Drolet's Resource-Wasting Recall Petitions

by: rich

Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 08:59:53 AM EST

Recall language has been approved by judges in Wayne County and Macomb County. This means that signatures can now be gathered in an attempt to recall House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) and House members Marc Corriveau (D-Northville), Ed Gaffney (R-Grosse Pointe Farms) and Steven Bieda (D-Warren). The recall language against Bieda was approved on Thursday.

Leon Drolet, Chair of the Michigan Taxpayers Union, said that Speaker Dillon is full of "bad ideas," therefore he deserves to be recalled. Dillon's Big Bad Idea? Insisting on keeping our state government funded.

We don't know yet whether Drolet's signature gatherers will be dragging the Pink Floyd-sized pig around with them. No cool laser light show complete with fog machine is expected, if the pig does make the rounds.

As many of you know, Drolet hates taxes. The only thing he hates more than taxes are actual votes for tax increases, regardless of the necessity of the programs the taxes actually fund. His goal is lower taxes for the sake of lower taxes.

Just yesterday, it was reported in the Lansing State Journal that it's a myth that our taxes are too high and that the state spends too much money. 

The report looked at state spending between fiscal year 2001 and the current fiscal year. It found that:

• State funding for universities declined by 10.5 percent.

• Revenue-sharing to local governments fell by 31 percent.

• Funding for Community Health jumped 62 percent, almost entirely because of increased Medicaid caseloads and costs.

So increased health care costs are hitting the state the same way they're hitting businesses and individuals. No word yet on whether Drolet is going to target the excessive profits of health insurance companies with proxy vote fights or shareholder lawsuits. He only has eyes for legislative recalls.

This attack the symptom, not the source, of the problem is the hallmark of a muddled intellect.

From MIRS [subscription required], Wayne County Circuit Court Judge William Giovan who approved the language on the recall petitions, wasn't totally pleased with this state of affairs.

"Sometimes you have to question why respected lawmakers who make a courageous decision in the face of calamity should be subjected to this," the judge said.

Drolet thinks they should be subjected to a recall campaign, which he has repeatedly claimed will have no additional costs to the taxpayer. Not quite true. The targeted legislators who are being subjected to Drolet's own bad idea, will have to raise funds, not just for re-election, but also to fight the recalls.

Who usually donates to elected officials? Taxpayers. By choice no doubt. But it's safe to say that taxpayers would prefer to not have to help their legislator fight off a recall. It also means the legislator will have to spend time, that could have been spent doing work for their constituents, defending the recall. 

All is not lost though. Drolet's very bad idea has a very large hurdle: he and his two dozen or so signature gatherers need to collect 9000 to 10,000 signatures in each of the targeted disctricts by May 1 in order to qualify for the August ballot.

No House Speaker has ever been recalled. Drolet says, "We're ready to make history."

Let's hope he doesn't.