Brewer Calls on Drolet to Sign Petition to Surrender Free Lifetime Health Care
For those of you in the dark, Leon Drolet is a former representative whose latest crusade includes parading around Michigan with his pig, while trying to recruit people willing to recall legislators who vote for any tax increases. (Picture courtesy of ICDP: Dispatch)
As the ICDP reminds us, "This whole mentality is brought to you by one of George Bush's favorite neocons, Grover Norquist. Norquist once described his goal as the drowning of government in a bathtub by cutting off its funding. Norquist is one of the board members of Drolet's anti-tax group."
Getting back to Brewer, why do I find his press release brilliant? Because he's asking Drolet to put his money where his mouth is, or in this case, put his taxpayer funded benefits where his mouth is. It's all about accountability. Here are the details:
"Leon Drolet is leading his big pig all around the state, bellowing about the alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars, when he's living high off the hog on the taxpayer dime himself," Brewer said. "His behavior is the height of hypocrisy. If Drolet wants to ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly, he will sign a pledge to forfeit the free lifetime health care he obtained during his six years as a Lansing politician."Free lifetime health care after a measly six years in Lansing? It appears Mr. Drolet is the real piggy when it comes to abusing tax dollars.
Brewer presented a petition for Drolet to sign, stating that he would forgo his free lifetime health care and other perks.
During his six years as a State Representative, Drolet cost Michigan taxpayers $1.1 million, including more than $91,000 for mileage reimbursements and $72,000 for his "expense allowance" – in addition to the $477,900 spent on his salary.
Drolet currently serves on the Macomb County Commission, earning $34,069 a year. He also pays himself $39,000 as executive director of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, a so-called taxpayer advocacy group. In recent months, Drolet has traveled across Michigan pushing his extremist agenda with a giant papier mache pig he calls "Mr. Perks."
"Mr. Perks certainly seems to have a sweet spot in his belly for Leon Drolet," Brewer said. "This is a man whose has made a living off our taxpayers for years. I challenge Drolet to change is ways and give back to the taxpayers who have been supporting him for years."
Text of the petition:
I, Leon Drolet, do so solemnly swear to stop living high off the hog on Michigan taxpayers' dollars and begin atoning for the more than $1.1 million I have cost our taxpayers over the past six years.
I pledge to put the taxpayers' money where my mouth is by surrendering the free lifetime health care – paid for by Michigan taxpayers – that I "earned" during my six years as a Lansing politician, because I firmly believe that "every dollar the government takes, that is doesn't absolutely need, is theft."
Lead by example and do the right thing, Mr. Drolet. Surrender your free lifetime health care and save the taxpayers of Michigan some money.
