Warren Mayor James Fouts has followed through with his
planned (and frivolous) lawsuit seeking to wipe out the Aug. 5 statewide
election results on Proposal 1, which voters approved by a wide margin.
planned (and frivolous) lawsuit seeking to wipe out the Aug. 5 statewide
election results on Proposal 1, which voters approved by a wide margin.
Fouts insists that the ballot language was confusing and
biased in favor of getting a “yes” vote from the electorate. But the mayor is
not asking for a re-vote; he just wants the result erased from history.
biased in favor of getting a “yes” vote from the electorate. But the mayor is
not asking for a re-vote; he just wants the result erased from history.
Of course, that’s an interesting approach for this “mayor
of the people,” especially since his own constituents, the Warren electorate,
voted for Proposal 1.
of the people,” especially since his own constituents, the Warren electorate,
voted for Proposal 1.
 |
| Fouts |
The proposal, which phases out and replaces the state’s
Personal Property Tax on business machinery and equipment, was endorsed by
business, labor, law enforcement, and an all-star lineup of elected Republican
and Democratic officials.
Personal Property Tax on business machinery and equipment, was endorsed by
business, labor, law enforcement, and an all-star lineup of elected Republican
and Democratic officials.
Fouts, in his usual, quirky way, embraced his role as the
one-man opposition. Of course, Fouts, as mayor of one of the most
industrialized cities in Michigan, should have been leading the pro-Prop 1
parade. The mayor completely misunderstood the realpolitik of Lansing, where
the Republicans were ready to eliminate the PPT, without providing replacement
revenue, if the proposal failed at the ballot box.
one-man opposition. Of course, Fouts, as mayor of one of the most
industrialized cities in Michigan, should have been leading the pro-Prop 1
parade. The mayor completely misunderstood the realpolitik of Lansing, where
the Republicans were ready to eliminate the PPT, without providing replacement
revenue, if the proposal failed at the ballot box.
So, who is Fouts suing? Just about anyone and everyone
whose fingerprints were on Proposal 1.
whose fingerprints were on Proposal 1.
According to the MIRS news service, here is the lineup of
defendants named in the Court of Claims lawsuit: the senators who were primary sponsors of the
bill that created Prop. 1, Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell), Mark Jansen
(R-Cutlerville), Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor), John Moolenaar
(R-Midland) and Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison Twp.).; the Secretary
of State’s office (but not Secretary of State Ruth Johnson); SOS Bureau
of Elections Director Chris Thomas; the four members of the Board of
State Canvassers who approved the ballot language: Colleen Pero, Jeannette
Bradshaw, Norm Shinkle and Julie Matuzak (a longtime Democratic activist from
Macomb County); the Truscott Rossman Group, which is the public relations firm
that handled the pro-Prop 1 campaign; and Kelly Rossman-McKinney, who handled
the account.
defendants named in the Court of Claims lawsuit: the senators who were primary sponsors of the
bill that created Prop. 1, Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell), Mark Jansen
(R-Cutlerville), Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor), John Moolenaar
(R-Midland) and Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison Twp.).; the Secretary
of State’s office (but not Secretary of State Ruth Johnson); SOS Bureau
of Elections Director Chris Thomas; the four members of the Board of
State Canvassers who approved the ballot language: Colleen Pero, Jeannette
Bradshaw, Norm Shinkle and Julie Matuzak (a longtime Democratic activist from
Macomb County); the Truscott Rossman Group, which is the public relations firm
that handled the pro-Prop 1 campaign; and Kelly Rossman-McKinney, who handled
the account.
 |
| Rossman-McKinney and PR partner John Truscott get the news that they’re part of Fouts’ silly suit |
A veteran PR pro, Rossman-McKinney told MIRS that Fouts’ decision to sue her
and her firm was “amazing and amusing.”
and her firm was “amazing and amusing.”
 |
| Brandenburg |
The part that I find particularly amusing is the thought of
Fouts battling it out, in court and in the political arena, with Brandenburg.
Both are outspoken and prone to bombastic quotes. But Brandenburg is an ex-jock
who towers over the feeble Fouts.
Fouts battling it out, in court and in the political arena, with Brandenburg.
Both are outspoken and prone to bombastic quotes. But Brandenburg is an ex-jock
who towers over the feeble Fouts.
If it ever comes to a face-to-face confrontation, the
mayor better bring his baseball bat.
mayor better bring his baseball bat.
The Mayor is correct here! Why was this placed on the primary ballet Chad? Are you against a better informed public?…And you with all your education and life's experiences see no bias or "Leading" in the language…Print the language for us and let the public take a better look without the millions of dollars of influence being aired daily.
The PPT was going to go away no matter what happened to the Prop 1 Vote. At least now some of the lost revenue will be replaced because of Prop 1. Mayor Fouts is not quirky anymore, he is flat out insane. It is time for the man to resign, apparently he got tired of being the person being sued (numerous lawsuits and legal fees totaling over $600,000.00 in taxpayer money wasted) and decided it was time for him to be the party filing the suit. One good thing, the Council won;t approve funding for this, so if it goes further, aside from the taxpayers paying for the City attorney, any additional funds will have to come out of Fouts pocket.
The Mayor's actions to file on behalf of the City of Warren are a violation of Charter. He does not have the authority to enter into contracts or initiate lawsuits only the Council does and Council has not approved this! If he is so concerned about clear language on the ballot, lets take another look at the creation of districts in Warren.
Why is it that after his tax increases where he threatened residents with police and fire layoffs (which wouldn't have happened) and other reductions in services, calling it a police and fire millage when all the money goes into the general fund, he now calls this unclear language. And after they passed, he called it the will of the people. But now the will of the people must be wrong because it doesn't agree with his warped mind. His only issue with this is it might force him to actually think and do a job, make the city more efficient and operate within a budget, something he has never ever been able to do in his entire political career.