KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo has seen its share of protests this year, but most of them have been directed at issues coming out of Washington.
Saturday a protest is planned to oppose a series of bills working their way through the Lame Duck session in Lansing.
The bills do a number of things to strip the incoming Democratic Governor, and particularly the Secretary of State, and Attorney General of bits and pieces of their authority. Democrats say its a direct denial of the will of the voters, and an attempt to undermine their wishes.
Kalamazoo Democrat Jon Hoadley says one bill would set up a new election commission that would prevent the new Secretary of State from pursuing Campaign finance reform.
Another would allow the Legislature to intervene in any legal case facing the state, an authority currently reserved for the Attorney General.
Protestors are calling it a lame-duck Power Grab and plan to gather in Bronson Park at 2pm to express their opposition.
The State Senator sponsoring the legislation that would create that new election commission, Senator Dave Robertson, is himself under investigation by the State Police for campaign finance irregularities.
His office has had to pay $28-hundred in fines for late reporting, and that Senator Robertson reportedly still owes $16-hundred he has not paid for the latest violation.
State Police are reportedly investigating because the reports his office submitted do not match bank statements.
Members of his staff say one thing has nothing to do with the other.
