The following essay was written by my pal Roger Kerson, an Ann Arbor-based writer and media strategist. Enjoy. After former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, who do you think is the second-most famous graduate of Cooley Law School? My money is on GOP attorney Aaron Van Langevelde. He cast the deciding vote to certify Joe Biden’s 154,000 vote-victory at the Michigan […]
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The Michigan Board of State Canvassers, who didn’t even have a meeting scheduled as of late last week, has hastily scheduled one for tomorrow (pdf).
Why?
I’ll show you after the jump.
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On June 18th, Sterling Corporation employee and Jeff Timmer resigned from the Board of State Canvassers, leaving only one Republican on the elections board and a Democratic majority. While some feared that the remaining Republican, Norm Shinkle, would resign as well, leaving the group without a quorum and unable to approve a number of ballot initiatives pending for the November election, Governor Rick Snyder acted quickly and last week appointed Colleen Pero to the Board.
Described in glowing terms on the official announcement, Pero sounds like an innocuous and innocent choice. The truth is, however, quite the opposite. Colleen Pero has deep connections to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the Heritage Foundation, the Federalist Society and a host of other far-right, pro-business lobby groups.
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Desperation breeds desperate behavior The Michigan Board of State Canvassers has cancelled a meeting scheduled for next Tuesday, June 26th. I confirmed this with a phone call to the Elections Bureau this afternoon. Additionally, Republican Board member Jeff Timmer is rumored to have resigned and it is believed that the other Republican, Norm Shinkle, will resign as well, leaving the […]
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I can haz democracy? The legal team for the Stand Up For Democracy coalition seeking to put the repeal of Public Act 4 — Michigan’s anti-democratic Emergency Manager law — are using a rare legal move to force the Board of State Canvassers to certify nearly a quarter million petition signatures and put the repeal on the November ballot. The […]
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My good friend Brit Satchwell, educator and president of the Ann Arbor Education Association, is always on the forefront of fighting for workers and for those in Michigan who are most acutely impacted by the Republicans that currently have control of our state government. Whether it’s circulating petitions for the repeal of Public Act 4 — Michigan’s vile Emergency Manager law — or to recall Governor Rick Snyder or to enshrine collective bargaining rights in our state constitution, Brit is there, defending our democracy.
When the Board of State Canvassers met last week and two Republican men betrayed and silenced the voice of nearly a quarter million Michigan citizens with a vote based on a concocted lie, Brit was there and on his feet shouting “Traitor!” at those men. Detroit News photographer captured the moment exquisitely (you can see it HERE.)
Brit took pen to paper recently and composed a heartfelt and perfectly-worded response to this egregious act which he then sent to the Board. I am reprinting here from the blog of Michigan Forward with permission…
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Yesterday, two Republican men denied a quarter million Michiganders their political voice, a voice guaranteed by the constitution of the state and firmly-rooted in the basic tenets of our democracy.
Two men.
It’s astonishing that our system is set up to give two men this much power.
The excuse that both men gave was that, because the the heading on the petition was too small, the petitions were invalid.
But this was not and never should have been about the fonts.
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If you’ve been following this blog recently, you’ll know that the repeal of Public Act 4 — Michigan’s Emergency Manager law — is being challenged on a teeny tiny technicality. The challengers say that the font on one of the headings is just a millimeter or two too small.
No, I’m not kidding.
I’ve debunked this ridiculous assertion (HERE & HERE) but the Board of State Canvassers will meet on Thursday to make their decision.
That’s where YOU come in.
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Chris SavageChris Savage is the owner and publisher of Eclectablog and the co-host of The GOTMFV Show podcast.
Mitchell RobinsonMitchell Robinson is associate professor of music education at Michigan State University. His research is focused on music education and education policy. Follow him on Facebook HERE and Twitter at @MRobmused. His own blog is at MitchellRobinson.net.
Barb ByrumBarb Byrum is currently in her third term as Ingham County Clerk, serving as the county’s chief elections official. As Clerk, Barb has successfully conducted 25 elections, 4 union elections, and served on Michigan’s Election Security Commission, the Secretary of State’s team of advisors tasked with strengthening and better securing elections in the state. Follow her on Twitter at @BarbByrum.
