Michigan Democrats pursuing action against Michigan GOP over ‘fraudulent’ robocall

By Eric W. Dolan/Raw Story

The Michigan Democratic Party announced Monday that it planned to file a complaint against the Michigan Republican Party and state Supreme Court candidate Colleen O’Brien over a “fraudulent” robocall that allegedly violated federal law.

The Michigan Democrats noted the automated message did not name the person responsible for the call or provide a telephone number as required by the Federal Communications Commission.

“Since the fraudulent robocall did not identify the organization that was responsible for the call as required by federal law, it’s difficult to say who ultimately wrote the check for the call,” Kirstin Alvanitakis, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Democratic Party, told Raw Story. “However, O’Brien and the Michigan Republican Party are the most likely suspects because they stood to gain the most from it.”

The O’Brien campaign later admitted that it was behind the robocall, but insisted the automated message complied with federal law. The robocall urged Democrats to vote for O’Brien.

“Hi, my name is Amanda and I’m calling today to ask our fellow Democrats to support Judge Colleen O’Brien for Michigan Supreme Court,” the automated message said. “Colleen O’Brien deserves our support. Remember the ‘O’ for O’Brien. Democrats should vote November 6 for Judge Colleen O’Brien for Michigan Supreme Court.”

Judicial positions in Michigan are non-partisan. However, O’Brien was nominated to the ballot by Republicans — not Democrats. Michigan Democrats nominated law professor Bridget McCormack, Southfield District Judge Shelia Johnson and Wayne County Judge Connie Kelley for the state’s Supreme Court.

Both parties have spent millions to support their state Supreme Court nominees this year.

Alvanitakis said another robocall targeting Democratic voters urged them to cast their ballot for all three Republican-backed Michigan Supreme Court candidates. The automated message, which claimed to be from a Democrat, also did not identify who was behind the call or provide a telephone number.

Michigan Democrats decry ‘mass confusion’ during primary elections

By Eric W. Dolan/Raw Story

Michigan Democrats on Tuesday blasted Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, claiming she neglected her duties in administering Michigan’s primary elections.

“Ruth Johnson has completely fallen down on the job based on her performance in this primary election,” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer said.

Johnson added a question to the February presidential primary election ballot requiring voters to affirm their U.S. citizenship. The state legislature later approved a bill that would have made the citizenship declaration a state law. But Republican Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed the legislation, saying it would confuse voters.

However, the question has remained on the ballots.

“The secretary has the authority to prescribe forms, including ballot application forms. She put that check box on the ballot application,” secretary of state spokesman Fred Woodhams told the Associated Press. “Up until a few years ago, the secretary of state wasn’t able to track citizenship. Maybe there was a language barrier, but some non-citizens were asked if they were ready to vote.”

The citizenship question has reportedly caused confusion at a number of polling places in Michigan, according to The Detroit News andDetroit Free Press. Both Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Project Vote said they had received numerous complaints of people being turned away from the polls for refusing to answer the question.

Just before noon, the secretary of state sent out a clarification to election officials, telling them not to enforce the citizenship declaration question. But Democrats said the clarification came too late for many voters.

“We also saw that her insistence in putting a citizenship checkbox on ballot applications — despite Governor Snyder’s veto — caused mass voter confusion,” Brewer said. “That confusion was compounded by her office issuing a directive telling clerks not to issue ballots on Monday and then finally issuing the correct instruction today. That’s a recipe for disaster on Election Day.”

“It’s time for Ruth Johnson to give up the ghost and focus on her job requirements: making sure Michigan’s elections run smoothly and every eligible voter that shows up to the polls is able to vote. Her pointless obsession with voter fraud is clearly affecting her performance as Secretary of State and Michigan’s elections as a result.”

MDP Canvasses Bolger’s District, Calls on Constituents to Demand Resignation

From Michigan Democratic Party

Voters in House District 63 Fed Up with Bolger’s Shenanigans

LANSING – Volunteers from the Michigan Democratic Party canvassed voters today in House District 63, represented by Speaker Jase Bolger, whose attempts to rig a House election in Grand Rapids have drawn condemnations across the state from newspaper editorial boards, political pundits and ordinary citizens.

“Today we met with voters in Marshall to learn their reactions to this embarrassing scandal,” MDP Chair Mark Brewer said. “It’s apparent that after showing such blatant disregard for the voters of Grand Rapids, Jase Bolger is now losing the trust of his own constituents back in the district. He should step down from House leadership as soon as possible, so he can focus on rebuilding his broken relationship with the people of Calhoun County.”

The Michigan Democratic Party first canvassed in Bolger’s district back in June, when details of Bolger’s election fraud had yet to be made public. With the release of Kent County Prosecuting Attorney William Forsyth’s report last week, the MDP returned to Bolger’s hometown of Marshall to learn how his constituents were responding to the news.

The MDP provided an informational flyer that included details on the scandal, a recent Detroit Free Press editorial calling Bolger’s actions “unconscionable,” a quote from Forsyth calling the election fraud scheme “a travesty,” and a quote from Bolger, who told the Kalamazoo Gazette, “I did not lie…. I was evasive.”

Democratic Candidate Files to Run in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District Special Election

From Michigan Democratic Party

Effort by Local Democratic Activists Generates 2,000 Signatures in Five Days

LANSING – Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer touted a strong grassroots effort by local activists that generated 2,000 signatures as candidate Dave Curson filed today to run as a Democratic candidate in the 11th Congressional District special election, which was prompted by U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter’s abrupt resignation on July 6.

“It’s a testament to the strength of our local grassroots organization in Wayne and Oakland counties that the Michigan Democratic Party collected more valid signatures in five days than Thad McCotter managed to come up with in five months,” said Brewer. “The enthusiasm is so high that we had voters actually seeking out Democratic Party volunteers and staffers to sign a nominating petition to get our candidate on the ballot. We plan on sustaining that enthusiasm the whole way through November.”

Curson is a resident of Belleville, a Marine Corps veteran and a longtime labor and community activist.

The special election will select a representative to serve out the remainder of McCotter’s term for the old 11th Congressional District. If more than one Democrat and one Republican files to run for the seat, the special primary election will be Sept. 5. The special general election will be held concurrently with the Nov. 6 presidential election.

MDP Canvasses Bolger’s District Door-to-Door on Election Fraud

From Michigan Democratic Party

Flier Asks What Bolger’s Role Was in the HD 76 Election Fraud Scandal

LANSING – The Michigan Democratic Party took to the streets of Marshall today to canvass door-to-door in GOP House Speaker Jase Bolger’s District. The flier urges his constituents to call Bolger about the election fraud scandal in House District 76 and whether he is part of a cover up.

Last month, State Representative Roy Schmidt switched parties to become a Republican just minutes before the filing deadline at the urging and with the help of Bolger. A fake Democrat filed at the same time as Schmidt filed as a Republican and the same unknown person submitted both candidate affidavits with the Kent County Clerk. The fake Democrat, a close friend of the Schmidt family, has since withdrawn his candidacy, but not after he committed perjury on his candidate affidavit. A State Police investigation is underway.

“It’s clear election fraud took place in House District 76. What’s not been disclosed by Bolger is his role in it,” MDP Chair Mark Brewer said. “The flier we distributed today asks the questions that need to be answered. Did Bolger help recruit the fake Democrat? Was he aware of the candidate’s perjury? Did Bolger help the fake Democrat file his paperwork? It’s time for answers.”

“The voters in Bolger’s district deserve to know if he committed any crimes or if he’s part of a cover-up,” added Brewer. “We will not let up until the Speaker comes clean and tells the public what he knows. I canvassed Bolger’s neighborhood personally and met a lot of good people who are very concerned about these issues. By the way, Mr. Speaker, it looks like your hometown could use some road funding.”

Michigan Democrats are taking 1st shot at corporate funding with proposed ethics, campaign finance reform

By Rob South/MLive

LANSING - State House Democrats want lawmakers and state officers to be more accountable and open about where they get personal and campaign donations. The package of bills and a resolution to amend the state constitution are aimed primarily at money from corporations.

Democrats say a flood of untraceable money has created a “pay to play” environment at the Capitol. Michigan is one of only three states that don’t require elected or appointed officials to report personal donations not related to campaign contributions.

House minority leader Rick Hammel, D- Mt. Morris Township, says personal contributions should be as transparent as campaign contributions.

“There should be more disclosure on that money and sunshine on those, too. There is a big difference between contributions aimed at campaigns that we have to report, and the very large personal donations from corporations that may have influence on a lawmaker, never get reported.”

The ballot proposal would amend the state constitution to say that citizens have a right to know where lawmakers are getting their money.

Among other proposals, the package also:

• Includes a “cooling off period” that would prevent lawmakers from taking a job as a state lobbyist for two years after they leave office.

•Prohibits state elected officials from getting state grants, or soliciting campaign contributions while in a state facility.

• Toughens campaign finance disclosure and corporate accountability after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on corporate spending in campaigns

• Prevents state contractors, companies that accept federal bail-out money, and foreign-controlled corporations from spending money in Michigan elections.

• Requires corporations to publically disclose funders.

• Bans the state from awarding any contract over $100,000 to anyone who made campaign contributions to elected officials.

• Requires "robo-calls" to clearly state the name and address of the sponsor.

Ari Adler, press secretary for Speaker of the House Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, says they just received the bills this morning.

“Saying you support better campaign finance and ethics laws is like saying you are for the sun coming up tomorrow,” Adler says. “It’s difficult to argue with the concept, but the devil is in the details.”

Adler says Republicans have concerns that labor unions have been left out of the package. And he voiced concern that Republicans were not consulted when crafting it.

"Bills that are introduced with purely political intentions may have some good parts to them," he says, "but it will take time to dig in and find what those might be.and will continue reviewing the bills."

Michigan Democrats developing college grant plan

From ClickonDetroit

Democrats in the Michigan Senate said Wednesday they're developing a proposal that would allow Michigan high school graduates to get grants of up to roughly $9,500 a year for attending college by ending some business tax credits and other revenue changes.

The grants could be used to pay tuition or associated costs at public universities and community colleges in the state. The money would be raised by closing what Democrats call tax loopholes and ending some business tax credits, collecting sales tax from out-of-state Internet retailers and saving money on state contracts.

Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, the Senate's Democratic leader, said investment in education is needed to revitalize Michigan and boost its economy. State aid for public education has dwindled in recent years, with universities facing a 15 percent reduction in state aid for operations in the current fiscal year. Universities say reduced state aid is a major factor contributing to tuition increases.

We've got to not just reverse that trend, but we've got to do something bold to say Michigan believes in education and this is a great place to come and locate your business because we've got the work force you need," Whitmer told The Associated Press.

The proposals, which could soon be formally introduced in the Senate, likely would face long odds against passing in the Republican-led Legislature — particularly as Michigan continues to struggle with its state budget.

The grants would be renewable for up to four years. The size of the grant would be based on how long a particular student spent in Michigan's K-12 school system, with the maximum annual amount pegged to the median tuition level at Michigan's 15 public universities.

Democrats estimate the annual cost of the program would be $1.8 billion once fully implemented. It would phase in with new high school graduates headed to college.

Democrats say the plan could be accomplished without tax increases for Michigan citizens. But some businesses or others who could lose tax credits or exemptions under the plan would face higher tax bills than before, which would be a concern for Republicans.

"Senate Republicans are open to discussing ideas for how to keep our students in Michigan and to encourage them to attend our state universities, but we also must always be cognizant of the costs associated with any new policies," said Amber McCann, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville.

Republicans outnumber Democrats in the Michigan Senate, 26-12.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder's administration would not react directly to the Democratic proposal Wednesday because it hasn't seen specifics of the plan.

Snyder spokeswoman Sara Wurfel said the governor is committed to helping ensure college affordability and investing in education when possible.

"That said, it's also simply not just about more money," Wurfel said in an e-mail. "It's about achieving the best outcomes and results possible."

Oakland County Democrats sue Governor over re-districting rules

By Sarah Cwiek/Michigan Radio thanks to @wavingcrosser on twitter. 

Democrats in Oakland County are suing Governor Snyder over a new lawthat gives county commissioners the power to draw their own districts.

Historically, a group of five county officials created the map. During the most recent process, Democrats dominated the group for the first time in recent history.

The new law would let the Republican-dominated County Commission re-do the process. Infuriated Democrats say the change, which applies only to Oakland County, is an unprecedented power grab.

Frank Houston, chair of the Oakland County Democrats and a plaintiff in the lawsuit, says the change was also unconstitutional.

“If there’s anything dealing with a local form of government, and only one government in the state, it requires a 2/3 vote of the legislature," Houston says. "It didn’t get it, and it’s obviously a Lansing overstep...so it’s out of line, and it’s unconstitutional.”

Houston says retroactively changing the map, which was upheld in the Michigan Court of Appeals, amounts to an assault on democracy.

 “And I think the court of public opinion also rejects the partisan oversteps of either party, when they seek to undo redistricting laws and court decisions after they’ve happened,” he adds.

Republicans call the law a cost-saving measure because it reduces the number of county commissioners.

Longtime Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson responded with a statement:

“The Democrats want to overturn the will of the people so they can maintain a larger, more costly government in Oakland County. A majority of the representatives of the people of the State of Michigan voted in favor of the bill to reduce the number of Oakland County commissioners which was signed into law by our duly-elected governor.”