Electing AG is mischief-maker

This is why Michigan should not be electing attorneys general: “Schuette said he would stop closing prisons in the state, releasing prisoners early and laying off cops on the street” (Detroit Free Press’ coverage of the state Republican convention).

Bill Schuette is a veteran politician. I’m sure he knows that the AG really has little to do with prison policy or the hiring decisions of local governments. Yet he makes these claims anyway because he knows that voters don’t have a clue what the AG really does. He can play to the crowd — I’m tough! — without having to make a single tough decision.

Let’s put it another way: If the AG had a real say on prisoner releases, don’t you think Mike Cox would have used that power to stop them, thereby burnishing his credentials for the GOP gubernatorial primary?

Go search the Michigan Constitution for “attorney general.” See what you find there about the AG and prisons or the AG and police officers.

Having an elected attorney general creates all sorts of mischief for Michigan. Much of the office’s work is technical and taken care of by career public servants doing the things that few, if any, voters are interested in. The top job is turning into nothing more than a political launching pad; a place to gain name recognition without having to really deal with any of Michigan’s real problems.

Since long-time AG Frank Kelley stepped down, the two most recent AGs have run for governor. Jennifer Granholm won. Mike Cox didn’t. There are plenty of people who will tell you that Granholm’s been a terrible governor. There are plenty of people who will tell you that Cox would have been a terrible governor.

The AG”s post is a great place to play politics. It’s a terrible place to learn how to govern.