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Language of recall petition against Rick Snyder approved

The Washtenaw County Elections Commission has approved the language on a recall petition  against Governor Snyder, by a two to one vote.

The commission member who opposed the language argued that the first sentence on the petition is unclear. 

The sentence reads, “Governor Snyder has abused the children of Michigan.”  The petition then lists things like cuts to school funding and food aid.  

Attorney Andrea Hansen of the law firm Honigman Miller argued on behalf of the Governor, saying the language should not be approved.   After the meeting, she says the decision was disappointing -- and wrong.

"Well, it’s (the language about abusing children) is offensive, but it’s more, for this purpose, it’s ambiguous."

Recall organizer Marion Townsend says the Governor broke campaign promises not to raise taxes or cut school funding.   Townsend is the mother of a nine year old daughter.  She says her daughter's school is cutting art, sports and other extracurricular subjects because of the Governor's policies.

"So it’s hurting – his policies are hurting Michigan residents," she said.

Recall organizers have 180 days to get about 807-thousand valid signatures to get the recall on the November ballot.   

A previous recall drive fell far short of getting enough signatures.

Townsend acknowledges she has only about half the number of volunteers signed up to get petition signatures this time around.  But she thinks more people will sign up, especially after they're done working on a number of other state-wide petition drives that are happening right now.

 

Tracy Samilton covers energy and transportation, including the auto industry and the business response to climate change for Michigan Public. She began her career at Michigan Public as an intern, where she was promptly “bitten by the radio bug,” and never recovered.