Dodge, duck, dive, dip and dodge

Elected officials in Michigan are playing voters for fools.

A group committed to recalling legislators on the basis of tax votes will be making a seventh attempt to get petition language approved to collect signatures against state Rep. Mike Simpson, D-Liberty Township. Six previous drafts were rejected by the Jackson County election board for having “unclear” language.

This has been a theme in the under-the-radar recall drama. The recall advocates, led by former rep Leon Drolet and funded by out-of-state sources, put forth petition language, as required by law, and the language is rejected as “unclear.”

A number of recall efforts are moving forward, mind you, including one against Simpson’s fellow Jackson County Democrat, Marty Griffin. But the whole process is moving slowly -- perhaps because a deadline is approaching for getting any recall measure on the ballot.

Now, I don’t know if Simpson specifically deserves recall. My view is the entire Legislature should be chucked for a quite obvious dereliction of duty. Dem, Repub, young, old, House, Senate ... they should all go for the same reason you fire a roofing contractor crew that knocks down your chimney.

But the powers-that-be in this state are puffing and heaving to make voters’ opinions moot via this little “unclear” farce.

First, of course, is the sham of these election boards. They are composed of elected local officials — i.e. politicians with ties to other politicians. This is the equivalent of asking the establishment to objectively judge itself.

Worse, though, is the constitutional language that authorizes recalls.

Article II, section 8 rightly gives voters the opportunity to throw out bums, or merely the misguided. But it also says, “The sufficiency of any statement of reasons or grounds procedurally required shall be a political rather than a judicial question.”

This is the pols’ “get out of jail free” card: Politicians get to decide what is “sufficient” for recalls based on their political judgment.

Now, some high-minded folks among us will tell you that such protections are necessary to ensure stable government and keep Michigan from suffering constant recall campaigns.

Bull.

The proper requirement for a recall is a simple one: If enough voters want to recall, then it happens.

In a typical state House district, for example, recall advocates need 7,000 to 8,000 signatures to reach the ballot — signatures of people who live in the affected district, collected by people who also live in the affected district.

That’s a high hurdle in itself, so why all the focus on “clear” or “unclear” language?

A voter shouldn’t have to offer any reason for a recall, other than simple desire to do so. Or does the establishment also think voters should have to justify their votes to first put them in office at regular elections: “I, Michigan Voter, do solemnly swear that I voted for Max Pickle for state rep because he has the best position on no-fault insurance policy.”

I couldn’t care less about Drolet’s agenda or the agendas of those behind him. That’s immaterial if enough voters in a legislative district want to pass judgment on their rep or senator.

By hiding behind county election panels, these legislators show their true stripes: They do not trust the voters — and their jobs, their salaries, their mortgages are far more important than any opinion you, dear Michiganian, may hold.

Comments

[EmersonsZen]

Interesting...

[Leon drolet]

Derek,

Holy moley! An actual columnist sticking up for the constitutional rights of citizens? I never thought that I would see anyone in the media suggest that citizens have the right to expect laws to be fairly applied, even if it upsets the political class.

One side note, neither Michigan Recalls nor the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance is funded with out-of-state dollars of any sort, despite the oft-repeated but unsubstantiated claims of those defending targeted politicians. All contributions are from Michigan citizens except one guy who recently retired to Florida. If you know any wealthy out-of-state people interested in donating, please let me know. It would be great to have anyone funneling money INTO Michigan!

[EmersonsZen]

Hilarious Leon!!

"It would be great to have anyone funneling money INTO Michigan!"

Love it...

[wctaxpayer]

What a great article! I'm with you buddy. They have lost my respect. I was collecting signatures today to Recall Speaker Dillon. I not only had to deal with someone from the Dillon camp with a sign but I also had to deal with two Redford Police cars who sat there to intimidate people who might come up to sign. Some People called across the parking lot to ask why the police were there. I told them to defend the public against me. I'll defend their rights even if government will not.

[Chetly Zarko]

Derek,

Awesome article, but I think you miss the point of the Constitutional language saying that the recall language sufficiency shall be a "political question" rather than judicial one -- I understand your point that elections boards are political and they determine the political question to their satisfaction, but the meaning of "political question" was that the people should decide the sufficiency of the language, not judges. That is the legal argument that Leon has going for him in these recall lawsuits - elections boards are acting as judicial entities when determining "clarity". Unfortunately, the legislature is playing the delay game because they know that delay - even frivolous - can win the day. They are afraid of voters. My argument all along was that if these recalls are so immoral and wrong-headed, why worry about them? If, as Democrats suggests, they "did the right thing", then stand up for it - in a voting booth and legitimate recall process.

You point here does make a good suggestion for reform though - the recall process should be simpler yet. Petitition reads - I wish that a recall election for ____ be held. No reason ... no need for "clarity". If a petitioner can convince enough signers, the recall vote occurs.

[Doug Moyers]

Have you read the Consitution or the Bill of Rights or the Declaration of Independence lately? You should it would amaze you what are heroes wrote and had the insight to know what we would face in todays society. Are representives are worst than what they faced from the King of England these people don't care about who they are representing they think they are royality. Let's take back first our state and then our country!

Check this web-site to be able to read all the important documents that helped form this glories country. http://www.earlyamerica.com/