By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-995659.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Republicans at the state Capitol have unveiled a plan to limit the issues over which lawmakers can be recalled. The Senate Republican proposal is in response to the swath of recall campaigns against lawmakers this year, most of them against the GOP. Michigan Public Radio's Laura Weber has more.
The proposed state constitutional amendment would require a lawmaker to have committed a serious crime or malfeasance while in office in order to be recalled. If the Legislature approves the proposal it would require voter approval to amend the Michigan Constitution.
Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville says lawmakers should not be threatened with recall for the way they vote on controversial issues.
"This is the beginning of a discussion," he says. "I think it's an important one, because we're talking about taxpayer dollars in some ways being used for nothing more than political posturing or gathering of information."
Republican state Representative Paul Scott was recalled last month in part because of his support for changes to teacher tenure rules. The recall campaign against Scott was funded largely by the Michigan Education Association teachers' union.