Dean Recall Campaign Web Site Launches
October 26th 2007
If you are interested in assisting the campaign to Recall State Representative Robert Dean, or to get the latest updates, please go to the new web site for the recall campaign:
Archive for the ‘Recall Campaign’ Category
Recall Campaign Against Representative Robert Dean Launched
October 1st 2007
DATE: October 1, 2007
Kent County Families for Fiscal Responsibility Launches Recall Campaign Against Representative Robert Dean of Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids – Following on the heels of a sales tax and income tax increase approved by the Michigan state legislature early Monday morning, a local taxpayers’ rights group has launched a recall effort against local state representative Robert Dean. The Kent County Families for Fiscal Responsibility, which helped defeat the GRCC millage in August, filed the preliminary paperwork for a recall committee against Dean in September in the event that he voted to raise taxes. Now that same group has begun to organize volunteers to begin the difficult recall process.
Early this morning, Representative Dean voted to raise the personal income 18% and levy the 6% sales tax on a variety of previously exempt services like athletic tickets, janitorial services, landscaping, travel agents, and carpet cleaning to name a few. The local group had sent a warning to Dean and a number of Republican legislators in Kent County that they would initiate a recall campaign if the legislators voted for taxes without any significant cuts in spending.
Said District 75 recall spokesman Jeff Steinport, “Representative Dean and the state legislature failed the state of Michigan today by voting to raise taxes without any serious spending reforms. He failed to make the hard decisions to balance the budget with structural changes and instead took the easy route and raised the taxes on our already ailing Michigan economy. We simply cannot continue to spend money that we do not have. It is because of this reckless action that we feel the need to remove him from office before he does more damage to our families and businesses.”
The recall committee will begin working to formulate a strategy for attaining the necessary signatures and funding for its endeavor over the next few weeks. The last time Michigan legislators faced recall elections occurred in 1983 after a similar income tax increase was passed. Both legislators who faced the recall election were recalled and replaced.
If you would like to schedule an interview with Jeff Steinport please contact him by phone at (616) 293-5056 or email him at info@kcffr.org
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.