UPDATE 7:35pm
Governor Snyder’s critics are once again launching a recall petition against him.
The petition drive organizers accuse the governor’s education and spending policies of “abusing children” and hurting Michigan in other ways during his time in office.
Geralyn Lasher is the governor’s spokeswoman. She says voters know the governor can point to an improving economy during his time in office.
“I think they’re going to be far more focused on that than they will with the latest fringe group that comes up with a proposal," says Lasher.
The first recall petition drive against the governor fell well short of the 800 thousand signatures needed to put the recall on the ballot.
ORIGINAL POST 5:59pm
A new recall effort against Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is getting underway.
The group "Michigan Rising" said in a press release today they filed their petition language in Washtenaw County on March 26. They expect a hearing on whether or not the petition language will be accepted on April 9.
The last effort to recall Gov. Snyder failed to collect enough signatures to put the question on a ballot.
Past recall efforts against former Governors Jennifer Granholm and John Engler also failed.
MPRN's Rick Pluta reported "there's never been a successful recall campaign against a statewide elected official" in the state's history.
To put a recall question on the November ballot, 1 in 7 registered voters in Michigan would have to sign a petition. Organizers would need around 807,000 valid signatures in a three-month period.
It's a task Michigan Radio commentator Jack Lessenberry called "impossible" last year.
Impossible or not, Michigan Rising plans to hold a rally on May 5 at the Capitol in Lansing to kickoff their campaign.
Organizers in Michigan say they are buoyed by the success of the effort in Wisconsin to hold a special recall election against Gov. Scott Walker.
In their press release, Michigan Rising said recalling Gov. Snyder is akin to "slaying a dragon."
"We are trying to recall Governor Snyder again because you must chop the head off the beast and slay the dragon before you start rebuilding the village. If you try to rebuild the village while the dragon is still around, he will just burn the village to the ground again," said Marty Townsend, Michigan Rising's Public Chair.
