MUTH’S TRUTHS

There will be, beyond a shadow of doubt, a HUGE push for tax hikes in the 2009 Nevada Legislature. And there will be, beyond a shadow of doubt, a number of Republicans who will SUPPORT the notion of raising your taxes. Some of them will even have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge promising not to do so…but will consider their promise to voters not worth the paper it’s printed on.

You know, like Republican Assembly Minority Leader Garn Mabey.

If it’s any consolation - and it’s not - tax-hiking, pledge-breaking Republicans aren’t unique to Nevada. They are, alas, populated throughout the nation, from sea to shining sea. But to combat said legislative pick-pockets, get a look at what one former Michigan legislator is doing…

For Immediate Release
Monday, August 27, 2007
Contact: Leon Drolet - 586-354-05432

Citizens Organize Recall Committees Against State Lawmakers

Citizens have filed ‘Statements of Organization’, the first paperwork required to begin the recall process against an elected official, with the Secretary of State and local clerks in several counties today.

Senators Gerald Van Woerkom (R-Norton Shores), Dennis Olshove (D-Warren), and Glenn Anderson (D-Westland) and Representatives Andy Dillon (D-Redford), Mary Valentine (D-Muskegon), Ed Gaffney (R-Grosse Pointe Farms), Gino Polidori (D-Dearborn), Marc Corriveau (D-Northville) and Dick Ball (R-Laingsburg) have had recall committees filed against them by local activists assisted by the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance (MTA).

“The filing of organizing paperwork does not mean that a recall effort against these lawmakers is certain,” MTA Executive Director Leon Drolet stated. “First, a legislator would have to vote ‘yes’ on a tax increase.”

Drolet added that paperwork would soon be filed against other lawmakers that MTA activists consider “vulnerable Democrats or possible RINO Republicans.” RINO is an acronym for ‘Republicans In Name Only.’ Paperwork is expected to be filed against Senator Valde Garcia later this week.

“Quite a few more recall committees will be formed in the coming weeks. Filing against a wide array of possible tax-raisers is a tactical move,” Drolet said. “Its one less thing that will have to be done after a tax increase vote. At least some of the required paperwork will already be done.”

# # #

Nevada doesn’t have “recall committees.” However, we do have PACs…political action committees. And forming one is pretty much as simple as picking a name and faxing a one-page notice to the Secretary of State.

For example, someone might decide to register a “Recall Nolan PAC,” with the stated purpose being the recall of state Sen. Dennis Nolan…and just have the PAC waiting in the wings in case the good senator from Las Vegas again wanders off the no tax-hike reservation like he did this year.

Would every recall effort against a tax-hiking, pledge-breaking Republican succeed? No.

But do you think elected Republicans will think twice before voting to raise your taxes knowing that do to so would result in the pain, expense and aggravation of defending themselves against a recall? Better believe it.

Just a thought. Now where did I put that fax paper?

Posted on August 29th, 2007 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada