Kent County Families for Fiscal Responsibility Takes Preliminary Steps to Recall Kent County Legislators
September 6th 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 6, 2007
Grand Rapids - Kent County Families for Fiscal Responsibility (KCFFR), which worked to defeat the second request by GRCC for a millage increase, filed the preliminary paperwork this afternoon to recall four Kent County state legislators who have declined to sign either the American’s for Tax Reform Pledge or Michigan Taxpayers Alliance Promise to not raise taxes.
The four affected legislators are senators Bill Hardiman and Mark Jansen and representatives Robert Dean and Kevin Green. The group expects to file paperwork to form a recall committee for Dave Hildenbrand tomorrow in Lansing which would bring the number of Kent County officials to five. Currently, two Kent County legislators have pledged to not raise taxes by signing the Americans for Tax Reform pledge - Representatives Glenn Steil, Jr. and David Agema.
The formation of these committees comes on the eve of a potential vote in the state capitol to raise income and sales taxes. KCFFR is a self-described taxpayers’ rights group formed to protect the citizens of Kent County from inefficient bureacracy and unfair government practices. The move today is done in conjunction with the efforts of the Michigan Taxpayers’ Alliance (MTA) which has pledged to recall state senators and representatives who vote to increase taxes.
The formation of the committees to recall the legislators is only the first step in a recall effort. Said KCFFR spokesman Eric Larson, “Our action today to form the committees is really just a warning shot across the bow to these legislators. We want to make sure they know we are watching them closely and hope they make the right choice in protecting the beleaguered taxpayer. Michigan’s economy and citizens are hurting and this is the worst possible time to raise taxes. All we ask is that the five legislators pledge to not vote in favor of raising taxes. If they sign the pledge, we will dissolve the recall organizations.”
Recalling legislators is a difficult task set forth in the state consitution. The required number of signatures is hard to attain which is why it is rarely ever attempted. No state legislator has been recalled in Michigan since 1983 when two state senators were recalled after voting in favor of an income tax hike. After their recall, the state legislature quickly overturned the income tax increase.
If you would like to schedule an interview with Eric Larson please contact him by email at lpmlarson@comcast.net.