Michigan Education Association targets Rep. Mark Ouimet in attack ads as recall rumors swirl
State Rep. Mark Ouimet is the subject of recent attack ads by the Michigan Education Association for his votes to cut education funding while giving businesses tax breaks.
The television ads, which have been airing for the past two weeks, come as rumors of a potential recall of Ouimet, a Republican from Scio Township, continue to circulate.
But county election officials said Thursday that, other than a recall campaign targeted at Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, no one has stepped forward to file the required paperwork to initiate a recall against Ouimet or any other lawmakers from Washtenaw County.
"It's a pretty big hurdle to do a recall and they're rarely successful. It's meant to be a difficult process," said County Clerk Larry Kestenbaum, adding he thinks it's highly unlikely any eventual recall effort against Ouimet or any other state lawmakers would be successful.
Mark Ouimet
"Voters need to know that Rep. Ouimet and other legislators are taking votes that attack public education and the middle class — especially their votes in favor of Gov. Snyder's budget, which included a $1 billion cut to public education while granting a $1.8 billion tax break for corporations," Pratt wrote in an email. "MEA will continue to hold lawmakers accountable for these votes from now and straight through to the 2012 elections."
Ouimet, who will be up for re-election next year along with all other state House members, said he's not worried about the recall threats. He said it's still unclear who would even bring a recall against him.
"I haven't paid much attention to it," he said. "I'm more focused on what we're doing in Lansing and trying to make sure that our teachers in the classroom are being supported."
He responded directly to the MEA's ad campaign.
"They've spent upward of $50,000 on television ads against me and it's too bad that money isn't being used back in the classroom where it can actually help kids," he said.
Ouimet also defended his votes in favor of cutting funding for education. That includes a 15 percent cut in funding for the state's public universities.
The state budget also includes a $300 per pupil cut on top of $170 already cut for K-12 schools. School districts will receive an average of $100 per pupil in one-time funding to help with retirement costs. There is also the possibility for school districts to receive an average of $100 per pupil in additional funding if they meet best practices set by the state.
"I don't minimize how challenging that is," Ouimet said. "We've got to look for ways we can continue to support our administrations, our schools and our teachers."
AnnArbor.com compiled a transcript of an MEA television ad that aired this week:
Man standing outside the state Capitol building: "Mark Ouimet did what?"Woman standing in the woods: "Mark Ouimet voted to cut funding to local schools."
Man standing outside a playground: "Cut our kids' schools?"
White-haired business executive in a suit, sitting at a desk: "How will our kids get the skills they need to compete for jobs?"
Woman in front of a school: "Our schools are the last place we should be cutting."
School-age girl sitting at a school desk: "More schools will just close."
School bus driver: "And Ouimet voted for a huge tax break for rich CEOs."
Middle-aged woman: "That's just wrong."
(price of gas on a gas station sign flashes on screen)
Man pumping gas: "Big oil companies don't need a break."
School-age girl: "We do."
Middle-aged woman: "Mark Ouimet, stop robbing our kids' future."
Flashes onto the screen: MEA / Michigan Education Association. Call Mark Ouimet: (517) 373-0828. Paid for by the Michigan Education Association.
It's been estimated it would take somewhere north of 10,000 signatures to recall Ouimet, who narrowly defeated Democrat Christine Green in the November general election.
Ouimet is one of a handful of Republican lawmakers rumored to be targeted for recall, including state Rep. Rick Olson, another freshman lawmaker from Washtenaw County's York Township.
Before a group can circulation a recall petition against any lawmaker from Washtenaw County, it first must get language approved by the Washtenaw County Election Commission. No such steps have been taken locally to recall any elected officials, other than the governor.
"I don't think there's enough to generate the kind of groundswell that would be needed to do a recall," Kestenbaum said of this year's political climate.
In the six-plus years he's been county clerk, Kestenbaum said, there probably have been more than 100 attempts to recall officials. Many don't get past the language approval step, he said, and of the few that actually made it to the ballot, none were successful.
AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey contributed to this report. Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
Huron 74
Sun, Jun 12, 2011 : 1:55 a.m.
When the state attracts businesses that sell products out of state, that brings money INTO the state. We can't have a good standard of living cooking each other burgers or painting each other's houses. When there are good jobs, property values go up, schools get more money, get it?
Fredric
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 9:02 p.m.
We Elected Mark and I support him 100% ! We will not always agree with an individual. What is wrong with some of you, you sound like little children, " If I can't have my way, I am going home and you can't use my bat and ball" God,.Grow up ! Some of these organizations will attack anyone when things go against them, The will attempt to get the public riled up and get you to do their work for them . Perhaps Congress will have a better plan to handle education for the future, The way things are now, it sure isn't working and you can not argue against that!!
snapshot
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 5:52 a.m.
Keep up the good work Mark, MEA is running scared. I like the changes coming down the pike.
Billy Buchanan
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 2:13 a.m.
Michigan is fortunate to finally get two good State Rep. (Rick Olson and Mark Ouimet) who understant that the MEA is only a selfservinig group who care very little about the education of our children. Their main interterst and goals are only self preservation of what they can get for themselves. Personally I'm proud of what Representatives Rep. Olson and Ouimet are doing to try and get some accountability in our school systems.
John B.
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 1 a.m.
"Many don't get past the language approval step, he said, and of the few that actually made it to the ballot, none were successful." That should be "none WAS successful."
Jacob Bodnar
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 7:43 p.m.
Dear MEA, That $1.8 billion tax break for "rich CEO's" actually went to small businesses. C Corporations (the big ones) actually got an increase, as their tax rate went up to a flat 6%, and several tax credits were cancelled. The cut went to small business. Stop trying to spin this. And big oil companies? Really? The absurdity of that comment speaks for itself.
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 6:03 p.m.
We should be able to sue the MEA for using the word "Education" in its name. Nothing could be more misleading.
Elaine F. Owsley
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 5:30 p.m.
Was it a surprise to anyone that business would outrank any other consideration by a Republican?
DB Holden
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 5:22 p.m.
It is unfortunate that the MEA has strayed from the educational mission. This only hurts the majority of teachers who are passionate about educating our children. It is telling when the MEA prodded Saline teachers to engage in an "informational picket" that flopped when teachers elected not to participate. The MEA continues to be out of touch with parents, taxpayers, children, and the very teachers they represent. Teachers do not want to be treated like the UAW or USW but rather as professionals. Unfortunately, the MEA has created a culture reducing the teaching profession to a bargaining table, a rally, and a recall effort. It is shameful. As Dr. Randy Paush said in "The Last Lecture": We cannot contol the cards we are dealt but we can control how we play the hand." Well, we are witnessing how the MEA plays the hand.
DAN
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 5:15 p.m.
I believe that the MEA is acting in behalf of all our students, teachers and other public employees, unions and retirees. Ouimet is voting lockstep with Snyder on his efforts to cut their compensation and reward businesses. I went to one of his so-called "town meetings." There were many people who came to express opinions, all of which opposed Snyder's agenda. Ouimet never showed up because he was too bust but sent along a "flunkie" who did not take good notes. I'm fully in favor of his recall as well as that of Snyder.
maestra27
Sun, Jun 12, 2011 : 2:25 p.m.
You can sign at the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market every Saturday from 8-12. Also, check these pages for additional signing events: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Rick-Snyder-Washtenaw-County/207639665935070" rel='nofollow'>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Rick-Snyder-Washtenaw-County/207639665935070</a> <a href="http://firericksnyder.org/index.php" rel='nofollow'>http://firericksnyder.org/index.php</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Governor-Rick-Snyder/113418962065885" rel='nofollow'>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Governor-Rick-Snyder/113418962065885</a>
DAN
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 5:18 p.m.
P.S. Where can I sign?
macjont
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 4:58 p.m.
The ads may not be the best, but the objective is absolutely correct. Get rid of those who want to undermine our system of public education and replace them with leaders who care. Keep it up, MEA! I'm behind you 100%.
Patricia Lesko
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:47 p.m.
There is no "rumor" involved with the recalls. The Detroit News reported (<a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20110609/METRO/106090385/1409/Gov.-Snyder--15-GOP-legislators-target-of-recall-efforts)" rel='nofollow'>http://www.detnews.com/article/20110609/METRO/106090385/1409/Gov.-Snyder--15-GOP-legislators-target-of-recall-efforts)</a> on this yesterday and provided a partial list of the legislators targeted. A2Politico (<a href="http://www.a2politico.com/?p=8280)" rel='nofollow'>http://www.a2politico.com/?p=8280)</a> reported on this on May 26th. Eclectablog reported on it two weeks ago, as well, as more recently (<a href="http://www.eclectablog.com/2011/06/more-michigan-republicans-facing.html)" rel='nofollow'>http://www.eclectablog.com/2011/06/more-michigan-republicans-facing.html)</a>. You're once again picking up story ideas from other sources, and rehashing quite a bit of the information presented in those other sources. Then you refer to the linked source as a "rumor?" An AA.com job doesn't give you credibility, or leave to question the credibility of . You have to earn it. Your linked source has done that, as has the Detroit News; your rehashed efforts fall short.
Monica R-W
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 12:40 p.m.
It's amazing with a little citizen journalism (A2Politico and Eclectablog) can do! So, two citizen media based resources had this information at like a month a ago, the Detroit News just confirmed the recall targets (in part) recently AND Ann Arbor.com is still calling it a "rumor". By next week A2.com (or a certain reporter that is) will be writing a fluff piece on how Ouimet is working with King Snyder to "improve Michigan".....Oh boy!
samseaborn
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:47 p.m.
While I have issues with some of these cuts they had to be done. As a state we are broke. In fact, we are way more than broke we are in serious debt. The only way to bring Michigan back is create jobs and make this a business friendly climate. This is going to take years to accomplish and it will not easy. Those of you are critical of Ouimet for his vote I am going to assume you are Democrats so you are going to be upset no matter what he does. However, are you going to be critical of the Democrat reps who crossed over and voted for these bills (there were five). This was a bi-partisan bill where Democrats gave floor speeches urging their fellow reps to vote yes. A positive change is on the way in Michigan and when we look back on this time we will have Rep. Ouimet to thank for helping to get there.
Joshua Manila
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:34 p.m.
These comments prove what we already knew people see right through the MEA. Thus far, they have spent 600,000 on radio and television advertisements and I hear billboards are going up this weekend costing another 100,000. As the MEA approaches the 1,000,000 dollars mark I ask what has it accomplished and how could you have better spent this money. Now lets move on to this idea of a recall on Rep Ouimet. A man who was the chair of Washtenw County Success by Six, a man who supported education millages when he was on the county board. A man who showed up and took fire at Pioneer HS and did not fall asleep like his Republican counterpart. I have dedicated my life to teaching and I have zero regrets. These bills were the right choice and I applaud Ouimet for making the right choice. I am never liked the MEA but have kept quiet. However, this is simply to far. Anyone who thinks is the MEA has done good is mistakes or is a bad teacher and like the security the organization provide. If a recall petition ever comes by way I will not sign it. FOUR MORE YEARS!!!!
Bob
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:18 p.m.
How much do recall elections cost and who pays for them? I'm guessing this expense will result in more money being taken away from education.
samseaborn
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:39 p.m.
Recall election are very expensive it could cost in the neighborhood of $100,00 and it will likely fail. In order to recall about about 30,000 signatures will have to gathered. Each signature must be a registered voter in the 52nd district, spell their correctly and legibly, and their address must match the address on their voter registration card. This is all after recall language is approved. Currently, there about ten reps or senators facing a recall and only one set of language has been approved and it took two tries.
gamebuster
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:56 p.m.
What's wrong here? People support Mark Ouimet or Rick Snyder here must be people without kids. $1.8 billion tax break to corporations is not necessary as there's no such big demand for additional supply. We don't need to raise business tax, but it's wrong to give such big tax cut to corporations. Nothing wrong with MEA, teaching professionals deserve respect & decent salary & benefits. Deep cut on education not only hurts MEA, but finally ends up hurting kids. Fairly speaking, teaching professionals here are not better off than those in other countries. I just wonder people showing support for three "R"---Rick, R....are people in their group, or people enjoying the benefits from their controversial policy.
dogpaddle
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:32 p.m.
Yes, Chelsea Bob, Texas is growing in huge numbers. Yes, there are jobs there, but they aren't in education since Texas, like Michigan, has made more and more cuts to public education. I have a friend who teaches math in inner-city Waco and his position was cut. Math!! Seriously? No wonder the corporations who have gotten these tax breaks are outsourcing to other countries for talent.
AMOC
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 : 3:14 p.m.
Oh, but dogpaddle, even in Texas, a right-to-work state, teachers are laid off by seniority, not specialty, qualifications or effectiveness. Unless they happen to be an under-represented minority; that gets them extra points. As of last week, Michigan took steps to be able to break the seniority lock on laying off teachers. Yeah Snyder! Yeah MI GOP!
Dr. Rockso
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.
Ouimet should be recalled. Between getting caught with his hand in the Washtenaw County taxpayers cookie jar and his mail order degrees he conspired with THE RICK to rob the rest of the citizens of the State of Michigan.
average joe
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 4:27 p.m.
Mark quickly repaid his bill to the county. How about the other commissioners? Last I knew, they still had a bill to pay.
Donald A. DeSmith
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:01 p.m.
I liked Mark Ouiment before, but now I like him even more. You can tell a lot about a person by knowing who is attacking him. And how they use demagoguery rather than facts in their attacks. If the MEA is stooping this low, Mark must be doing something right. If one were to think about organizations stuck in the failed past, the MEA springs right to mind. They must not have much useful to say if they are spending their money on attack ads like this.
LBH
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 1:34 p.m.
I've said it before and I'll continue to say it: Making Michigan cheap and easy will attract the wrong kind of attention. This won't attract people who want to invest in the state, it will attract people who want to loot and pillage and take off when they have wrung as much out of us as possible, leaving a nasty mess behind for tax payers to clean up. Dopey mythology repeated fervently doesn't make a good plan.
DonBee
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 7:38 p.m.
LBH - Ask GE Energy why they located in Michigan or IBM why they opened an outsourcing center in Michigan. Both will tell you that low salaries for workers was a big part of it. I don't like it when my salary drops, but I do like to bring a paycheck home.
braggslaw
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:01 p.m.
That make absolutely no sense. Businesses want predictability and cost effective areas to do business. Michigan ranks very low on the percentage of four degrees for its citizens, as compared to the rest of the country. We do not have sun, mountains, glitzy cities etc. Making Michigan a cost-effective and simple place to do business is a no-brainer.
ChelseaBob
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 1:04 p.m.
Texas has created more jobs in the last 4 years then the other 49 states combined. They did it by cutting taxes and regulations. When the Michigan economy grows, because of Snyder and Ouimet, there will be additional tax revenues to restore funding to the schools (if it's needed). The solution proposed by those who oppose Snyder, is to tax business more, which would lead to more businesses leaving, fewer jobs and even less tax revenue. We've been stuck in that downward spiral for years. I am thankful that Snyder and Ouimet have broken that pattern.
adriana
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 11:29 p.m.
Hi ChelseaBob, Texas has about the lowest levels of education in the country. They came last in the number of highschool diplomas in 2010, and there are some other even more frightening indicators of serious academic failure present there (e.g., basic math skills).
Bob
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:21 p.m.
I hope you're right . . .
Rork Kuick
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 1:36 p.m.
I seriously doubt the first sentence. Reference please. The part about taxing businesses more is also dubious. I'd propose graduated income taxes, as do many others. Then there's your belief in trickle-down, aka voodoo.
Greg Gunner
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 12:42 p.m.
If you attack someone they will most often fight back. The public employees of this state are under attack. While each individual attack may seem like a small sacrifice to make, the reality is that the combined attacks on health care, pensions, wages, and other benefits add up to about a 20% pay cut for our public employees. They are being asked to shoulder the burden for the entire state, and now after already sacrificing for the past 10-12 years with concession after concession, they are being asked to carry the state on their back while Slick Rick and his business cronies bleed the state dry. Who is going to buy things from Michigan businesses? Not the Michigan working class. They have little to spend. Most are struggling to keep their homes, teachers included.
braggslaw
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 1:57 p.m.
I think you have this reversed. The taxpayers are under attack by public employees. You are not an indentured servant, if you don't like your job quit and find a new one. That is how the real world works.
DonBee
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 1:35 p.m.
Greg Gunner - Like it or not, private industry employees have been seeing the same decline in take home pay for the same time period and unlike public sector employees have had to endure in many work places the "Friday Lottery". The friday lottery is where management walks a couple of people out the door every friday as they cut staff. Want to talk about morale issues? First it was no 401K matching, then it was increased health care contributions, then it was a decline in 401k values, then home prices, then overtime, then 32 hour weeks, then your best friend was gone and you had to assume their work, then another and you were doing 3 jobs, then it was a areduction in salary, then more increases in health care, bonus what bonus? and finally health care, what health care? And so it goes. Public employees have been shielded from the worst of it. We are all in this boat together, pitting one group against another is wrong. Actual salaries have fallen for private sector workers in Michigan, take home pay has fallen even further. Michigan has dropped in ranking for salary more than any other state in the union over the last 10 years. Once we were rich compared to the south, we had better salaries and better toys. That is no longer true. According the the American Federation of Teachers (a teachers union) Michigan is still in the top 5 places to work as a teacher in the US. $44 Billion in unfunded pension obligations, $700 million in new Medicaid requirements complements of the Federal Government, early spending of all the stimulus funds are what is bleeding the state dry.
ferdcom
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 12:29 p.m.
Who is paying for the ads? Are teacher's dues being used? Could this money be better used for education? Who will pay for the recall vote and election of a new representative if necessary? Perhaps AnnArbor.com could find out the answers for us.
Joshua Manila
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:24 p.m.
Ferdcom as an AAPS school teacher YES our dues are being used to fund these currently about $600,000 which could pay many many many teacher salaries. Anyone who think the MEA has ever done any good for a teacher need to have their head examined.
snoopdog
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 12:12 p.m.
We stand behind you Mark and Rick. The taxpayers understand what you are doing makes sense for this state to have any chance to recover. The MEA is upset because they have been exposed and they know the gilded gravy train is running out of track ! Good Day
McGiver
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 12:04 p.m.
Shameless demagoguery. Can't they come up with something more factual than "tax cuts for rich ceo's" . I supported the elimination of the MBT because it unfairly "double" taxed sole proprietors and other non corporate business owners by first taxing the business income that passed through to the owners and then taxed them again personally. These are SMALL business owners like small shops that you use everyday. Not exactly RICH CEO's. The amount cut for education is small by comparison of the reduction in income of our citizens. No one wants a cut in pay and benefits but why does the MEA think their members should be exempt? Shameless.
Basic Bob
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 7:10 p.m.
@Ed Kimball, The evidence is unclear that paying more for teachers leads to anything other than rich teachers.
gsorter
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.
The only irresponsible thing I see is for a states to tax an S-corp at 12% through the MBT, then tack on another 3.5% at the personal level. What other state DOES that and naively expects small innovative companies to even consider that state??
Ed Kimball
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 2:17 p.m.
With the evidence unclear that reducing taxes brings more business, it is irresponsible to reduce business taxes by nearly $1.8 billion (roughly 80%) and then take $1 billion from education, where it helps prepare our kids to be good workers and good citizens. Snyder and the Republicans could easily have kept funding for schools by passing a much smaller reduction in business taxes.
braggslaw
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 10:48 a.m.
The MEA is acting in its own self interest....not for students. They have been backed into a corner and they are lashing out. I don't think people are stupid enough to give the commercials any validity.
yaah
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 10:28 a.m.
This ad has been driving me up a wall. Way to totally blow it, MEA. Linking education cuts to "big oil companies" and "CEO tax cuts." What big oil companies? That has nothing to do with the issue! If you actually had something intelligent to say, maybe I would listen. But when you do stuff like this it makes me wonder what you're trying to hide. Ouimet's response is far more effective and makes him look like the sane one, and I don't even like him.
ViSHa
Fri, Jun 10, 2011 : 12:31 p.m.
and i love how they seem to air before and after school for the kiddies.