“As we saw last week, those who oppose the Dean Recall effort, but don’t live in his district, are free to utilize their First Amendment rights to try to verbally intimidate voters and stop them from signing a recall petition. However, those who support the effort are blocked from volunteering to assist in collecting signatures,” said Jeff Steinport, spokesperson for the Dean Recall effort.

Noting that state law allows both opponents and supporters from outside Dean’s district to donate to the recall efforts, Steinport said that, “…state law prohibits supporters from traveling to the district and asking voters to sign a petition. That’s a violation of the First Amendment.”

The suit, filed against Michigan’s Secretary of State, Attorney General, and the Kent County Prosecutor, in their official capacities, seeks to stop the enforcement of this unconstitutional ban on political speech.

Similar laws in other states, such as in Colorado and California, have been struck down on First Amendment grounds. “We are confident that the Supreme Court has already ruled in cases like this. We simply wish to enforce our democratic and constitutional rights by challenging this law. The citizens of Michigan deserve to be allowed to have their voices heard,” said Steinport.

For questions on the lawsuit, please contact Matthew Davis, Attorney for the Plaintiffs, at 517-913-5107.

View the documents filed with the court:

• Complaint
• Motion for Preliminary Injunction
• Brief in Support of Motion

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Blockers were already at the polls when the Dean-recall volunteers arrived this morning to collect petition signatures. And they are nasty! One senior citizen who tried to sign the recall petitions was yelled at by blockers who told her that she was “breaking the law and signing an illegal petition.” These same blockers followed the senior voter to her car, taking repeated, close-up snapshots with a camera and demanding that she produce photo identification to them (the blockers). Police were called, and (as I write this) are trying to sort things out.

The blockers’ primary tactic is to lie. First by claiming that Robert Dean didn’t vote for any tax increases, and then by telling potential signers that the petitions are illegal and that they are committing a crime by signing. The blockers continue to harass citizens attempting to sign by getting right-up into the signers faces with a camera and taking multiple photos of the citizen’s face. Their tactics would be the envy of a third-world dictator attempting to suppress democracy at the polls.

And that is EXACTLY what the blockers are determined to do: suppress citizens’ democratic involvement in their constitutional right to engage in the petition and recall process.

Stay tuned for more updates on both the recall effort and the efforts of recall opponents to stifle democracy.

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Representative Dean faces the increasingly likely prospect that he will face a recall election in 2008. Steinport continued, “Mr. Dean seems unable to justify his vote for a gargantuan and destructive tax increase, so it appears he is trying to stop the recall through the courts rather than face the voters.”

Robert Dean voted in October to increase the state income tax and to expand the state’s sales tax to several services. His votes increased taxes by $1.5 billion a year, which will wallop the average family with $400 in new taxes each year. Mr. Dean also refused to vote for any cuts in state spending. While families in Michigan struggle to keep up with increasing costs of living and a one-state recession, Robert Dean voted to ensure that businesses and jobs continue to leave.

For reference, we quote Article II, Section 8 of the Michigan Constitution:

Laws shall be enacted to provide for the recall of all elective officers except judges of courts of record upon petition of electors equal in number to 23 percent of the number of persons voting in the last preceding election for the office of governor in the electoral district of the officer sought to be recalled. The sufficiency of any state of reasons or grounds procedurally required shall be political rather than a judicial question.

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Drolet, in explaining the recall process, reminded the volunteers that a recall is, “the most democratic of political processes.” A recall, which requires the signatures of 25% of the number of voters from the latest gubernatorial election, has the highest citizens participation requirement of any petitioning process.  He went on, “It is the constitutional right of citizens to engage in a recall. Our constitution specifically requires that recalls be about politicians who made extremely poor decisions while in office, as Robert Dean has done.”

Jeff Steinport, spokesman for the recall effort, stated that, “Dean voted YES on one of the largest state income tax increases in Michigan history. He did this at a time when Michigan families are struggling to pay their mortgages and keep their homes.”

“State Representative Robert Dean voted to increase our taxes by 1.5 billion dollars a year. That’s $400 in new taxes per household in Michigan,” said Steinport. “Our state’s economy is already the worst in the nation, and Robert Dean voted to make sure it stays that way.”

If you are interested in assisting, please contact us by sending an email to info@deanrecall.org.

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“[Mr. Dean] Voted yes on House Bill 5194 to increase the income tax to 4.35 percent, and voted yes on 2007 House Bill 5198 to impose a new 6 percent tax on certain services.” 

We couldn’t think of ways to make it any clearer. 

Mr. Dean voted to increase our taxes by $1.5 billion a year. That’s $150 in new taxes for every man, woman, and child in Michigan. That’s $400 in new taxes per household. Mr. Dean pledged not to raise taxes unless all options to make budget cuts were explored, yet he voted no on the associated budget reforms. Mr. Dean broke a campaign promise and voted to kill more jobs with destructive new taxes.

The taxpayers in Grand Rapids will now have the opportunity to collect signatures to put the recall question on the ballot. Exercise your democratic and constitutional right to support a recall drive and sign a petition. We have 180 days from the approval of the recall language to turn in our petitions. If you are interested in helping out, please contact us at info@deanrecall.org.

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The recall language, which states that Representative Dean voted in favor of two massive tax increases, conforms to the requirements in state law that require the language to be clear as to the reason for the recall. The county’s Board of Election Commissioners now has up to 20 days to approve or disapprove of the language.

“We anticipate approval of our recall language because it conforms to the requirements in state law,” said Jeff Steinport, spokesman for the recall campaign. He continued, “We will then proceed to exercise the rights of all citizens of Michigan. We believe that a recall is warranted for an elected official who broke a campaign promise and voted to damage the economy of our state.”

Volunteers from Grand Rapids and beyond have been contacting the recall committee, pledging their support and volunteer time. The recall committee can be contacted through the newly-created web site at www.deanrecall.org.
 
Taxpayers to Recall State Representative Dean was formed by members of Kent County Families for Fiscal Responsibility, a local taxpayer advocacy group, in conjunction with the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, which is organizing recalls statewide.

Click here to view the press release.

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