Dillon Up to His Old Tricks

With the help from his friends in the legislature. Speaker Andy Dillon has managed to shift taxes from the have nots to the have just a littles. I have been busy the last few days, so I have gotten behind in my reading. I came across the Right Michigan blog. In that blog they referenced HB6162.

The legislative analysis states this:

If a taxpayer is elegible for an exemption, the board of review would grant the exemption for the tax year in which the application was filed, and for the immediately preceding tax year if the taxpayer would have been eligible for an exemption that year. If the board of review did so,any exempted and unpaid taxes, interest, penalties, and fees for the immediately preceding tax year would be extinguished......

The local board of review could deny an exemption for one or more of the following reasons:

1. the person claiming the exemption was not a qualified taxpayer
2. the claim for exemption was based on fraud
3. the qualified taxpayer had no interest in the property for which the exemption was claimed, and the claim was an attempt to avoid the collection of taxes
4. the state equalized valuation of the principal residence for which an exemption was claimed was 200 percent or more greater than the median value of a principal residence in the local tax collection unit.

Doesn't sound to bad. Well who is going to make up the revenue? In the Right Michigan article they refered to the problem with bonds and referenced the increase that will be required on those still paying taxes, to meet the annual payments. It is much worse than that and difficult to explain.

There aren two thing that govern the level of taxation on our taxable value. The first is the Headlee Amendment (Article 9 Section 26-32 of the State Constitution) which limits the revenue to local units of governmet to the rate of inflation and the second is Proposal A, which limits the increase in the taxable value of individual property to the rate of inflation or 5% which ever is less. The amount of the millage rollback, if any, is determined by the total taxable value in a local unit of government. That means your school district, city or township, and county determine how many mills they can levy by basically taking last years revenue, plus any additions or deleations of property and figuring how much revenue they are entitled to under the Headlee Amendment.

As some people's taxable value decrease or disappear , as in HB 6162 the burden is shifted to others still paying taxes. Article 9 Section 31 of the State Constitution assures local units of government a certain level of revenue;

I have tried to simplify a very complex tax system. You might want to consult the Citizen's Research Council for the more complicated version.

As you know, your taxes have continued to rise while your property values have declined. People ask me why every day. How can this happen? When taxable values continue to be capped each year to the rate of inflation due to Proposal A, assessments increased at a much faster rate. The difference between your taxable value and assessed value was still too great for you to experience a reduction. Surprisingly, the legislature noticed that too. They passed House Joint Resolution III to revise the Proposal A assessment cap for declining values. This from MichiganVotes.org :

Received in the House on September 25, 2008, to place before voters in the next general election a Constitutional amendment to establish that, after 2010, if a property's assessed value decreases the taxable value not be allowed to increase, as it does now under the enacting language adopted by the legislature following passage of the 1994 Proposal A. If the assessed value increased by less than the rate of inflation, the assesment increase could not exceed that amount. Passed in the House (101 to 0) on September 25, 2008, to place before the voters in the next general election a Constitutional amendment to establish that after 2010, if a property's assessed value decreases the taxable value not be allowed to increase, as it does now under the enacting language adopted by the legislature following the passage of the 1994 Proposal A. If the assessed value increased by less than the rate of inflation, the assessment increase could not exceed that amount.

Keep in mind that this would still be a tax shift because the revenue is still guaranteed to the local units of government under the Constitution. The millage would just not be rolled back as much and those who have purchased their houses after 1994 when Proposal A passed will still be paying more than their fair share and those who receive an exemption would shift their share to others.

Taxpayers Prevail

I've been spending a lot of time in court this past year and it's all because of the recall of Speaker Andy Dillon. The first time in circuit court to get the wording on petition approved. Next to federal court to defend my First Amendment rights so that we would be able to count signatures that they threw out and twice this past week back to circuit court to remove the last two paragraphs of the language submitted by Dillon which criticizes us instead of defending his position - a definite violation of the law. A year is a long time just to get a question on the ballot. They say the process is too easy. I say it is too hard and costly. At least we made it a little easier in the future by having the court affirm our rights.

During this whole ordeal, they have complained that we have been getting financial resources from outside the district. Most of our funds came from people who own businesses in Michigan and who have gotten stuck with huge increases in taxes. The rest was from more than 250 individuals who were sick of cuts in their own personal budgets, while the state continued to increase spending and raise taxes. We delivered petitions to almost every house in the district. Anyone could have sent in invalid signatures. That includes Dillon's supporters or even Dillon himself.

Now that we have the ballot question settled, its time to get down to business. I think it is time to put the garlic around our neck, take our wooden stakes (for our signs), get to the heart of the matter and take care of the task at hand.
I am told that Dillon has a quarter of a million dollars to run his campaign with. He didn't collect that much from voters in his district. Could it be he got it from all the lobbyists and special interest groups he reported on his campaign statement?
He has some nerve complaining about us. No mater where any ones money came from the question is where it belongs - finally in the hands of the voters of the 17th district.

Drill Here Drill Now

This gets me right in the mood. If you go to our website homepage and click on the oil rig you will hear the new song by country music star Aaron Tippin. Below the picture, if you click on the link, you will see a video from American Solutions.com. You should do it because it is a really great song and quaint video.

Preliminary results of mine and my sons Hydrogen fuel cells which we have had installed in our vehicles are good. My son's 2002 Ford F150 truck is getting an average increase of 57% in his gas mileage. I am driving a 1993 Crown Victoria and I have experienced a 50% increase in my mileage. Both of these should improve with continued use and as the oxygen sensor adjusts. Please note the nickel in the picture, so you can judge the size.

My nephew says he is going to replace our units with the new and improved version which he is ready to put into production soon. He has a patent pending and is securing funding. Soon you too will be able to tell foreign oil producers Americans can become more energy independent. Go to American Solutions.com to join the fight.

Considder the Whole Deal

I was pretty miffed a couple of weeks ago when the Michigan Court of Appeals and the State Supreme Court refused to hear the case for the recall of Speaker Andy Dillon. I've cooled off now. As November gets closer, I was thinking about judges. I read in the newspaper that the Democrats have chosen Judge Diane Hathaway to be their candidate for the Supreme Court, so I started checking her out. That sweet gentle face has the heart of a left wing liberal.

Hathaway has been a Wayne County circuit judge since 1993. She ran unsuccessfully for the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2006. She was a supporter of the Reform Michigan Government Now proposal.That was the proposal that almost re-wrote the entire State Constitution. Good thing the lower courts decided it could not go on the ballot because it was to broad. The proposal was very poorly written and would have made sweeping changes that would have effected all of us negatively. She has the support of the union bosses. I am not sure of the rank and file. Her criticism of Justice Taylor is that he is to pro-business and not generous to the little guy. Which means he doesn't ere on the side frivolous lawsuits. According to the Detroit News, Hathaway called Taylor a "walking conflict of interest" who too often rules in favor of insurance companies at the expense of middle-class Michigan residents.

Insurance companies will settle almost any case to avoid Wayne County Courts. They know they can not win no matter what the circumstances and even if there is liability the courts and juries will usually grant outrageous awards. She has sympathy for those award and is running against the conservative Chief Justice Clifford Taylor.

Justice Taylor can certainly defend himself but no matter I felt that you should know more about him. This is from his election website:

" Chief Justice Taylor is considered a strict constructionist, and is frequently invited to teach new jurists throughout the country. He is the co-author of a three-volume work entitled Torts which covers personal injury law in Michigan. He was recently named the Man of the Year by the Police Officers Association of Michigan, having previously been their Jurist of the Year. He has also been honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and was given the Grano Award for Judicial Excellence by the Federalist Society.

Chief Justice Taylor serves on the Board of the George Mason University Law and Economics Center, which provides judicial education across the country. He served in the past on the Board of Directors of the National Conference of Chief Justices, the Michigan Legislature’s Commission on the Courts in the 21st Century, and on the Michigan State Board of Law Examiners.

His community activities have included service on the Board of Directors of Chief Okemos Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Board of Directors for the Michigan Dyslexia Institute."

Given the circumstances I don't think I will have a hard time deciding.

Off To The Races

Yesterday, the Secretary of State finally certified that there are enough valid signatures to place on the ballot the recall of Speaker Andy Dillon. So, now it is up to us to explain to the people of the 17th district the reasons we believe he needs to be removed from office and not be re-elected. You read right. He will be on the ballot twice. He is running for re-election and the recall question will be on the ballot as well.

When I started this recall, I had no personal bad feelings about Rep. Dillon. I have now seen what he is made of and who he hangs with and my feelings have changed. It has made me more committed to remove him from office. We have to re-emphasize the reasons he was wrong to raise our taxes instead of cutting the state budget. I hope to keep providing other information which will reinforce that conclusion. His friends and tactics also hold a place in judging his character and where his loyalties rest.

Recall 1983

I am in the process of reprinting an old blog for those of you interested in the history of the 1983 Recalls. the video is very long but, it provides a lot of information.
The blog itself provides my perspective.

Friday, October 26, 2007

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 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 did 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.

At Last Victory

I am delighted to announce that in the matter of :

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION

ROSE BOGAERT,
Plaintiff,

File No. 1:08-CV-687

v.

HON. ROBERT HOLMES BELL

TERRI LYNN LAND, individually and in
her official capacity as Michigan Secretary
of State,
Defendant,
ANDREW DILLON, WAYNE COUNTY
CLERK CATHY M. GARRETT, and
WAYNE COUNTY ELECTION
COMMISSION,
Intervenors.

We won! After all is said and done, the taxpayers of the 17th district will get to vote on the recall of Speaker Andy Dillon. If all goes well at the Secretary of States Office and we have no reason to believe it will not, the recall will appear on the November ballot. If you wish to read the whole decision, go to our website and click on Special Reports.

Now the challenge is to remove him from office. Andy Dillon the Taxpayers Villian has many resources behind him but we are hopeful that the people will remember the damage he has helped create in this state and continues to ignore, including higher taxes and a bad business climate

MEA and MESSA v Learning

Yesterday I attended a luncheon where the guest speaker was Kyle Olson who is President of Strategy for the Education Action Group (EAG). The EAG is a group of citizens and School Board leaders who are working together to insure that most tax dollars for education are spent to educate students. They are all about supporting school boards who make those tough decisions. When Michigan Senate Bill 418 passed, it allowed school districts to gain access and obtain anonymously "Health Insurance Claim Data" for bidding purposes and required that they get four competing bids. This video tells one story.

According to Mr. Olson, "the mission of the MEA and MESSA is not to look out for the best interests of the school districts - its to make sure that their members are receiving the best "Compensation and Benefits possible".

I am always befuddled by the fact that over 30% of our taxes go to education and we spend so little time electing qualified people who have lots of backbone to manage our districts.

It is nice to have caring parents on the board and others that reflect the demographics of the district but they need to have skills that will allow them to manage the millions of dollars entrusted to their care.

WCCC Sticks It's Hand Out Again

In an article in The Detroit News, it was indicated that Wayne County Community College will be asking for 1.5 mills on the November ballot. That is $1.50 for every $1,000 of taxable value of your home and property in Wayne County. What has changed since last year. The economy has gotten worse, more people have lost their jobs and must retrain and we have an unprecedented defection from the state. What are the reasons for the failure of the millage last year?

Wayne County Community College history has been marked with distasteful episodes. Classes listed but not held, students enrolled without attending and teachers paid for classes they rarely taught. It is true that of late it has operated much better and has expanded its suburban population to 40%.

So why did they choose to put the millage on last year when it did not expire until 2011? Some say it was to take advantage of a low turnout election. I say it was much more devious than that and they are doing it again. The language referred to in the newspaper this year suggests that they are requesting a renewal, when in reality, a levy of 1.5 mills would actually be an increase. It would undue any gains we would of had for the last 10 years under the Headlee Amendment which has limited the revenue increase to the rate of inflation and rolled the millage back. Since 2001, they have had an increase in student population from 17,000 to 70,000. A number of students require remediation. That means the education we have been paying for the last 12 years has been less than adequate.

I wonder if they know that if the millage is set to take effect as a renewal and passes this year they will have to take any reduction that occurs the next two years until the millage is levied? That was part of an Attorney General decision made this past year.

WCCC says they need to plan. So do we. Will our assessments be up or down in 2011? Will we be in or out of a recession? Will Michigan be in better shape or worse? Will population grow or decline? Will we have the personal revenue to pay for the tax increase, since every level of government is trying to hit us up for more money?

Fancy buildings do not an education make.

No Bumps

I went to a wedding in Ohio over the weekend and the first thing I noticed is that the roads were wonderful. Smooth as a baby's behind. The next thing I noticed is that I didn't have to detour. The part I like best is, there was only one half mile, from the Border to Nelsonville (60 miles past Columbus) that had any construction barrels.

What makes Michigan different? Is the weather so different? It seems we do have two seasons in Michigan, winter and under construction and we do not have the good sense to leave the alternate route from being under construction too. For years, before my mother moved in with me, I had to fight to get from the west side of town to the east side of town because the roads were being worked on. By the time next year would roll around, that stretch of highway needed repair and they were working on repairing a stretch a mile away. I know they are collecting taxes to fix the roads, but I think at some point they should learn to do a good job. Maybe that is the reason there are so few people coming to Michigan. They are having trouble getting here. I might have to rethink that idea because they seem to have little trouble leaving.


Update on my Hydrogen fuel cell. I still have not gotten my odometer replaced, but can sure tell the difference on my gas gage.
to be continued.....

Kwame Ordered to Jail

Kwame Kilpatrick has been ordered to jail for breaking the restrictions of his bond. He not only left the city, he left the country. He went to Canada on city business but the condition of his bond was that he not leave the city. The judge says he is not making the mayor an example. He says he would have put anyone who broke bond in jail.

If Kwame felt the need to leave for the sake of city business, he should have requested permission from the court. This is just another example of how politicians think that the law does not apply to them but only one the people they proport to represent.

Call Speaker Pelosi

Well it is 11:46 am and I have not received my odometer yet. I had previously wrote about the hydrogen fuel cell I put on my car. Well my odometer broke and I don't know how many miles per gallon I'm getting. So it gives me another reason to be angry at Speaker Pelosi as I watch all those dollars pile up at the gas pump.

Please call Speaker Pelosi at 1-202-225-0100 and tell her to call congress back into session for an up or down vote on energy legislation.

In support of this issue "Americans for Prosperity" is sponsoring an interesting event.

Save the Dates
August 13 and August 14

Hot Air Balloon to Stop in Farmington, Kalamazoo

Gas prices are squeezing your budget! Yet some lawmakers in Congress continue to refuse to support free-market measures that would lower energy costs. And global warming alarmists like Al Gore cheer misguided policymakers on by calling for more energy taxes and regulation.

Join Americans for Prosperity's 70-foot-tall hot air balloon in Farmington or Kalamazoo to learn more about the Hot Air in the energy debate. These events will be fun for the whole family and completely free! Bring the kids out for dinner/breakfast and a tethered hot air balloon ride.* The first 50 pre-registrants will receive a free t-shirt.

Farmington (pre-register) THIS ONE IS CLOSE!

5:00 PM -- Wed., August 13

Shiawassee Park (map here)
(at the corner of Shiawassee and Power Roads)
Farmington, MI

Kalamazoo (pre-register)

8:30 AM -- Thurs., August 14

Flesher Field, Oshtemo Township (map here)
3664 South 9th Street
Kalamazoo, MI

Contact Scott Hagerstrom for more information at shagerstrom@afphq.org.

Be sure to forward this e-mail. Encourage folks you know to sign up, including friends from work, family, your college, homeschool group, political group, and other community associations!

One of the driving forces behind Congressional inaction on the energy issue is global warming alarmism. We are working hard to bring you the missing half of the global warming issue. What will the impact of reactionary legislation be on our national economy, local businesses, and even your personal budget?

Voting

At about noon today I went to vote. There were two people at the poles besides the workers. At 6:00 pm my husband went to vote and there were two people there voting. It doesn't seem that the voters are very motivated. My pole has a lot of absentee ballots, but this is ridiculous. I think to many people feel left out. They feel it doesn't matter. They feel beat. Maybe it is presumptuous of me to make that statement, but this is the message that many have related to me. It doesn't seem that it matters what party is in control.

Our system of government seems to be evolving into into an oligarchy (rule by a few) instead of a democratic republic. As an example, the following video shows how one woman in power can control the fate of the entire country by enforcing her will.

It has come to the point where the parties support people because they have a (R) or a (D) after their name principled or not. Maybe we need another lesson in voting and what it means.

Well maybe that was not the lesson we had to learn. In spite of it all I believe that in this country we can make our elected officials responsible again. But if we choose to do nothing we only have ourselves to blame.

Rose Bogaert, Chair
Wayne County Taxpayers Association

Challenge Day One -

I have decided to include some questionable people running for office in Wayne County as part of my blog.

WHO IS THIS PERSON DISGUISED AS A MILD MANNERED POLITICIAN?

• A 35-year homeowner in the district
• A wife, mother, and grandmother
• A life-long Democrat
• A Schoolcraft College Trustee
• An adjunct professor at Madonna University
• District constituent services staff person for Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, Andy Dillon

Joan Gebhardt

• One of the mean, nasty, thugs that followed, harassed, stalked, took pictures and blocked us from collecting signatures for Speaker Andy Dillon's Recall

I wonder how long ago that picture was taken? I have never seen her hair like that or with a sincere smile and her people skills had much to be desired. In fact she was very loud when she talked to us, that is, when she wasn't insincerely grinning. She is running for the Wayne Country Commision 12th district which includes Inkster, Westland and part of Livonia.

I think she would serve us better in the county jail than on the commission. There are a number of undesirables running for office in Wayne County. A lot of them know each other well.

I'm Doing My Part to Reduce Energy

Here I am out on the cutting edge again. This past week my husband , my son and myself had hydrogen fuel cells installed on our cars. My nephew created this thing in the garage of his house in Ohio, where he has a machine shop. He has been working in mechanical and electrical engineering for years. Two days before he came up to install it in my 1993 Crown Victoria (definitely need better mileage there) , my odometer broke. We are running our tests now and it will take a few days for the electronics and oxygen sensors to catch up. My son, who is a chemical engineer, is already getting a 50% increase in his mpg. He can't really tell because he has spent some time time working outside this week in the heat and kept running his pickup truck to get his air conditioner to cool him off.

My husband lives so close to work that we haven't had a real test there, at least not enough to make it meaningful. So that will take some time. I will get my odometer this Wednesday. I did drive to and from Dearborn to Grand Rapids last week and filled up before I left. I had lots of gas left over when I got back. When the car was new it only got 15-18 gallons on the highway. Close as I can figure it only got about 10 mpg in the city before I put this thing on the car.

We will continue to take our mileage test until we get some meaningful data but at these prices I'll take a 40-100% increase in my mpg. I'll let you know how it all works out. He has a really neat design that will fit in any car. I'm really geaked about this.

Did I mention that it works on diesel fueled vehicles as well and that he heated his home with this hydrogen gizmo too.

I was watching TV today and some guy was talking about biofuel from algae. Looks like a plan to me. As far as I'm concerned we can do this thing if congress will get out of our way.

Rose Bogaert

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night...

My attorneys filed in United States District Court for Injunctive and Declaratory relief and damages for the Recall of Andy Dillon.What we are attempting to do is allow signatures gathered from circulators outside the district to count. While recallers are required to use residents of the district to collect signatures, the opponents can call in outsiders to block, harass and intimidate. In addition, if I sign a petition I have no way to determine if the person is a resident of the district. It is against the law for me to knowingly sign more than once, therefore, for my signature to count it must be accepted.

During the recall the opposition sent in ringers to collect signatures in spite of the fact they did not live in the district. One of them even testified to the fact. We tried desperately to do this on the up and up. The United States Supreme Court has already ruled that it is a violation of my First Amendment Rights to restrict signature gathering for referendum. We believe that it is a violation on recall petitions too.

We also want the Recall to be placed on the November ballot. What we really want is a more even playing field. To be continued..........

Same Stuff Different Day

Some people accuse me of trying to push people into doing something political and in effective they could be right. I am going to ask you to join over a million Democrats, Republicans and Independents who have signed a petition to demand that Congress take action on the oil crisis. We need to convince them this Forth Of July that it is important to attack the situation from all quarters.

We keep hearing that we need to be energy independent from foreign oil, but our representatives never seem to show they believe it by their behavior. Michigan in particular has a problem because most businesses which remain in this state, are hanging by a string.
Also, some will be unable to heat or cool their homes, food prices will rise, they will have a difficult time paying for gas to run their car.
We need to get our legislators off their duff. This problem goes beyond politics and effects our basic needs.
In the seventies we demanded congress to act. Some of their decisions were helpful while others were not. We know from experience what works and what doesn't. Conservation on our part always works for instance. Tax credits for insulation, thermal windows and energy efficient appliances works for another. Dialing down our thermostats works. Research on ways to reduce energy efficiency works.
Windfall Profits Tax does not work. Look at this video and then consider signing the petition on line.

Now go to their website and add your name to a million others. If we want them to make any effort we have to be willing to do our share.

When in Doubt Check History

What is happening in this country? Has everyone gone crazy? They say education is important and it is. What they need to be teaching is more history, American and European. There is a lot of talk about nationalizing things. Lets take the two most talked about areas one at a time.

First lets talk about medicine. I can not believe that they are still pushing this. The influx of people into this country to access medical care is impressive. While everyone may eventually get a chance to receive medical care with socialized medicine, you still have to be alive to receive it. Lines are long and care is sometimes restricted by the patient's age. The older I get the less enthusiastic I become about that prospect. I thought perhaps you might like to see this video.

As you can see, it's not all it's cut out to be. There are a bunch of other testimonials which say the same thing. Americans are not used to waiting for a hamburger let alone for care of a life threatening disease. There is care for the uninsured, if they need it or ask for it.

The next topic is the nationalization of the oil companies. I know these people are out of their minds. Name me one thing that the government has done well. There are some things that are better just because of the magnitude of the job, but that doesn't mean they do it well. If you are old enough to remember back to the 1970's, you will remember the so called "Oil shortage". Eventually, Jimmy Carter and congress slapped a "windfall profits tax" on the oil companies. That only served to drive the oil prices higher. What drove the prices down? We did. We found ways to conserve energy. We used less. Those who could afford it insulated their homes and put in thermal windows. We walked when we didn't need to ride. We bought energy efficient appliances and electronic thermostats. We lowered the heat and put on more clothes. The changes will come only if we demand them. This video shows what happens when the government takes over.

People tend to associate Fascism with people on the right. In reality it comes from the left. We can not let our country go the way of other failed governments. We have to many lives invested to allow the United States to slip into socialism. People come here for opportunity. We should facilitate that not with a "hand out" but with a "hand up". Socialism does not work.

The next five videos are here because I am reading a very interesting book by the speaker on liberal fascism. I think you might be interested in what he has to say. It will give you some insight and provide you with something to do.

Two Things Everyone Should Do or Not

Apologize when you have done something poorly. I want to apologize to all those people who counted on us to coordinate and successfully recall Speaker Andy Dillon. We tried hard but not hard enough. We could not beat the political machine in time for the August primary. We have not given up in principle and are considering other ways on the federal level to re mediate the problem. It is very important that we do not let the matter lie. The failure of the Court of Appeals and the State Supreme Court to hear our case, in light of the fact that one of the issues has been already settled by the US Supreme Court in our favor, is unconscionable.

Don't get discouraged. Politicians count on us to get discouraged and go away. We can not let that happen. What we need is for our numbers to grow and to get more eyes watching. If we keep ignoring problems and leaving them to others we will soon lose what we treasure most - our freedoms and our money. Politicians should be working for us, not themselves.

Which brings to mind another issue. You know we support the right of ballot initiative but we do not support the right to be deceptive. This message goes across party lines and should be important to all. The video below does a good job of explaining the problem.

If this was not enough to worry about, in 2010 some will be calling for a Constitutional Convention. Say no to that too.

In Pursuit of Justice

Rose Bogaert

vs.

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, in her official capacity,
Andy Dillon, and Wayne County Board of Election Commissioners

On June 6, a Complaint For Writ of Mandamus was filed in the Court of Appeals to recapture signatures which are valid as found by the US Supreme Court. If found to be invalid it would would violate citizens First Amendment Rights of free speech and association. This would give us more than enough signatures to place the question on the Aug. 5th ballot.

In addition, we are also challenging the practice of throwing out both signatures when someone signs twice by accident. For years the opposition has been thought to be signing petitions more than once to throw off the count. In 1983 when we were attempting to recall Senator Patrick McCullough, we had enough signatures to recall him from office for his vote for a 38% increase in the income tax. Due to duplicate signatures, where both the original and the duplicate were thrown out, we were unable to place the recall on the ballot. We challenged it in the Court of Appeals but did not have the resources to challenge it any further. We now have the opportunity if the Court of Appeals does not drag their feet.

On the face of the petition, is this warning in bold print: "A PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY SIGNS A RECALL PETITION MORE THAN ONCE OR SIGNS A NAME OTHER THAN HIS OR HER OWN IS VIOLATING THE PROVISIONS OF THE MICHIGAN ELECTION LAW."

We believe that over a three month period people can honestly forget if they signed a petition. We still have the presumption of innocence in this country. We agree that one of the signatures should be discounted but only one. In any case, we should not allow the disenfranchisement of voters for political expediency. Hopefully we will prevail.

TO BE CONTINUED.

What Now?

When the Constitution of the United States was ratified, a colleague asked Benjamin Franklin, “What have we wrought?”

Benjamin Franklin replied, “A Republic, if they can keep it.”

I have not been writing lately because I am not sure what to tell you. We are still fighting to save the recall of Andy Dillon. As soon as I know what is next, I will let you know. The one thing I do know is that I am fearful for this country. I have seen things in this campaign that are unprincipled, dirty and beneath those who propose to represent the people of the 17th district. I can not believe that we are the only place in this country that have had these experiences.

We can not excuse this by brushing it off as just politics. If this is politics, it has no place in our form of government. We have lost respect for each other, our first amendment rights have been violated and breaking the law is not justified to achieve a goal. No matter what happens we will ultimately wind up in court.

One Day a Year is Not Enough

This Memorial Day weekend, many people will celebrate having a day off. Others will remember family members who served their country in the military. Some will remember all those who fought and died for this country. One day is not enough to remember. This memory should be recalled every time we vote, read a book or a newspaper, have a political disagreement and at the uncountable times we take our liberty for granted.

I try to remember every one who helped make this country what it is, because that is what my father taught me. I can remember my father raising the flag in our yard each day when I was young. He watched every war movie that was ever made (and cowboy movie too). He cried every time he heard taps. He was a sailor in WWII. He never saw action but he appreciated everyone who did. He was proud to be a sailor and prouder still to be an American.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all that have served this country and permits me to live free.

I know this country is not perfect but it is the best there is. When I go to court on May 27th to defend myself against the trumped up charges by Rep. Andy Dillon, I believe that if there is justice I will be vindicated. I believe in this system. I also know that power corrupts. It is evident in the way Dillon's thugs attempted to infiltrate and corrupt our petition drive. I received calls attempting to bribe me, petitions in the mail without circulators to temp me, calls with people attempting to get me to make incriminating statements, have been followed and harassed and been asked to do things that are anatomically impossible. Dillon has personally lied when he said I never gave him suggestions on how to cut the budget and no one in our organization ever attempted to photograph his children or his wife. They say that almost 1/2 of our signatures are invalid. I know we will prove them wrong. This could only happen if he or his supporters sabotaged our effort. It does not serve us to do anything like this. We knew the state and Dillons surragates would be going through them.

Please take time this weekend to remember those who fought for our freedom from the beginning to the present. Pray that we can keep our country free. May God bless America and keep her safe.

.

Take the Bitter With the Sweet

First I will give you the sweet.The Secretary of State has finished the first process to place vacationing Andy Dillon's name for recall on the August 5th ballot. I hope that they didn't send the news to Mexico and ruin his fun. After all, his vacation is far more important than the mess this state is in.

The bitter is that our court date has been postponed again. It seems they have come up with more trumped up charges and our side needs time to figure out what they are talking about and who these supposed witnesses are. The only regret I have is that we have come to this as a society. If Dillon is loved so much by the voters, why is he going through all this? He could just stand on his reputation and his performance in the legislature and defeat us at the polls. He would be defending his record and not trying to discredit us. I guess it must be because he can do neither and must give the appearance that he is the injured party.

In the meantime, Rep. Dick Ball (R-Owosso) introduced a resolution which criticizes the State Constitution for allowing recalls for anything but criminal misconduct. Recalls are about anything but that. Criminal misconduct is decided in the courts. Recalls are about representation and political matters. HR358 also stated that recalls are undemocratic. Huh? We had to collect a lot more signatures then he had to collect to run for office. About 8,500 more. Then the recall has to be voted on. Sounds pretty democratic to me. Thank goodness the rest of them had the good sense to not want to vote on it. It was however the fact that someone wanted to amend the resolution to include that Kwame Kilpatrick be removed from office that brought the great enlightenment. The dems removed it from the agenda.

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.