidizing ethanol (so that you have to pay more for food) and sending your cash to dictators in numerous third-world countries.

Michigan's tax woes are worse than most other Americans, and the Detroit Free Press was kind enough to allow me to partially explain the impact our state's new business tax is having on our job providers. Check out the editorial in today's Freep here.

The Frank Beckmann Show on WJR 760 AM is also giving me a chance to spout off during the 9:30am segment. Tune in if you read this in time.

Also, a final reminder about today's tax protest at the Redford Post Office at 12245 Beech Daly Road (just south of I-96) from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Please attend and bring a friend, we need to support our friends at the Wayne County Taxpayers Association who are in the homestretch of their petition drive to force a recall election of the Michigan Speaker of the House, Andy Dillon, for his role in raising taxes and hurting our economy.

Leon Drolet
Michigan Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

TAX HIKE PROTEST ON APRIL 15!

2008-04-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

TAX HIKE PROTEST ON APRIL 15!
Government Workers Get Richer, Taxpayers Get Poorer
Friends,

Send in your state tax returns yet? Better hurry, because Governor Granholm and House Speaker Andy Dillon need the 12% more they jacked up your state income tax; and they need it fast. Why? To pay for the THIRD state employee pay hike since March 31st of last year.

Yep, most state employees, already the sixth highest paid state employees in the nation (The Detroit Free Press, 6-24-07) will, starting today, be paid six percent more than last March. All while inflation-adjusted, per-capita income for average Michigan citizens has actually declined since 2004. State employees already made an average of 29% more in salary and benefits than comparable private sector employees, but, for Granholm and Dillon, that wasn’t enough. Citizens must have less, so that they can have more.

Please join the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance (and Mr. Perks) for a Tuesday, April 15th protest of Granholm and House Speaker Andy Dillon’s tax increase!

The protest will take place at the Redford U.S. Post Office from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The Redford Post Office is located at 12245 Beech Daly Road, Redford, MI 48239.

Why Redford? Because this suburban Wayne County community is in the House district of Speaker Andy Dillon. It has a very busy 24/7 post office. And Rose Bogaert and the Wayne County Taxpayers Association need your support!

Bring a picket sign. Make your position on the campaign to recall Speaker Dillon known, or speak out against Lansing's overspending and general ineptitude, or express yourself regarding the proposed Michigan Fair Tax. Just be there if you care!

The protest has one thing in common with taxes: it takes place rain or shine! See you on April 15th.

Leon Drolet
Michigan Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Raiders of the Lost Treasury!

2008-03-06T14:23:00.000-08:00

Friends,

Governor Granholm and state lawmakers are supporting new legislation that gives a 40% tax break to movie and TV producers that film in Michigan. At a Lansing committee hearing on Tuesday, Free Press columnist Mitch Albom joined actor Jeff Daniels and a slew of state officials who argued that giving the film and video industry a tax break will boost investment and film production in Michigan.

But we know that tax breaks don't encourage job growth - government spending does! How do we know that? Granholm's treasury officials told us so. For years, Granholm's treasury officials testified before the House Tax Policy Committee that businesses don't care much about taxes; instead they care about quality services like police, fire, education, roads and such. These treasury officials apparently know more about what businesses want than businesses do, because business groups always testified that taxes DO matter.

So, did Granholm and the legislature propose that a fire truck and social worker be assigned to movie crews who set up shop in Michigan, hoping that these available services would entice more film crews? No, instead, Granholm has reversed course and argues that lower taxes DO matter - but only for movie makers. Everyone else wants more government stuff.

Hmm, wait a minute...a closer examination of the legislation reveals that the bills propose more than tax breaks. They also provide for up to $15 million in direct loans to movies studios, with the money coming out of future tobacco revenues borrowed at 40 cents on the dollar today.

Higher taxes on you and every other business in Michigan to pay for tax breaks and loans to Hollywood. With this kind of "leadership" in Lansing, we won't have to worry about enticing film makers - documentary crews will locate here to record Michigan's economic future and call it, "Apocalypse Now!"

Can you think of any other film titles appropriate for Granholm's Michigan? Maybe, "Jenny and We"? Send your film title ideas to leon@mitaxpayers.org and we will compile a top ten list to forward to state lawmakers.

Leading Lottery Lawmaker is Lucky Lottery Winner!

2008-02-26T14:51:00.000-08:00

Friends,

Last Friday, State Representative Barb Farrah (D-Southgate) won a $2 million lottery prize during halftime of a Detroit Pistons game. Rep. Farrah was one of five finalists for the grand prize out of 875 lucky people who had earlier won a qualifying $1,000 instant scratch-off ticket.

The problem is that Rep. Farrah is the chairperson of the committee in Lansing that oversees the state lottery. And the method used to select the five finalists out of the 875 qualifiers was a non-public drawing conducted by a lottery employee.

News of the coincidence of the lucky key lottery legislator's win broke on the blog RightMichigan and you can read more here.

I served in the state legislature for four years with Rep. Barb Farrah and I believe that she is a very honest person who would never engage in any improper behavior. But with the state lottery, any appearance of impropriety must be avoided. That is why lottery employees are prohibited by law from winning the lottery. That law should be extended to include state lawmakers who directly oversee lottery laws and regulations.

To protect the integrity of the lottery, I have asked Attorney General Mike Cox to review the drawing that selected Rep. Farrah as one of the finalists for the grand prize. I believe that review would find no evidence of any wrongdoing by anyone. But the public deserves that assurance of fairness after a coincidence such as Rep. Farrah's lucky win occurs.

Government Bureaucrats Now Lobby with Your Tax Dollars

2008-02-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

Friends,

The Michigan Campaign Finance Network, an organization that tracks campaign donations, has found a sector of the state economy growing almost as fast as the state budget: lobbying. The MCFN reports that money spent lobbying Lansing lawmakers increased by six percent last year to just over $32 million.

Nick, who blogs at www.RightMichigan.com, found something interesting on the list. It seems that state government agencies are now spending your tax dollars to lobby state government. For example, the Michigan Department of Treasury spent over $90,000 last year to lobby lawmakers. And Governor Granholm spent over $63,000 of taxpayer money on lobbying government.

Why does the Treasury Department use your money to wine and dine state lawmakers? I have no idea. When I was in the state legislature, if I wanted to talk to the state treasurer or any department head, I called them. If a department head wanted to talk to me, we met in the office and talked. No government bureaucrat actually spent part of their budget "lobbying" me with food, drinks or entertainment. I understand that the public universities and local governments lobby lawmakers with football tickets and dinners all the time while asking for more money, but the Treasury Department? The Governor? The Department of Environmental Quality?

At least when private companies like General Motors, Ford, insurance companies, etc. spend money lobbying, they spend their own money. Now, bureaucrats are using YOUR money to lobby politicians for MORE of your money! Can this be legal?

The Michigan Taxpayers Alliance intends to find out how Treasury, the DEQ and others spent your money lobbying and will be sending a Freedom of Information Act request to the departments to find out. We won't bother sending a FOIA request to find out how Governor Granholm spent your money lobbying. The governor's office is specifically exempt from the Freedom of Information Act and Granholm has refused to respond to previous requests.

We will keep you posted.

In other news, plans are underway to increase voter turnout in upcoming elections. In case you missed it, the Detroit Free Press ran this little tidbit on Wednesday:

Seeking a captive audience

East Lansing political consultant Mark Grebner has a new get-out-the-vote program for Michigan Democrats. Among his target groups: prisoners.

It's a group Grebner says is often eligible to vote but doesn't for reasons including "an utter lack of political interest and knowledge" and "low level of literacy and inability to follow directions."

Grebner writes that about 80% of inmates are Democratic.

Unbelievable. I mean, who would encourage illiterate people with no political interest or knowledge to vote for state policymakers. What kind of politicians would we end up with? Hmmm. Best stop asking these questions...

Is your state lawmaker one of Lansing's biggest spenders?

2008-02-19T11:37:00.000-08:00

Is your state lawmaker one of Lansing's biggest spenders? Or one of the most frugal?

The 2008 state budget spends $1,470,045,900 more than the 2007 budget. Below are the ten biggest-spending Republicans and Democrats in both the state House and state Senate, along with lists of the most frugal lawmakers. (Only those legislators who made all the budget votes are listed). The data was compiled by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

It should be noted that some lawmakers may have voted against the higher-spending budget bills because the bills did not increase spending ENOUGH to earn their vote.

Ten Biggest-Spending House Republicans:
Rank	Name	Location/District	Increased $$$
1. tie)	Bill Caul	Mt. Pleasant/99	$1,470,045,900
1. tie)	Tory Rocca	Sterling Heights/30	$1,470,045,900
3.)	Brian Calley	Pittsford/58	$1,463,545,900
4. tie)	Tim Moore	Farwell/97	$1,350,045,900
4. tie)	David Palsrok	Manistee/101	$1,350,045,900
6. tie)	Law, David	Commerce Twp./39	$1,332,045,900
6. tie)	Phil LaJoy	Canton/21	$1,332,045,900
6. tie)	Jeff Hansen	Hart/100	$1,332,045,900
6. tie)	Darwin Booher	Evart/102	$1,332,045,900
6. tie)	Dick Ball	Bennington Twp./85	$1,332,045,900

Ten Most Frugal House Republicans:
Rank	Name	Location/District	Increased $$$
1.)	Fulton Sheen	Plainwell/88	$6,500,000
2. tie)	Glenn Steil	Cascade/72	$7,500,000
2. tie)	Joe Hune	Hamburg Twp./47	$7,500,000
2. tie)	Jack Hoogendyk	Texas Twp./61	$7,500,000
5.)	Kevin Elsenheimer	Bellaire/105	$45,100,000
6.)	John Pastor	Livonia/19	$49,835,000
7.)	Brian Palmer	Romeo/36	$116,500,000
8.)	David Hildenbrand	Lowell/86	$121,000,000
9.)	John Garfield	Rochester/45	$126,500,000
10.)	Marty Knollenberg	Troy/41	$154,100,000

22 Democrats voted for the maximum increase of $1,470,045,900:
Name	Location/District	Name	Location/District
Andy Dillon	Redford/17	Ted Hammon	Burton/50
Katleen Angerer	Dundee/55	Jones, Robert	Kalamazoo/60
Terry Brown	Pigeon/84	Law, Kathleen	Gibraltar/23
Brenda Clack	Flint/34	Lamar Lemmons	Detroit/2
Paul Condino	Southfield/35	Jeff Mayes	Bay City/96
George Cushingberry	Detroit/8	Andy Meisner	Ferndale/27
John Espinoza	Croswell/83	Gino Polidori	Dearborn/15
Matt Gillard	Alpena/106	Dale Sheltrown	West Branch/103
Lee Gonzales	Flint Twp./49	Smith, Virgil	Detroit/7
Marty Griffin	Jackson/64	Dudley Spade	Tipton/57
Richard Hammel	Mt. Morris/48	Lisa Wojno	Warren/28

34 Democrats voted for $1,350,045,900 or more in increases spending. Only 2 Democrats broke with the pack and voted for less spending:
Rank	Name	Location/District	Increased $$$
1.)	Fred Miller	Mt. Clemens/31	$1,211,045,900
2.)	Mike Simpson	Jackson/65	$1,332,045,900

Most Frugal Senate Republicans:
Rank	Name	Location/District	Increased $$$
1.)	Nancy Cassis	Novi/15th	$217,600,000
2.)	Jud Gilbert	Algonac/25	$1,339,835,000

All of the remaining Senate Republicans (who voted on all the bills) voted for the maximum $1,470,045,900.
Rank	Name	Location/District	Increased $$$
1.)	Michael Prusi	Ishpeming/38	$1,205,545,900
2. tie)	Deborah Cherry	Burton/26	$1,219,835,000
2. tie)	Irma Clark-Coleman	Detroit/3	$1,219,835,000
2. tie)	Dennis Olshove	Warren/9	$1,219,835,000
2. tie)	Gretchen Whitmer	East Lansing/23	$1,219,835,000

Only 1 Senate Democrat voted for the maximum increase:
Rank	Name	Location/District	Increased $$$
1.)	Michael Switalski	Roseville/10	$1,470,045,900

Leon Drolet
Michigan Taxpayers Alliance

State of Michigan Taxpayers Address

2008-01-30T11:57:00.000-08:00

Friends,

Michigan homeowners will soon receive their new property tax assessments. For most homeowners, the value of their home will have fallen, yet their summer and winter property tax bills for 2008 will actually increase due to the legal but unforeseen consequences of Proposal A.

Also, Michiganders will likely watch their per-capita real income fall for the fourth consecutive year while paying the 12% increase in the state income tax which passed this past October.

Michigan's small and mid-sized businesses will be paying the new 22% "surcharge" on the Michigan Business Tax passed by the legislature starting this past January 1st. Michigan's employers will be forced to pass this tax hike on to consumers in the form of higher prices or lay off employees in an effort to keep prices competitive.

Governor Granholm proposed in her State of the State last evening that these higher taxes would be used to pay for select tax breaks for some companies, specifically the "fifty fastest growing industries" as selected by government agencies. Granholm specifically mentioned tax cuts for the film industry, an aviation center in Houghton and some kind of pie factory in Saugatuck.

Governor Granholm’s new, centrally planned economy would include using taxpayer-backed, state employee pension funds to gamble on high-risk start-up company investments. This program is apparently in recognition that private investments in Michigan are unlikely due to our high taxes and regulatory structure. This new program is in addition to her 21st Century Jobs plan from two years ago that has actually created a few jobs; I think both of them are grant writer positions at public universities.

Worried? Don’t be. Granholm's central planning has a cure-all, sure-fire magic wand that will save Michigan's economy. Its called "diversifisustainalterntivegreenability" economics. The theory is that if our state's elected leaders say certain key buzzwords enough, the cumulative effect will be the creation of a new, alternative "buzzconomy" fueled by free-range granola and fossilized hippie remains that will supplant old notions of an "economy" based on calculated investment risks made for the purpose of turning actual profits.

Of course, this diversifisustainalterntivegreenability buzzconomy only works for government. The tricks of this buzzconomy employed by Lansing (things like borrowing against future tax revenues and restructuring bond payments) are not available to your family. Your increased taxes this year will have to be paid using the old form of currency - actual money. Your money.

Leon Drolet
Michigan Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Blockers vs. Gatherers continued

2008-01-16T01:50:00.000-08:00

Friends,

Today's recall signature gatherers vs. blockers battle at the polls in Grand Rapids and (to a lesser degree) in Royal Oak and Madison Heights was way more interesting than the Michigan Democratic Party primary.

Supporters of a recall election against State Rep. Robert Dean battled to collect petition signatures at polling locations where 'blockers' attempted to stop voters from signing the petitions. The blockers outnumbered the signature gatherers by more than two-to-one. Check out the Grand Rapids Press story here:

http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/01/dean_petition_drive_gets_feist.html

The blockers were not very proud of their activities and refused to talk to reporters. They usually retreated to their cars when media appeared and, if confronted, usually refused to identify themselves or their employers.

Nick, from the web blog RightMichigan.com, caught several blockers on video. Check out his posts here: http://www.RightMichigan.com (you may have to scroll down a few stories).

Recalls are difficult - as they should be. But Michigan is not Pakistan, and voter intimidation should not be tolerated.

Blockers Disrupt Petition Gatherers

2008-01-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

Friends,

Today is Presidential Primary Day in Michigan and the voting precincts in Grand Rapids are a war zone. Not between Mitt and McCain, Huckabee and Paul, but between citizens collecting signatures for the recall of State Representative Robert Dean (D-Grand Rapids) and the organized, paid, liberal 'blockers' hell-bent on stopping voters from signing the recall petitions.

Blockers were already at the polls when the Dean-recall volunteers arrived this morning to collect petition signatures. And they are nasty! One senior citizen who tried to sign the recall petitions was yelled at by blockers who told her that she was "breaking the law and signing an illegal petition". These same blockers followed the senior voter to her car, taking repeated, close-up snapshots with a camera and demanding that she produce photo identification to them (the blockers). Police were called, and (as I write this) are trying to sort things out.

The blockers' primary tactic is to lie. First by claiming that Robert Dean didn't vote for any tax increases, and then by telling potential signers that the petitions are illegal and that they are committing a crime by signing. The blockers continue to harass citizens attempting to sign by getting right-up into the signers faces with a camera and taking multiple photos of the citizen's face. Their tactics would be the envy of a third-world dictator attempting to suppress democracy at the polls.

And that is EXACTLY what the blockers are determined to do: suppress citizens' democratic involvement in their constitutional right to engage in the petition and recall process.

Another type of blocker was at the polls today. These blockers were there to discourage voters from signing any Right to Work (RTW) petition that unions thought might be organized at voting locations. These blockers encountered no Right to Work petitioners, and were, at first, confused and mildly entertained by the recall blockers' engagements with recall signature gatherers. Until they witnessed the unvarnished vitriol spewing from the recall blockers toward voters who attempted to sign petitions. I am told by several of the recall petitioners that the RTW blockers have sided with recall petitioners at the polls, after being appalled at the aggressive, grotesque behavior of the recall blockers.

I don't know how many of the 8,700 signatures needed to force a recall election for Rep. Robert Dean will be collected today. It depends on overall election turnout in Grand Rapids, how long petition gatherers can withstand the cold and snow, and how well these petition gatherers and Grand Rapids voters can fend-off the offensive blockers who seek to undermine civility and even democracy itself.

AFP Defend the Dream Summit

2008-01-08T14:29:00.000-08:00

Friends,

The Michigan Taxpayers Alliance will be participating in an exciting event taking place this Saturday in Livonia. The event, a conference called the "Defending the American Dream Summit," is sponsored by the free-market, limited-government group called Americans for Prosperity. MTA board member Grover Norquist from Americans for Tax Reform and author and co-host of ABC News 20/20 John Stossell will be among the featured speakers. Presidential candidates John McCain and Mitt Romney are confirmed speakers and Congressman Ron Paul has been invited.

AFP describes the event as such: "Help turn our state around, by joining hundreds of citizen leaders from across Michigan for our Defending the American Dream Summit. This is your opportunity to send a powerful message to the politicians, special interests, and media that we've had enough of the out of control spending, taxation and regulation that has stifled our competitiveness."

The summit takes place at Laurel Manor in Livonia and starts this Saturday, January 12, at noon, concluding at 5:00pm.

Here is a link to AFP's website for more info and registration:

www.defendingthedream.org/MI/

I hope to see you this Saturday, drop by the MTA booth!

Santa Delivers Coal to Lawmakers

2007-12-14T15:22:00.000-08:00

Friends,

The MTA recently participated in a Coal-ition of citizens that gave some Lansing politicians a well-deserved Christmas gift. The press coverage from the event is below. Enjoy!

Lansing State Journal: Santa delivers coal to lawmakers who raised taxes on Michigan residents

Anti-tax groups figure Gov. Jennifer Granholm and lawmakers who raised taxes deserve lumps of coal for Christmas - so they delivered a pickup full to the Capitol on Thursday.

The Coal-ition, as it called itself, included the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, the Michigan Fair Tax Association and Americans for Prosperity, among others.

"The Legislature doesn't deserve a very Merry Christmas. It deserves these lumps of coal this year," said Leon Drolet, executive director of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. "Our objection is the way they handled the budget and tax situation."

They took a wheelbarrow of coal over to Granholm's office. The state encountered an hours-long partial government shutdown on Oct. 1 before Granholm and lawmakers agreed to raise the state income tax and apply the sales tax to some services.

The service tax fueled outraged by businesses and individuals, and the Legislature repealed it just as it was taking effect. The tax was replaced with a surcharge to the Michigan Business Tax.

A spokeswoman for Granholm said the tax groups were off base. Liz Boyd said the group should be applying the same treatment to Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester. Bishop voted against the tax increases but permitted the votes to take place.

"If anyone deserves a lump of coal, it might be Leon Drolet. He's not telling the whole truth," Boyd said. "This was a bipartisan agreement with plenty of Republican support and plenty of support from the business community and that protected citizens from massive cuts."

Scott Brown, a Grass Lake resident, shoveled coal from the pickup parked on Capitol Avenue into a wheelbarrow. He said he took the day off work to come to Lansing.

He said 18 people at the engineering firm where he is employed are laid off.

"I'm not a Republican against a Democrat. I'm a citizen against people in our state government that refuses to restructure and wake up and start thinking outside the box like we are forced to every day in business," he said.

Hip, Hip, Hooray?

2007-12-03T16:21:00.000-08:00

The legislature agreed at 11:00pm Friday night to eliminate the scheduled 6% sales tax on certain services. Lansing and the media are reporting this as a big, bi-partisan win for Michigan. Fantastic.

What did they replace the service tax with? Spending cuts? How about a nice 22% "surcharge" (sounds better than "increase") in Michigan's business tax. Yep, that will help entice businesses to add jobs in Michigan. As a further selling point, this little 22% tax increa, oops..I mean surcharge...is only temporary. We can tell businesses that it is scheduled to go away in 2017!

Remember that the legislature replaced the old Single Business Tax (after a citizen petition drive forced them to) with the new Michigan Business Tax that they designed to take $220 million more out of the economy than the old SBT did. And that was before this new, "temporary" 22% "surcharge" which will soak at least $700 million more out of the pockets of Michigan's remaining businesses. Prosperity is right around the corner.

Are you feeling a little pinched economically lately? Lansing's not. The budget for legislators went up over 7% for the '08 budget. Things are nice and comfy at the Capitol.

What to do? Well, you can do as Lansing tells you - "shut up and pay up" or you can do something. Citizens have two logical options: leave the state or support recalling the politicians that are destroying Michigan.

Ready for battle?

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

A Christmas Poem

2007-12-03T06:59:00.000-08:00

Friends,

Back when I was in the state legislature, I mailed newsletters to update constituents and supporters on policy issues. Back then, the state income tax rate was actually scheduled to be reduced. For the November, 2003 newsletter, I included a poem which is (eerily) almost as appropriate today as back then. The poem and disclaimer that preceded it are below:

"Dear Friends of Liberty,

I present this poem as a warning. Right now, the Governor is not proposing a state sales tax on services to balance the budget. Such a tax, however, has been discussed.

The extension of the sales tax to Internet purchases and the freeze of the scheduled income tax cut are being promoted by the Governor as this issue goes to print. Already, new taxes on some brands of cigarettes, higher fees, and increased tax collections on alcohol have passed.

I'll keep fighting to protect your wallet here in Lansing.

I wish you and your family a happy and prosperous 2004!"

"T'was the month before Christmas and all through the state House,
Plans to balance the budget are spread by the clicks of a mouse;

Michigan taxpayers are nestled all snug in their beds.
While visions of the promised income tax cut dance in their heads;

"Economic recovery!" was their toast before beginning their snooze.
But others, in Lansing, toasted higher taxes on their booze;

And the Governor was awake, talking on a conference call,
About how that income tax cut shouldn't be coming at all;

Meanwhile, a tax on Internet purchases is crafted quietly with care
In hopes of catching holiday buyers unaware;

But something was driving the Governor's budget bureaucrats nuts;
"Even with these tax hikes," they fretted, "We'll still have to make cuts."

When from the Governor's office there arose such a clatter,
Those bureaucrats sprang from their cubes to see what was the matter;

Into her office, the bureaucrats flew,
Where Governor Granholm gushed to them, "I know just what to do."

"The state sales tax now applies to purchases of products (except food),
But we'll make people pay taxes on their services, too!"

"On haircuts! On health clubs! On mowing of lawns!
On lawyers fees, doctor visits, and tanning salons!"

"On advertisements! Dry cleaning! The shining of shoes!
A sales tax on services is just what I'll do!"

"The budget deficit will disappear! Oh, what a neat trick!
To my special interests in Lansing, I'll be just like St. Nick!"

"How brilliant," said one bureaucrat with a beaming grin,
"But how will we get the Republicans to buy in?"

But the Governor (so slickly), said "Leave that to me,
Remember how they bought into our hiking of fees?"

With a wink of her eye, and a twist of her head,
Governor Granholm went home and sent the bureaucrats to bed.
So let's hope their plans fail, for the economy's sake;
Dear taxpayers: Spend this holiday season AWAKE!"

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Do it Anyway!

2007-11-29T17:31:00.000-08:00

Friends,

Is there any hope? Should I even ask you to spend a few minutes of your time to contact legislators and ask them to demonstrate common sense? Or, as we witnessed in the wee hours on October 1st, are Lansing's politicians so unbelievably incompetent that they can't possibly do anything right.

State Senator Valde Garcia's new service tax on Michigan's job providers (those that remain) is scheduled to take effect this weekend. Next week, every shoe-shine guy, lawn maintenance person, financial advisor, ski hill operator, janitor and a whole bunch of other seemingly-randomly-targeted businesses (that already pay the state's Michigan Business Tax) will have to begin filling out more Treasury forms and collect a 6% sales tax from their customers.

Now, everyone in Lansing claims to hate Republican Senator Garcia's devil-child of a tax increase, but a majority of them voted for it. As of last night, the House and Senate passed different versions of a replacement that would increase the state business tax by between 14% (Republican plan) or 33% (Democrat plan). Wow! That will really encourage business to locate and expand in Michigan.

Why, why, WHY isn't there a credible push in Lansing to replace this stupid tax increase with BUDGET CUTS?! The 2008 budget passed in October increases spending from the '07 budget by over 8% (General Fund spending), by 2.5% (overall spending) and by over 7% (the budget for the legislature itself). The Mackinac Center for Public Policy lists $1.4 billion in suggested budget cuts on their website that could be used to replace the $700 million that Garcia's new tax will take from citizens and send to Lansing. Check their list here: http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=9059.

So, should I even bother to ask you to call Speaker Andy Dillon and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop and demand they cut spending? Dillon simply won't listen. He has been perfectly consistent in his preference for higher taxes and increased spending. Bishop will sympathetically tell you that it is too late, the Governor has already signed Garcia's tax hike into law, and she would simply veto any spending cuts even if they reached her desk.

You know what? Bishop is right. He missed his chance. But call Dillon (517-373-0857) and Bishop (517-373-2417) anyway - just to tell them how angry you are. Don't use profanity, but don't be respectful. They haven't earned it.

In other news: yesterday, Michigan Recalls Committee (www.michiganrecalls.com) sent legal requests for expedited hearings to judges in Macomb and Wayne Counties that are sitting on appeals to legally approve recall petitions against tax hiking politicians. Including the recall of House Speaker Andy Dillon. Stay tuned.

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Granholm's Job Performance Lower than 36%?

2007-11-26T20:03:00.000-08:00

Friends,

Both Detroit News columnist Daniel Howes and Crain's Detroit Business report today that a new poll done by polling firm EPIC-MRA finds that 83% of voters polled rate the state legislature's performance as “total negative” and 64% disapprove of Governor Granholm's job performance.

I do NOT believe this poll is close to accurate. I mean, how is it even possible that 17% of voters think the state legislature is doing a good or "okay" job? Who are the 36% of voters that think Governor Granholm is doing a fair or good job?

I know that there are bankruptcy attorneys, real estate auction firms, moving companies, and such that are prospering in Michigan right now. But people employed by such a narrow segment of the overall market cannot comprise 17% of the state population. Even if you throw in state employees who have received two pay increases in the last several months, you don't hit 17% of population. You get closer to 17% when you throw in all government employees (like university professors, county employees, and others) who continue to receive guaranteed pay increases propped up by Lansing's tax increases. But what about the 36% who like Granholm's job performance?

Ah, but wait. The firm that conducted the poll, EPIC-MRA, is owned by pollster Ed Sarpolus. Sarpolus worked for the Senate Democrats as a communications specialist back in the early 1980s. His job as a liberal spinster for the Senate Democrats was to make a massive hike in the state income tax sound popular. He lost that job when citizens recalled former state senators Phil Mastin and David Serotkin for voting for the tax hike, and Democrats lost control of the state Senate. Sarpolus went on to create his own polling firm.

Since that time, Sarpolus' firm has earned the nickname in Lansing "ERROR-MRA" for its' frequently left-skewed polling results. Sarpolus' polls always had the 2006 Michigan Civil Rights Initiative as losing or fading in voter support. About a year ago, even the left-leaning Detroit Free Press stopped using his firm for their polls.

So, ERROR-MRA's Ed Sarpolus is at it again - releasing poll numbers that skew in favor of Governor Granholm and state legislative leaders by overstating their support. Yep, we can be pretty certain that 36%, or even 17%, of Michigan voters are not so stupid as to believe that Lansing has been pointing Michigan in the right direction.

We will find out soon enough when lawmakers are forced to face voters in early recall elections.

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Citizen Recall Website Launched

2007-10-24T13:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone for hanging in there while recalls against tax-hiking politicians are being prepared.

A new website has been launched dedicated to providing information on the latest citizen recalls.

The website address is: www.michiganrecalls.com

People can view all the politicians that have had recall petitions filed against them and can sign up to join a recall campaign. The website also contains a page with information regarding a possible Granholm recall bid.

Check it out!

www.michiganrecalls.com

If you live in the district of one of the politicians that citizen groups have already been organizing in, use the new website to sign up to help.

Thanks again for your willingness to help make Michigan prosperous again!

Recalls filed, Floor Leader Resigns

2007-10-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

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

Recall Update

2007-10-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

Friends,

Since Governor Granholm and state lawmakers jacked up your taxes, the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance has been inundated with emails and phone calls from people wanting to lead or assist in recalling tax-hiking politicians from office. Sorting through over 3,000 emails and juggling many phone calls has been difficult for the MTA's small staff. Thank you for your patience if you are awaiting a personal reply to your email.

In order to properly assist you, the MTA needs to know where you live. Many emails have not included a home address, so we do not know who the sender's representatives are. Some citizen-led recall efforts have already been launched, and those efforts need to know who lives in the districts of politicians being recalled. Please, if you emailed the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and did not provide an address, click the link below to update your address information with us.

Update Your Contact Information

Recall Legislators Update

Citizens have formed political action committees for the recalls of the following lawmakers:

Representatives
Steve Beida (D-Warren)
Marc Corriveau (D-Northville)
Robert Dean (D-Grand Rapids)
Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford)
Ed Gaffney (R-Grosse Pointe)
Mary Valentine (D-Muskegon)

Senators
Gerald Van Woerkom (R-Muskegon)

Recall language has been submitted to the local county boards of electors for representatives Beida, Corriveau and Dillon. More submissions are expected soon.

In addition to the above listed politicians, I expect citizens to file recall paperwork against senators Valde Garcia (R-Howell) and Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland) and Representative Chris Ward (R-Brighton).

Did your representative or senator support the tax hikes, but is not listed above? And, are you serious about getting involved with a recall? Shoot the MTA an email with (in the subject line) the name of the politician you want to lead or assist in recalling. Then hang in there, we will get back to you.

Recall Granholm Update

Most of the emails we have received were from people wanting to recall Governor Granholm. Many people asked to have a Granholm recall petition sent to them. There is no CURRENT, legally-binding effort to recall Governor Granholm underway. Why? Because recalling a governor is such a monumentally difficult task that many, many things would need to be put in place well before any petitions are signed or circulated.

How difficult is the task of recalling a governor? Over 955,000 valid signatures would have to be collected in just 90 days. Actually, a recall group would have to collect about 1.3 million signatures to ensure that 955,000 of them are from real, registered voters. The record number of signatures collected for a constitutional amendment in Michigan is about 505,000. And those gatherers had SIX MONTHS, not 90 days, because the law allows more time for constitutional amendments than recalls.

So, is recalling Governor Granholm hopeless? Maybe, but most political observers in California thought that recalling then-Governor Grey Davis was hopeless at first. Davis later became the fourth governor in U.S. history to be recalled from office.

It is my understanding that a Recall Granholm Exploratory Committee is being created. The Committee would seek to collect the names and contact information from citizens who will commit to collecting signatures to recall Granholm. No petitions will be circulated until enough citizens have made a commitment to the Governor's recall. Waiting until enough citizens are ready to launch helps ensure that the recall effort can be successful collecting all the signatures in the allowed 90 days.

If you have joined the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and provided contact information, your name will automatically be forwarded to the Recall Granholm Exploratory Committee (don't send a duplicate email). Please make your friends aware of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and ask them to join. Together, we can make history and help restore prosperity to Michigan.

Sincerely,

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Battle lost. War on to be Lansing's biggest But!

2007-09-30T07:47:00.000-07:00

Friends,

I am no longer in Lansing. The battle to prevent a massive tax increase has already been lost and the tax hike will happen. Hanging out in Lansing is now a waste of my time.

I am now spending time every day preparing to support recall campaigns against key legislators who allowed this tax hike to happen. Successful recalls will change the way policy and tax questions are answered in Lansing.

Speaking of answering questions, the question that I hear most frequently asked by 'regular' people outside of Lansing is; "Don't they know what they are doing? Don't they understand what these tax increases are going to do to the economy? How can they not understand the obvious?"

The answer is that they do understand. When I served in Lansing, I frequently asked colleagues if they thought reforms, like eliminating the state's prevailing wage laws or becoming a right-to-work state, would help Michigan. Nearly every Republican and a few Democrats told me that they knew such reforms would help the economy, but they could not vote for them because the unions would harshly punish them in an election. Privately, legislators support education reform BUT fear the teacher union would punish them. Shrinking government spending is also supported BUT government employees would target legislators caught enacting such cuts.

I soon realized that the problem in Lansing isn't that politicians don't know solutions to our state's woes, the problem is the Buts. The Buts are the excuses politicians give for not supporting what they know is good public policy.

At first, I thought that I could beat their Buts by arguing that my colleagues could still win reelection even if they voted their conscience. Or that enacting solutions was more important than angling for easy reelection. But their Buts couldn't be beat.

So how can we, those who support reform and restrained government, prevail in Lansing? By joining the Buts. We need to change conversations in Lansing so that politicians are telling spending and special interests that they wish they could support the status quo, But they are afraid of the wrath of taxpayers! Organized taxpayers who successfully recall politicians who have increased taxes would make taxpayers real players in Lansing - positively impacting policy decisions by lawmakers.

"I want to keep up spending, But I am afraid of the taxpayers," are words that equal real change in policy.

So, fellow taxpayers, let us join together now in a unified quest to become Lansing's biggest But!

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Granholm and Mackinac Center inch closer to budget deal!

2007-09-18T17:18:00.000-07:00

Friends,

At an afternoon press conference called by the Governor today, Granholm admitted to knowing hundreds of millions of tax dollars are wasted every year. This from Gongwer News Service:

“And she (Granholm) rejected the idea that the state could cut as much as $900 million or $1 billion from the budget, as some Republicans are calling for. She said the state could cut perhaps a little more than $300 million, but no more than that.”

Wow. Governor Granholm finally now admits that state spending has not been “cut to the bone” like she has been saying since she passed her first budget in 2003. That means that in the last five years, Granholm admits to have wasted $1.5 billion on stuff that she knows the state doesn’t really need.

This new admission puts Granholm closer to the Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s proposal to balance the state budget with $1.9 billion in suggested spending cuts. You can read the Mackinac Center’s full list of spending cuts here: http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=8798

I wish the Mackinac Center continued success in their education of the Governor.

Meanwhile, sources say that Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop informed Democratic House Speaker Andy Dillon that he would allow a tax increase vote in the Senate if Dillon would agree to support $1.2 in budget cuts. Dillon flat-out rejected the offer.

Speaker Dillon has allowed all House members to leave for the evening if they stay within two hours of the Capitol. Republicans in the House are holding strong so far, but Dillon is working over some softer Republicans every day. Your calls and emails are holding Republicans together as ‘NO’ votes on this tax hike. The vulnerable-seat House Democrats (called the “Yellow 10” for refusing to vote either way) are waiting to cast their ‘no’ votes on the tax hike, but only after enough Republicans vote ‘yes’ to get the tax hikes passed.

If 10 Republicans vote for this tax hike, meaning the most vulnerable Democrats safe to vote ‘no’, who is there left to recall? RINO season!

Recall 1983?

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

Bishop to Queen 9

2007-09-17T16:04:00.001-07:00

Friends,

Tax – Hostage Crisis, Day 4. After a long, late weekend of intense, furious House inaction, the Senate convened today. And senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Hero?) has made his move: the Senate has passed a ‘continuation budget’ that would, for one month, spend money using the current year’s budget as the blueprint. But expected tax revenues wouldn’t cover this year’s budget, so copying this year’s budget would still leave a deficit. Basically, the remaining eleven months of the 2008 budget year that begins on October 1 would have to bear twelve months worth of cuts or tax hikes.

Now that the Senate passed the continuation budget, there is more pressure on the Democrat-lead House. Why? If the state government shuts down on October 1, it will be the House’s fault for not passing the continuation budget. This means more pressure on Dillon to get the 18% income tax through his chamber so that the House Dems can blame the Senate for not passing the tax hike and therefore, shutting down the government.

Bishop has made his move on the chess board. Dillon is on the clock.

Expect a long night of constant pressure and bribe offers by Granholm and Dillon to hunkered-down House Republicans – all of whom have so far refused to vote for the tax hike. Call and support them.

Meanwhile, the Michigan Taxpayer’s Alliance, along with Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis, Americans for Prosperity, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and others are bringing support (and applying pressure) on House Republicans to hold their opposition to the tax hike.

The media is doing an ok job of covering the MTA’s efforts to defeat this tax hike.
From Saturday’s Detroit News: “Macomb County Commissioner Leon Drolet, a former state lawmaker and head of the anti-tax Michigan Taxpayer Alliance, watched the proceedings from the gallery. His group is threatening to launch recall campaigns against lawmakers who vote for tax increases.
"We've got phone calls being made, did a big e-mail blast to 100,000 people urging them to contact their lawmakers to urge them to vote 'no' on taxes," said Drolet, who brought the pig, nicknamed "Mr. Perks," to Lansing.”
Also from Saturday’s Detroit News, “The late night session had the elements of a slumber party: Democrats set up cots and brought in food.
But there were none of the high spirits of the usual sleepover: Anti-tax forces parked a trailer with a half-ton Fiberglas pig in front of the Capitol to illustrate what they call a greedy and bloated government. And firefighters, fearing further cutbacks in the state revenue sharing program that pays their salaries in many communities, parked a fire truck in front of the anti-tax pig.”
Full story here: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007709150369

From Saturday’s Detroit Free Press: “One of the most unpopular figures in Lansing on Friday was former state Rep. Leon Drolet, a Macomb County Republican who now heads the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and who was responsible for bringing a big pink pig and parking it outside the Capitol. Drolet’s group has flooded some lawmakers’ districts with antitax mail, phone calls and radio ads and has threatened to mount recall campaigns against politically vulnerable legislators who vote for an increase.
Drolet said the effort to head off a tax increase had gone better than he imagined six months ago, but that he would not be shocked if the House approved the income tax hike.”
Full story here: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770915001

On the lighter side, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernaro again attempted to block views of the MTA mascot pig, MR. Perks, by parking a fire truck in front of him. Mr. Perks beat the fire truck back again (the first attempt to block was on Friday), as the fire truck was again blocking the fire lane. For the photo of this little misuse of tax dollars, we have to link you to our very dear friends at MichiganLiberal.com: http://www.michiganliberal.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=10002

Media is starting to pay more attention to what is going on. The Frank Beckmann Show on WJR 760am radio from 9:00 until 11:30am is doing the best job covering this spending crisis among the electronic media.

Sorry for the length of this update.

Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

While you were sleeping...

2007-08-23T15:25:00.000-07:00

Friends,

The state House and Senate worked on the 2008 state budget all night and into early this morning. Here is what they did:

The Senate, under Republican control, passed budget bills that would spend $167 million LESS than Governor Granholm’s proposed budget. This means that the Senate is moving in the right direction. But they have a long way to go considering that the Governor’s proposed budget relies on a $1.5 to $1.8 BILLION tax increase in order to be balanced.

Senate Republicans have a lot more cutting to do. Unfortunately, they increased spending in some areas that the Governor had proposed cutting. Like the $3.7 million dollars for prizes at horse races that the Governor had proposed cutting and Republicans restored. Hey, I like to bowl. Can I get tax dollar-paid prizes if I bowl a good game?

But that $3.7 million is not even a hiccup compared to what the Democrat–controlled state House was doing to your future while you slept. They passed budget bills that would spends hundreds of millions MORE of your money than even the Governor asked for!

House Democrats are on track to spend two billion more than the state expects to receive in taxes next year. Given the state constitution’s balanced budget requirement, they want a $2 billion tax hike on citizens! That amounts to taking approximately $300 more out of the pocket of each income tax-paying citizen. This means you, your spouse, your parents, your siblings and your neighbors. Imagine the impact on Michigan’s economy if every taxpaying citizen were suddenly made hundreds of dollars poorer.

Sorry to be the bearer of such bad news. The budget process is not over, and it will take weeks before final decisions are made, so do call your Senator and House member.

Both the House and Senate have adjourned until next week. Sleep tight!

Leon Drolet
Michigan Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org