House GOP: Lies, Deceit, and Election Fraud

From Michigan Democratic Party

MDP Calls for Immediate Investigation into Voter Fraud by Speaker Bolger, Rep. Lund, and Rep. Schmidt

LANSING – Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer is calling for an immediate investigation into election fraud perpetrated by House Speaker Jase Bolger, Representative Pete Lund, and Representative Roy Schmidt. Yesterday, Schmidt changed his party affiliation to Republican and helped place his nephew’s friend, Matthew Mojzak, on the ballot as a fake Democrat. The only problem is, Mojzak doesn’t live in the district – a requirement to run for the seat.

Mojzak was registered to vote in Ottawa County and did not change his registration until late on Tuesday, according to MIRS Newsletter. In his attached candidate affidavit, Mr. Mojzak stated under penalty of perjury that he has been a resident of Kent County for 22 years – an obvious lie. He’s using his grandmother’s address in the 76th district in an attempt to qualify as a candidate there.

“It’s clear this was a plot weeks in the making,” Brewer said. “But Republicans made one critical mistake – Mr. Mojzak lied on his candidate affidavit because he has not been living in Kent County – that’s election fraud.”

“Republicans like Bolger, Lund, and Schmidt set out to deceive voters from the beginning in order to ensure Schmidt would be reelected and help them protect their majority in the State House,” added Brewer. “We call for an immediate investigation into this matter by Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, Attorney General Bill Schuette, and the Kent County Prosecutor’s office.”

“Republicans demanded that the so-called fake Tea Party in Oakland County be prosecuted and there should be an investigation about the fake Democrat put on the ballot in this case,” said Brewer. “Bolger, Lund, and Schmidt should come clean as to what they know about this conspiracy to put a fake Democrat on the ballot. The public will not tolerate a cover-up.”

“This is just another example of Republican hypocrisy,” Brewer continued. “They claim to be the party of transparency and values, yet they pull these sneaky, illegal tactics in order to hold onto their power in Lansing. Rather than face voters in November, they concocted this deceitful, fraudulent plan. Bolger, Lund, Schmidt, and Mojzak should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

MDP Chair Mark Brewer Issues Statement on Roy Schmidt’s Decision to Switch Parties

Now file this under weaselly bastard

From Michigan Democratic Party

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer issued the following statement on State Representative Roy Schmidt’s decision to become a Republican:

“I never had a cross word with Roy Schmidt and I enjoyed working with him as a Democrat. Unlike the GOP, the Michigan Democratic Party includes a broad spectrum of views from conservative to moderate to progressive, all of whom are welcome in the MDP. Indeed as I issue this statement, I am in Northern Michigan working with Democrats to regain a majority in the State House.

“So, it saddens me that in a desperate, cowardly, opportunistic move at the 11th hour, Roy Schmidt abandoned his constituents and the values by which he was elected for the sole purpose of clinging to office and the perks of the job. . Rather than face a tougher district, Schmidt cut a deal with the Republicans so that no one would run against him in an attempt to ensure his reelection.

“He has been deceiving voters for months as this was obviously something he had been planning for some time.  He chose this sneaky approach in an attempt to guarantee his reelection. We demand he immediately return any money raised from Democrats in the past year. We wish Schmidt well in the anti-women, anti-senior, anti-children Republican Party. He should be ashamed of this desperate, craven deed. Only someone who does not possess the conviction or confidence to face the voters would pull a stunt like this. He’ll fit in perfectly with the Republicans.”

Michigan Democrats leader Brewer accused Republican Secretary of State Johnson of partisan mischief

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN

AP Political Writer

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan Democratic Chairman Mark Brewer says Republican Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is creating "partisan mischief" by putting President Barack Obama's name on the Feb. 28 presidential primary ballot. 

Michigan Democrats plan to nominate their candidate at a May 5 caucus, so votes for Obama in the primary won't count. The election will let Republicans pick their favorite.

Brewer told reporters Thursday that anyone who votes for Obama in the primary wouldn't be able to vote in the caucus under national and state party rules.

He plans to ask the state Democratic governing board to change to rules so voters won't be disenfranchised.

Under a new GOP-passed law, Obama's name can't be removed from the ballot.

A request for comment left Thursday with Johnson spokeswoman Gisgie Gendreau wasn't immediately returned.

Statement by MDP Chair Mark Brewer on Snyder Administration’s Decision to Review Flint’s Finances

From Michigan Democratic Party

LANSING – Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer today issued the following statement on the Snyder Administration’s decision to review Flint’s finances:

“Let me be crystal clear on what’s happened in Flint today.  This financial review is a direct result of the Snyder administration’s attack on our urban areas as well as his failed jobs policies.  Just as Snyder shifted nearly $2 billion from businesses on to Michigan’s middle class families and seniors with his tax policies, he also shifted his budget problems to cities like Flint by cutting revenue sharing by millions of dollars for the community.  For all his talk about relentless positive action, all Snyder’s and his extremist cronies in the legislature have done since taking office is relentless attacks on Michigan residents and home rule.

“Mayor Walling along with the Flint City Council and Flint’s public employee unions, especially AFSCME as well as other city stakeholders, have taken aggressive action over the last two years to deal with the economic pressures put on their budget.  They have cut positions, reduced salaries, and taken other creative steps to continue to provide quality services to the people of Flint with reduced revenues.

“It’s unfortunate that the Governor and State Treasurer have chosen to ignore this remarkable example of progress and cooperation only to insert themselves in an effort to attack Flint’s elected leadership, hard-working public employees, and middle class families and usurp local control.”

MDP Chair Mark Brewer Issues Statement on Governor Snyder Signing Gerrymandered Redistricting Bills

Could I be the most corrupt
governor ever? I could be. 

From Michigan Democratic Party

LANSING – Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer issued the following statement on Governor Snyder’s decision to sign the GOP Legislature’s gerrymandered redistricting bills into law.

“Governor Snyder’s decision today to sign into law politically and racially gerrymandered redistricting maps, breaks his promise to voters that he would be a moderate and bipartisan governor. Just like 10 years ago, Republicans have used the redistricting process to tip the scales in their favor by disenfranchising voters. Voters deserve fair and competitive districts. Voters should be the ones who pick their elected officials – these maps instead allow elected officials to pick their voters.

“These bills were rammed through the Legislature with little public notice and no public input. The Republican Legislature ignored alternative maps which better complied with both state and federal law. We are extremely disappointed in Governor Snyder for not standing up for a fair, transparent, and bipartisan process which would have given voters a choice and a voice. Governor Snyder and the Republicans have instead ignored the needs of the voters with these politically and racially gerrymandered maps.”

Brewer Files Complaint Against Snyder Staffer

From Michigan Democratic Party

LANSING – Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer today filed a complaint with the Michigan Department of State against Governor Rick Snyder’s staff member, Greg Andrews.

According to the Traverse City Record Eagle and by the admission of Governor Snyder’s office, Andrews illegally used a state email account to promote a fundraiser for the Grand Traverse County Republican Party. Both GOP Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Alan Schneider and GOP Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette failed to investigate the matter.

“The lack of action by both Alan Schneider and Bill Schuette has forced us to file a complaint against Mr. Andrews,” Brewer said. “We need to get to the bottom of this issue. Who knew about this email in the Governor’s office and why was it allowed to be sent out?”

“This is clearly a violation of the law and it is unacceptable for public officials to ignore it,” added Brewer. “Is Schneider’s refusal to look into the matter because he donated nearly $1,000 to the Grand Traverse County Republican Party? And what about Schuette? Why is he ignoring an admitted violation of law by his GOP cronies? Don’t the taxpayers deserve to know what happened?”

Off the Record:Mark Brewer interview

Click above to play video here, or Watch it at video.wkar.org

Weekly Edition #4042. Friday, Apr. 15, 2011 The guest is state Democratic party chair Mark Brewer. Brewer has been active in Michigan politics for thirty years and is the longest serving party chair in the country. Kathy Barks Hoffman, Rick Albin, and Chris Christoff join senior capitol correspondent Tim Skubick.