Getting out of Dodge

So where is our hard working Speaker of the House Andy Dillon? The mess of the Michigan Business Tax and the expected shortfall for our state budget need to be addressed. Where else would he be but on a beech in Mexico? Obviously, the time off after the budget is finished, the break for hunting season, the long Christmas break or the spring break are not enough. He feels it is time to get away at a time where his leadership, for which he is payed considerably more, is needed.

Does he need to get away while the governor continues to give away our money at an unprecedented rate to businesses she thinks are worthy? Maybe he needs to get away while business is suffering under the legislatures last adjustment to the tax on business. He must not be able to tolerate the people who are losing their jobs, their homes and their children to other states. I guess that is part of his "me first" philosophy.

MIRS a Lansing Journal asked if he needed to "get out of Dodge" to regroup. The Speakers spokesperson, Greg Bird replied that it was previously planned. I think that is worse. His absence was premeditated. Shame on you Dillon. You can take a slow boat after you get recalled from office when you will have plenty of time.

The Definition of Arrogance

Yesterday before we turned in the signatures to recall Speaker Andy Dillon we were scheduled to hold a press conference in room 55 of the Capital Building. We were notified at the last minute that it was not available and no other room was available. When a reporter from MIRS asked why the press conference was changed Dillon said "They want to have a press conference in one of my rooms? Yeah right."

Who does Speaker Dillon think he is? That is the peoples house not his house. By what right does he deny anyone access to the Capitol Building during the hours it is open. It is that arrogance that I was unaware of until I started to recall him. His superior attitude keeps him from making decisions for the people but facilitates his disposition to act in his own self interest. He forgets he was sent there to do our business not his own.

It is interesting the things you find out. Dillon supporters hired an out of state coordinator for his blockers. They hired a convicted felon as a blocker. He complains because someone drove by his house a couple times to try to interview him but thinks nothing of his blockers driving by my house several times a day and following our circulators up and down the streets and to their homes. He accuses us of lying and fraud. I now know him to be a liar because he has lied about me. He has said I offered no solutions to the budget crisis. While I did say that he had to make the final decisions on what should be cut because that is what he was elected to do, I also suggested that he look at the $1.9 billion worth of cuts by the Mackinac Center and those suggested by the Citizens Research Council. He made no cuts but increased the General Fund Budget by 8%.

He says the people who are recalling him are not from this district. I had people from his district stuffing bags to hang on doors and boxes stacked from my front room to my family room full of the literature. I had petitions mailed to my house. I had obscene phone calls. I answered questions and gave instructions. People from the district brought petitions to my door. I received more in todays mail. Speaker Dillon, keep thinking that the people of your district are happy with your representation, it will make my job easier.

You and your deplorable friend Miles Handy have shown your true colors. Just like Darth Vador you have gone to the dark side.

On The Ballot

Congratulations to the voters of the 17Th District. The question to recall Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon will most certainly be placed on the August 5, primary election. Today 15,498 signatures were turned in to the Bureau of Elections in Lansing. The required amount of signatures was 8,724 signatures.

Thank you to the voters of the 17Th. A victory for you is a victory for everyone in the State of Michigan. If this does not convince the other legislators we are serious, we will have to work to take out another one of them. Their decision to increase taxes has hurt our state and it's citizens. Tax increases do not bring business into Michigan. Tax increases in this time of job loss, income reductions and inflation only serves to make things worse.

Thank you for enduring the aggravation of Dillon's hostile, rude and aggressive blockers .
Thank you for standing tall before all the unjustified criticism and lies. Your the best.

Rose Bogaert, Chair
Wayne County Taxpayers Association

Pig Passion

I could not wait to post this. I found it to be incredibly funny.
I now know why Redford's Supervisor Miles Handy "oinked" every time Mr. Perk the nine foot pig went past the park where he was holding his pro Dillon Rally. He loved pigs just like Loraine Bobbit loved her husband.

Speaking of funny, I who as a child took something from a store and had to go back and pay for it because my conscience bothered me, have been served and must go to court on May 5th. Apparently, I deceived all of the stupid voters of the 17th district, who obviously don't know their own mind and should be grateful to have our elected officials fleece them. I am supposed to have hired deviants from Detroit to twist their arms to sign a petition. It will be interesting to see them try to prove the impossible. Why? Because it is not true.

This Is America?

Take a look at this video. This was our Rally in front of the Redford Post Office on tax day April 15. The only thing the police forgot was the water cannons. I don't think we look very dangerous. You be the judge. They did everything they could to make it difficult for us. I especially like the paddy wagon.

More Dirt

I hate to keep bugging you, but you have to read our latest press release:

April 23, 2008

Contact: Leon Drolet, (586) 354-5432

Rose Bogaert, (313) 213-5871

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Convicted violent felon working for Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon

Armed robber employed to intimidate voters in Redford Township, Dearborn Heights and Livonia

REDFORD TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN – A felon convicted of multiple violent crimes is roaming the streets seeking to intimidate voters on behalf of Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives Andy Dillon (D-Redford Township). “Residents of Speaker Dillon’s district are being confronted by a convicted armed robber,” said Leon Drolet, Executive Director of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. “On behalf of the law abiding citizens of Redford Township, Dearborn Heights and Livonia, we demand that Speaker Dillon remove this convicted felon from his entourage of thugs.”

Marcell L. Mitchell, a so-called “Voter Education Specialist” employed by the Michigan Democratic Party, has an extensive record of felony convictions including Armed Robbery, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Felonious Assault), and Felony Firearms according to the Michigan Department of Corrections web site. He is currently a parolee under supervision until May 2^nd, 2009.

“We are alarmed that Speaker Dillon and Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer would use felons convicted of violent crimes to intimidate voters from signing recall petitions,” said Rose Bogaert, Chairperson of the Wayne County Taxpayers Association and a Dearborn Heights resident. “Dillon’s thug tactics against recall petition circulators include a pattern of harassment, stalking, and other forms of intimidation. We understand Dillon’s personal reluctance about being recalled for raising taxes in Michigan. Must he use felons convicted of violent crimes to scare off potential recall petition signers?”

Dillon and Brewer have employed many individuals dedicated to blocking voters from signing recall petitions. These blockers call themselves “Voter Education Specialist”, using any tactics necessary to prevent voters from signing petitions.

“The real irony is that there is no record of Mitchell ever voting,” Drolet said. “Dillon and Brewer might want to call their army of thugs and bullies something else when ‘Voter Education Specialist’ aren’t even registered to vote. What is Mr. Mitchell’s 'specialty'? Intimidating seniors wanting to sign a recall petitions? Voting doesn't seem to be one of Mr. Mitchell’s areas of expertise.”

The recall effort was launched in February of 2008, after House Speaker Andy Dillon voted in favor of two House Bills that increased taxes; HB 5194 raised the state income tax from 3.9% to 4.35% and HB 5198 imposed a new 6% sales tax. Recall organizers must collect over 8,700 valid signatures by May 1st to place the measure on the ballot.

Links:

Michigan Department of Corrections information on Marcell Mitchell

Image of Marcell Mitchell blocking at Redford Township Secretary of State

Affidavit of Marcell Mitchell in Andy Dillon v Taxpayers to Recall Andy Dillon, et al.

Profile on Marcell Mitchell on BlockersRus.com

###

The Saga Continues

We had to go back to court today. The Redford Police were harassing us so bad that we went to court to get a restraining order. Circuit Court Judge William J. Giovan, who is the judge who heard the first case, listened to our request. He called the Redford Police Chief and told him that he was to inform his officers that they cannot try to intimidate and harass us no matter who gives the order. We suspect that the order came from none other than His Honor Miles Handy township supervisor. He also said that he would follow it up in writing.

Who would have thought it would get this nasty. Andy and his friends have gone over the edge. They are so desperate they will do anything. It will not do them any good. We are getting proof of their other violations, and when we do, we will prosecute. They have also disowned one of their thugs. As it turns out, he is a convicted felon (multiple times). He was involved from the very first.

We plan to file the petitions on May 1.

Here Come Da Judge

Andy Dillon brought charges against me today. I didn't go to court but our lawyer did. Dillon's lawyer asked for a temporary restraining order against us to keep us from collecting signatures. He said we are having people from outside the district collect signatures for Dillon's recall. Wrong! They wanted to have an evidentiary hearing which would then grant a permanent restraining order.

They used affidavits from four of the Democratic Party thugs that have been following, harassing, verbally abusing and stalking our persons and homes. They had signed various observations of our abuse of the law. Wrong!

Andy Dillon has also requested damages "in such amount as will compensate him for the injuries he has sustained as a result of their continuing and blatant violation of Michigan Election Law." Wrong!

What did the judge do? Judge William J. Giovan told us all to go home, obey the law and play nice. Yes!

Rose Bogaert, Chair
Wayne County Taxpayers Association

Is the Post Office a Private Or Public Monopoly?

There was a nice disabled Veitnam War Veteran standing in front of a US Post Office collecting signatures to recall Speaker Andy Dillon from his seat in the Michigan Legislature for raising taxes $1.4 Billion. He was told he could not be there. So, he called me. When I got there I went in to speak to the postmaster of the Dearborn Heights post office. He said we could not be there. I thought this case was settled. I went out and started to collect signatures by myself. With the veteran watching in his car.

Along came a Dearborn Heights police car and tried to park out of sight. He never approached me, but he did watch. He left after seeing that I was disturbing no one. The Postal Police arrived. He says "You are breaking the law!" I say "what law?" "The postal laws" he says. This is private property and a private company. I say "this is a monopoly allowed by the government with my tax dollars. Now cometh two more Postal Police. They say they can ask for my ID, arrest me, write me a ticket or haul me off to jail. If this is not a government related facility by who's authority do they get to do all that? I called my attorney who said the Supreme Court remanded the case back to the Court of Appeals and the decision to allow us access has not been finalized. They threatened the vet who was in the car with the confiscation of his camera because he was taking pictures. Another friend came with a camera and never got off a shot because they were going to take his camera. This was entirely to Stalinesque for me. So I left. Represntative Beatram Johnson was lending his car out to the blocker at the post office that day.

If you read the trespass notice you will see that I am restricted from collecting signatures on Postal Property. With that in mind, I am inviting you to attend our rally on Tuesday, April 15, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on the perimeter of the Redford Post Office. "Mr. Perks" the 9ft. pig will be there to greet you. Bring a sign if you can or get one from us. You had to work 189 days last year to pay federal, state and local taxes and it will be more this year. Come tell government to cut the spending, support the recall of Andy Dillon and tax us fairly.

Repeat Offender Caught Again

Once again I have been caught collecting signatures. This is getting to be a habbit of the Redford Police. They know I am not breaking the law. They know I am within my rights. They just can't get enough of me. They also think that they need at least two cars and police men to talk to me. This is the third time. I know they are just taking orders and it is not their fault. But you would think that they would know by now that I will not be intiminated. This time they told me I would get a ticket and took my ID. They went back to the car called there boss and told them I would not move because I was on the public sidewalk and not on the store owners property. I was not interfering with the exit or entrance by standing in front of the door. I was merely asking a question as customers were going in or out. No move. No ticket.

All of you need to help me "Recall Dillon". If I could I would also recall his friend Miles Handy the Redford Township supervisor. Now I just can't imagine how he got put in office. Redford residents have to rethink that guy. But I digress. You can help me and show your support by showing up at a rally on Tuesday, April 15, (you know what day that is) from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Redford Post Office, 12245 Beech Daly. Bring a sign and we can let all of the elected people we are tired of them wasting our money. As an added attraction, you and your children can meet "Mr. Perks" our 9 ft. foam pink pig. Please show up. You can probably meet the thugs in person. I want to meet some of them too. They seem to send all of the civil ones to me and call the police. Some of our other circulators have to file police reports against them because they do not play nice sometimes. Please Show up. We will be happy to see you there.

Another Day Older and Deeper in Debt.

You have probably filed or are about to file your income tax. No matter where you are in Michigan you are still working for the government and will not be done until some time in July. In 2007 we worked 189 days to pay our federal, state and local taxes in Michigan as opposed to an average of 121 days for the rest of the states. This year it will be longer.

If money could buy good government, good education or good politicians we would be in good shape in this state. Everyone knows that government must have money to operate. I don't think you could find many that would dispute the fact. We are not talking about good government in Michigan we are talking about abuse.

Our roads are a jobs program for political donors and they can't even do a good job. Our education system is producing drop outs and illiterates in spite of the fact that per pupil spending has more than doubled since 1995. Our elected officials, not all of them, hold us in contempt. Most still think that they are entitled to all the perks and the taxpayers don't care or know the difference. They think they are the ultimate arbiter of who succeeds and who fails .

It obviously is not working. Our gross domestic product and job creation has declined consistently over the years. Once again, it is the reluctance to really change the way we do things. How much more can they expect from us? How can we follow if our leaders do not lead? We must remove those who refuse to change by recall or election. One at a time if need be, until the others pay attention. Many of us have lost our jobs, our homes and our children to other states. We have sacrificed enough for them. It is time for them to do their share, change and do what is right.

Leon Drolet Explains the Problems in Lansing

I took this video because you need to hear from someone who has been there and knows what goes on in Lansing. Leon Drolet is a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives and is presently serving as a Macomb County Commissioner. He is now also the Chair of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. The whole point is that taxpayers need to engage themselves in politics and make their presence felt, if we ever want anything to change. We can not be too busy. We can not have other things to do. We can no longer let the other guy do it.

I am not saying that this should be your only priority, only that it should be one of the important ones. Together we can make our voices heard.

The Impossible Dream?

I have to make a confession. I suffer from a very serious disease called "the Don Quixote Syndrome". Unlike Don Quixote my windmills are the government. My objective is to dream the possible dream, to right the possible right, to try when my arms are to weary..... You get the idea. Fortunately, I am not alone. Unfortunately, there are not enough of us yet. If the American Dream is to survive, the change that needs to be made will take many more people to get involved than there are now.

Most politician says they are for change. Most voters says they want change. The problem is that very few actually mean they want change. If they do, they are not willing to put forth the effort to make it happen and then promptly convince themselves why it can't be done. Change is usually not comfortable when it first happens. After you put all the effort into making it happen, you ask if it was worth it. It usually is.

I have been reading a new book "Real Change" by Newt Gingrich. He makes points that have stuck in my mind:

"Clearly both parties are out of step with the citizens they should be representing.... Americans have clearly communicated the policies and solutions we must pursue. But to get there, we need transformational change of our current, failed bureaucratic system of government"

He makes it clear that it is not just a congressional problem or the presidential problem. It will take the involvement of all of us to transform all government, federal, state and local. I have thought this was necessary for as long as I can remember. It will be necessary if we believe that government must represent "we the people". He says:

"We will have to remind ourselves every day that we are not guaranteed success,that the entrenched bureaucracy and special interests will pull out every stop to thwart us. But they can't stop us from working, every day, to achieve our goals. To do something serious and new means overcoming frustration, confusion, opposition, an indifference. It means being a leader."

I believe that he is correct. I believe that if it is worth having it is worth fighting for. If we never have time to defend our freedoms they will slowly slip away. You only have to look around you to see how much of our lives and our money has already been usurped by government and how frequently, government works against us rather than for us. There is nothing that should take precedence over this, since it effects everyone we love and care for.

Response to Citizens

Everyone knows that most legislators are not happy about the recall effort. If they would take the hint, recalls would not be necessary. MichiganVotes.org puts out information on proposed legislation. What you see below are some legislators response to voters:

Senate Joint Resolution K (Mandate new ballot measure signature gathering requirements ) Introduced by Sen. Michelle McManus on February 12, 2008, to place before voters in the next general election a Constitutional amendment to require petitions for citizen initiatives to create a law, or a referendum disapproving a just-passed law, to be signed by registered voters who are residents in at least three-fourths of 110 state House districts, and who, in each of those House districts, equal at least 7 percent of the number who voted in that district in the last gubernatorial election......... See also Senate Bills 1086 and 1087. http://www.michiganvotes.com/Legislation.aspx?ID=59356
Senate Bill 1086 (Revise ballot measure submission deadlines ) Introduced by Sen. Gilda Jacobs on February 12, 2008, to change the deadline for filing the petitions placing Constitutional amendments on the ballot ... See also Senate Joint Resolution K. http://www.michiganvotes.com/Legislation.aspx?ID=59357
Senate Bill 1087 (Impose restrictions on citizen’s initiative signature gathering ) Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen on February 12, 2008, to require circulators of petitions placing Constitutional amendments, initiated laws, or referendums on the ballot, ......State to certify and distribute a proposed Constitutional amendment initiative or other special question at least 60 days, rather than 49 days, before an election. See also Senate Joint Resolution K. http://www.michiganvotes.com/Legislation.aspx?ID=59358

How can they pretend to represent us when they work against us. This is a sovereignty issue. We should not have to wait years to hold them accountable or to overturn bad law. Just look at the Michigan Business Tax. It does not solve the problem it exacerbates it. The changes they made to stop the expansion of the service tax was nothing but a tax shift and an additional increase. We need to take back the authority when they fail to work for us. We have to pay better attention and act.

You Have the Right to Remain Silent...

Two petitioners were unagressively collecting signatures for the Recall of Speaker Andy Dillon in front of the Redford Post Office. A fancy car pulls up and out jumps three well dressed men. They go into the post office and register a complaint. An interested observer asked who made the complaint about the petitioners and was told by security that it was none other than the R. Miles Handy the Redford Twp. Supervisor. I did not see him, so this is hearsay. I suggest that you call him at 313-387-2705 and find out if it was really him or you can email him at supervisor@redfordtwp.com . The petitioners left the post office and called me, as they were told to do.

I then took up their position. I wasn't there very long before two police cars showed up and parked next to me. Being the hardened criminal that I am, I ignored them. The policeman in the first car got out of his car. I pulled out my video cam. He says he does not want to get filmed. Keep in mind he was filming me. I told him I would not film him if he left me alone. He repeated the request and I gave him the same answer. He finally said I had to leave. I told him that I was exercising my first amendment rights on government property and the only way I was leaving was if he told me what law I had broken and arrested me. I put my camera away and after some discussion, he went back to his car and called someone.

The second policeman got out of his car and repeated the same thing. Then he tried sympathy. "I'm just trying to do my job." I told him I was too. I repeated that the only way I was moving was if they arrested me.

Then the third cop car showed up. I told him I was waiting to be arrested. He asked if they said they would arrest me. I told him they only hinted that they would. At least he smiled at me before he left.

The first policeman then approached me again and said he was going inside to give me enough time to leave. When he came out, I was still there. People coming in and out of the post office looked frightened. Some people yelled from the parking lot and asked what was going on. I yelled back not to worry and that it was only about me.

Then the forth police car came this was the official postal police. The officers in the first two cars were making phone calls. They then went and talked to the postal policewoman. She went inside through a side or back door and not much later came out and told me there were complaints and I must leave. I told her the same thing I told the other police. This is public property because it is leased by the government. I was asking a question, which is my right ,and not harassment and that I was twenty feet away from the people I was talking to. She went in and was never heard from again. The whole time this was going on, one of Dillon's thugs (I got a pretty nice one) was walking in front of me with a sign that said "don't sign the petition it will cost tax$$$". What it should have said is that it would cost Dillon dollars.

While you are calling the supervisor's office, ask him why the township felt it necessary to station two police cars next to a woman almost sixty years old who just wanted to exercise both her federal and state constitutional rights for about two hours. Also ask if Redford is crime free except for the post office. Who do you think was doing the harassment? The police? Dillons thugs, which usually show up in numbers? How about a sweet old lady (me)?

Rose Bogaert, Chair

Wayne County Taxpayers Association, Inc.

Treasurer

Taxpayers to Recall Andy Dillon

Is the Governor Next?

What can I say? Just when I thought it might be over, I get more mail. This time it is a birthday card for my mother, who has passed away, from Senator Tupac Hunter. For a state with a bare bones budget, we certainly have enough money to throw around. My guess is that every absentee voter gets one of these. In any case, at least Rep. Andy Dillon had the sense to put something that pertains to government on his bithday card to mom. Sen. Tupac Hunter had no such pretense. He just sent her a birthday card at taxpayer expense. There has not been one from the governor yet but I am waiting.

Are people really so foolish to make sending them a generic birthday card worthwhile? I sure hope not. I object to my hard earned money being used in this manner. What this is a computer somewhere which spits these things out each month. How necessary is that? We have some serious problems to deal with in this state. Obviously they do not think so in Lansing. As a matter of fact, if this is not illegal it should be. If you want let me know when your birthday is and I'll sing to you. In the meantime if you get one of these, please tell them no thank you.

While your at it, join us this coming Monday, February 11, at Best Western Laurel Park Suites, 16999 S. Laurel Park in Livonia off Six mile near Neuberg Road and I 275 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.

There will be a joint "Recall Boot Camp" for Rep. Andy Dillon and Rep. Marc Corriveau. Even if you want to just learn how to recall you are welcome to come and get information. We will have petition for both recalls at the meeting. They increased our income tax by 12%. They enacted a surtax of 22% on business that will be passed down to us. They increased General Fund Spending more than 8% and call it a cut. They increased their legislative budget by over 7%. They did all this at a time when Michigan families are struggling to pay their mortgages and keep their homes. Recalls are a constitutional right citizens have as recourse when they have lost confidence that a representative is acting in their best interest.

What Another One!

I am going to have to start calling my Representative Andy Dillon "Dillon-gent Andy" instead of "Dillon the Villan". Another peice of literature was sent to my house today at taxpayer expense. One would think that they had nothing to do in Lansing. He sure is persistant when he is using other people's money. Does this look like a guy who is looking out for your best interest. If he feel the need to communicate, he should be telling us what he is doing right now to stop the bleeding in Michigan.

Not the pablum we were fed in the governors speech or the programs she has talked about since she was elected the first time. None of them will work unless she raises taxes again and even then they are severely questionable. Where are their priorities? Prove to us you are worthy to be retained. Don't prove with literature but with your actions. There is one cosulation. If we can remove him from office, he can qualify for a job with directory assistance.

Wonder what he will send me tomorrow.

More Government Waste

About a month ago I received a newsletter from my Representative Andy Dillon. I know they all do it but I believe for the most part it is more self serving than informative. Certainly the last one sent to me could be called nothing but him patting himself on the back. I do however draw the line with what I received in the mail today.

My mother passed away on December 31. In todays mail I received a birthday card for my mother whose 89th birthday would have been on February 17. It was from none other than Rep. Andy Dillon. Does anyone really think he knows my mother? It might be a nice gesture if he had been paying for it out of his own pocket but not at taxpayer expense. My mother may have been almost 89 years old but she wasn't stupid. This is pure pandering and a waste of taxpayer dollars. Does he really believe my mother doesn't know what government does after all these years. Thousand of useless bills go through the legislature each year. They are introduced to please constituents and passed on to die in committee. These bills have to be written up and printed at great expense.

My comment to Speaker Dillon is that he and his staff have bigger and better things to be concerned about like reducing spending, lowering taxes and bringing business back to this state.

Why Recall?

I am frequently asked why recall is necessary when our elected state officials are term limited and will be up for re-election or moving on. The most important thing I could say is that a lot can happen in six months. It did not take them six months to raise our income tax 12%. It did not take them six months to enact a 22% surtax on business. ( May I remind you that the tax gets passed on to the consumer.) It took them less than six months to increase General Fund spending more than 8% for 2008. They succeeded in increasing the legislative budget by over 7% for 2008 in less than six months. Now add to that the cost of borrowing money at 40 cents on the dollar for the failed 20th Century Jobs Fund in 2005, which was a flop, and will take a long time to pay back with future revenue.

The next question is always ," What about the cost of the election?" It is minor compared to the damage they can do. We need to set a few examples to deter others from making those kind of mistakes again. In my case, my legislator is the ring leader, Speaker of the House Andy Dillon. You remember him. He is the one who wanted to give every sixth grader and iPod. Rumor has it that should he be re-elected that he will be working on a gas tax hike soon after the election. Since things do not seem to be getting any better and they don't seem to be able to cut spending, then their only solution will be to use our money - thus another tax increase. Speaking of money, it will cost money for legislators to defend themselves against recall. They already use tax dollars to send out literature about how wonderful they are and how hard they work for us in their newsletters. Now they must spend more of their own to defend themselves and or to run for reelection.

If you are looking to get involved in a recall in Wayne County send me an email at bogaert@comcast.net . MichiganRecalls.com will be having a Recall Boot Camp soon. Taxpayers to Recall Andy Dillon will have petitions there or I can send you petitions if you live in Redford or Dearborn Heights. You can get other information at MichiganRecalls.com.

I Have Finally Made It

Apparently the liberal bloggers believe in free speech only for liberals. I have been banned from commenting on several liberal websites. MichiganLiberal.com at least gave me a reason. They say my opinion stinks. What are they afraid of? These sites make the same mistake as most of the media. They have no respect for any opinion but their own. I am thankful that we are not required to ask their approval to vote. The fact that I am attempting to recall my legislator, Speaker Andy Dillon, has liberals up in arms. That is why they stalled the approval of the petition language at the county level and lined the walls with thugs to intimidate us at the hearing. It took the efforts of the Circuit Court to admit that the language is clear and understandable.

Other recalls are experiencing harassment and intimidation tactics. That does not frighten me. We will be armed with cameras, video cams and cell phones to call the police. We can not allow the actions of thugs to deprive us of our right to petition for grievence and we will defend our rights. They blame Leon Drolet, from Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, for everything. Do they really think he can do this on his own?

There are large numbers of business people, economists and just average people who know what consequenses will result from the poor decision making in Lansing. It is our state, our lives and livelyhoods that will be effected. Rumor has it that they are not done raising taxes yet. It is our job to see that they are stopped. Through their newsletters, they are using taxpayer dollars to spread information about how good they are to distract from their distructive activities. If you want to help, please click on to michiganrecalls.com and give us a hand. We need to educate the legislature and remind them we are sovereign.

Disecting Michigan's Problems

I took this video at the "Michigan Defending the American Dream Conference" put on by Americans For Prosperity. Please excuse the poor quality it was my first video and my first attempt with any video camera. I think the analysis is spot on. I would appreciate your comments. We must work together for a solution to Michigan's problems and remove those who stand in the way of saving Michigan's future.

More Disappointment

For the first time in memory I am thinking of not voting for a presidential candidate in the primary election. I'll still vote because there is a school sinking fund proposal on the ballot that I do not support. With a 16% fund equity in their piggy bank, I think they are crazy to ask me to pay 1.67 mils for 10 years. While Rome burned, they misspent the last time they got money. Now they say the district is falling apart. Am I stupid enough to give them more for 10 years. I don't think so.

As a result of the legislature Democrats and Republicans are throwing a party at which they control the invitation list. Like spoiled children they are only letting you come if you tell them who you like best. In the meantime, since there is another issue on the ballot, three ballots have to be printed. One with the Republican slate and the ballot issue, One with some of the Democratic slate,since some are not participating, and one with just the ballot proposal. The worst of it is that, while it was challenged in the courts, it was upheld that the parties could get the voting information but the public could not, even though the public was forced to pay for the election. Other Parties were restricted from participating.

The whole concept is so blatantly unconstitutional, I can not believe that our State Supreme Court upheld the election. Partisan politics has consumed this country. Here in Michigan it has done the most to hurt this state. It has hurt our economy and crippled our constitution.If you can not get justice in the courts, the system has truly broken down. I believe the Justices should truly be ashamed of themselves and I wish them a thousand nights of restless sleep and a failure to return to office.

Michigan's Nightmare or America's Dream

Sometime people need support and understanding to help them believe that they are not alone. Many people in Michigan are suffering as a result of the economy and the horrible leadership and the lack of foresight of our governor and the majority of our legislature. The thing that keeps us going is that there is hope of change. It is incredible that we keep voting for change but never seem to get it.
Since the Democrats are not coming to Michigan, maybe you would like to hear some of the Republican candidates in person, speakers from the Wall Street Journal and others at the Michigan Defending The Dream conference. The conference in Washington DC was great. It was energizing to be around other Michigan activists and the conversations were always stimulating or debatable. Most of all, in Michigan it will be like a revival of spirit and hope in the future of our state. I am hopeful that I will be there to meet you.

Your Turn

Yesterday some of us went to Lansing to deliver coal to our legislators. Now it is your turn. Just click to select the coal. Then,highlight the piece of coal, select Copy, go back, find your legislator's email address from the links and Paste this piece of coal to the email to your legislators. Tell them what a bad job they are doing. Tell them this is all they deserve for the holidays.

Michigan House
Michigan Senate

They Have Been Very Bad

Members of the Wayne County Taxpayers Association (you and your family and friends) are invited to join a coal-ition of business and citizen associations who will present gifts of coal to the naughty politicians, and a "thank you" Christmas card to good politicians. The event will take place this Thursday, December 13 at 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM on the Capitol Building steps in Lansing.

Santa will be there with a truck-load of coal parked in front of the Capitol Building and some personal gifts of coal by coal-ition members will be delivered to the offices of naughty elected officials who raised your taxes. If you want to make signs specific to the event, then try variations of "Coal-ition for Tax Reform", "Tax Reform Coal-ition","Coal-lison of Taxes and Good Sense.

Please come and join us. Thanks in advance for your support!

Troubled Times

So, what is Governor Granholm's job? Is she a hostess? How about a world traveler at public expense? Is she a kept woman at the expense of the public. Maybe a spoiled brat that throws temper tantrums if she does not get her way? How is it that Michigan has survived this long without a Chief Operating Officer? My head swims with questions about this governor. Some of them less flattering then the questions expressed above.

It seems to me we should have a job description and make the candidates read it before they run for office, to see if they are qualified. The governor obviously does not know how to reduce a budget. She can not balance a budget without a tax increase. While we bleed jobs, she travels abroad and brings back a handful of jobs which we must subsidize dramatically. With her bare bones budget, she hires a COO who is a negotiator instead of a business expert. If you detect frustration in my writing, you hit it on the head.

If she were at least merciful, she would fall on her sword and quit to save the state from anymore of her bad ideas.

Uphill Battle All The Way

Sometimes, I feel like Sisyphus. He was an ancient king of Corinth who was condemned by the gods to push a huge bolder up a hill only to have it roll back down for him to begin again. I am sure that other taxpayers in Michigan feel the same way. Just when we think we are making some headway with tax increases, government comes along rolls another tax right by us.

There were few people in the tax movement that did not realize that the recently passed increase of sales tax on some services was a bad idea. Certainly, they recognized it before most of our legislators. When the legislators finally catch on, what is their response? According to Rep. Jack Hoogdyk , "effective immediately, any business that generates over $350,000 in business activity, will have to calculate its Michigan Business Tax liability and then add 22% to that bill. Over 60,000 businesses in this state will see their tax bill, the MBT, go up by 22%. Large corporations will get a break because the maximum liability on the surcharge will be capped at $6 million."

Now I know that I have made this point many times before, but business does not pay taxes, people pay taxes." All these taxes will get passed on to the consumer. If business can be more competitive in another state, they will go there. If there workers can pay less taxes and keep their job they will follow. The legislature, while making bookkeeping easier for some businesses, helped their cash flow and additional costs, they have just shifted the cost to other businesses. They in turn will pass it on to us. So what have they done for taxpayers? Nothing.

This is too important to let this stand. We can not let a bunch of self involved politicians drive this state into deeper despair and recession. It will be ten years before the surtax is set to expire. I am sure that they will not let that happen unless we force them. Lets keep he pressure on them to reduce our taxes and make this state a place where people want to come to do business and take a vacation.

Misplaced Priorities

While our legislators are hunting, vacationing and playing, Wayne County burns. Thousands of homes up for tax foreclosure in 2008 are listed in today's Free Press . Apparently, our legislators could care less. As we are finding it harder to find things to be thankful for, they are off relaxing from doing nothing to help. This is unforgivable. We are expected to take cut after cut to our personal budget through wage cuts, higher deductibles for our insurance, tax increases or job loss. They are content with pretending they are trying to do their job with no sacrifice on their part.

What is it going to take to get you boiling mad. They are taking our homes and wages now without our consent, what will they take next? This holiday season will be horrible for some families. While I think that we all should be as generous as possible, I think it should be our personal decision. By the time the state gets its grubby hand on the money there will be none left to distribute. Do yourself a favor. Check out MichiganRecalls.com. Let's get some of these guys out of office as a lesson to others. If enough of you contact them, maybe we will not have to take three more years of Granholm's bad policies.

Forgive Me

Yesterday was the clarity hearing at Wayne County for recall language on the petitions for Rep. Andy Dillon, Rep. Marc Corriveau and Rep. Edward Gaffney. Well, I lost it. I must have been having flashback of the McCollough Recall attempt of 1983. I managed to get out two coherent words of the many I spoke. I do not like to loose it like that and don't very often. I was not intimidated - just angry. I should not have let them get to me like that.We knew that the decision was made before we got there. We knew that was part of their strategy to delay the approval until after the November elections and into the coldest weather. The judge who sat on the board admitted he had contributed to Corriveau but did not recuse himself because he thought he could be fair.

The walls were lined with Teamsters, UAW and MEA members. There were also elected officials, lawyers and bunch of political types. You would think that the Teamsters and UAW would be on our side. The only reason for them to come there is intimidation. If I hadn't been so angry, I would have laughed. These are probably the same people who will be sent out to stalk us while we are collecting signatures. If they start pushing me or getting in my face and threatening me they will have pepper spray to think about and of course I will not hesitate to call the police. These people do not believe in free speech. They believe in their speech.

When Speaker Dillon had a town meeting in Redford, I had something else to do and did not feel the need to go because we had been communicating for months. I was told by a reliable source that he had body guards. I do not know what he is thinking about. Recall is the choice to prevent violence. It is operating within the law. It is a rational way to express your dissatisfaction after discussion fails. We have operated with integrity and it is they who wish to resort to thuggery.

How is it they feel it is necessary to thwart our efforts by these means. Could it be they have something much greater to lose then the average taxpayer? Why did I feel the need to ask the obvious? We have put another poll question on our website. It is the language that we submitted on the petition. I can only ask you to be honest and vote once . Remember that the person being recalled gets to put a 200 word rebuttal on the ballot as well. Please take the time to take the poll on the language and if you have not voted on the poll to recall, do that one too.

Rose Bogaert, Chair
Wayne County Taxpayers Association, Inc.

Recall 1983

I just finished watching a historical presentation on the recalls of 1983. I can not comment on the other recalls, although I knew the people involved, but I sure can comment on the McCullough Recall because I was smack dab in the middle of it. It was one of the coldest winters I can remember. This was truly a grass roots movement. We had next to no money and we only had our anger to keep us warm.

In the panel presentation, McCollough says he sent out people to present his side of the story. They were like thugs. We had to call the police on them several times. They badgered people who came up to sign. I remember him calling us a dogs breakfast and malcontents. We believed and I still do to this day, that it was some of his supporters who signed the petitions more then once. There were probably others who signed more than once by mistake because we were frequently in front of the same stores over a three month period. Some people may have forgotten if they signed. There were three signatures that appeared on one petition which appeared on a petition that were forged according to his handwriting specialist. When we investigated those three people said they did indeed sign the petition and we could not find the signatures on other petitions turned in. My question is who would think to hire a handwriting annalist to look over all those petitions unless you expect to find something.

I will also tell you right now that John Engler never had the authority to stop the recall nor anyone else. They were collected by people who wanted McCollough removed from office and that was not something to be bargained away by anyone in Lansing no matter what they may have said.

Rose Bogaert, Chair
Wayne County Taxpayers Assn.

Good ThingsCome...

It's unbelievable our website is finally whole. Comcast got it together.Now all of you who have been dying to become a member of the Wayne County Taxpayers Association or want information about the recalls can contact us on line. Oh, did I forget to mention we have a donation button. We can now become one of the 15 to 20 people a day to ask you for a donation. I am very sympathetic.

Most of all, I would like to mention that we are in worse shape then we were 30 days ago in this state. We now have an expanded service tax which can further erode our economy. The WCTA has joined the "Ax the Tax" coalition, which is dedicated to repeal the new service taxes (sometimes the lobbyist are right). If we can not do it legislatively we are committed to do it on the ballot. It behoves us to support this because businesses do not pay taxes - people pay taxes. We also have an income tax which also burdens the already suffering taxpayers in this state. As I write the budget 30 day extension is about to run out. If we fail to cut our costs we will go deeper in debt.

There is also a website where you can get information about Recalls. It's like a central sorting house. You contact them and they will put you in touch with the right people. This is not something to take lightly. It is important that our elected officials be reminded who is sovereign. We have to take a few of them out just so they are certain it can be done. If they forget who it is they are supposed to represent then representative government doesn't mean anything.

Our federal government is not doing much better. Instead of doing the peoples business, they are up to monkey business. They are still padding the bills with earmarks and there is political bantering and gotcha politics on every issue.

What is a battered taxpayer to do?

Bias in the Freep

I was almost in tears when I read the informational peice on Speaker Andy Dillon in the Free Press. His family loves him. He goes to church. He is good looking, a nice guy and well educated. He is an all american politician. What that has to do with the tax increases he advocated I am not certain. I am sure that there are many in this state with the same qualities who have lost their jobs, their homes or their children to other states or countries due to our business climate and bad policies.

The State Constitution provides a tool to the electorate when your representative refuses to represent you or does something illegal and that is recall. Recall requires that you collect the valid signatures of 25% of the number who voted in the last election for governor in the district. This is not an easy task. In the case of Speaker Dillon aprox. 12,000 signatures would have to be gathered to account for a margin of error. After the sinatures are gathered and certified, the person to be recalled gets to put a rebuttal on the ballot.

So why go through all the trouble? Because good government doesn't just happen. Because it is your obligation to pay attention. The less you pay attention the weaker you become and the more intrusive government becomes. I believe that the tax increases have hurt the people and the business climate of this state. So take a position, whatever it is, and get involved.

Rose Bogaert, Chair

Ax the Tax

The WCTA just joined the Ax the Tax Coalition. The are dedicated to get rid of the most recent sales taxes placed on some services in Michigan. The bill is so poorly written, even some in the legislature have second thoughts about how they voted. Some of the taxes would be compounded like with the value added tax and of course all would be passed down to the consumer. If the legislature can not be persuaded to remove the taxes then we would work to have it removed through the ballot process. It's just one more job killer in Michigan. Contact us for more information.

Speaking of killers, our website is only partially up and running. If you have us in your favorites, please delete us and put us back in because Comcast has changed the address. You can still reach us at http://www.wctaxpayers.org/ but it must be routed differently. Keep in mind we are only partially up and running. Apparently they are short of their high speed power stuff. You can not join, pay by credit card, donate or take part in our survey. You can, however, contact government, read our newsletters, read and look stuff up. They asked that we be patient. They would pick the quality that I lack most.

Rose Bogaert, Chair

High Speed Internet Service.

For those of you who have been trying to contact our website, we have been hijacked by the webmaster at Comcast. They have been changing to their new bigger and better service. So, of course, we now have no website. They say they are working as fast as possible. It is now going on 48 hours. If you need to contact us you may do so by phone. The WCTA number is 313-278-8383. It makes it harder to conduct recalls if no one can contact you. Hopefully they will not lose all our data.

In the meantime, you can contact the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. They will transfer Wayne County inquiries to me. (You don't think this can be a left wing conspiracy do you? Naaaaa. )They would just shoot me. This thing is not personal with me. It is about what these tax hikes can do to the state. It's about how many people will get hurt as a result of these bad policies. These tax hikes are not a temporary inconvenience. They are a permanent blow. Michigan's bad economy has taken its toll on hundreds of thousands of Michigan citizens. We are still doing thing the way we always have. Poorly!

Rose Bogaert, Chair
Wayne County Taxpayers Ass0ciation, Inc.

My Turn

Since the passage of the income tax increase and the passage of the expansion of the sales tax to certain services, I have been fielding questions about state legislators who are being recalled in Wayne County. What I can say is that if anyone is interested I can steer you in the right direction, give you procedural advice and act as a contact source. Most of the calls I get, want the governors head. There has been no official filing on the governor as yet, but don't let that deter you. If enough of you are interested, there will an attempt .

The problem is that we must collect 1,500,000 signatures to insure we have enough to recall her. We have 180 days to collect recall signatures after language has been approved but they must all be collected within 90 consecutive days. You need a heck of an organization to get that done. Don't let that keep you from contacting us or the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance for direction or encouragement.

I personally have the distinct honor of attempting to recall of House Speaker, Andy Dillon who is responsible for orchestrating the increases and bowing to the governor. If you look at those people who contributed to him, you can see why. It is not like either party could not see this coming. They have all been responsible for the mess the state is in. For thirty years I have been hearing that we have to diversify business in Michigan and they just haven't bothered to get it done.

The tax increases could well be the last nails in the coffin in this state. We can not do any worse than having the highest unemployment. The exodus of our educated and unemployed from this state does nothing to help. The worst offense of all is the reluctance to cut spending and transferring the burden on to those who are having trouble keeping their homes, experiencing wage reductions, larger deductibles on insurance and an uncertain future. As far as the taxes on services, businesses do not pay taxes people pay taxes. They just pass the tax down to the consumer

Get involved and help save our state.

Rose Bogaert, Chair

The Pertinent Anachronism is "CYA"

All the blustering and bloviating in the legislature in Lansing amounted to nothing. If it were within my power I would ask for the resignation of almost every one of them. I would also extend a special request to our governor. According to the WCTA poll thus far 76% of those who voted would sign to recall their legislator if they voted for a tax increase. We hope that they will make the effort and do just that.

The worst part of all this is that our elected officials have no respect for us. They pat themselves on the back for making deals which would have the least political impact on them. They deserve to be confronted on their lack of concern for the future of this state. Even the lobbyists, who think they have won, have not. If there are less people, there are less teachers. If there are more taxes, there is less business. If there are fewer jobs, there are less people. If there are less people, there is less revenue. The spiral will continue and will be repeated over and over again.

This legislature has missed an opportunity to turn Michigan's economy around. They have failed to uphold the constitution which they swore to uphold. They have caved to a governor who talks down to her constituents and can out and out lie with a straight face. As she awards a multi million dollar no bid contract to her friend or takes trips abroad at taxpayer expense to bring back handfuls of jobs, hundreds of thousands have lost jobs to this continued policy without hope of recovery. Notice I have not let the republicans off on this issue. They are enablers. They are part of the wheeling and dealing.

They passed a replacement for the Single business tax ,which was to be revenue neutral, with the Michigan Business Tax that is expected to bring in $750 million more in revenue. They expanded the sales taxes on to some services. Wait. It will not be long before we will be right back to the same place. They will not have enough money and we will revisit the value added tax or an increase in sales tax.

It is becoming more and more obvious that the taxpayers must come together and stay together no matter what party or political persuasion or we will become more crippled than we are. We need a constitutional amendment to clarify and restrict these politicians from foolishly spending so much of our money. We need a term limited, part-time legislature so that they will be harder for lobbyist to get at and more available to us. We need competent legislators who do not think that it takes more than six years to learn their job. We need statesmen who reflects the concerns of their constituent and if there is something we have wrong, explain honestly and not ignore us.

The status quo will not do. Join us.

Rose Bogaert, Chair
Wayne County Taxpayers Association, Inc.

Tick Tock

This is Sunday. There will be no rest for our legislators. At about one o'clock they are about to get locked into session for the third day. I suppose I should feel sorry for them. Somehow, I feel that if they had seriously thought about running the state correctly before this, they would not have this problem. Its not as if you could not see this coming.

The question now is, will those who we have elected choose the expedient way by raising taxes, or the correct way by bringing spending in line with revenue? I do not think Michigan can take any more business as usual. The people out here are suffering because of job loss, loss of their children who have had to leave the state to find a job, loss of their homes because of taxes, reduced wages, higher insurance deductibles or even loss of insurance.

A tax increase will not get them a job, will not attract business, will not attract people to move to Michigan and it will not increase the family budget. Residents should not expect to reduce their budgets while the legislature continues to spend without making the appropriate cuts. Some of our legislators have done nothing to even attempt cut and have even suggested increases.

Speaker Andy Dillon has said that he will keep house members locked up for however long it takes to get them to vote for a income tax increase. Too bad he did not put as much emphasis or time into reducing the waste in state government or improving the business climate. I hope his prisoners of war are strong enough to withhold the pressure. As we speak they are making deals with our money to bribe for enough votes to pass the tax. They are offering things that they should not. We are not talking compromise. We are talking possible bribery.

Rose Bogaert, Chair
Wayne County Taxpayers Association, Inc.

One Day at a Time.

It has been three full days and only a hundred people have responded to our poll. Obviously our members have not got the word. The question will be on our website for a while - at least until after our newsletter goes out. I think people want to find out what the legislators and the governor are going to do to us before they decide if they should or should not sign a recall petition.

The very fact that they have done nothing except think of ways to raise our taxes should be reason enough to convince us to sign. That October deadline to balance the budget is almost upon us and they have done nothing but throw some things into committee. The governor keeps going around with the same old ideas, which all entail spending more of our money. No matter what they say about cutting the budget, they still manage to spend more each year.

I find it humorous that the legislators blame all their troubles on, Leon Drolet, the head of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. There is no question that he can raise hell but he can not do it alone. They complain because one man is making $39,000 for doing something he believes is good for the State and its taxpayers, while they take almost $80,000 plus benefits for doing next to nothing?

If he or anyone else says something untrue, legislators can easily rebut the accusations from their pulpit. Some started by saying this was a bare bone budget. I can not believe they thought anyone bought that. Then they proceeded to spend money they didn't have. Then they pretend they didn't spend it by pushing it into next years budget. Now that the liability is greater for next year, the obvious decision for any rational being is to make a promise to spend more. NOT! It is either cut the state budget or our budget. I pick the state budget.

For Your Voting Pleasure

We have just placed a poll on our website in a moment of insanity. This poll is not scientific. Just a matter of curiosity. The question reads " Are you willing to sign a petition to recall your legislators if they vote for a tax increase?" We have to believe there are people out there that are mad about the legislators lack of action with regards to reducing spending.

Over and over again legislation is thrown together at the last minute. As I recall (no pun intended) before the last recall, they were in session well into the night deciding to raise taxes. The same is true when then State Senator Debbie Stabenow put forth a proposal to eliminate funds for schools so that the method of funding would change. The republicans, not to be outdone, said me too. That is how we got the now troublesome Proposal A. I am sure people will want to stay here after college or move here when they find out their taxes will almost be double that of someone living here in a similar house and neighborhood since 1994, especially if they can not find a job.

Perhaps the legislators feel that close to $80,000 with full benefits isn't enough for what is really a part-time job. Maybe they feel they are above the State Constitution. Maybe they do not think they should loose their job for doing nothing about the budget and voting for nonsense half the time.

Remember politicians, staff, those in the MEA, AFT and government workers you only get one response in this poll.

Recall Madness?

The real madness is expecting the taxpayers of Michigan to continue to follow the line that a tax increase is the answer to Michigan's problems. What is the poor taxpayer to do but take drastic measures, when the people they elect to represent them refuse to hear them. What I can not understand is why our elected officials feel put upon when they are expected to do their job within the financial limits of the state's income.

It also makes me laugh to hear them blame Leon Drolet, of Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, for everything. Do they honestly think that he can collect the thousand of signatures necessary to recall them by himself? While he is an effective spokesperson, every signature gathered is a statement on the part of a voting taxpayer. Every person who steps up to form a committee is an emerging leader/activist for the taxpayers of Michigan. Any legislator who complains because he/ she has helped solved a problem for a constituent in the past has lost sight of the fact that is what he/she was elected to do. By the way, Leon Drolet was a little young in 1983 when two senators were recalled. As far as tactics, huge pink pigs, signs and rallies get attention. Unlike the lobbyists, most taxpayers do not have large funds to draw on for an advertising budget.

If you need assistance or information just contact the WCTA. We will help coordinate in Wayne County. We will buffer, if you want anonymity, until the Recalls are necessary.

Recalls

Some of you have expressed a desire to recall your State Representative or Senator, if they vote for a tax increase. The WCTA will be glad to facilitate you buy filing the appropriate paperwork with Wayne County to form a committee, find out the number of signatures required to recall them from office, set up the proper documents to establish a bank account at LaSalle Bank for your committee and will even help you file a return if you collect more than $1000. (Chances are you will not even come close.) It will cost you very little, if you do it right. It will cost them a great deal to defend themselves.

We can act as a contact point to match up anyone interested in helping recall. Helping you contact each other is half the battle. We will answer any questions which you may have. All other facets must be done by the committee itself. Anyone else who is interested should call us or email us.

You may choose to file a committee and not follow through without penalty but with the proper help, the signature gathering while time consuming, is not difficult.

Ask your like minded friends for help. You may also wish to contact the Wayne County Election Division. You may do it from our website or click on this link www.waynecounty.com/clerk . You may give our number for the initial contact (313)-278-8383.


Rose Bogaert, Chair
Wayne County Taxpayers Association, Inc.